If you’re looking for the best Bible study tools, this article has everything you need!
Do you have what it takes to study the Bible? Truth be told, all you really need to have is a Bible and dedicated time. But if you want to enjoy engaging Bible time, there are some helpful tools you can incorporate.
We know Bible study is important, as are all the spiritual disciplines. I talked about it in a previous blog post, you can click here to read that one. But besides understanding the importance, there are ways we can make Bible study more practical and enjoyable. Over the years, I’ve found a few tools that are now a regular part of my Bible routine. I hope by reading this blog, you will find some new items that will make you excited to sit down and study.
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Best tools for Bible study: Pens
An important Bible study tool is a good writing utensil. These are my favorite pens that I keep going back to, year after year.
Staedtler Triplus Fineliner
I love using these pens in my journals to make a quote stand out, or to underline my favorite written reflections. They come in a variety of colors. My personal favorites are sand, olive green, and salmon.
They haven’t bled through any of the Bibles that I have tested, so they could work for Bible marking too. However, you might want to do a small test in the corner of one of your own Bible pages before writing a bunch of notes to check for bleeding.
Links to my favorite Staedtlers:
Here’s a value pack that I’ve seen on sale a few times!
Tombow Brush Pens
These are my most favorite pens on the list! These Tombows make my Bible notes look beautiful, even though I’d never call myself an artist. I only recommend these for journaling, not for Bibles, as the ink is too heavy for Bible pages.
The Tombows in this photo are my most favorite colors. I’ll link them for you below.
And here are some value packs:
Pigma Microns Pens
These pens come in a variety of colors and nib sizes. The nib is the part that you write with, from which the ink flows. The higher the nib number, the thicker the line.
My personal favorite for Bible marking is the 005 and 01. The 005 is really good for underlining or circling verses. It’s very thin so it won’t make it hard to read the words you circle or underline. If you wear prescription glasses, you may find the 01 to be a better option. When I’m not using the 05, I’m typically using the 01 (are sometimes the 03). I like it for journaling in my Bible and in a notebook. I prefer black Microns because that’s my style, but they do come in multiple colors. The green and purple are nice, in my opinion.
Here’s a link to an awesome variety pack. It comes with multiple different nib sizes so you can see which you like best. Definitely the best value!
My favorite journals
Having a good quality notebook makes handwritten notes more special to me. I love filling up a beautiful journal and then looking back through it over time. I’m pretty picky about my journals, so the list is short.
Notebook Therapy
I love using dot grid journals because I can add little stickers or doodles without being distracted by lines. Notebook Therapy offers dot journals in different sizes, colors, and with different cover types. Each journal has a different emblem stamped on the front. I get excited about choosing a new color and emblem each time!
The journal on the right in the above picture is the Tsuki Vintage Rose Pressed Petal Limited Edition Bullet Journal in the size B5. I typically get the size A5, but this time I wanted a larger size for planning issues of Gather in the Garden. For everyday notes or carrying to church, I’d recommend the A5 or even the original size.
Anecdote Hardcover Ruled Journal
This is one of the new notebook to me that I started using recently. It actually comes as a dotted or classic ruled journal. I chose a ruled journal.
The cover is nice and sturdy. The elastic strap to keep it closed is nice too. When I throw it in my diaper bag for church, it hasn’t opened and gotten beat up.
The notebook comes in several different colors. This one is the color Nutmeg. The pages are a warm, cream-yellow, compared to the white pages of Notebook Therapy. Here’s a photo of the two notebooks side by side, so you can see the color difference and the dots and lines.
What journal should you choose for Bible time notes?
Honestly, pick the journal you love most. You don’t need a certain type of journal in order to take good notes. These beautiful journals are my personal favorites, and I’m motivated to show up and write in them. But ultimately, you should feel comfortable picking whatever journal you like the most, regardless of luxury or brand.
Best Resources for Bible study
Beyond writing tools, these study resources help me dive deeper into Scripture. They help to add layers to my Bible study.
When using Bible study tools, it’s important to remember that a study resource does not carry the same authority as the Bible. We can appreciate the people who took the time to develop the tools that help us understand the Bible, but we must compare everything they say to what God says. If a commentary or study resource contradicts what God has said, we must always default to God’s perfect Law. Keep this in mind when you use study resources outside of the Bible.
New Testament Commentary by Wayne Jackson
Over the years, this has been one of my favorite commentaries to aid my studies.
A New Testament Commentary (Third Edition) — by Wayne Jackson
In case you didn’t already know, I’ll put it out there: this commentary is extra special to me because it was written by my grandfather. His memory was a big motivator behind Gather in the Garden (you can click here to read more about that from the Garden Party archives).
Although he’s already reaped his heavenly reward, it is such a treat for me to sit down and read his words. It’s like one last little Bible study with him.
All biases aside, if you’re looking for an easy-to-read commentary that will expand your Bible knowledge, this one would be a wonderful addition to your bookshelf. Each section opens with an introduction to the New Testament book, and then proceeds to break down the Bible text section by section.
ESV Study Bible
This Bible is interesting because it has the Scriptures with study notes from next to it. There’s an introduction to each Bible book put right at the beginning of each book.
Sometimes the study notes provide helpful context for what we’re reading by introducing us to a word in the original language or by explaining a custom of the times. It also has maps, other graphics and illustrations, and a cross-reference column (a cross-reference will show you other parts of the Bible that might relate to what you’re currently reading).
ESV Illuminated Bible
This Bible infuses inspirational artwork into God‘s Word. The cover pages for each Bible book depicts a symbol found in that book (there’s a there’s an explanation for each cover page in the back of the Bible).
I have several copies of this Bible, including a hardback version and a leather version. They also come in individual Bible books. Here is the entire set of individuals, or you can search for each one (type into your search engine, “ESV Illuminated [name of Bible book] Scripture Journal” to locate the Bible book you want).
When I want to gift a Bible to someone special to me, this is what I typically reach for. It’s unique and beautiful, a lovely vessel that holds the perfect words of God.
Digital Tools for Bible Study
Sometimes, I use digital tools to quickly find a scripture reference or to enjoy extra reading time. Take a look at this list.
Bible Hub: What I love most about Bible Hub is how easily I can see verses in different translations. Sometimes, the word choice in a particular translation helps my brain click with God’s Word better.
Another feature I love is being able to view a verse in the original Greek, with a side-by-side of each word in English. Studying Greek might sound complicated, but Bible Hub makes it easy. Understanding the original word adds a layer to our comprehension. It’s like adding a layer of fertilizer to really help the Word take root in our hearts.
Bible App (YouVersion): I primarily use the Bible App for its audio Bible feature. It includes audio for multiple translations and lets you adjust the playback speed. It’s nice to be able to digest the Word more often by listening while I cook, do dishes, or drive.
Although the Bible App has many other features, I really haven’t explored them, so I can’t give an opinion on those other features. But the audio Bible has been extremely useful for me.
This series of Bible marking articles: My mom introduced me to this series of articles years ago. I have an entire Bible that I’ve dedicated to Bible marking chains.
The author, Kathy Pollard, connects Scriptures on a certain topic and provides easy to understand explanations. She guides the reader through the process of adding notes in the Bible to help us fully take root in the topic.
Gather in the Garden Membership: If you need encouragement or you’re looking for group support for your Bible studies, I would love to invite you to consider joining the Gather in the Garden membership. Inside the membership, we have monthly calls where we talk about the scriptures together.
There are discussion forums where we can share our thoughts. Once a quarter, I send out a printable Bible study guide for free. The membership opens January 2025. If you would like to be first on the list and get access to our discounted Faithful Fall prices, click right here to join the email list. I will notify you when the doors to the membership open!
Conclusion
These tools have been essential in my Bible study routine. They help me stay organized, inspired, and engaged in God’s Word. I hope you find them as helpful as I have, and that they encourage you to dive deeper into your own Bible study journey. What tools do you use in your study time? I’d love to hear your favorites in the comments below!
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