This summer, my church’s adult Bible classes are covering the spiritual disciplines as part of a series called “Your Spiritual Budget.” I’ve been asked to teach a couple of classes on how to study the Bible. Two classes on Bible study is like being asked to drink the Gulf of Mexico through a straw. It’s just not enough.
Meanwhile, I’ve been realizing how far removed I have become from the ordinary pew-sitting Bible student. For example, I don’t think much about what Bible study resources cost because I already own a pretty complete set — and have for decades.
There are tools I found invaluable as a novice that I’ve not thought about in years. I no longer have much use for Nave’s or Thompson’s (to be discussed later) — but they were once core resources for my studies.
On the other hand, I’m pretty much up on the electronic end of the discussion. I use a Kindle, an iPad mini, a laptop, and a PC. I can at least intelligently discuss the choice to go electronic versus paper.
In short, for a very large portion of this series, I’m going to have to rely on the experiences and advice of the readers. When I began serious Bible study back in college, study Bibles did not exist — not like we have today. And there were very few translation options. Things have changed — for the better — but a lot of the change happened too late to help me.
The Media
I first thought I should start with a discussion of Bibles, but before we get there, we really need to decide the extent to which we want to go electronic. Young people today show up at church with no physical Bible, preferring to do their reading on their smartphone, Kindle, or electronic tablet. We old people like the feel of a real, honest-to-God Bible. And a few of us, like me, do a little of both.
Here are key considerations:
* Research shows that we retain more of what we learn from reading on paper. Really. Therefore, although I might not always take it to church, I’d always have a good, paper Bible for personal study.
I use a leather-bound ESV most of time. I have several Bibles, some quite old (like me), but I find myself using electronic versions for comparison. Everything else is built around my ESV Bible. (We’ll discuss translation choices later).
I think it’s worth spending extra money to get top-quality binding. I want a Bible that’ll last me 10 or 20 years. And that means I go to the store and check out the look and feel, rather than buying on Amazon. But for me, that’s just for my main Bible.
* Electronic is cheaper. You can buy Nave’s for Kindle for $1.99. The hardback is $12.86. It doesn’t take too many savings like that to pay for a low-end Kindle. On the other hand, Vine’s Expository Dictionary is actually more expensive on Kindle! Crazy.
Monitor the sales and you can build an impressive library for next to nothing — if you’re patient. I’ve bought most of my electronic commentaries for much more than 60% off. I just wait for the right deal.
* Electronic takes less space. Modern homes have little in the way of bookshelf space, and bookshelves are expensive. Many a preacher has gone electronic to avoid having to move his library to his basement or into storage.
* Electronic doesn’t wear out. Books decay and rot. Bindings break. Electronic is forever — if you have a system that stores your purchases on a server in the cloud and if your book provider doesn’t go broke.
All my Kindle purchases are safely stored for free on Amazon’s servers — but if Amazon goes bust, only my local copies will remain available, and then only for as long as software supports them.
* Real books don’t obsolesce. If you bought electronic books for QuickVerse 1988, you can no longer read those books on modern software. Most software companies happily upgrade you to newer operating systems — if you buy their new software. But if you want to buy a book and never spend money on it again, well, buy a paper book. The electronic one will have to be upgraded at some cost at some point in the future.
* Electronic books are just so portable. I can take my iPad-mini to the beach and have nearly every commentary and other Bible resource I own available if I care to download it. For no extra charge. I can check the preacher’s sermon against the best commentaries while I sit in the pew. I can dig out Greek declensions during communion (not that I’d ever do that) at will, for free.
* Not every book is available electronically. Not every book is available on paper.
* Electronic software is not mutually compatible. You may have to use several programs. Buy a super-cheap resource on Kindle, and you won’t be able to use it in Logos or Accordance (Bible software packages). Buy it through Logos, and you won’t be able to read it on your Paperwhite Kindle. Buy it through iTunes and you won’t be able to read (or cut and paste) on your PC.
* Electronic texts have these nifty (did I just date myself?) features —
— You can electronically search for words. In Bible software, you can search for verses.
— You can cut and paste into your blog, sermon notes, Bible class notes, or whatever.
— You can electronically highlight and annotate — and then search for your comments later. And you’ll be able to read your notes.
— You can more easily share materials with others. Copyright laws still limit you, but it’s so much easier to cut and paste text into an email to discuss with a friend than to do the same thing by hand. I mean, you can’t do the same thing by hand.
I think a tablet reader pays for itself very quickly, and I have most of my Bible resources in electronic form. I may live to regret it, but I’m out of shelf space and, for a blogger, it’s really the only way to go. I’m just not a good enough typist to retype quotations easily. I need the ability to cut and paste.
And to search. I mean, I search text electronically constantly. It’s a huge time saver.
By going largely electronic, I have saved money and made myself vastly more efficient in my studies. But if some of these publishers go out of business, I’m toast. Or if Windows comes out with a major upgrade that requires all new software, I just hope I’m in a position to afford the upgrade when it happens. But my wife has refused any more shelf space …
