The Bible Study Glossary covers all the terms used on the website and those in common use in relation to Bible Reading, Bible Study and Prayer. The listing is arranged alphabetically with any numbered entries at the end of the listing.
- Links to other terms in the Glossary are shown in BOLD letters.
- Links to other Pages or posts are shown in green
- The terms Word of God, Scripture and Bible are interchangeable
BIBLE STUDY GLOSSARY A – M
BIBLE BOOK ABBREVIATIONS
The titles of the individual books of the Bible are often abbreviated below is the list of the ones most commonly used
BIBLE BOOK TYPES
The Books of the Bible can be grouped in the following way:
OLD TESTAMENT
The Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
History:Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther
Poetry: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon
Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel
Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi
NEW TESTAMENT
Biographical: Mathew, Mark, Luke and John
Historical: Acts
Pauline Epistles: Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Hebrews
(although the writer of Hebrews is believed to be but not named as Paul)
General Epistles: James, 1&2 Peter, 1,2&3 John, Jude
Prophetical: Revelations
BIBLE CHAPTER & VERSE DIVISION
When originally written the Bible had no divisions. In a move towards making it easier to locate certain passages the Chapter divisions were added during the 13th Century. The Chapters were then divided into verses by the end of the 15th Century. The credit for these divisions varies according to the source of information.
BIBLE DICTIONARY
A practical reference book that lists definitions of Bible words and proper names. Often combined with an encyclopaedia. The editions available are often named after the compiler such as Fausset, Easton, and Smith
BIBLE STUDY
Going beyond just reading the Word of God, so as to gain a greater understanding of the Bible, a variety of methods can be used. Read How To Choose a Bible Study for more information They vary in complexity, with some studies being devotional ie aid worship.
CONTEXT
Reading a verse, passage or chapter in context means taking into account the surrounding written information, and understanding the intent of the writer. As well as the historical, geographical and cultural background.
CROSS REFERENCES :
These are the links shown for the verse being read ie references to other passages of the Bible. Book names are usually abbreviated. The references fall into one of three categories:-
- Parallel – in other words almost a copy of the verse it is linked to
- Illustrative – a similar verse that throws light onto the verse you are studying
- Contrasting – a verse which gives an alternative view of the one you are studying
CONCORDANCE
List references to other passages in the Bible that are commonly associated with the one being read – as found in Reference Bibles. Exhaustive Concordances show every verse where the same word is used, All the verses are listed in Bible book order
DEVOTIONAL
Reading guide, booklet or book suggesting passages of Scripture to be read. The readings may be designated for a number of days or a collection around a particular theme. They may or may not have the compilers thoughts or comments on the passages too.
DEVOTIONS
The time spent alone with God in prayer, worship,
JUSTIFICATION, JUSTIFIED
Justification is about having right legal standing before God ie the believer cleansed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The believe can stand before God “just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned” See also PROPITIATION and SALVATION
MEDITATE
Nothing to do with emptying your mind. Biblical meditation is pondering, mulling over or simply thinking about the passage being read or studied. If you can spend time ‘worrying’ you already have the ability to meditate! The difference being biblical meditation has a positive outcome – a deeper understanding.
NAVES TOPICAL BIBLE
Compiled by James Orville Nave This Topical concordance of the Bible has references to over 20,000 biblical topics and is a useful volume to have access to if a Topical Bible Study is being undertaken.
PARAPHRASE
Translating the Bible into your own words as part of a Bible Study method. This term also applies to such Bibles as the Message, and the Good News Bible, these are the thought for thought translations of the compiler and therefore subject to his/her own understanding of the text rather than the accurate translation of the word meanings.
PRAYER TIME
The time spent alone with God in prayer, worship and Bible reading. Sometimes referred to as DEVOTIONS or QUIET TIME. Often undertaken on the recommended basis of a daily time, early in the day if possible. Not to be confused with Bible Study time although prompts to the next Bible study to undertake can come as a result of something read in this time alone with God
PROPITIATION
The sacrifice that bears God’s wrath for all time, and so changes it to His favour. Hence Jesus dying in the place of each and every one of us has changed God’s wrath into favour for all who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. See also JUSTIFICATION and SALVATION
QUIET TIME
The time spent alone with God in prayer, worship and Bible reading. Sometimes referred to as DEVOTIONS or PRAYER TIME daily time, early in the day if possible. Not to be confused with spending time doing a Bible Study, although prompts for the next Bible study to undertake can come as a result of something read in this time alone with God.
READING PLAN
A prescribed course of Bible readings usually over a set period of time. There are many plans available online. Plans can be to read the whole Bible in 90, 365 days or more, in a variety of ways: read in Book order, Chronologically, Old Testament in the morning with New
SALVATION
Is the plan by which a person may be saved from God’s wrath and condemnation through believing in Jesus Christ as their personal saviour. Inviting Him to dwell in their heart and walking with Him day by day. See also PROPITIATION and JUSTIFICATION
STUDY PLAN
This may be a printed plan directing a Study or a workbook of a Bible study to be completed by the reader
TOPIC
A Bible study looking at a Topic across some or all of the books of the Bible. eg Weights and Measures, the work of the Holy Spirit, the Attributes of God
TORREY’S TOPICAL TEXT BOOK
Compiled by Rev R A Torrey in the 19th century this is a concordance of topics found in the Bible. It is arranged by subject and the book contains 628 entries and over 20,000 scripture references.
TREASURY OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE or TSK
This book shows cross-references for every verse of the Bible. The TSK is arranged like a Bible, beginning at Genesis and ending at Revelation but only the cross references are shown (no Bible Text). The cross-references enable the reader to gain a better sense of each word and phrase as it is used. Although the TSK was first published around 1830 by Samuel Bagster, it is still printed and in use today
VERSE CHARTING
A Bible Study method concentrating on the study of a short passage of Scripture, usually 8-10 verses read a Guide to Bible Verse Charting study
VERSE MAPPING
A devotional method focussing usually on a single verse and recording all the thoughts and discoveries associated from that verse graphically. You can read more about Verse Mapping HERE
5 W’s + H:
The W refers to the questions Who? What? Where? When? and Why? and the H is for How? which can be applied to any Bible Book, Chapter or verse. It is an easily remembered set of questions for looking more closely at the text you are studying
