A Special Report from Glenn Brooke,
Author of the Premiere guide to Bible teaching,
Teach the Bible to Change Lives

Why Every Bible Teacher Should Use a Thompson’s Chain-Reference Bible

Dear friend,

The question I’ve been asked repeatedly, from thousands of Bible teachers across the United States, is this:

"What Study Bible should I use?"

I asked that question myself when I was a new believer and burning with desire to study and understand God's Word.  I went in to the local Christian bookstore and thumbed through the four different study Bible they had on the shelf.  (This was in 1985 -- today it's downright bewildering, there are so many!)  So I asked the lady behind the counter what she thought.  She peered at me over her reading glasses, and asked me  

"Do you want baby food, or are you ready for meat?"

I was startled because this wasn't what I expected to hear from a salesperson.  But screwing up some courage inside, I told her I wanted meat (though I don't think I really understood what she meant at the time).  

"Then there's only one study Bible to choose."  Then she handed me a Thompson's Chain-Reference Bible and showed me how to start using it..  I thank the Lord for using that lady to steer me into the best Bible study resource ever created!  

The Study Bible I use most regularly and
recommend to every Bible teacher is
the Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible.

Thompson was committed to a very high level of scholarship and firmly believed that Scripture should be used to interpret Scripture.  So instead of theological footnotes, Thompson linked a passage to others with related themes, so you can easily study them together.  He doesn’t tell you “the answer.”  Ever.  He does point you to other Scripture passages you should look at as you seek to understand and comprehend a passage. 

Thompson created a tool that sharpens you, because you have to put in a little time and thought.  This investment of yourself yields fabulous returns. 

I’ve watched Bible students look up answers to their questions in the footnotes of the typical study Bible.  They get the answer, and then usually forget it, or don’t see how to apply it elsewhere.   In contrast, Thompson’s users have a very high retention rate for what they study.  I believe the difference is that Thompson’s requires you to put a little work into it – and the information sticks.

There are pin questions and window questions.  Pin questions have a definite answer.  “What book of the Bible did you study in your personal devotions this morning” is a pin question.  Window questions open your mind to new ideas and extend thinking out further.  “What did God teach you through the Word this morning that connects to other things he is doing in your life this year?” is a windowquestion.

Good teachers ask a mix of pin and window questions.  Great Bible teachers ask more window questions than typical teachers.  The Thompson’s Chain-Reference Bible overflows with window questions.  It will enrich you enormously because you have to be engaged to work towards answers.

In addition to the chain-reference system, the extra helps in the Bible are terrific.  Most people won’t need a separate Bible atlas, dictionary, or additional commentary.  Here are some of the 75 helps included:

• Alphabetical index of Chain Topics (over 7,000 marginal topics and reference chains)
• Concordance to help you find any verse
• Harmony of the Gospels
• Detailed Archeology section, with many pictures
• Bible atlas of detailed maps
• Biographies of key Bible characters
• Outline study of every book in the Bible – this is a huge help for teachers!
• Glossary and Pronunciation guide
• Many Charts and diagrams (e.g., of the
• Listing of Messianic prophecies
• Recommended topical studies

There is one key thing missing from the Thompson’s Chain-Reference Study Bible: footnotes like you see in the NIV Study Bible where the editorial team tries to explain things that might be confusing, provide you with theological commentary, and list questions that might come up. 

Here’s how I think about it: There is no spoon-feeding with Thompson’s.  And there is no theological bias.  With other study Bibles you get a fair amount of someone’s opinion or interpretation.   

(By the way, there’s a serious danger about study Bibles, which I go into in detail in my ebook, Teach the Bible to Change Lives.  Basically you are tempted to spend at least as much time in the study notes as you do in the biblical text itself.  This interferes with solid study under the Lord’s direction.)

Ready to invest in a superior, time-tested, battle-hardened tool that has served generations of Bible teachers well?  Here are some specific recommendations.  

1. Fabulous bargain in hardcover (it's a reference book, not a regular-use devotional Bible, so a quality hardcover will still be an heirloom for you children some day.)  At this writing, CBD was charging on $33 for this book -- what a deal!

NIV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, Hardcover By B. B. Kirkbride This red-letter hardcover features the easy-to-use chain reference system that links all verses on the vital topics of the Bible (over 10,000 topical references!), 16 pages of exclusive full-color maps, 30 journey maps and Bible harmonies, 73-page archaeological supplement (with 57 photos), outline studies of every Bible book and prominent character, 198-page index of chain topics, and a 176-page concordance. 1877 pages, double-column, 6'' x 9.25" x 1.5". 2nd edition, from B.B. Kirkbride.

2. If you are looking for a leather-bound Bible, truly a quality product at a great price, check out this edition. This was listing for $68 at the time I wrote this report.

NIV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, Genuine leather, Black By B. B. Kirkbride The most complete study Bible available. Based on a lifetime of study and compilation by Dr. Frank C. Thompson, The Thompson Chain-Reference Study bible is a library of Bible study helps in a single volume. More than 100,000 Bible verses are referenced by name, place, or topical theme. Each referenced verse topic is clearly identified in the margin to direct the user to related verses or similar topics. More than 8,000 topics are covered by referenced verses. Comprehensive helps are organized into 10 major sections for easy use. More than 75 unique features offer assistance with basic Bible information, devotional and study aids, and application of Bible teachings to personal and group settings.

Other Translations available, too!

You can get a Thompson’s Chain-Reference Bible in several translations: KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV, and even in Spanish now.  Hallelujah!

(Why am I recommending the NIV translation?  Simple reason – most of my students use an NIV translation Bible, and it’s the most common one in my home church. Zondervan estimates about 1/3 of evangelical Christians are using the NIV translation regularly. I want to teach in the same translation that the majority of my students are reading in.)

So my answer to the question of what Study Bible to use is clear:
every great Bible teachers needs a Thompson’s Chain-Reference Bible. 

Teach to change lives!

Glenn Brooke
June 23, 2005

If you enjoy this report, then check out
the collection of free reports and articles from Brooke Associates at

http://www.teachtochangelives.com/reports.htm