Jubilee School of Ministry 2006 Reference Books
Jubilee School of Ministry 2006
Reference Books
Reference books are there to
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Provide access to the bible text
Provide possible meanings of bible words
Through word meanings, offer interpretations of bible texts
Written by men, they should be used with caution, because they reflect to some degree the judgement
and opinions of men.
I. The Thompson Chain Reference edition of the King James Version
Your first source of information is always the bible itself.
Meaning: Built-In Dictionary of the KJV
For the following, see G.A.Riplinger, In Awe of Thy Word, A.V. Publications Corp., Ararat, VA, 2003
The Bible’s built-in dictionary defines all of its words. The definition of a word may be
 The word next to the word
 In the same verse
 In the preceding or following verse
 Somewhere in the chapter
God teaches by repetition of meanings and concepts!
Word Meanings
Examples:
Deu 1:12 How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?
1Pe 3:10-11 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips
that they speak no guile: (11) Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
Parallel Concepts
Student exercise
Define “Propitiation”
1 John 1:7, 2:1-2, 2:12, 3:5, 3:16, 4:10, 4:14
Romans 3: 22, 24, 25, 28, 30, 31.
Access
Access to scripture verses is through
 General index
 Margin references.
All references lead to reference chains. Each chain contains all or (in the view of the editors) the most
important scripture references to a particular topic. There are over 4,000 reference chains.
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Jubilee School of Ministry 2006 Reference Books
Student exercise
Find scripture references for the term “righteousness,” summarize the overall teaching of the Holy Spirit in
each reference chain.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
Concordance, and a Hebrew and Greek dictionary.
Concordance
Lists every verse in which a given English word appears in the KJV, together with a number (Strong’s
number) that identifies the Hebrew or Greek word translated.
Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries at the end.
Arranged by Strong’s number. Give meanings of the corresponding Hebrew or Greek words.
Find
Student exercise
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List all Strong’s numbers for the word “righteousness”
List the definitions given
Match up with Thompson reference chains
A word of caution:
When using the Strong dictionaries, always consider the context in which the word in question is used.
Don’t apply Strong dictionary meanings out of context.
G.A.Riplinger argues against using any biblical lexicon, because the KJV contains the Holy Spirit’s
lexicon. Men’s lexica are always likely to bring in private interpretations.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary
Largest part on the New Testament
Blend of dictionary and commentary, in the form of short essays
Student exercise
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Look up “righteousness”.
Extract main meanings and references
Compare to Strong’s definitions
Locate Thompson chains
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Contains sequential commentaries for each book of the Bible.
Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Dictionary of common meanings and historical information, not a theological dictionary.
Appendix:
 Chronological Tables
 Life of Christ
 Harmony of the Gospels
 Various Tables
 Four Thousand Questions and Answers on the Old and New Testament, intended for use by
Sunday school teachers (as a teaching aid)
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Jubilee School of Ministry 2006 Reference Books
General Dictionaries: no guide to context
Noah Webster, The American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
Available in e-sword
Lexicons of Early Modern English http://leme.library.utoronto.ca/ .
Student exercise
List Webster’s definitions of righteousness, and the corresponding Thompson chain, if available.
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