We've discussed a lot of tools since the beginning of our podcast, and today Lydia gives a brief overview of how various Bible tools have helped her understand and enjoy the Bible in her daily devotions. 

"I love studying the Bible!" Andy Naselli's joy exuded in this interview on his perspective on the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible. Dr. Naselli was the assistant editor of the study Bible, and in this episode he helps us understand the important qualities it contains and how to read it properly. We hope you "catch" the enjoyment of reading the Bible and that this tool can be of use to you!

The Bible was not written in a bubble. Abraham, Moses, David, and every other mentioned and unmentioned person that lived in ancient times was part of and influenced by their culture. However, now that we are so far removed from this ancient Near Eastern culture, we often forget about the impact it had on the Bible. The Bible was written FOR us, for our salvation and guide to glorify God, but it was not written TO us. It was written to people who think like Babylonians, who interact with Egyptians and Canaanites and Assyrians every day. We must be cautious, then, to not filter what we read through present-day American culture, but to be mindful of how the text would have been received by an Israelite. How do we do this? How can we jump back in time into the minds of these people? The Cultural Study Backgrounds Bible is an excellent place to start. We got the privilege of speaking with Dr. John Walton, who was the general editor for the Old Testament portion of the study Bible. Listen along as he discusses the importance of reading the Bible through its correct cultural lens. 

We learned in episode 3 about the importance of having a quality Bible translation, but what happens when you come to a passage or verse that confuses you? What do you do then? Reading the verse in another translation would be a helpful first step. But, if you are still stuck or would like more information, a study Bible can be another helpful tool. In this episode, we discuss what a study Bible is and how it's helpful, as well as the different types of study Bibles available. We have found study Bibles to be a package deal, offering multiple benefits when reading the Bible, and hope you do, too.