How to Use a Study Bible: Getting Started with the ESV Study Bible

So, you’ve decided to take your faith seriously, and you’ve just purchased a brand new Study Bible.

You take it out of the box, feeling excited. But when you finally open it, your excitement turns into mild panic. The book is massive. The text is surrounded by tiny letters, superscript numbers, a mysterious column running down the middle of the page, and thousands of dense footnotes at the bottom.

It looks less like a storybook and more like an advanced university textbook.

If you are feeling intimidated, take a deep breath. You are not alone! A Study Bible is the single greatest tool you can own for understanding scripture, but it requires a quick lesson on how to "drive" it.

Using the gold-standard ESV Study Bible as our guide, here is a beginner-friendly breakdown of exactly how to navigate your new Bible without getting overwhelmed.

Step 1: The Book Introductions (Before You Read)

If you bought a novel, you wouldn't start reading on chapter 12 without knowing who the characters were. The same is true for the Bible!

Before chapter 1 of any book in a Study Bible, you will find a Book Introduction. Do not skip this! It is arguably the most valuable part of the entire Bible. It will tell you:

• Who wrote the book.
• When it was written.
• Who the original audience was.
• Why it was written (the main themes).

Pro-Tip: If you read the introduction to Philippians, you will discover the Apostle Paul wrote it while chained to a wall in a Roman prison. Knowing that historical fact completely changes the way you read his famous command to "Rejoice in the Lord always"!

Step 2: The Study Notes (The Bottom Half)

Look at a standard page in your Study Bible. There is a solid black line horizontally cutting the page in two.

• Above the line: This is the actual, inspired Word of God.
• Below the line: This is human commentary written by modern scholars.

If you read a verse at the top (for example, John 3:16) and think, "What does that mean?", simply drop your eyes to the bottom section and look for the bold number 3:16. There, you will find a paragraph explaining the historical context, the Greek translation, or the theological meaning of that specific verse.

Pro-Tip: You do not have to read every single study note! If you do, you will exhaust yourself. Read the scripture at the top first. Only look down at the notes when you are confused or curious.

Step 3: The Cross-References (The Centre Column)

This is the feature that confuses beginners the most. Down the very centre of the page, you will see a tiny, skinny column filled with abbreviations like (Rom. 5:8) or (Gen. 1:1).

These are Cross-References.

The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible. Because the Bible is one unified story, verses constantly echo and reference each other.

1. If you look closely at the biblical text, you will sometimes see a tiny, superscript letter next to a word (like this: grace^a).
2. Look at the centre column for that exact verse number and find the letter "a".
3. It will list another book of the Bible. If you turn to that page, you will find another verse talking about the exact same topic! It is like an ancient hyperlink connecting the whole Bible together.

Step 4: The Maps and Articles (The Back of the Book)

Don't forget to look at the very back of your Study Bible!

When you read about Jesus travelling from Galilee to Jerusalem, it's hard to know if that is a 10-minute walk or a two-week hike. The back of your ESV Study Bible features an extensive collection of full-colour maps.

You will also find incredible theological articles. If you have tough questions about other world religions, how we know the Bible is historically reliable, or what the Bible says about ethics, flip to the back. It is packed with dozens of essays written by top theologians designed to answer your hardest questions.

Give Yourself Grace

A Study Bible is a lifelong investment. You aren't supposed to memorise it all in a month! Start small. Pick one book (like the Gospel of Mark), read the introduction, and read just one heading at a time, checking the notes only when you need a guide.

You now have a seminary professor sitting on your desk, ready to help you uncover the riches of God's Word.

Explore the ESV Study Bible and our full collection of Study Bibles Here →

If you aren’t sure which Bible to get, there are a few ways we can help.

1. Try the Bible Finder: We’ve put together a simple way to filter down to the perfect Bible for you. Just choose a translation, pick the features you want and select a comfortable text size. You can try the Bible Finder here.
2. Read more from the Blog: We are always adding new guides, insights and articles that explore ways of understanding the different Bibles available today, as well as how to make your decision. Read our Bible posts today
3. Read our Book: Over the years, we’ve explored hundreds of topics and questions about knowing which Bible to get. We’ve compiled all that information into an easy-to-read eBook that is completely free to download. Download our book “How to Choose Your Bible” today.