The Pastor's Study

[Study Bibles] [Christian Study]

Brief Description:  Like the Scofield, the Thompson Chain Reference Bible has been around for the better part of a century.  It has an extensive chain reference system, plus a very lengthy compilation of the chain verses in the rear, and a number of other study helps and an archeological supplement.  It comes in a variety of sizes, including  huge wide margin (8-1/4" x 10'3/4") and loose-leaf (same size as the wide margin) editions .

Advantages: The reference numbering system linking the verses is quite useful in studying personalities and places.  There are many pages of helps in the back of the Bible covering many different areas of Bible study.   It is set in self pronouncing text, which makes reading, especially the Old Testament, much easier.

Disadvantages:  The Thompson Chain Reference Bible is based on English words, not the Greek and Hebrew words.  This relegates many of the chains to the realm of uselessness.  It is also confused theologically.  The church is part of chains found in the Old Testament, and not explained anywhere.  It virtually ignores Bible prophecy, and fails to define difficult and obscure words. There is a companion book, The Thompson Chain Reference Bible Companion, which is written by a covenantalist, and is also very weak theologically.  The reference system in the Thompson Chain Reference Bible can be quite confusing, as the reference titles are often not what one would think of.

Recommendation:  Why this study Bible has sold so well over the years is a mystery to me.  It has relatively little value as a study tool, it is not based on the original languages, and does not explain anything.  A parallel is how when CD-ROMs first came out for computers, many were just a compilation of scanned in books with no way to search them.  That is how the Thompson Chain looks to me, quite a bit of information is there, but nothing to tie it all together systematically.  The Thompson Chain is not recommended here at all.  I know many fundamentalists revere it, and that is their right.  If anyone thinks I am factually wrong concerning this Bible, please e-mail me.

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