The Joy of Discovery

It’s been said that God’s workers pass on, but God’s work carries on. This is evident in the legacy of Frank Charles Thompson, creator of the Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible (TCRB). Frank Charles Thompson is not an everyday household name. Yet the study Bible that he began to develop in the late 1800s is known today around the world. The TCRB is one of the oldest and most enduring study Bibles on the market, having been in print in some form for nearly 120 years. The TCRB is truly a goldmine of biblical wealth. It is a miniature theological library in a single volume—a mobile Bible institute. It is like a powerful Bible software program, but in “hardware” form. Some of the outstanding features of this valued study tool include: • Over 100,000 topical references • Over 4,200 Chain Topics (nearly 8,000 if one counts the subtopics!) • Character studies • Outline studies for each book of the Bible • Journey maps of biblical characters • Biblical Atlas • Concordance My dad gave me my first Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible (TCRB) when I was fifteen years old. The leather binding is cracked from age. The pages are brittle and worn. Verses are underlined. Comments are scribbled in the margin. One may get the impression that I was a scholar in the making at such a young age! Yet that is far from the truth. Like so many who own a TCRB, I really had no idea how to use it! The multitude of topics and numbers in the margins looked impressive, if not scholarly! But the seemingly daunting task of learning the system and benefiting from the limitless possibilities of comparing Scripture with Scripture was a bit overwhelming—especially for a teen. Like many, I continued to use this Bible as any other Bible—reading the biblical text all the while ignoring the wealth of information provided by the author’s years of research. Now, fast-forward some fifty years . . . Having served as both a pastor and missionary in the United States and Europe, I was invited to attend a pastoral training seminar in Dakar, Senegal in the summer of 2014. There, I had the privilege of translating into French the instruction given by Pastor Chuck Ballard, the Director of African Pastoral Training Ministries. This ministry uses the TCRB as its primary training tool to help pastors and church leaders study and faithfully expound the Scriptures. As I translated the instructor's words, God transformed my understanding of this unequaled tool for studying and preaching the Scriptures. From that day on, I began to use the TCRB as my primary tool of biblical research and sermon preparation. And not only that, but I’ve also had the joy of helping thousands of others understand how to use the TCRB in their personal lives and ministries. Wherever I teach, I hear the refrain time and again, “I’ve owned a Thompson Bible for years, but I don’t know how to use it!” It is estimated that since its first publication, more than five million Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles have been sold. But my guess is that only a fraction of those who own this unique study tool know how to take full advantage of its useful resources. Thus, the reason for this companion guide to the TCRB. This study Bible is one-of-a-kind. As English speakers we read our Bible from left to right. When I studied Hebrew, the original language of the Old Testament, I learned to read from right to left. However, some who own one of the many typical study Bibles available today, read from the bottom up! The commentary on the bottom of the page can easily become more important than the biblical text in the middle of the page! Dr. Frank Charles Thompson recognized this tendency, long before the production of the plethora of study Bibles available today. In his own words, he writes: Many Christians are satisfied to receive all their truth filtered through the mind of a teacher, minister, or commentator, seldom, or never, going to the Book of Books for independent study. They inevitably become mere echoes of the opinions of others . . . It is a great day for a little child when he learns to feed himself; so it becomes a new era in a believer’s life when he forms the habit of going daily to the original sources of spiritual truth for his own personal nourishment. (TCRB, Principles of Bible Study in the Comprehensive Bible Helps.) A well-known African adage says, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a meal. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Spiritually speaking, both are needed. Pastors and teachers must “give a man a fish” by preparing delectable meals from God’s Word for those under their care. However, at the same time they need to “teach a man to fish” by equipping believers to study the Scriptures for themselves. Otherwise, believers remain in the infancy stage of being spoon-fed spiritual truth rather than moving on to the point of maturity where they in turn can teach others (Hebrews 5:12). I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “If all else fails, read the instructions!” From its earliest editions, the TCRB has offered simple instructions for its effective use. But many owners of the TCRB are either unaware of the explanations that are already included in their Bible or choose to ignore the instructions thinking that they can figure it out on their own! Another problem is that these instructions are rather limited and do not offer specific exercises enabling the student to practice what is explained. So, if all else fails, read the instructions! Moreover, practice what you read! That is the purpose of this companion guide to the TCRB. My prayer is that this guide will help you experience the profound joy of discovery as one who meditates day and night on God’s Word (Psalm 1).