Below are some recommended study tools that our director and teachers have found helpful. We plan to update this page about once a month. The ones in bold are especially useful for our hermeneutics/homiletics track, which goes through the New Testament epistle of Philippians.
- Blue Letter Bible – search multiple translations & access a number of study tools
- E-sword - www.e-sword.net (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) - free Bible study software and free downloads of multiple translations (including KJV with Strong’s reference numbers), Bible dictionaries, commentaries, concordances, and other reference tools and helps
Original Language to English Concordances
- The Englishman’s Hebrew-English Concordance* (for free version, including .pdf download link, click here)
- The Englishman’s Greek-English Concordance* (for free version, including .pdf download link,click here)
English Concordances
- Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance*
- Young’s Analytical Concordance (better organized for efficient word studies)
Lexicons
- Hebrew – Brown Driver Briggs* (link to online lexicon based on BDB)
- Greek – Thayer* (link to online lexicon based on Thayer’s, others)
Other Helpful Reference Works
- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia online (free, searchable) (Click here for the entries related to Philippians)
- 41 Free Powerpoint Bible Maps (Click here for a map of Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey)
- King James Dictionary – definitions of over 800 words in the KJV that are no longer used or have changed meaning in modern English
- The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge* (helpful for finding relevant cross-references and biblical illustrations)
- Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (click here to search the NT words online)
- Wikipedia article on Philippi (use Wikipedia with discretion and a big grain of salt, since not all information in articles is always verified for accuracy)
Commentaries on Philippians
Exegetical Commentaries (This type of commentary may be consulted in the early stages of the study to help with historical and literary context, textual issues and meanings of words, etc.)
Other Commentaries (Expositional and homiletical commentaries should only be consulted after the preacher has done the hard work of locating the context of the passage and analyzing the text; exposing oneself to others’ comments too early in the study process can influence what one sees or does not see in the text, since it may hinder one from forming his own questions and doing his own research.)
- Albert Barnes’ Notes
- James Montgomery Boice, Philippians: an Expositional Commentary
- John Calvin
- D. A. Carson, Basics for Believers: an Exposition of Philippians
- Sinclair Ferguson, Let’s Study Philippians (study guide)
- John Gill* (free online: chapter 1; chapter 2; chapter 3; chapter 4)
- Matthew Henry*
- R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: the Fellowship of the Gospel
- John MacArthur, Philippians (also, search Philippians resources by clicking here)
- J. A. Motyer, The Message of Philippians
- A. T. Robertson, Paul’s Joy in Christ: Studies in Philippians (free .pdf file of this book)
- A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the Greek New Testament
- Warren Wiersbe, Be Joyful
- Homer Kent in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary set
- William Hendriksen in Baker’s New Testament Commentary set
- Large list of links to Philippians resources at www.monergism.com
* included free in the E-Sword program. The Englishman’s Hebrew/Greek-English Concordances are under the “KJC” tab
More Resources on…
Hermeneutics (Bible study methods)
- Daniel M. Doriani, Getting the Message
- Daniel M. Doriani, Putting the Truth to Work: the Theory and Practice of Biblical Application
- J. Scott Duvall & J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word (book and workbook)
- Howard Hendricks, Living by the Book
- Robert H. Stein, A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible
- Roy B. Zuck, Basic Bible Interpretation
- BibleArc.com – graphical exegesis (how to analyze and diagram Scripture; includes video tutorials)
- Precept Austin – helpful instruction on inductive Bible study, links to many commentaries
Homiletics (preaching)
- Feed My Sheep: a Passionate Plea for Preaching
(Includes contributions by R. Albert Mohler Jr., James Montgomery Boice, Derek W. H. Thomas, Joel R. Beeke, R. C. Sproul, Sinclair Ferguson, Don Kistler, Erik J. Alexander, John Piper, and John MacArthur)
- Michael Fabarez, Preaching That Changes Lives
- Ramesh Richard, Preparing Expository Sermons
- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers
- John MacArthur, ed., Preaching: How to Preach Biblically (formerly titled Rediscovering Expository Preaching)
- John Stott, Between Two Worlds: the Challenge of Preaching Today
- “Sermon Preparation” by Mark Dever (preparing an expositional sermon; free .mp3 message)
- “Principles of Preparation and Normal Practices for Preaching at First Presbyterian Church” by J. Ligon Duncan III (free .mp3 message)
- “Preaching from the Old Testament” by J. Ligon Duncan III (free .mp3 message)
- Sermon Critique Form (developed by Pastor D. Scott Meadows/Calvary Baptist Church, Exeter, New Hampshire-used by permission) (Word document) (.pdf file)
- “Investing in Sermon Titles” by David Murray (short, helpful article)
- “Why Expositional Preaching Is Particularly Glorifying to God” by John Piper (free audio .mp3, as well as free video download and sermon summary)
- “How I Prepare an Expository Sermon” by Steve Weaver
- “A Sermon Preparation Checklist” by Hershael York (free .mp3 message from 2007 Power in the Pulpit Conference)
- “Unashamed Workman” weblog
- Q&A about preaching at 9Marks.org
- Online tutorial (“Sermon Builder”) at Shepherds Fellowship (requires registration, but is free)
The Preacher’s Walk with God (including spiritual disciplines)
- D. A. Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers
- R. Kent Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man
- Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
- Warren Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis
- www.biblicalspirituality.org - helpful resources from Dr. Donald S. Whitney
Theological Issues (these are helpful resources for researching the CAPS essay topics)
The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible
- Why We Believe in the Bible by John Piper (free downloadable booklet)
- Inspiration, Infallibility, and Innerrancy by R. C. Sproul (lecture for purchase)
The Trinity
- Bruce Ware, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, Relevance
- James R. White, The Forgotten Trinity
The Death of Christ
- Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, & Andrew Sach, Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution
- “Why Do They Hate It So? The Doctrine of Substitution” by Albert Mohler (free .mp3 message)
- “The Curse Motif of the Atonement” by R. C. Sproul (free .mp3 message)
The Relationship of Faith to Works
- John MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus (2008 edition or 1994 edition preferred – expands on the 1988 edition)
- David M. Doran, “Decisions or Disciples? Is There a Difference and Does It Really Matter?” (free .mp3 audio)
- John Piper, “Did Jesus Preach Paul’s Gospel?” (free video) (free .mp3 audio)
Counseling
- Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF)
- National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC)
- Strengthening Ministries International (Dr. Wayne Mack) - free counseling resources
- The Center for Biblical Counseling (Dr. Stuart Scott) - resources - links
Apologetics/Worldview
- www.carm.org - Christian Apologetics and Research Ministries
Expository Preachers
Links to some nationally known preachers committed to expository preaching through books of the Bible (many have free .mp3 downloads of messages)
- Alistair Begg (Parkside Church, Cleveland, Ohio)
- Stephen Davey (Colonial Baptist, Cary, North Carolina)
- Mark Dever & other pastors (Capitol Hill Baptist, Washington, D.C.) (Dever: Overview Sermon on Philippians; Assoc. Pastor Michael Lawrence on Philippians: 1:1-11; 1:12-30; 2:1-18; 2:19-30; 3:1-11; 3:17-4:1; 4:2-23)
- J. Ligon Duncan III (First Presbyterian, Jackson, Mississippi) (sermons from Philippians chapters 1 & 2 andchapters 3 & 4)
- Steve Lawson (Christ Fellowship Baptist Church, Mobile, Alabama)
- John MacArthur (Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California) (sermons from Philippians 1:1-2:2; from2:2-18; from 2:19-3:21; from 4:1-23)
- Russell Moore (Highview Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky) – some real attention-getting titles, too!
- John Piper (Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota) (sermons from Philippians)
- Chuck Swindoll (Stonebrier Community Church, Frisco, Texas) (sermons from Philippians)
- Hershael York (Buck Run Baptist Church, Frankfort, Kentucky)
DISCLAIMER: The requirement or recommendation of resources, such as books, articles, and audio/video messages, in no way implies a full endorsement of the totality of the materials themselves or of all the views of their authors by the instructor, director, CAPS, Bancroft Gospel Ministry, or any church affiliated with these ministries.
