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Bible Gateway Plus Resource Profile
Bible Gateway Plus Resource Profile
The following is a description of all Bible reference resources available to you with your Bible Gateway Plus membership. Each resource can be read next to any Bible translation on Bible Gateway. (Also read the Bible Gateway Blog article, Explore the Many Ways Bible Gateway Helps You Study the Bible.)
This chart is sorted in alphabetical order by resource title and can be printed for easy reference. While each resource below includes brief notes and recommendations for optimum Bible study scenarios, we encourage you to use this information as a guide to fully explore the rich benefits you’ll find in the Bible Gateway Plus study library. (When a new reference work is added to the library, it will be added here as well.)
Each resource title is linked to a Scripture passage page on Bible Gateway that will—with your Bible Gateway Membership—automatically open the RESOURCES tab to a note or set of notes from that resource.
This page is a great way to start exploring Bible Gateway Plus!
| Resources | Classification | Explanation | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Believer's Bible Commentary | Commentary | Concise and thorough, this commentary covers every verse of the Bible and supplies a clear understanding of the text using a balanced approach. | A great one-stop reference point for any level of Bible reading. Leads well into heavier commentaries, such as the Expositor's Bible Commentary or the Zondervan Bible Commentary. |
| Bible Gateway Atlas | Map | The Bible Gateway Plus Atlas features scrollable, zoomable, interactive satellite maps that help you orient your understanding of the location of places mentioned in the Bible as you’re reading Scripture. | Quickly gain your biblical geographical bearings when reading Bible passages. You'll find an explanation of how to use the atlas maps here. |
| CSB Tony Evans Study Bible | Study Bible | Study Scripture with the vivid insight of Dr. Tony Evans, founder & senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, and founder & president of The Urban Alternative. Dr. Evans explains God’s Word in a fresh way to help you live according to the values of God’s kingdom. | These study notes include book introductions, videos summarizing each of the 66 books of the Bible, “Kingdom Living” lessons, application questions-and-answers on key passages, words of hope, inspirational articles, and life applications. |
| Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times | Dictionary | If books such as Jeremiah and Revelation seem daunting, this is a comprehensive reference tool designed to assist readers in understanding biblical prophecy. | Like the Quest Study Bible, this resource is especially useful as a quick reference to confusing or controversial passages. |
| Essential Bible Companion | Commentary | A single-note system for each book of the Bible annotated with image-heavy notes and orientating data, including timelines, charts, and maps. | Pairs well with word/language study tool: The Essential Bible Dictionary. |
| Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms | Commentary | Useful for understanding the meaning, background, context, and practical application of all 150 Psalms. | Pairs well with word/language study tool: The Essential Bible Dictionary. |
| Essential Bible Dictionary | Dictionary | A concise reference work consisting of words, places, people, and themes alongside biblical text (found nearly at the bottom of the RESOURCES tab). | Especially useful for its frequent use of images, illustrations, and maps. |
| ESV Global Study Bible | Study Bible | This unique study Bible’s reference notes call attention to global themes found in each book of Scripture, highlighting cross-cultural ministry and providing a greater understanding of global Christianity. | Each book begins with an introduction, followed by an insightful description of the global message of the book. And nearly 900 Bible facts are interspersed throughout the notes. |
| Expositor's Bible Commentary - Abridged Edition: Old Testament/New Testament | Commentaries | Verse-by-verse exposition written by 52 top Bible scholars make this award-winning work a vital and popular resource in Bible Gateway Plus. | With notes on practically every verse, this Bible reference is versatile and as useful for personal studies as for scholarly research. |
| Gospel Awakening: Sermons of D. L. Moody | Sermon | Complete sermons from D. L. Moody linked to specific verses offer educational, historic, and frankly spellbinding ways of spending a Sunday afternoon. | Keep an eye open for the Sermons category toward the bottom of the RESOURCES tab. Occasional Gospel Awakening sermons are valuable treasures in the Bible Gateway Plus experience. You'll find a complete list of verse references where these sermons are found here. |
| Halley's Bible Handbook Notes | Commentary | This Bible handbook, useful for its clarity and simplicity, makes Scripture's wisdom and message accessible to those at any stage of faith, with clear layouts that are convenient for shorter, more focused study sessions. | Individual notes tend not to be overly long or technical, making this a good starting point if you’re new to Bible commentaries. |
| How to Read the Bible Book by Book | Commentary | This handy resource provides guided tours of Bible books and key insights on how each book fits into the grand narrative of the Bible. | Systematic book overviews and specific advice for reading books of the Bible make this a good starting point for any level of biblical study. |
| How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens | Commentary | Explains the themes and delves into pertinent questions about the contemporary importance of every book of the Bible. | A great entry point into a book of the Bible you may be unfamiliar with, but it's also a practical place to start learning how to use Bible Gateway Plus because of its single-note-per-book simplicity and its questions for further consideration. Pairs well with the commentary notes from How to Read the Bible Book by Book. |
| King James Study Bible Notes | Study Bible | Dependable notes and annotations that clearly present a conservative biblical doctrine, this reference pairs verse-by-verse notes with key articles on thematic discourse. | Those whose preferred Bible translation is the King James Version will find these notes a clarifying accompaniment to scriptural text. |
| Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words | Dictionary | The ability for Bible readers at any level to pry into the etymological and contextual meaning of specific words makes this resource essential for a holistic approach to Bible study. | Ideal for anyone who wishes to bolster their knowledge of Greek or Hebrew or who want greater insight into the meaning of biblical words to enhance their Bible study. |
| NASB Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes | Study Bible | Available in both the NASB and NKJV, these notes deliver Dr. Stanley's Life Lessons series in a homily-style coloration to biblical text. | Effective for personal and small group studies to glean broad biblical understanding and lessons for practical application. |
| New Bible Commentary | Commentary | The concise, evangelical annotations in this popular reference are collected from many established scholars to meet the needs of students, teachers, and Bible readers. | As a complete, single-volume commentary, this resource is easily accessible for any degree of biblical analysis. |
| New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (Abridged) | Dictionary | Offers a wealth of background and information on the meaning of Greek words in the New Testament with entries and arranged in Greek alphabetic order. All Greek words are transliterated into English and linked with their Goodrick/Kohlenberger numbers. | Primarily useful for pastors, students, scholars, teachers, and all who wish to perform in-depth exegesis on biblical text. |
| New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters | Encyclopedia | An exhaustive, ready reference of every person named in the Bible. Entries range from one-line biblical references for minor characters to full-length articles that address the theological significance of over 40 major figures. | Helpful when investigating the life lessons learned by individuals in the Bible. |
| New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties | Encyclopedia | Notes provide informed answers concerning linguistic, cultural, numerical, and relational considerations in the Bible. | Useful in helping to work through difficult to understand and challenging Bible passages. |
| NIV Application Commentary (selected books) | Commentary | An extensive commentary for those who want a deep understanding of a particular book of the Bible. | Effective for in-depth study of individual books. |
| NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible | Study Bible | Includes book introductions, sectional introductions, and 20,000 study notes written by a team of over 60 trusted theologians and Bible scholars explaining specific verses and themes. | An excellent resource for those seeking to understand the individual parts of Scripture, and how those parts join to create a cohesive whole. |
| NIV Case for Christ Study Bible Notes | Study Bible | These notes highlight the wonders of creation, demonstrate how scientific evidence points to one all-powerful Creator, explore Jesus' claims and deity and demonstrate that he is the Messiah, provide extra-biblical evidence that corroborates Scripture, and present testimonies from scholars who have examined the evidence, discovered the reality of Jesus, and put their faith in him. | Pairs well with the NIV Quest Study Bible Notes. |
| NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible | Study Bible | Available in both the NIV and NRSV. Contextual insight is this resource’s primary focus, expanding the reader’s understanding and appreciation for Scripture by tackling the cultural and historical perspectives in which the Bible was written. | Historical Setting notes attached to many first chapters provide scriptural context. This resource is most effective when studying entire books or when looking for historical hints within difficult-to-understand passages. |
| NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary | Dictionary | Once the “interlinear” box in the Gear icon dropdown menu above Bible passage pages is checkmarked, the transliterated Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) words appear below the text of the NIV Bible translation. By clicking any of the original language words, the definition of that word, how it’s translated in the New International Version, and how frequently each translation appears throughout the Bible—pulled from the NIV Exhaustive Concordance—appear in the RESOURCES column. | Works in synchronization with the NIV Reverse-Interlinear function. You'll find the instruction page, "How to Understand NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary Entries on Bible Gateway" here. |
| NIV First-Century Study Bible Notes | Study Bible | These notes explore Scripture in its Jewish and early Christian context and introduce you to an ancient world vastly different from today. | Pairs well with the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. |
| NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible Notes | Study Bible | The general editor of this study Bible is Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. Its reference notes emphasize how grace and truth are central themes throughout Scripture. | Pairs well with the NIV Student Bible Notes. |
| NIV Jesus Bible | Study Bible | Contains exclusive articles from Louie Giglio, Max Lucado, John Piper, and Randy Alcorn; all of which lift Jesus up as the lead story of the Bible. | Great as a devotional or sermon-preparation Bible. Its thematic focus makes this resource's uses more specific. |
| NIV Quest Study Bible Notes | Study Bible | This resource provides concise biblical notes in the form of questions and answers. | An effective discussion-starter for Bible studies and small groups. |
| NIV Reverse-Interlinear | Study Bible | Activate this functionality by checkmarking the “interlinear” box in the Gear icon dropdown menu above Bible passage pages. The transliterated Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) words appear below the text of the NIV Bible translation. | Works in synchronization with the NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary. You'll find instructions here. |
| NIV Storyline Bible | Study Bible | Through helpful book introductions, concise articles, and colorful infographics, the Storyline Bible provides vital information on the people, places, and events of Scripture while showing how they interconnect to form a single, inspired narrative. | This is one of the most image-heavy Study Bible resources on Bible Gateway Plus! |
| NIV Student Bible Notes | Study Bible | Often thought of as a “guided tour” of the Bible, these notes show how the Bible is interconnected from Genesis all the way to Revelation. | Highlighted verse notes make this resource an in-depth, yet approachable place to start for those who are newer to Bible studies. |
| NIV Study Bible Notes, Fully Revised Edition | Study Bible | Over 20,000 evangelical scholarly and succinct notes and annotations offer award-winning insight in the areas of character study, archaeology, and personal application. | Perfect for quick reference that doesn’t distract from Bible reading. |
| NIV Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible | Study Bible | First published in 1908, it now contains more than 100,000 references, covering over 8,000 topics, making the chain-reference system an ideal tool for comprehensive topical study. | Allows readers to interpret the Bible using related Scripture passages rather than consulting a commentary. |
| NKJV Abide Bible | Study Bible | This resource's notes are centered on practical Scripture engagement prompts based on five ways of engaging deeply with the Bible. | For a complete experience, pair this resource with the Scripture Engagement page on Bible Gateway. |
| NKJV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes | Study Bible | Available in both the NASB and NKJV, these notes deliver Dr. Stanley's Life Lessons series in a homily-style coloration to biblical text. | Effective for personal and small group studies to glean broad biblical understanding and lessons for practical application. |
| NKJV Chronological Study Bible | Study Bible | This resource encourages studying the Bible in the order in which biblical events actually happened, providing notes explaining biblical history and culture. | For an exceptionally thorough Bible study experience, use this resource in tandem with the Bible Gateway chronological Bible reading plan. |
| NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible | Study Bible | Those who share Max Lucado’s love of God’s Word will find these notes a compelling resource in the Bible Gateway Plus library. | This is a convenient source to read applicable devotional-style notes beside Bible references. |
| NKJV MacArthur Study Bible Notes | Study Bible | A classic resource designed for serious study, these notes are numerous and heavily concentrated even in single-verse searches. | Scholars, teachers, seminary students—you may find this to be your go-to Study Bible resource, as it provides detailed cross-references between verses. |
| NKJV Maxwell Leadership Bible | Study Bible | Joins Study Bible notes like the Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible and the NKJV Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible in bringing you more inspirational-focused content to your Bible Gateway Plus library. Using it, you'll find hundreds of Scripture study notes centered around the theme of leadership. | Pairs well with a more information-focused resource like the NKJV MacArthur Study Bible. |
| NKJV New Spirit-Filled Life Bible | Study Bible | This study resource focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible. The scholarly reference notes address important issues of Spirit-filled living. | |
| NKJV Open Bible | Dictionary | This dictionary features an easy-to-use topical index of over 8,000 names, places, concepts, events and doctrines. | Can be used as an extensive cross-reference guide for any particular biblical word. |
| NKJV Study Bible Notes | Study Bible | Dependable notes and annotations that clearly present a conservative biblical doctrine, this reference pairs verse-by-verse notes with key articles on thematic discourse. | Those whose preferred Bible translation is the New King James Version will find these notes a clarifying accompaniment to scriptural text. |
| NKJV Wiersbe Study Bible | Study Bible | Long time radio Bible teacher and bestselling author, Dr. Warren Wiersbe, offers in-depth reflections on scriptural themes to encourage your spiritual journey. | “Be transformed” sections in each Bible book introduction specifically point to the life-changing impact of that particular part of Scripture. |
| NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible | Study Bible | Available in both the NIV and NRSV. Contextual insight is this resource’s primary focus, expanding the reader’s understanding and appreciation for Scripture by tackling the cultural and historical perspectives in which the Bible was written. | Historical Setting notes attached to many first chapters provide scriptural context. This resource is most effective when studying entire books or when looking for historical hints within difficult-to-understand passages. |
| Olive Tree Bible Maps | Map | Keep an eye open for the Maps category toward the bottom of the RESOURCE tab. A valuable resource when applicable, Olive Tree Bible Maps, by Olive Tree Bible Software, are an expedient way to visually highlight certain passages without having to dig into more complex resources for similar information. | Quickly gain your biblical geographical bearings when reading Bible passages. You'll find a complete list of verse references where these maps are found here. |
| Olive Tree Bible Overview | Commentary | Book synopsis commentary notes (one per book) provide convenient introductory outlines for time-constrained study periods. | Quickly grasp the major messages and context of each book of the Bible. |
| Orthodox Study Bible | Study Bible | Expand your Bible knowledge with commentary from Christian teachers of the first millennium. | Pairs well with other Study Bibles with a cultural/historical focus, such as the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible and the NKJV Chronological Study Bible. |
| Thru the Bible | Commentary | Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s 60-volume exposition of every chapter of every book of the Bible in his simple, straightforward language, folksy manner, distinctive accent, and clear understanding of Scripture. | If you love the King James Version (KJV) Bible translation, you'll especially appreciate Dr. McGee's scriptural insights, but the Thru the Bible commentary applies to any Bible version you prefer. |
| Vines Expository Bible | Study Bible | Helpful insights from God’s Word are presented in a pastoral manner with focuses on presenting, living, applying, and discerning the message. | Sermon-like notes make this resources useful for teaching and preaching. |
| Zondervan Academic Maps | Map | Produced by the academic editorial department of Zondervan, these maps offer detailed close-up visual 3-D and text information about biblical buildings, cities, and geography to expand your understanding of Scripture. | Quickly gain your biblical geographical bearings when reading Bible passages. You'll find a complete list of verse references where these maps are found here. |
| Zondervan Bible Commentary: One-Volume Illustrated Edition | Commentary | Featuring insights from 43 world-class scholars, this information-packed volume unlocks the meaning and message of every book of the Bible to help readers gain a deeper, life-changing understanding of the Scriptures. | Capture the meanings of Bible passages and the significance of key biblical words. |
| Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old and New Testament) | Commentary | One of the most expansive resources in the Bible Gateway Plus library, this award-winning and popular commentary is perfect for scholars, pastors, teachers, and Bible readers who want to know the world in which the Bible was written. Contains notes on almost every verse and frequently employs photographs, drawings, maps, diagrams and charts. | A thorough, singular resource for any Bible study of sermon preparation. |
| Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary | Dictionary | An exhaustive Bible dictionary of lengthy articles with frequent photographs, drawings, maps, diagrams and charts. | The material is based on the New International Version and cross-referenced to the King James Version, making it a good reference work for leaders to bridge the gaps between the two most popular Bible translations. |
| Zondervan KJV Commentary | Commentary | Comprehensive in scope, reliable in scholarship, and easy to read, this verse-by-verse commentary is perfect for lovers of the King James Version. | Like the Believer's Bible Commentary, you'll find key terms highlighted in each note, making the KJV Commentary especially useful for focused Bible study groups. |
| Resources | Classification | Explanation | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Case for Christ Devotional | Devotional | This 7-day devotional offers fact-based, intelligent insights to help build a foundational faith. | Pairs well with The Case for Christ Study Bible. |
| Discovering God’s Heart | Devotional | This 21-day devotional explores Bible verses that give insight into God's Spirit and how his love can transform your life. | Pairs well with The Abide Bible. |
| Grace for the Moment Daily Bible Notes | Devotional | A year-long exclusive devotional from Max Lucado, this draws on biblical notes to collect wisdom-filled reflections for daily quiet time. | Pairs well with Bible verses set to the New Century Version (NCV) found in the translation dropdown. |
| Olive Tree One Year Daily Devotional | Devotional | Encourage and challenge your faith with a year of daily devotions from classic Christian authors. | Pairs well with other available Olive Tree resources in the RESOURCES tab. |
| Words of Cheer for Daily Life | Devotional | Daily inspiration and encouragement from Charles Spurgeon. | |
| Words of Wisdom for Daily Life | Devotional | Embrace the challenges and opportunities of each day with these daily readings drawn from the wisdom of the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon. |