How to Use the Bullinger's Companion Bible
Bullinger's Companion Bible, a King James Version of the Bible, is one of the most extensively annotated Bibles published. Using Bullinger's can seem daunting when you first open it. Each page is comprised of two columns. The left column contains scripture, while the right column contains commentary, definitions and references to other Bible passages. It would be tempting, given the massive amount of information on each page, to close the book and open a Bible that doesn't seem so cluttered. However, once you learn how to navigate Bullinger's, you may never use another Bible.
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Instructions
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Focus on learning your way around the book. Because there is so much information, you might be tempted to just jump into it and flounder. It's better to spend a bit of time learning how this Bible was compiled. It will enhance your time later and in the end you will not only have more effective study periods but you will be less likely to become sidetracked.
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Read the topical commentaries that are placed between certain section of the Bible. These commentaries are designed to give you insight to both the secular and theological history involved in these sections. You can read them before or after you study a particular section. Their main purpose is to help connect you with the writers of the scriptures.
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Understand the references and resource notes within the text itself. The side-by-side columns of references can be confusing until you understand the logic in them. They reference back to other aspects in scripture where their intent was first decided and often reference to future texts as proof of prophecy fulfillment. Often words that are unusual will be defined and this is especially important where the common meaning of words has changed over the centuries.
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Consult the appendices, which are there to expand on the commentaries and explanations of the text. These are useful for clarifying various points of scripture that may at first seem vague and where several references were necessary within the text itself which may have led to some confusion.
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