Did you know the Bible has more manuscript evidence supporting it than the top ten pieces of classical literature combined? In fact, when we study the Bible itself, not the footnotes, we’re connecting with a text that has withstood remarkable scrutiny. The biblical Dead Sea Scrolls are up to 1,250 years older than the traditional Hebrew Bible, confirming the accuracy of the biblical text by 99 percent.
I want this article to help people understand that GOD’S wisdom is in HIS words throughout the Bible, while the footnotes are written by humans who can’t replace GOD! Rather than relying on someone else’s interpretation, we should follow the example of the Bereans who examined the Scriptures daily to verify the teachings they received. As we read and study the Bible directly, we engage with the living text that invites us to encounter GOD personally. It’s called the living text or living word because just like Jesus, these words never die! Learning how to use a study Bible wisely means focusing on Scripture first, not the explanatory notes.
We will gain wisdom and understanding through GOD’S words and GOD’S messengers’ words only, not the footnotes. This is especially important because the only way to know Jesus Christ as our living GOD and the only path to heaven is by engaging with HIS words directly. When we prioritize the text itself, we discover truth that transforms our lives and awakens our spirits.
Why footnotes can confuse more than clarify
Study Bibles often come with extensive footnotes that promise deeper understanding, but they can actually lead us away from God’s pure message.
Most people don’t realize that what’s above the line in a study Bible is God’s infallible Word, while everything below is human interpretation that may not be true. Concentrate more on God’s approved message in the Bible rather than human knowledge in the footnotes which is nowhere near as helpful. God’s words can move you. God’s words can move mountains.
What footnotes in study Bibles usually mean
Footnotes in study Bibles typically provide commentary, historical context, cultural background, and cross-references. Unlike simple reference notes found in regular Bibles, study Bible footnotes contain extensive explanations that function essentially as a Bible and commentary all in one. Although footnotes are meant to clarify Scripture, they inevitably reflect the theological perspective of their authors. Therefore, it’s crucial to check the editors’ beliefs to ensure they align with Christian teachings.
Examples of controversial footnotes
Unfortunately, some study Bibles contain notes that actively undermine traditional Christian beliefs. For instance, the New American Bible Revised Edition contains a note for Matthew 16:21-23 claiming that Jesus’s prediction of His suffering “cannot be taken as sayings that as they stand go back to Jesus himself”. This note essentially questions Christ’s divine foreknowledge! Another problematic note suggests Jesus wasn’t “equipped to overcome the devil” until after His baptism, contradicting His eternal nature as God.
Some footnotes also undermine traditional Catholic interpretations, such as dismissing the connection between 1 Corinthians 3:15 and purgatory or denying Eucharistic references in Hebrews 13:10. These notes often present controversial interpretations as settled fact rather than scholarly opinion.
How footnotes can distract from the main message
Moreover, the physical layout of study Bibles fundamentally changes how we read Scripture. The footnotes, verse numbers, section headings, and cross-references break the text into fragments, conditioning us to read in disconnected chunks rather than flowing sections. This prevents us from experiencing God’s Word as it was meant to be read.
As Taylor wisely points out, “The most underutilized and yet important parts of a good study Bible are the introductions to each biblical book”. Despite this, many readers skip straight to the notes, which can lead them away from Jesus Christ, our living God and only path to heaven.
How the Bible was preserved through history
Instead of focusing on modern footnotes, we should marvel at how the Bible itself has been protected by divine providence.
The preservation of God’s Word through centuries is nothing short of miraculous.
The role of scribes and manuscript copying
Jewish scribes approached their work with extraordinary reverence, meticulously counting words and letters to ensure perfect accuracy. These dedicated men became known as “counters” because they would verify each copy by counting every element of the text. When scrolls became worn, they created new copies, confirmed their accuracy, and then destroyed the old ones—preserving God’s message with remarkable precision.
Dead Sea Scrolls and Old Testament accuracy
The 1947 discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls revolutionized our understanding of biblical preservation. These manuscripts, dated from 250 BC to AD 68, predate our previously oldest Hebrew texts by over 1,000 years. Remarkably, when scholars compared these ancient scrolls with medieval manuscripts, they found them to be virtually identical in 95% of the text. The Great Isaiah Scroll, dated to approximately 125 BC, demonstrates this incredible preservation—showing the creation account we read today is essentially the same text people read 2,000 years ago.
New Testament manuscript abundance
Furthermore, while most ancient works survive in only 7-10 manuscripts, we possess over 5,700 Greek New Testament manuscripts. The earliest undisputed fragment, the John Rylands Papyrus, dates between AD 117-138—within a generation of when John wrote his gospel. This overwhelming manuscript evidence makes the New Testament the best-attested ancient document in history.
Church fathers and early quotations
Additionally, early Christian writers extensively quoted Scripture, with over 36,000 New Testament quotations in writings before 325 AD. Notably, Ignatius of Antioch, a student of the Apostle John, cited most New Testament books in his letters written around 107 AD. Through God’s providence, Jesus’s words have been faithfully preserved—allowing us to study His truth directly rather than relying on modern footnotes.
Why the Bible is still trustworthy today
As we dive into God’s Word itself, we discover why we can confidently rely on Scripture rather than human footnotes.
Beyond its historical preservation, the Bible remains completely trustworthy today for several compelling reasons.
No major doctrine is affected by variants
Despite claims about textual variations undermining Scripture, the truth is that over 99% of variants involve minor differences like spelling, word order, or grammar that don’t affect translation or meaning. Most importantly, not a single cardinal doctrine of Christian faith depends solely on disputed texts. Even Bible critics acknowledge this reality—Bart Ehrman himself admitted, “Essential Christian beliefs are not affected by textual variants in the manuscript tradition of the New Testament”.
The few debated passages are clearly marked in modern translations with explanatory notes, demonstrating scholarly transparency rather than weakness. Indeed, the abundance of manuscripts allows scholars to reconstruct the original text with high confidence.
Cross-referencing Scripture with Scripture
One powerful way to study the Bible itself involves letting Scripture interpret Scripture. Cross-references function like tributaries, showing how verses flow into and connect with each other. Since approximately 10% of the New Testament consists of quotations or allusions to the Old Testament, these connections reveal God’s consistent message across both testaments.
Cross-referencing trains us to study without over-relying on external resources. This practice slows us down, sparking deeper reflection as we explore connections between passages.
The Holy Spirit’s role in understanding truth
Ultimately, the Bible’s trustworthiness is confirmed through the Holy Spirit’s illumination. Since Scripture itself is “Spirit-wrought and God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16), it makes sense that the same Spirit helps us understand it.
The difference between those who truly comprehend Scripture and those who don’t isn’t education or intelligence—it’s spiritual. As Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit “will guide you into all truth”. This divine guidance surpasses any human footnote, making God’s Word accessible to all who sincerely seek Him with open hearts.
How to read and study the Bible without relying on footnotes
Learning to engage directly with God’s Word creates a foundation for spiritual growth that footnotes alone cannot provide.
Here are practical ways to study Scripture on its own terms:
Start with prayer and context
Firstly, begin your Bible study with prayer. Ask God to “open your eyes, that you may behold wondrous things out of your laws” (Ps. 119:18). Pray before, during, and after your study time, acknowledging your limitations and requesting wisdom. This practice prepares your heart to receive truth directly from God rather than human interpretations. Once you’ve prayed, research the historical and cultural context of the book you’re studying. Understanding when it was written, by whom, and to what audience guards against interpreting Scripture through your own cultural lens.
Use Scripture to interpret Scripture
The principle that “Scripture interprets Scripture” means we allow the Bible to explain itself. According to this approach, we interpret unclear passages through clearer ones, particularly those concerning salvation through faith in Christ—the Bible’s central theme. As you study, remember that “context is king.” Begin with the immediate context of a phrase, then expand to the paragraph, chapter, and book. The Old Testament should be interpreted through the New Testament and vice versa, as Jesus Himself taught His disciples (Luke 24:44).
When to consult study tools (and when not to)
Generally, push yourself to wrestle with the biblical text before turning to commentaries or study notes. This honors the command to love God with your mind, not someone else’s. Subsequently, consult study tools only when facing specific, difficult questions that remain after your personal examination. Bible dictionaries and concordances can help clarify terms, while commentaries provide additional insights—but always return to Scripture itself.
How to use a study Bible wisely
Undoubtedly, the most important feature in any study Bible is “the horizontal line that divides the biblical text from biblical interpretation.” Everything above the line is God’s inspired Word; everything below contains human insights that may not always be true. Treat your study Bible as a reference work rather than your primary Bible. Focus primarily on book introductions and historical background sections. For balanced understanding, consider using multiple study Bibles representing different theological perspectives.
Conclusion
Throughout this article, we’ve explored why God’s Word deserves our direct attention rather than filtered interpretations found in footnotes. Scripture itself stands as the most reliable source of divine wisdom, preserved miraculously across millennia. The Bible’s remarkable textual preservation—confirmed by discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls—testifies to God’s sovereign protection of His message.
Footnotes, though potentially helpful, often reflect human perspectives that can lead us away from pure biblical truth. They fragment our reading experience and sometimes introduce questionable interpretations that undermine foundational Christian beliefs. God intended His Word to speak directly to our hearts, not through the filter of someone else’s theological lens.
Bible study becomes transformative when we approach Scripture on its own terms. Prayer before study opens our hearts to spiritual understanding that academic knowledge alone cannot provide. Certainly, the practice of letting Scripture interpret Scripture creates a foundation for sound biblical understanding that no study note can replicate.
Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of God’s Word when He quoted Deuteronomy, saying “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Therefore, our spiritual nourishment comes primarily from engaging with the text itself, not scholarly footnotes below the line.
Ultimately, studying God’s Word directly connects us with Jesus Christ—our living God and the only path to heaven. The Bible reveals this essential truth repeatedly, from Genesis to Revelation. When we prioritize Scripture itself, the Holy Spirit illuminates these truths in ways that transform our understanding and awaken our spirits to God’s perfect will.
Bible study without overreliance on footnotes doesn’t mean abandoning all resources. Instead, it means establishing Scripture as our primary authority while using study tools judiciously. This approach honors God’s Word as the living, active revelation it truly is—capable of speaking directly to each believer through the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
God’s wisdom flows from His words throughout the Bible, not from human explanations beneath them. Scripture alone reveals Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior—the only way to heaven. Though footnotes may have their place, nothing replaces the life-changing power of encountering God directly through His eternal Word.
