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In all of our Abidible studies, we have you practicing the amazing Bible study tool of cross referencing.
In simplest terms, cross referencing is when we use the Bible to help us interpret and understand the Bible. It’s amazing because it brings us STRAIGHT to the source.
I didn’t used to mark my cross references directly in my Bible. I’d only note them in my study.
But now I mark my cross references in my Bible by highlighting them and then noting the original verse I was studying.
Example:
I’m currently studying Zephaniah 3:11. Part of this verse is about God’s “holy mountain.” One of the cross references also talks about God’s “holy mountain.” The cross reference is Daniel 9:16. So I flip to Daniel 9:16, highlight it, and ALSO write Zephaniah 3:11 next to it.
In the photo above, you'll see that I also marked Romans 9:33 as a cross reference for Zephaniah 3:11. Both verses talk about "no longer suffering shame." I put "cf" next to Romans 9:33, which is short hand for "cross reference." And then I wrote "Zephaniah 3:11 so I can remember to go back and read that connected verse at a future date.
Why do I love this so much?
Because NEXT TIME I’m in Daniel 9:16, I’ll be reminded of my study in Zephaniah. It's like coming back to find traces of a previous treasure hunt.
Flipping through my Bible to mark cross references also serves another purpose. You guessed it! It familiarizes me with the order of all the books in the Bible. If we only ever use apps to study the Bible, we won't get proficient at finding books ourselves.
And most importantly, marking all throughout my Bible provides me with constant examples and reminders of how absolutely miraculous the Word of God is.
It is just one continuous, incredibly cohesive story. The more I study the Bible the more I realize how there is nothing on earth like it. 🌎 And the more I want to open it. 🙌🏼
Interested in this study? You can find "God is Mighty," a study of Zephaniah 3:11-20, here.
Want real training and practice with annotation? Get both in our "How to Study the Bible" course! Click the link to learn more.
Jason and Kate
