Nave’s Topical Bible

Have one but never used it much.

 

I use both a LOT in Bible software.

 

I hated the one I had. But it prob has to do with my sinful rebellious nature. Haha

 

Robert, interesting you mention both Thompson's Chain Reference Bible (1908) and Nave's Topical Bible (1896). I remember back many years ago when I first discovered both these venerable texts. I was hooked--line and sinker. Eventually, I added both to my personal library, and they are still on my shelves today, along with Cruden's Complete Concordance (1737). They make up my three "go-to" Bible references--each volume similar, but different and unique.

The day I visit Kirkbride Bible Company

One day while driving near Indianapolis, Indiana, I paid a visit to the Kirkbride Bible Company, publisher of the Thompson's Chain Reference Bible. This was long before Kirkbride sold out to Zondervan. At the time, the Kirkbride office and warehouse facilities were not the size I had in mind. To me, Thompson's Chain Bible was a major reference book in my personal library and I just thought their facilities should be one of the largest buildings in Indianapolis.

Not so.

I rang a door bell on the side door of the single story brown building. I surprised the few staff members in the office. But they were nice to me. Probably would have been better had I called a few days before and made an appointment. They did talk with me, asked about my personal library, and showed me their facilities. I do remember a very pleasant sight. All of the Thompson Bibles were sitting straight up, not laying flat. They had several different colors of bindings, and the place was very neat and clean. The staff certainly took great care of their Thompson inventory.

At the end of my visit, I thanked the staff for taking the time to talk with me, and drove home 100 miles away. I felt very satisfied and sang hymns all the way home.

 

This is a later companion:


photo courtesy of Amazon

 

Here is some information from the website Find A Grave.

Information includes

Photo of Maj. Orville James Nave (1841-1917)
Photo of grave memorial stone
Birth place and birth date
Death place and death date
American Civil War service dates
Cause of death
Burial location: cemetery and plot
Names and graves of some family members
Option to send digital flowers to the grave of Maj. Nave

 

Order information on another book published by Maj. Nave:

Handbook on the Army Chaplaincy: With a Supplement on the Duty of the Churches to Aid the Chaplains by Follow-up Work in Conserving The Moral and Religious Welfare of the Men under the Colors.

 

On This Day in Chaplain Corps History.

The Chaplain Kit: Online Chaplain History Museum.
24 June 1970: Remembering Army Chaplain Major Orville James Nave, hit by Trolly car in Los Angeles, California.
Online video memorial delivered by member of the Army Chaplain Corps.
Biographical and military history: Major Orville James Nave.
Address delivered by Daryl Densford, Instructor, U.S. Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker, Alabama.
14-minutes.

 

If my math is correct, the number of Bible references add up to something like the following.

100,000: Thompson Chain Reference
100,000: Nave's Topical Bible
200,000: Cruden's Complete Concordance
500,000: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

But comparing the number of Bible references can lead me down a slippery slope, to be sure. Each of these classic reference books use the concept of references in different ways. I do not want to get all tangled up, so I will avoid the next logical step of defining how each of the four classic reference books use the concept of references. Just let me say, there are differences, at least in my mind.

Better to look at my own personal experience.

For myself, I find that I come away with more useful information when I use Nave's Topical Bible. The other three classic reference books are based upon starting with some existing Bible verse. However, when I do a search with Nave's Topical Bible I find myself starting with a topic, not a Bible verse--seeking an answer to a question. There is a difference, for me at least. Maybe it is the way my mind flows. More often than not, I turn to the Bible to find a Bible reference related to some topic or question in my mind.

But as I refine my search, I find that what I want is to see how similar Bible verses actually differ. As I get the Bible verses down to some small number--like five or ten different verses, it is easier for me to compare what the Bible may be really telling me.

And then the fun begins.

 

The Thompson has more than 100,000 references.

"In 1890, creator of the Thompson Chain-Reference system, Dr. Frank Charles Thompson began working on the “chain-links” that became the foundation of the unique Thompson referencing system that is used by millions of Bible readers across the world. The Kirkbride Bible Company, Inc., published the first complete Thompson Chain-Reference Bible in 1908 and continued that legacy for over 100 years, adding visual, maps, archeological insights, and over 100,000 references."

Thompson Chain-Reference Bible

 

You are right, the number (20,000) I quoted above is incorrect. Yes, both Thompson and Nave's each have 100,000 references. I have corrected my post.

SGO, thank you for pointing out my error.

 

Claims 500,000 references

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

 

SGO,
Thanks for adding the link to the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.