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ANY have and use A Thompson Chain bible?

preachinjesus

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I have two Thompsons and still use them in some of my preparation.

My grandfather was a pastor for 50 years and lived by Thompson Chain Reference Bibles. The first Bible he ever bought me was a Thompson. When we went to his eternal reward I got his massive study edition that folds out in three sections. It is huge.

Anyways, they are good Bibles and have good binding. I like them very much. Though I'm not particularly given to carrying a physical text around I would recommend them to anyone who asks. :)

Plus the material inside is very good.
 

JesusFan

Well-Known Member
I have two Thompsons and still use them in some of my preparation.

My grandfather was a pastor for 50 years and lived by Thompson Chain Reference Bibles. The first Bible he ever bought me was a Thompson. When we went to his eternal reward I got his massive study edition that folds out in three sections. It is huge.

Anyways, they are good Bibles and have good binding. I like them very much. Though I'm not particularly given to carrying a physical text around I would recommend them to anyone who asks. :)

Plus the material inside is very good.

I have always wanted to get one, as heard that there genuine leatyher is among the best at the price!

Only complaint would be that their study materials seem to be "dated!"
 

Phillip

<b>Moderator</b>
I still have my mother's in great condition and what makes it more priceless to me is that it is full of every note, date, and sermon notes from pastors she listened to for about 30 years.
 

preachinjesus

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I have always wanted to get one, as heard that there genuine leatyher is among the best at the price!

Ah yes, beautifully bound books! Excellent quality. Something you'll be proud (and not in a sinful way) to carry around.

JesusFan said:
Only complaint would be that their study materials seem to be "dated!"

Agreed! I don't use the archeology or dictionary portions of the one I've got. I seriously doubt they've made any updates since 1950 (at best.) Now the actual chain-reference portion is wonderful. I deal in a lot of topical studies in my teaching and preaching. Sometimes Thompons will have several passages under a topic that I wouldn't have considered otherwise and they are an aid.

For study materials I will always go to other, better places. But it certainly has its usefulness if employed properly. Sounds like you're on the right track! :thumbs:
 

DiamondLady

New Member
I have two, one I've had since the 1970's and is filled with notes and other things. Sadly, I was forced to upgrade mine to the LARGE print edition a couple of years ago and truly miss my beloved one. The binding is wonderful...mine is well used and hardly looks worn at all. I do have a cover for it as well, that I use when carrying it to church...but I've never found another Bible that compares. I love the chain reference portion and there are very good study notes and while outdated, the archeology portion is useful for a stepping off point, and good in a pinch (when nothing else is available).
 

JTornado1

Member
I've had a NKJV Thompson Chain Reference Bible for a number of years, and I still love it. :godisgood::thumbsup:
 

Alcott

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
ANY have and use A Thompson Chain bible?

Is that anything like a Thompson Machine Gun?
 

Jim1999

<img src =/Jim1999.jpg>
My copy is a 1964 edition. The main changes they made were in the numbering of the marginal notes, improving the chain reference system in the Old Testament. They added pictorial maps depicting the lives of Abraham, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, Saul, David and Solomon.

It is a very valuable reference guide for personal study. I agree the type is small, but a cheap remedy is to buy a pair of store magnifying glasses for reading. Works for me.

Yes, by the way, mine is a hard copy but well bound. It has lasted over the years.

Cheers,

Jim

Cheers,

Jim
 

Jeremiah2911

Member
Site Supporter
I have always wanted to get one, as heard that there genuine leatyher is among the best at the price!

I have [as Jim does] a 1964 edition which I purchased as a teenager back in 1983; however, my binding is bonded leather, and, sadly, it has really fallen apart over the years. I took it to the library a couple years ago and they did a little work on it to keep it together, but its on "life support":) So I would definately recommend the Genuine Leather binding.


Only complaint would be that their study materials seem to be "dated!"
I wouldn't consider the Thompsons to be a "study Bible" at all-- I mean in the sense of what I consider a study bible, one which explains verses and passages [like a MacArthur Study Bible]--the Thompsons Bible is excellent for preachers or teachers or anyone who wants one resource to put together Scriptures topically. It is an excellent resource and [my opinion :)] should be in every Christians library! [BTW someone mentioned the archaeological section--I think its cool!] God bless
 

Mexdeaf

New Member
the editors perfers that you use the Bible itself to get the eschatolology of God Himself!

Well if you depend upon TCR references you will find NO eschatology. There are no references to Christ's second coming at all. At least not in my RVR1960 TCR.
 

John Toppass

Active Member
Site Supporter
The only problem with the TCR for me is very little mention of eschatology.

I believe that was one of the reasons Dr. Frank Thompson, allowed his study bible to be published. He wanted the layman and the minister to study the Word in their own accord, depending on the Holy Spirit for understanding. He (Thompson) did not like the study bibles that were slanted to personal beliefs. (some good and some ----- just plain strange)

If one wants to believe the bible the way another tells them to understand it, there are many bibles out there that do this, but if you want to read and come to your own understanding with the aid of the Holy Spirit, this is an excellent bible to use with it's chain reference.

I use commentaries and other study bibles and helps mainly to see how other's understand and to pick up on something I might have missed that is of interest to me.

I have 2 TCR that I use and I have given more than that away to dear friends and loved ones.

In short, (too late) I like it and recommend the Thompson Chain Reference Bible in the translation that the buyer is most comfortable with.
 

Jerome

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Someone else who really liked the Thompson Chain Reference Bible was Pastor Aimee Semple McPherson of Angelus Temple (Pentecostal).

Here is an early ad for the Bible featuring her prominent endorsement:

http://ifphc.org/photo/Watermark/P6981.jpg

(Thompson was dean of Sister Aimee's L.I.F.E. Bible College)
 

Jerome

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Well if you depend upon TCR references you will find NO eschatology. There are no references to Christ's second coming at all. At least not in my RVR1960 TCR.

:confused:

Please explain how you came to that [mistaken?] conclusion.

My TCR has dozens and dozens of references under the topic "The Future".
 

Mexdeaf

New Member
:confused:

Please explain how you came to that [mistaken?] conclusion.

My TCR has dozens and dozens of references under the topic "The Future".

I will have to look again- my TCR is at the church. I do remember that when I was in Mexico I was asked a question concerning Eschatology and I could not find a section on that, perhaps it is entitled 'El Futuro' and I did not think of that particular heading. I'll try to remember to look tomorrow or Monday. Thanks.
 

Robert Snow

New Member
Ah yes, beautifully bound books! Excellent quality. Something you'll be proud (and not in a sinful way) to carry around.



Agreed! I don't use the archeology or dictionary portions of the one I've got. I seriously doubt they've made any updates since 1950 (at best.) Now the actual chain-reference portion is wonderful. I deal in a lot of topical studies in my teaching and preaching. Sometimes Thompons will have several passages under a topic that I wouldn't have considered otherwise and they are an aid.

For study materials I will always go to other, better places. But it certainly has its usefulness if employed properly. Sounds like you're on the right track! :thumbs:

Since you are so fond of Thompson Chain Reference Bibles, let me tell you something interesting. I have a computer program that Thompson put out many years ago. It is called Hyperbible. The best thing is that when you search a topic, you are able to include Thompson's notes. This allows you to see all the places a word appears in the margins. You know, many times a note is mentioned without actually being part of the chain. This allows you to isolate them. The drawback is that this software may be very difficult to find, and it will not work on a 64 bit machine. I have a Netbook that is the only computer I have that will still run this program.
 
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