Thompson Chain-Reference Bible

Over the years I have used many different study and reference Bibles. One of my favorites is the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible. This week I will provide information on the origin and the make-up of the Thompson. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is published by Kirkbride Bible Company. The information contained herein has been taken from their company. I have read and reviewed what the company presents and find it to be totally accurate. With that in mind, who better to explain their Bible than themselves?

Dr. Frank Charles Thompson was a young preacher in the late 1800s when he became disappointed with the reference Bibles being sold to preachers. Dr. Thompson believed the Bible should be presented in a simple, but scholarly way. He saw the need for a well-organized reference Bible that would be of practical use to the layman as well as a minister.

In 1890, Dr. Thompson began the work he would continue for the rest of his life. He completed the "thought suggestions" opposite the verses throughout the Bible. These are what became the "chain-links" that are the heart of the Thompson system. Some of the men in Dr. Thompson's church saw his Bible and told him this would be a great help to them in their Bible study too. They encouraged Dr. Thompson to have his Bible, with marginal references, published so that everyone could enjoy the blessing of this helpful study tool.

In 1908, the first edition of the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible® was printed by Methodists Book Concern of Dobbs Ferry, New York. It became known as the most helpful, trustworthy and unbiased study Bible available. The Thompson® Bible continues to have that reputation today.

In 1913, Dr. Thompson joined with B.B. Kirkbride in Indianapolis, Indiana to form the Kirkbride Bible Company. This was to assure the constant improvement of this remarkable study tool, and the widest distribution possible.

Today, the Thompson® Chain-Reference Bible offers you a complete study library in one volume. With over 78 practical features for in depth Scriptural appreciation and understanding, nothing can match what the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible offers:

Over 100,000 topical references
Over 8,000 Chain Topics
Updated Archaeological Supplement with photos and maps
Outline studies of each book of the Bible
Journey maps and Bible harmonies
Biblical Atlas
Bible Book Outlines
Over 4,000,000 Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles sold!


Thompson Bibles are made for those who use their Bibles every day. A Thompson study Bible will help you in ways other Bibles can't. It's the unique Chain-Reference® System that allows you to follow any subject, person, place or idea, from the front of your Bible to the end. Thompson users say it's the best way to study your Bible. No other Bible has this superb, patented, "Chain-Reference System" developed by Dr. Frank C. Thompson in 1890. Since that time, Kirkbride Bible Company has been adding thousands of additional topics and links. The Thompson you buy today has over 100,000 links covering over 7,000 topics. Every page is stuffed with treasure. Your Thompson Bible will become a trusted friend.

Your Thompson Bible comes with extras, found only in premium study Bibles, like gold-foil gilded pages and double-sided real silk ribbon bookmarks. Your Thompson can also be personalized with your name in gold on the cover. For super-swift researching you can order your Thompson "thumb indexed."

Choosing a Thompson Bible is a personal choice. All Thompson regular sized Bibles are available in a variety of covers, colors and translations. If you would like a lifetime of use, we recommend the leather covers. You'll find our leather Bibles are exquisite.Thompson adult Bibles are available in the 4 most popular English translations: King James Version, New King James Version, New International Version, and New American Standard Bible.


Celebrating a milestone

2008 marked the Centennial Anniversary of the Thompson Chain-Reference King James Bible. During 2008 all KJV regular size and Large print Bibles where "Centennial Editions" with these special features:

Spine will bear special "Centennial Edition" stamp
Box will be marked "Centennial Edition"
It will include an extra signature with special Centennial Title page, a letter from Krikbride's CEO Marshall Gage, and a brief history of the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible and Kirkbride Bible Co.
Special signed and numbered top-of-the-line leather editions along with premium leather editions will be available

A Thompson® is the only true "Influence-Free" Study Bible. This is the one very important difference between a Thompson® and most other study Bibles. Most study Bibles fill their margins with another person's commentary. These are notes from a knowledgeable author who tries to explain the text to you. Commentaries can be useful, but every author has his or her own view and biased agenda. Commentaries offer wide and often opposing influence. Your Thompson® Bible is "influence-free," because instead of commentary, our margins are filled with thousands of chain-references® that propel you ahead into Scripture. Scholars agree that the Bible is its own best commentary, and no other study Bible helps you go deeper into the Scriptures than a Thompson® Chain-Reference® Study Bible.

Thompson® Bibles include hundreds of pages of additional study tools, many of which are available in no other Bible. These 75 extra tools make your study easier and more enjoyable, sparing you from needing many other volumes.

Thousands of additional chain-references have been added over the decades. Study any Bible verse and you'll always know where to go next.

Here are some helps that are included:

Index of Chain Topics. Complete listing of over 7,000 marginal topics and reference chains. Most verses are printed out in the Index.
Selected Bible Readings. An arrangement by subject matter of Bible verses suitable for private devotions or public services. Listed are such topics as Death, Gifts from God, Unbelievers, and more.
Revised Concordance. This will help you find any verse, even if you only know a few words. Alphabetical listing of English words found in your Thompson® Bible with help numbers linking you to other help sections in your Bible.
Bible Harmonies & Illustrated Studies. Biographical harmonies of Moses, Jesus, and Paul by means of pictorial maps, charts, and outlines. Follow their footprints with Journey Maps, a feature found only in Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles.
Extensive Archaeology Section. Ties modern discoveries to real verses. Contains much factual information on people, places, and things as found in modern excavations.
Bible Marking Guide. Offers you time-tested secrets for keeping your discoveries fresh.
Bible Atlas. Puts you right there, in the holy land, during every biblical period. A series of extremely detailed, color maps, showing Archaeological sites in the holy land, Journeys of the Apostle Paul, the ancient World, Palestine, Jerusalem and others.
Outline Studies of Each Book. Go here first to find out who, what, when, where and why. Devoted to a study of the Bible as a whole, from its earliest beginnings through modern translation and also a complete outline of each Book of the Bible, giving author, theme, and key words. A must-have feature for those involved in teaching.
Dozens of helpful charts. Illustrated with delightful artwork you can study for hours.
Bible Character Studies. Biographical sketches and outline studies of all the major characters of the Bible. Includes early life, divine call, and biblical history.
Bible Glossary. Helps you pronounce and understand Bible terms.
General Index. An alphabetical listing of all topics with connecting numbers.
Harmony of the Gospels. A side-by-side listing of Gospel accounts.
Messianic Prophecies. Prophecies concerning Jesus and their fulfillment.
Portraits of Christ. Christ's character and work as seen by Isaiah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, and Revelation.

Topical Treasury. Contains practical helps for Christian workers. Suggests topics to be used at prayer meetings and devotional meetings.
You can order nearly any Thompson® Bible Thumb-Indexed for just a few dollars extra. We carefully hand-cut 35 notches into the open side of your Thompson Bible and apply 26 black gilded tabs and 9 gold tabs, to help you locate all 66 books of your Bible, your Index, Helps Section, Concordance and Archaeology information.

Why 35 tabs?
On the page before the Book of Genesis in every Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is a chart entitled "River of Inspiration". Starting with Genesis and proceeding throughout the Bible to Revelation, every Book of the Bible is grouped into one of nine major divisions. The Gold(or Silver) tabs used in our exclusive indexing process represent the Book where a major division begins, while the black tabs represent the remaining Book names.
This educational feature benefits readers by helping them become more familiar with the location of major divisions of the Bible and helps to clarify their understanding of how the scriptures were written. In turn their Bible study time is more rewarding and effective.

9 Major Divisions:
Pentateuch
O.T. History
Poetry
Major Prophets
Minor Prophets
Gospels & N.T. History
Paul's Epistles(Major Letters)
General Epistles(Minor Letters)
Revelation

These tabs add value to your one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted Thompson Bible. Furthermore, they'll help you become better acquainted with your new Bible. Since Thompson Bibles have nearly a thousand pages of additional helps at the back, you will be glad to have the Thumb Index to help you find anything in an instant.


Chain Reference System

The Chain-Reference® System is found only in Thompson® Bibles. It is the most helpful study tool ever assembled. Every important verse of the New and Old Testaments has been analyzed into topics which help to open up the meaning of the verses and stimulates Bible study. Start with any verse of Scripture and follow thousands of topics all the way through your Bible.

Forward Chain-Reference®. These chain links are found on every page of your Thompson® Bible. They will lead you to the next Scripture verse in the chain, helping you follow any topic from Genesis through Revelation.

New Topics. These marginal references direct you to a new topic in this verse. You simply go to the Index of Topics you'll find a wealth of information and the first place in Scripture to begin the 'chain' for this topic.

Better than a Concordance. You'll find related topics not mentioned by word in the Bible Text. This helps you to expand the scope of your study in a way that goes beyond what a complete concordance can do.

Analysis of Each Chapter. Each Chapter of your Bible has been thoroughly analyzed into the main divisions and printed in bold-face type, presenting a digest of the teachings of the Chapter.

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