Once upon a time, it was a big deal to have the Bible in the common vernacular (see Wycliffe's English Bible, pictured). Now we English-speakers have a bunch of translations to choose from, and a bunch of study aids to boot.

Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, shares some sound principles for using a study Bible:

1. Read the text of the Bible first. Meditate upon the text and read it with care. Apply your own knowledge of the Bible in order to understand the particular text within its context and place in the biblical story-line. Consider and note other texts that come to your mind as directly related to this text. Read the text with full attention and conviction.

This is crucial. A danger in using a study Bible is to lean so heavily on the tools provided that you don't exercise your own biblical understanding. If you just let the study notes think for you, you won't synthesize what you're learning with what you already know, and you might forget both. Don't treat ...