The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, Fifth Improved Edition,
Helps for Numerical System of Chain References



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NOTE: The numbers following "TCRB5" in the "See also:" which follows topical listings, are from the "Condensed Cyclopedia of Topics and Texts" found in THE THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE, FIFTH IMPROVED EDITION, page 1359.
"Every Marginal Topic and its chain of texts is given in the Cyclopedia. As far as space would permit, selected verses from the more important chains are printed in full; in such instances the remainder of the texts of the marginal chain are found in regular order, printed in parentheses."

*Thompson, Frank Charles (editor), and Kirkbride Bible and Technology (other contributor), Thompson Chain Reference Bible, KJV, (KJV, Adult, Regular Size, Bonded Leather, Black, Indexed, Kirkbride Bible Company Item Number: 978-0-88707-527-8), 5th improved edition, leather bound (Kirkbride Bible Company, December 2005), some editions include a CD-ROM, language: English, French, and Spanish. Many editions and bindings are available. WorldCat Record for 5th Improved Edition, ISBN: 0887071228 9780887071225 9780887076091 0887076092.
"Dr. Frank C. Thompson, D.D., Ph.D., invested more than forty years in compiling and developing the remarkable Chain-Reference system that is the heart of the Bible that now bears his name." -- Publisher
This is a huge body of work: the fully cross-referenced Bible, 1619 pages, plus Bible helps, 788 pages, for a total of 2417 pages. It may be used profitably in combination with THE NEW TREASURY OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE (1680 pages), THE NEW GENEVA STUDY BIBLE (THE REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE), (2220 pages), THE GENEVA BIBLE (648 pages), THE THOMPSON EXHAUSTIVE TOPICAL BIBLE: KING JAMES VERSION (1631 pages), and THE NEW NAVE'S TOPICAL BIBLE (1114 pages).
"The topics from the TOPICAL BIBLE can easily be found in the General Index of the THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE. In the General Index are found the chain-reference numbers that will guide the user into the biblical context for many of the topics. The many additional resources in the THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE . . . will greatly supplement any topical study." -- Introduction to the TOPICAL BIBLE
We feel that both THE THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE, KING JAMES VERSION, 5TH EDITION, and the THOMPSON EXHAUSTIVE TOPICAL BIBLE: KING JAMES VERSION has a part in every reference library, particularly the libraries of Biblical Counselors.
Remember the Thompson Chain-Reference System was developed for the Authorized King James Version. It is also available in New American Standard, New King James, and the New International versions.
"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, Thompson Chain Reference System developed by Dr. Frank C. Thompson in 1890. Since that time, thousands of additional topics and links have been added. The AKJV 4th edition has been out-of-print since 1988. The 5th edition began printing in 1988. The only way to find a 4th edition would be in the secondary market . . .' -- Publisher
"Some Thompson Bible Features [from among 75 additional study features]:

"The text is set in two columns for ease of reading. Cross references are to the left and right of the respective columns immediately adjacent to the related verse. TCR cross references are by subject. Each cross reference contains a TCR Index number, the TCR subject, and the next Bible verse in the 'chain' for that subject. For example, if you were studying the gospel of 'John' at John 1:9 the TCR cross reference reads '2168 Christ the Light, 8:12.' Thus the TCR index number is '2168,' the subject is 'Christ the Light,' and the next verse in the 'chain' is John 8:12. Going to John 8:12 you would find '2168 Christ the Light, 12:35' and so on to the end of the 'chain'. What makes this different than most other study Bibles is the 'TCR Numeric Index.' Looking up TCR Index number 2168 we find ALL references to subject 'Christ the Light' in order from Genesis to Revelation. You can also do a lookup using the subject. For example, say you are asked a question by an unbeliever, 'Why was Jesus Christ called 'the Light of the world' and what does it mean?' First you would look up the subject 'Christ' or 'Jesus' in the 'TCR Alphabetic Index.' For example, in section 'C,' we find 'Christ,' under the 'Christ' entry we find 'Light, the . . . 2168.' Now we can look in the 'TCR Numeric Index' for the '2168' entry. Here we find the 'chain' of all relevant verses for further study. Why is this better than a 'Strong's' search? Using the latest 'Strongest Strong's . . .' under word 'light' we find 288 entries. The 'Strong's' search is less efficient because many of the 288 entries are not relevant to the subject in question. The full compliment of TCR Bible helps consists of the cross references (100,000 entries), 'Alphabetic Index (8,000 entries)', 'Numerical Index (4,200 entries),' 'Outline Studies,' 'Bible Character Studies,' 'Bible Harmonies,' 'Archaeological Supplement,' 'Hebrew Calendar,' 'Concordance,' and 'Bible Maps.' At $36 you can not go wrong. If I could have only one study Bible, this would be it." -- Reader's Comment
Warning: Many editions and bindings are available, including CD-ROM software Bible research packages, and Palm or PocketPC devices. The website for Thompson Bibles is the best source of complete descriptions of the various editions.
"The 5th edition is the 4th edition expanded, and has everything the 4th had, plus more. While Kirkbride is always in production printing the Bibles with the current year's date, it is still the 1988 5th edition." [This 5th edition was the last edition of THE THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE. Anything published in 1988 or later is the 5th edition. -- compiler] -- Publisher
Both the buyer and the seller can become confused about various editions because Kirkbride Bible Company apparently has never printed the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) in the various editions and printings. Buyers will want to confirm the edition, version, and publisher with the seller.
There are numerous reader's comments about poor quality of paper, binding, and typography of TCR Bibles not printed by Kirkbride, so be sure to carefully inspect any non-Kirkbride edition before purchasing it.
Thompson apparently was a Methodist pastor. The first edition of 1908 was "published by Methodists Book Concern of Dobbs Ferry, New York." -- Publisher

Thompson, Frank Charles (author), Thompson Chain Reference Bible (Spanish edition), ISBN: 0829745653, leather bound (duo-tone black/brown), 1824 pages (Vida, September 1, 2005).
"Contains: * Book Analysis * Outline studies * Harmony of the Gospels * Sixteen colorful maps * Concordance * 1960 Revision * Jesus' words in red Special characteristics: * Messianic prophesies in red * Introduction to the Bible * Biblical studies * Complete index * Harmony of the gospels * Book introductions * Origin and growth of the Bible * Outline studies of Bible periods * Analysis of the Bible as a whole * Analysis of the books of the Bible * Analysis of verses * Numerical chain index system * Contrasts between Old and New Testaments * Topical study of the Bible * Graphs and charts * Tables: time, weights, measures * Bible mnemonics (helps for memorization) * Bible stories for children * Archaeological supplement * General Bible prophecies" -- Publisher

*Thompson, Frank Charles (author), Paul M. Hillman (editor), John Stephen Jauchen (editor), The Thompson Exhaustive Topical Bible: King James Version (Indianapolis, IN: Kirkbride Bible Company, Inc., 1997). Hardcover, 1631 pages.
This is a topical Bible compiled from the Thompson Chain-Reference System.
"NAVE'S TOPICAL BIBLE was edited into a Study Bible format shortly after the appearance of the original THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE. It is fitting for Thompson's Study Bible to be reformatted into a reference book. And where there is room in the marketplace and on every serious student's bookshelf for more than one Bible translation, so there is room for more than one Topical Bible -- and great value in the use of both Nave's and Thompson's work. . . ." -- John R. Kohlenberger III, from the Foreword
"Now, the detailed and comprehensive topical and subject data that forms the heart of the unparalleled Thompson Chain-Reference system is offered in this -- the most exhaustive topical Bible currently available! Combining to make THE THOMPSON EXHAUSTIVE TOPICAL BIBLE unique are features which include:

"No other topical Bible can offer you the comprehensive collection of features or the exhaustive topical thoroughness of this exceptional Bible reference tool -- because there can only be one . . . THE THOMPSON EXHAUSTIVE TOPICAL BIBLE." -- Publisher
It may be used profitably in combination with THE NEW TREASURY OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE (1680 pages), THE NEW GENEVA STUDY BIBLE (THE REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE), (2220 pages), THE GENEVA BIBLE (648 pages), THE THOMPSON EXHAUSTIVE TOPICAL BIBLE: KING JAMES VERSION (1631 pages), and THE NEW NAVE'S TOPICAL BIBLE (1114 pages).
"The topics from the TOPICAL BIBLE can easily be found in the General Index of the THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE. In the General Index are found the chain-reference numbers that will guide the user into the biblical context for many of the topics. The many additional resources in the THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE . . . will greatly supplement any topical study." -- Introduction to the TOPICAL BIBLE

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