A Study Bible is Scripture text paired with additional notes and resources (e.g. maps, articles, etc.) that help you understand what you’re reading in the Bible text.
If you haven't downloaded your Study Bible yet, you will find the download steps for your device(s) in this Help article. In these examples, we are using an iPad, though the functionality will be similar in all of our app variations.
In the Olive Tree app, study Bibles are made up of two files: the Bible text and the Study Bible Notes. Downloading the ESV Study Bible from the 'Cloud' tab of the Library will download both files. Here is what the Study Bible looks like in the Library:
In the rest of this Help article, you will learn several ways to set up the Study Bible text and notes in your app to access its content for your Bible study. When you use the two files in tandem, you'll see how helpful a Study Bible is in your Bible Study.
Setting Up Your Study Bible for Parallel Reading
When you tap on the Study Bible in your Library, the app will automatically set up the two files in tandem. You will see the English Standard Version (ESV) open in the main window and the ESV Study Bible Notes open in the Parallel window in the Study Center.
Here is an example of what this looks like:
When you scroll in the Bible text, the study notes will follow along. You may notice the icons in the lower right corner. These icons control how the Parallel window links to the main window.
Unlinked - This icon indicates that the windows are currently unlinked. If you scroll in the main window while this icon is showing, the Resource Guide/Parallel window will not scroll along. Tapping the Unlinked icon will re-link the windows.
Linked - This icon indicates that the windows are currently linked. If you scroll in the main window, the Resource Guide/Parallel window will follow along. However, if you scroll in the Resource Guide/Parallel window the link will be broken. If you tap this icon, you will lock the window link.
Locked Link - This icon indicates that the window link is locked. When the link is locked, the link will not break, unless you tap this icon again to unlock the link.
Accessing Additional Content
Study Bibles often come with additional content like articles, maps, charts, concordances, etc. You can find that content when you use the List Layout in the Verse Chooser. If you are not seeing the list view, tap the Options icon in the upper right corner and select "Use List Layout".
Using Study Bible Notes in the Resource Guide
Another way to view the Study Bible Notes in the app is through the Resource Guide. Open your preferred Bible translation in the main window and open the Resource Guide in the Study Center.
You will see relevant entries from the Study Bible Notes resource in the Resource Guide that correspond to your location in the Bible text in the main window.
Tips for Customizing Your Study Bible
Another benefit of using a Study Bible in the Olive Tree Bible App is that the Study Notes can be used with any Bible translation. To set this up, tap on the Library icon and tap on any Bible translation to open it in the main window. In our example, we selected the NKJV Bible.
When the Bible translation is open, tap on the Library icon again, find your Study Bible, and tap and hold on it. Tap on 'Open Notes in Parallel' from the menu that appears.
You will now see your new Bible translation open with the Study Bible Notes in the Parallel window:
There may also be times where you want to have the Study Bible Notes open in the main window instead of a Bible translation. To do this, tap on the Library icon and tap and hold on your Study Bible. When the menu appears, tap on 'Open Notes in Main'.
You will now have the Study Bible Notes open on its own in the main window.
Conclusion
We hope that this introduction to using Study Bibles in the Olive Tree Bible App has been helpful for you. You can find all of our Study Bibles on our website!
If you have any more questions, please submit a request to our Customer Support team here. They are happy to help!