The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is a Christianstudy Bible published by the Kirkbride Bible Company.
History
The Thompson Chain-Reference system was devised by its namesake, Dr. Frank C. Thompson, in the early 1900s, but the original work was started in 1890. Dr. Frank Charles Thompson was born in 1858, in Elmira, New York, and was ordained in 1879. His wife was Laura Boughton Thompson. He began work on the system because of his dissatisfaction with the reference Bibles that were then available 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.
The first version of Thompson's study Bible was published in 1908 by the Methodists Book Concern of Dobbs Ferry, New York. Five years later, in 1913, Dr. Thompson was joined by B. B. Kirkbride, of Indianapolis, Indiana. The two men formed the , in order to further improve and distribute Thompson's work. The original Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, as well as several subsequent versions, were based on the King James Bible. Currently, editions based on the King James Version, New King James Version, New International Version, New American Standard Bible and English Standard Version are available, as well as electronic versions that incorporate other features. , there have been more than four million Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles sold.
Chains
The heart of the Thompson Chain-Reference system is Thompson's "chain topics". The system incorporates over 4,000 such chains. As an example, the entry for Amalek says: has the following margin note: The "chain" continues in which has this margin note: and so on, until which has the margin note: indicating the end of the chain. Other chains are more complex. Chain topic 3724, for example, concerns the general topic of unity: This topic is divided into the major subtopics of "UNITY of Believers", "COOPERATION", and "STRIFE", each of which is divided into further topics. The general section contains 12 individual chains, some of considerable size. Many also incorporate references to chains treated elsewhere, such as the reference to Saints' Fellowship. The chain numbers feature prominently in the Thompson system, and the chain topics are listed in numerical order.
Comprehensive Bible assistance
In addition to the chain topics, the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible includes a number of other aids to Bible study:
Bible readings "including a wide range of subjects for use in private devotions and public services." These consist of individual Bible verses on a large number of specific topics, classified under more general topics.
Outline studies of the Bible "including a study of the Bible as a whole by periods and by books."
Analyses of the books of the Bible giving the origin of the name of the book, the author or authors, key words, a synopsis or analysis, and so on.
Bible harmonies and illustrated studies "including life trees, pictorial maps, charts, outlines"
Archaeological supplement, with a general introduction to Biblical archeology, and an archaeological treatment of many of the places mentioned in the Bible.
