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Sources and Study Method
Truth in Reference is designed to make Bible-study tools understandable. This page explains what the site presents and how to use it responsibly.
KJV verse index
The site keeps a local index of 31,102 King James Version verses so verse pages and phrase searches can be returned quickly. The original source edition and import process were not retained in the repository. In September 2026 we corrected five missing verses that had shifted labels within their chapters and four extra verse splits; the corrections were compared against an independently numbered KJV text. We removed imported translator-margin notes from the stored verse text and separated Psalm superscriptions and Psalm 119 stanza headings into labeled headings. Some letter endnotes still appear in a final verse; their placement can differ between editions. Compare a result with a trusted print edition if exact typography or editorial notes matter to your study. A phrase search finds wording; it does not establish that every similar phrase has the same meaning.
Cross-reference source and credit
The local collection has 226,185 stored links and follows the structure and vote ordering of OpenBible.info's Bible Cross References, published under CC BY 4.0. That source draws primarily on the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and also incorporates other sources. This site's copy has been adapted into local verse keys and capped at ten links per verse, with KJV text displayed alongside the links. The import script and exact source snapshot were not preserved with this site's data, so we cannot assert a precise edition or complete provenance for every row. We credit OpenBible.info as the apparent source and welcome corrections with supporting evidence.
The local file stores at most ten links for any one verse, ordered by the source's vote score. “Top” therefore means the highest-scored links retained in this site's snapshot; it is not a claim that a link is the best interpretation. The source may have additional links. Our automated check confirms that stored links resolve to a verse in the local KJV index. It does not establish why a passage was linked. Shared wording, an allusion, a parallel event, or a related theme are possibilities to test in context.
How we present results
The Parallel Engine displays a focus verse alongside the retained linked passages. Open a linked chapter to inspect its setting, then return to the focus passage. We do not classify the reason for every link or treat its vote score as a measure of biblical authority.
Passage study notes and editorial links
Selected verse pages include original notes prepared with AI assistance. Each note identifies a surrounding passage, explains two comparisons, retains differences between their audiences and settings, and offers a question a reader can check in the text. The label records whether owner approval for publication is pending or granted; it does not claim an independent human review or scholarly endorsement. These notes are interpretations grounded in the linked KJV passages, not explanations supplied by the imported cross-reference dataset.
Related guides are deliberately selected for a verse or a study method. A saying check appears only when that verse is one of the page’s primary references; it is not attached by a shared keyword. For example, John 3:16 leads to its existing guided study and its wording check. Corrections can be sent through the feedback form. Changes that affect a note’s interpretation should receive a dated correction record before republication.
What the citation comparison checks
The citation tool recognizes references such as “John 3:16” in pasted text. If a quotation immediately follows a recognized reference, it compares the quoted words with the KJV verse, ignoring case and punctuation. “Exact excerpt” means those words occur together in the same order in that verse. “Similar wording” is an approximate ordered comparison that needs human review. The tool does not fact-check an essay, prove an interpretation, identify every possible quotation, or judge whether a citation supports the writer's claim.
How Bible sayings are checked
Each saying has one primary finding about wording or the immediate passage, not a ruling on doctrine. “Word for word” allows limited updates to pronouns, verb endings, and spelling, such as “ye” to “you”; the page shows the original KJV wording. “Altered wording” keeps a distinctive run of KJV words while changing other meaningful words. “Paraphrase” expresses a related thought without that run. “No exact KJV match” means the phrase was not found in our KJV index, including adjacent verses. “Not stated in the text” applies to a claim about a biblical event or person that the cited passages do not establish. “Real verse, wider context” calls attention to surrounding words that affect how a real verse is commonly used. The explanation and linked passages matter more than a short label. We only state a saying’s origin when we can cite a source. Readers can send corrections to support@truthinreference.com.
A worked reading path
For John 3:16, begin with John 3 and note the conversation with Nicodemus. Then open the parallel view and choose one linked passage, such as Romans 5:8. Read Romans 5 around verse 8 before writing down the connection you see. Return to John 3 and ask whether the connection clarifies John's argument or merely repeats a word. Our guided example develops this path.
Limits and corrections
Data can contain formatting differences, editorial conventions, or links that deserve closer review. If you find a broken result or believe a connection needs clarification, please send the verse reference and a short explanation to support@truthinreference.com. We welcome corrections that make the resource more useful for readers.