🕊️ Verse Mapping Tutorial: How to Use Our Translation-Focused Verse Mapping Template

by A Servants Walk

Video embedded below 👇 — follow along as I walk through the template step-by-step.

Hello friends!
In today’s post (and video), I’ll be showing you how to use our verse mapping template — a simple, effective Bible study tool to help you dig into Scripture one verse at a time.

You can download the template here, or you can always do your verse map on plain paper if you prefer. 

What Is Verse Mapping?

If you’re new to verse mapping, it’s a way to slow down and focus on one specific Bible verse. We take time to look at what it means, study key words, compare translations, explore the context, and think about how it applies to our lives.

This Bible study method is flexible — you can follow along with our verse mapping printable template or create your own layout in a journal or notebook. The important part is simply taking time to dig in.

Comparing Bible Translations

One of my favorite parts of this particular template is that it lets us compare different Bible translations side by side.

For this tutorial, I used 1 Corinthians 15:22:

“Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.”
— New Living Translation (NLT)

The ESV and New King James Version (NKJV) say it this way:

NKJV: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
ESV: “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”

The wording is similar, but I like to look closely at the differences — especially words like belong versus in, or alive versus life. Sometimes those subtle changes open up new insights into what the verse is saying.

Finding the Context

After writing out the verse, the next step is to look at the context.

Ask:

  • Who wrote this book?

  • When was it written?

  • Who was it written to?

  • Why was it written?

In this case, the Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians around AD 55 to the church in Corinth — a diverse Greek port city. He was addressing misunderstandings about the resurrection and encouraging believers in their faith in Christ’s victory over death.

We can often find this information in our Bible’s introduction pages or by using tools like the Blue Letter Bible app. It’s also fine to use ChatGPT or another study aid for quick factual information — just be sure to double-check everything against Scripture and trusted Bible resources.

Writing a Chapter Summary

Once we know who wrote the passage and why, it helps to summarize the chapter our verse comes from. We don’t need to read the entire book, but reading the surrounding chapter puts the verse into better perspective.

For example, 1 Corinthians 15 focuses on the resurrection of Christ and what it means for believers. Having that in mind gives more depth when we go back to study verse 22.

Highlighting Key Words

Now comes one of the most rewarding steps — highlighting key words that stand out.

I use colored highlighters (any kind works!) and pick a few distinct colors. Then I mark words I want to dig into deeper, such as:

  • Everyone / All

  • Belong / In

  • Die

  • Given

  • Alive / Life

  • Made

Each color helps visualize patterns or repeated ideas across translations.

Defining the Words

Once I’ve chosen the keywords, I look up their definitions — usually in Merriam-Webster (sometimes with help from ChatGPT to speed things up -- again use discernment an check with Biblical sources when using this).

For example:

  • Die means “to cease to live; to pass from physical life.”

  • Belong means “to be the property of or be bound by allegiance.”

  • In means “inclusion or being within.”

Even familiar words take on new significance when we pause to define them. Seeing that belong carries the idea of allegiance, while in conveys inclusion, helps us understand the verse in a new way.  

Applying the Verse

After looking at the words and their meanings, I take time to think about application — how the verse connects to my life right now.

This is about reflecting prayerfully on how God’s Word speaks to us in our current season.

Cross References

Next, I look for cross references — other verses that express a similar truth.

You can use the Blue Letter Bible app  to locate them. I often jot down just the references instead of the entire verse, but that's up to you!

Writing a Prayer

The last section of the verse map is for a prayer.

After reading, studying, and reflecting, it’s meaningful to close with a few words of prayer — thanking God for His Word and asking Him to help us live it out.

Sometimes I write the prayer right away; other times I wait until I’ve finished meditating on the passage. Either way, this part makes it personal and helps seal what I’ve learned.

Final Thoughts

Verse mapping doesn’t have to be complicated or perfect. It’s simply a tool to help us slow down and spend intentional time in Scripture. Whether we’re using our Translation-Focused Verse Mapping Template, a journal, or a sheet of notebook paper, the goal is the same — to read thoughtfully and seek understanding and Truth. 

If you’d like to follow along visually, watch the full tutorial below and try verse mapping for yourself:

🎥 Watch: How to Use Our Translation-Focused Verse Mapping Template

Download the Template: CLICK HERE FOR THE TEMPLATE

 

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