Studying the Bible

Here is a resource to help you develop the skill of studying the Bible. Studying the Bible involves reading, but goes more in-depth.  Use the following 3 step approach to help you.

1.      Observation This is simply to ask the basic questions about what is in the text (who, what, where, when, why, how). 

                                                  i.      What type of writing is it (genre)?: Narrative (Acts), Law (Leviticus), Poetry 
                            (Psalms), Wisdom (Proverbs), Prophecy, Gospel (like narrative, but focuses on
                            Jesus and his ministry on earth), Epistle (letter).  This affects how it is suppose to
                            be read. 
                                                ii.      What is being said? Are there promises made or commands or warnings
                             given.Are there comparisons being made (ex. Light/darkness; truth/falsehood).
                                              iii.      Who- If it is an epistle, note who is writing and to whom they are speaking in
                               the passage you are reading.  If it is a narrative or Gospel, note who is speaking
                                and who their audience is.
                                               iv.      When did the events take place (also note if it is New or Old Testament).  Within
                              the passage, what is the order of events described (look for words like: after
                              this, immediately, until).
                                                 v.      Where did the action take place? 
                                               vi.      Are there any repeated words or themes (ex. Rejoice/joy appears many times in
                              Philippians).
                                           vii.      Look for important connecting words like “therefore” (usually telling you to
                             look back and see the reasons for the statement about to follow), “in order that”
                             (the purpose or result of what was just said), “for” or “because”(which signifies
                             that what is about to be said supports the previous statement) “if…then” (a
                             conditional statement), “but” or “and not” (contrasts), “like” or “as”
                             (comparisons).

2.      Interpretation This is actually trying to understand what the author meant.  What were the original readers suppose to understand by what was written?

                                                  i.      Think about how the type of writing (genre) affects they way it should be
                              interpreted (ex. poetry should be handled differently than law).

                                                ii.      Note the context, what is happening before and after the passage.  Within a
                              book, each passage is connected to the others around it.  The context helps you
                              understand what is being said.  (example, Luke 4:7 “worship me and all will be
                              yours.”  This is not a promise to Christians. The context shows that this is Satan
                              tempting Jesus.).                       iii.    Are there any other Scriptures that come to mind which provide insight
                              (cross references, related themes, etc.)?

                                              iv.      Look up any words you don’t know or that are repeated in a Bible dictionary
                             (http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries/).

                                               v.      Try paraphrasing important verses- this will force you to really understand it
                             and put it in your own words.

                                              vi.    Look at a commentary to help you understand verses you don’t understand
                             (maybe even get a study Bible like the, ESV SB or MacArthur SB).

3.      Application The blessing of God’s Word is in the doing of it.  Application involves understanding how it applied to the original readers (mostly done in the interpretation section above) and how it transfers and applies to you today.

                                                  i.      Ask:

1. Is there an underlying principle that can transfer from the biblical time period to me today?
2. Is there a command to obey?
3. Is there a sin to forsake?
4. Is there a promise to believe?
5. Is there a truth to hold on to?
6. Is there an example to follow or avoid?

                                                ii.      Pray and ask God to help you apply what you have learned