Bible Study Tips and Techniques

ponyespresso

[ponyespresso]

BIBLE STUDY TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” Matthew 28:19, 20a

What is Bible study?

“Bible study…is the regular, careful, systematic examination of the Scriptures themselves, with an alert mind and a prayerful, open heart, and with the intent to understand and live God’s Word.”(1)

Daily devotional reading is not Bible study. Neither is Bible memorization or even hearing a verse-by-verse sermon or lecture by a pastor, teacher, or in a group setting.

Why do we need to study the Bible?

The Bible is worth studying. The Bible is God’s special revelation to His people, given so that they may have the knowledge of Him, and of His will, which is necessary first for salvation, then to walk in His will.

“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me.” John 5:39

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16,17

We study the Bible to become mature believers. A deeper understanding of the Word of God, which is accomplished by the inner illumination of the Holy Spirit along with diligent exploration of the Scriptures, challenges our worldview, changes our nature and strengthens our walk with God.

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the world of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14

“We come to the Scripture to be changed, not to amass information.”(2)

“[We study the Bible] to avoid or dispel misconceptions or erroneous perspectives and conclusions about the Bible.”(3)

“The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.”(4)

The Bible is difficult to understand.

“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God have him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3: 15, 16 (if the Apostle Peter admitted that Paul was difficult to understand, how much more so us?)

Which Bible should I study?

Use a standard, formal equivalence translation rather than a dynamic equivalence or paraphrasing translation (see appendix I).

I recommend using either a New American Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, or King James Version. Use the New International Version only as a last resort (i.e. if you do not have access to another translation, or do not have the means to acquire another translation.). You cannot use a dynamic equivalence or paraphrasing translation (i.e. The Message, Contemporary English Version, The Good News Bible, etc) for serious Bible study.

Do not use a Bible that has too many distractions, such as pictures, charts or commentary within the text itself.

Do use a Bible that has a good concordance, colour maps and a topical index if possible.

How do I study the Bible?

We will be looking at what is called the “Inductive Bible Study Method”. “’Inductive’ study is an approach to inquiry in which students learn by examining the objects of the study themselves and drawing their own conclusions about these materials from that direct encounter with them.”(5) There has been a general sense for many years now that too many Christians (whether they be theologians or new believers) spend too much time and effort reading about the Bible and too little time actually studying the Book itself. This method of study attempts to correct this by focusing the majority of work into simply reading the Bible and trying to discover what is there, rather than continually relying on other people’s opinions about what the Bible says. It is also infinitely adaptable to a persons ability or situation; you can use this method to study one small section of Scripture, one chapter or a whole book.

All of this, of course, is utterly useless unless the Spirit opens “the eyes of our hearts” (Ephesians 1:18) and we are willing and able to receive what He has for us.

“For this reason, the first step in Bible study for the Christian is really prayer – prayer that the same Spirit who inspired the writers of God’s Word may inspire and illuminate our minds as we study, prayer for a humble and teachable mind.”(6)

Instructions on the Inductive Bible Study Method

Part One: Observation
(Note: do these steps in order)

Step 1. Observation (1x)

• read through the text once, then write down what comes to mind; cite verse references;
• be specific (getting it down on paper frees the mind to look at other things)
• use full sentences (brief phrases will not make sense later)
• let the text come to you! Don’t assume too readily what the text means.
• note what stands out (e.g. repetition, word choice, sarcasm, irony, symbolism, metaphors/similes, absence of words, etc)
• note connections and relationships between verses, not just verse-by-verse
• avoid mere summarization of facts and events – this is not observation
• make a note, if you can, of the genre of what you are reading (is it poetry, history, parable, etc? Or, if you are unfamiliar with Biblical genres, ask what genre is during the “Ask Questions” phase.)
• observation is not judgement! If you make a judgement, you are in control. Let the text be in control.

Step 2. Observation (1x)

• same as above

Step 3. Ask Questions

• is there anything you are not familiar with? (e.g. places, people, words, allusions, etc)
• avoid asking interpretative or theological questions for now (i.e. ones that usually begin with “Why…?”) – stick with the details within the text
• are there ancient customs or rituals you are unfamiliar with?
• Don’t be afraid to write down what is unclear about the text, or just what puzzles you.
• At this point, there is no need to look up answers to your questions; that will come later during the Interpretation phase.

Step 4. Observations with a map (1x)

• make observations using a map; note distances, location, type of geographical area, neighbouring cities/nations, etc. of locations mentioned in the passage
• expand on observations; consider the effect of location on the situation or on the persons (i.e. does Jesus or Paul speak to people differently in different locations?)

Step 5. Note Divisions (1x)

• divide the passage according to several different categories (e.g. by subject matter, by tone or attitude, by themes, by the speaker, by verb tense, by genre, etc.)
• account for each verse in the passage, in order; do not skip around or place verses in different positions.
• At this stage, try to avoid making a detailed and specific outline, merely observe and record the structure and flow of the text.

Step 6. Observation (1x)

• same as 1 and 2

Part Two: Interpretation

• First, try to make an outline of the text you are studying.
• Review the divisions you noted at the observation stage and work from there.
• This will help you understand better the flow of the text, and understand the context of any word study or cultural study you will do later.
• Knowing the immediate context of a passage will also help give the clues to a more accurate meaning of key words and phrases within the text itself.
• Try to write the outline in your own words, and not just copy information from the text.

2. Ask questions to find answers

• Here is where you begin to ask what are called interpretive questions.
• Do not ask a question to get an answer you presuppose.
• Avoid abstract or vague language. Try to pinpoint a specific problem or issue from the information given in the passage.
• Also, avoid wordy, overblown questions. Try to be as clear and concise as possible.
• Try to answer as much of question as you can yourself; again, the context often gives tremendous information into meaning. Also, allow the Holy Spirit time to reveal insights about the passage before turning to secondary sources, such as encyclopaedias or commentaries.

Ask questions to get definition.

• Who or what is this? What does this [term, phrase, item, event] mean?
• What are the key words or themes?

  A key word is an important term within the context of the passage.
  Repetition is a indicator of key words. Proper nouns are also indicators.
  Keep in mind that the meanings of words change significantly over time and place. Ask how the key word or phrase would be different nowadays from those who would have first heard it?

  
  
• How is this [term, phrase, item, event] significant?
• What is the literary context?

  Who is the author? Who is the audience?
  Can we know the authors intent? (See Mark 1:1 or Luke 1:1-4 for excellent examples of authors statements of intent.)
  Try to establish what Biblical genre you are studying. For example, is it poetry? Find out about Hebrew poetry, and how it differs from regular English poetry.

  
  
• What is the historical and cultural context?

  When was this written? Where was this written? What else was going on at this time?
  What ancient traditions are in the passage, and how might they differ from the traditions we have today?
  For example, how would a wedding that Jesus would have attended in 1st century Palestine (John chap. 2) differ from a wedding in contemporary Britain?

After you have devoted a reasonable amount of time to answering the questions yourself, then you may begin to use dictionaries, encyclopaedias, commentaries and other secondary sources. Always refer to at least two different secondary sources so that you will have different points of view to consider.

If you are going to try to devote yourself to serious, continuous Bible study, I would recommend buying an exhaustive concordance and a Bible dictionary or encyclopaedia as the most essential resources for your library. Here are two examples of good resources:

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, D. N. Freedman, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich. Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000 (£24.73 from Amazon.co.uk)
Anchor Bible Dictionary (6 volume set), D. N. Freedman, ed, NY, Doubleday, 1992 (£197.84 from Amazon.co.uk)

If you have access to the internet, here are some helpful online sources for information:

http://www.studylight.org
http://bible.gospelcom.net
http://unbound.biola.edu
http://www.bibles.net (best site for just printing out Bible passages)
http://bible.crosswalk.com

Part Three: Application

1. Raise the “So What? Question. What does this have to do with us and with our world?

Living the Word: This is the goal of the entire process. Good Bible study is much more than an academic pursuit. It aims at human transformation by the power of God’s Word and Spirit.”(7)

• Apply major principles first.

  It is best to identify the central concerns of the passage and the general principles…and to ask regarding the significance of these matters for contemporary life. Then one may proceed to various details of the passage which may or may not apply to our day. Try to see which features of a passage are of universal significance, and which are more culture-specific and confined in application to a specific time and place in the past.

• Apply ideas and actions

  Through Scripture God will to shape both our ideas and our actions, not just one or the other. Both our inner and outer lives, our thoughts, beliefs and “world views” as well as the actions which flow from those life convictions present agendas for spiritual growth and transformation….Significant application will not occur in vague realms of “spirituality” or “holiness” that have nothing to do with life as it is lived.

• Apply corporately and individually

  While God certainly cares about the response of individuals to His Word, most of Scripture itself aims at the transformation of communities and individuals as members of those communities….Adequate application thinks both of how the Bible shapes my ideas and actions and also of how it must shape the iedeas and actions of the several communities of which I am a part – home, town, clubs, schools, businesses, associations, state and federal government, and the social political, and legal structures that shape them.

• Apply positively and negatively

  Scripture applies both positively and negatively to our lives. God, through his Spirit and the Word, both affirms and rebukes, comforts and confronts, assures and unsettles…Because of God’s grace at work in His world, we should be surprised if we never sense affirmation through His Word, but on the other hand, because of the realities of the human condition, we should be suspicious if we never find ourselves unmasked, our sin exposed before the living God in His Word.

Tips and Techniques

• Try to do observations from a text with the fewest distractions within the text itself. If possible print out a copy of the text you are going to study from an online source or from the Bible on CD-rom. If you do not have access to a computer, try to photocopy the text you are going to study (again, from as clear and uncluttered text as possible).

• This allows you to write notes, underline or highlight passages and mark divisions without permanently impairing an expensive (and precious) Bible. Also, it frees your Bible to be a daily devotional book uncluttered with scribbles and observations. It also allows you the freedom to make mistakes, as well as the ability to come to the same passage again in future unencumbered by your previous observations.

• This is not to say that your observations are disposable. In fact, always keep your notes for future reference, recollection and inspiration. If at all possible, never throw your work away.

• Do not to do all the steps at one time, but allow time to meditate on the Scripture you are working with, as well as the observations you are making or the questions you are asking.

  “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
  nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
  But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
  and in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1,2)

---

(1) David L. Thompson, Bible Study That Works (Nappanee, IN: Evangel Publishing House, 1994), p. 16.
(2) Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1978), p. 69.
(3) Dr. William Klein et al., Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1993) p. 19.
(4) Westminster Confession; Chapter I:10.
(5) Thompson, p. 12.
(6) Thompson, p. 20.
(7) Thompson, p. 85. The whole Part Three quotes heavily from Chapter 6 of Thompson.

[ponyespresso]

I chose not to use the lead in (dispite my harping on about context, lol) because I wanted to show the emphasis on teaching that Jesus uses. The church I am in now is really missionary and outreach focused, which is great, but not so hot at actually making disciples and teaching them the ways of the LORD.

Which, sad truth be told, is the failing of a majority of evangical Protestant churches these days.

[ponyespresso]

Be very careful in your reading of Foster as he supports the Rhema school of belief contained in the writings of Kenneth Hagin , Kenneth Copeland and others.

My quote is from his book "Celebration of Disipline" which is one of those rare books that not only changed the way I view the world (and my role in it) but physically changed the way I live my life. I have read nothing else by him, or of the others you mentioned.

Of the total man, I know little (except, yes that he was a Quaker, which was fine since I used to be Brethren in Christ/Mennonite) but of this one work, I and many others consider it a modern Christian must-read.

Have you ever read "Celebration of Discipline"?

[don-o]

I guess I would ask you how exactly anyone arrives at the correct nature and attributes of God unless through Scripture, right?

Cat chasing his tail?

[don-o]

should I include a stronger warning about sticking to what the text is saying, rather than how you *feel* about the text?

Just takes the problem back one step.

If you only allow "what the text is saying," then ten people can have eleven different opinions.

If you stick with "feelings" each should only have one.

[Thinkin' Gal]

The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
they caught the last train for the coast

[Salvation]

**Which, sad truth be told, is the failing of a majority of evangical Protestant churches these days.**

And has been a major failing of the Catholic church as well. Hopefully that is getting turned around despite all the negative publicity about sexual abuse.

The challenge (and secret) is to keep the Bible Study focused on faith and truth and not religion!!!!

[Ff--150]

The church I am in now is really missionary and outreach focused, which is great, but not so hot at actually making disciples and teaching them the ways of the LORD.

Actually, the ministries of Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland might not be a bad place to investigate, in spite of this other individual's feelings. They teach to take the Bible as God's Word, and apply It to one's everyday life for everyday things.

For instance, I have cancer; have had it for a long time. Should have died eight years ago and was bed-ridden for years. But I took God at His Word, as taught by Gloria Copeland, Kenneth's wife, saying over, and over, over and over, and over, etc. Isaiah 53: 5 and 1 Peter 2:24 "By whose stripes I am healed." God got me out of my death bed--it took a while, believe me! I still have this problem, but God is going to finish what He began, so I continue with my faith. Anyway, this is more of what Rhema is, rather than visualization, I guess that other poster was suggesting Rhema was?

Anyway, Rhema.org or kcm.org is where you could look.

[Uri’el-2012]

Have you ever read "Celebration of Discipline"?

22 posted on 02/22/2003 11:20 AM MST by ponyespresso (I know that my Redeemer lives)

It was recommended to me by a friend. I bought it. I have also done some research on Foster.

My greatest concern is in Chapter one on Meditation.

I draw your attention to page 30 third paragraph from the bottom, which includes

" Till your whole New Testament is all over autobiographic of you"

Tehillim (Psalm) 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer

chuck <truth@YeshuaHaMashiach>

[ppaul]

Fantastic free downloads...

Link for mp3's of great sermons and music: MarsHill

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Since i have a Greek font that i know works, i will attempt to repost your comparrison.

This is the Appendix I that I referred to under the heading “Which Bible should I study?” It is a one-page handout that shows the wide variations of different translations. I chose 1 John 3:17 because it was short, fairly self-contained and really brought out how much the various translations of the Bible go astray from the original text. If anyone has any better single scripture, though, I would be open for suggestions.

1 John 3:17from the United Bible Societies Greek New Testament, 4th ed.

o^ß d` a[n e[ch/ to;n bivon souÖ kovsmou kai; splavgcna aujtouÖ, pwÖß hJ ajgavph touÖ qeouÖ mevnei ejn aujtw/Ö;

now whoever has the (this) life’s possessions of the world and sees the brother of him need having and closes inner affections his from him how [does] the love of God abide in him?

King James Version

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

New American Standard Version

But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

New Revised Standard Version

How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

New International Version

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

New Living Translation

But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help – how can God's love be in that person?

Contemporary English Version

If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God.

The Message

If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

[Isaiah_66_2]

To: ponyespresso; Wrigley; scripter; RnMomof7; CCWoody

Now the LDS approach is much easier.

"When your bosom glows, you know."

Even when the BOM contradicts LDS doctrines(plurality of gods, plural wives, etc), they still rely on an esoteric experience instead of objective Truth.

Too bad JR caved in to Mormon whining.

[Isaiah_66_2]

To: ponyespresso

The church I am in now is really missionary and outreach focused, which is great, but not so hot at actually making disciples and teaching them the ways of the LORD.

Actually, the ministries of Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland might not be a bad place to investigate, in spite of this other individual's feelings. They teach to take the Bible as God's Word, and apply It to one's everyday life for everyday things.

The problem there is that Kenny Copeland and Hagin interpret the Bible through occultic metaphysical constructs that ammount to nothing more than witchcraft.

[restornu]

Steve you are still alive?

[anniegetyourgun]

Can you give me an update on Dr. H's health these days?

[don-o]

The problem there is that Kenny Copeland and Hagin interpret the Bible through occultic metaphysical constructs that ammount to nothing more than witchcraft.

All right. Now we are getting somewhere.

So Copeland and Hagin are out, because of their approach to Biblical interpretation.

Gonna need a scorecard to keep up here.

[The Grammarian]

o^ß d` a[n e[ch/ to;n bivon souÖ kovsmou kai; splavgcna aujtouÖ, pwÖß hJ ajgavph touÖ qeouÖ mevnei ejn aujtw/Ö;

Unless the audience has the same font, this won't work. Try transliterating. Transliterated, it would read:

hos d' an echE ton bion tou kosmou kai theOrE ton adelphon autou chreian echonta kai kleisE ta splagchna autou ap' autou, pOs hE agapE tou theou menei en autO

(Note that capitalized vowels represent "long" vowel sounds, such that O represents an omega, while o represents an omicron; and E represents an eta instead of e, epsilon.)

[Hank Kerchief]

Again, I understand that there are large tomes devoted to this subject, so don't come down too hard on what I did not include...

While I am sure this is something you will emphasize when you have your Bible Studies, it is the one essential, without which no method of Bible study works.

Because, "... the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him ..." (1 Co 2:14), but, since, "... the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, .... (1 John 2:27), it is necessary, first to be a child of God, because it is the Spirit of God that provides the understanding of the Scriptures, and "... if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Rom. 8:9)

Now Paul did not rest in that fact that his converts were endowed with the spirit, but said, he did not "Cease ... to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

Our Lord expects us to ask for His blessings in prayer, and, promises all who seek understanding and wisdom will receive it:

Jas. 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

To summarize, to understand God's Word one must be a child of God and sincerely seek in prayer for His wisdom to understand His Word. Prayer is no doubt the most neglected and most necessary "tool" for understanding God's Word.

Just a couple of other suggestions:

1. If ever you believe you have discovered a contradiction between one portion of Scripture and another, you have made a mistake in the interpretation of one of the passages, or both.

2. The truth of Scripture will never be revealed to those who do not sincerely desire to obey whatever requirements those Scriptures might require of the Child of God. The promise is, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine...." (John 7:17) Let no man suppose God reveals His will or His Word to those who are only curious or come to it with the attitude, "well, Lord, show me your will, then I'll decide if I'M willing to do it." The only attitude to which God reveals His will is, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him...." (Job 13:15)

God bless you in your endeavors to encourage others to study God's Word.

Hank

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

"Prayer is no doubt the most neglected and most necessary "tool" for understanding God's Word."

Amen.

Also - learning how to "Pray the Scriptures" making our prayers coincide with God's Word - not in a cultic way but because God's Word is LIVING and truly does not return to Him Void but accomplishes that for which it was sent.

God sent His Word to heal all their destructions. (Did you know that? I didn't until just recently.)

God's Word is powerful - and Jesus Christ is God's Living Word - who has all authority in heaven and on earth!

Praise His Holy Name!!!

By the way - I met Agnes Sanford and witnessed her healing prayer for a suicidal young man who was instantly delivered of demonic forces and went away with his face beaming - totally and completely delivered and healed!

You know - God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. If more of us took His Word seriously - and acted upon us - we would turn the world upside down in short order.

I am more guilty than any others for not allowing God's Word to abide in me and myself abide in Him.....asking whatever I will and it will be done unto me. Because when God's Word ABIDES in us - seeps into our minds and deeper into our spirits - ministered there by HIS HOLY SPIRIT - it transforms our thinking - taking every thought captive unto Jesus Christ - so that we think the very thoughts of HIM who is our Lord and Savior. THEN enemies are routed and HIS KINGDOM brought into being right here in this sin filled world.

I witnessed just a few moments of God's healing power but am aware of many more as done legitimately through those who belong to Him and who simply take God at His Word.

Jesus is the ONE who heals - and it is through weak - but yielded human vessels - that He sovereignly ordains His work be done. Praise His Holy Name forever!

[PFKEY]

"How does one know that a particular interpretation, or a system of interpretation is the correct one?"

I've never had to much of an issue with the interpretation of passages as to which is correct.

Rarely, if ever does the Bible only speak of something one time.

If my reading/interpretation does not fit/jive/reinforce what the other passages on the same subject seem to be saying then it is more than likely that the passage in question is being interpreted incorrectly.

My approch to Bible study is to use a concordence and to read all the passages that deal with a particular theme/topic.

Take baptism as an example.

You really do need to read all relevant sightings of baptism to understand its meaning and significance.

[RnMomof7]

Well for instance it says clearly that God is not a man that he can lie...but there are cults that say he was a man...there are many that think God does lie(or change his mind after he has said something) ..Making God a man removes his omnipresence..if he lies it not only makes Him a sinful God but it removes his omniscience