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]

Why "new" this and "new" that? What's wrong with the Revised Standard Version?

Absolutely nothing. I have been told that the original Revised Standard Version is actually perferrable to the "New" Revised Standard Version (though, on the other hand, I also hear that the "New" American Standard is indeed an improvement over that original).

It is just that most bookstores, at least where I currently live, do not stock decent copies of the original RSV or ASV.

And, anyway, I personally think that, even if the "New" Revised Standard doen't live up to the original, it certainly still must be miles ahead of any N.I.V.

What do you think?

[ponyespresso]

This thread is about Bible study, and my post was to those who are interested in studying and understanding the Bible. For those who are interested in understanding the Scriptures, one must have the Holy Spirit and sincerely want to know the truth.

Absolutely correct. I do have a small secition where I say that prayer is the most important thing, but maybe I need to expand that idea further to include sincerity. And desire as well. Not only being sincere in our pursuit of truth but actually wanting it, wrestling with it, as Jacob wrestled until he was blessed.

Thank you for your input.

pony

[Isaiah_66_2]

To: Isaiah_66_2

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.

Copeland and Hagin are "out" because they teach a false concept of God, that is contrary to the Bible and the historic Christian faith.

Copeland's god is a man, who lives on a physical planet. Copeland, Hagin, and the rest of the Word of Faith cultists, preach an old heresy, called, "the Anthropomorphite" heresy.

They are ministers of Satan, plain and simple.

That's for starters.

[Isaiah_66_2]

The faith movement seeks to manipulate God and Gods will..

Actually, what the WOF false prophets seek to manipulate are the spiritual forces of the "air".

Their false god is nothing more than a "genie in a bottle", sitting around waiting for one of their commands to obey.

[Seven_0]

What is sad? I do not mean these things are not vital to the life of a believer. Maybe I need to make that more clear. I am not discounting the necessity of daily devotional reading or listening to the preaching and teaching from those blessed with such giftings.

"What I am saying is that those, in and of themselves, are not Bible Study. And we as believers need to study the Word with vigor and persistance just as much as we read it as a daily devotional or as we here a God-given message."

Before I started memorizing scripture, I might have agreed. Memorizing takes a lot of vigor and presistance, but it also allowes you to study with the lights out. Sometimes I wake up at night with the days verses going through my head. I can review the book of Revelation while running a 10K. I guess I'm sad because you've taken two of my favorite tools for studying the bible and told me that they are not even Bible study.

Studying a passage of the Bible is much easier if you first memorize it.

[lockeliberty]

Well done.

May I propose you add a meta-theological section explaining how the Bible deductively tells us the story of the Kingdom of God and God's designing history to a universal reign on earth and how he administers his Kingdom through a variety of covenants?

[dsc]

"What do you think?"

I'm no authority, but I like the RSV. It did take me a while to find one, true, but it was worth it. I do compare with the KJV from time to time.

A lot of these "new" versions really give me a case of diaper rash. I don't think some of the "translators" or "editors" were guided by the Holy Spirit. If that's arrogant or presumptuous, I'll just have to take that hit.

BTW, the RSV is online in a very convenient form. I found it through a google search on "Revised Standard Version."

[ponyespresso]

I guess I'm sad because you've taken two of my favorite tools for studying the bible and told me that they are not even Bible study.

Again, I need to stress that I am probably not being clear with the point I am trying to make. I am not saying that Bible Study is superior to Bible memorization (however, it may actually be superior to hearing a sermon, depending on who is preaching!). No, all I am saying is that it is a separate tool for us to build on our faith. Much like a hammer is different from a drill, but both are needed to build a house, Bible study, Bible memorization and daily devotional reading, these are all just different tools. None of them are superior, because they all really accomplish different tasks.

Let me also put this in a little context. I am giving this study to my home Bible group. I haven't been with them for very long but already I can tell that they are still on milk, and not on the solid food of the Word. I strongly suspect that they read their Bibles (like the Message version, which is very popular in this Church, and the more I hear from it the more hesitant and dubious I am about it) a couple of minutes a day, three or four times a week, and call it good. Well, I'm sorry but it's not good. It's a minimum effort at best, and God is not expecting us to merely put in a minimum effort, in anything we as believers do.

So, if I am being accused of taking away anything, I would hope it is their complacent attitude toward study.

I hope that sheds a little better light on what I mean and what I am trying to accomplish here.

[ponyespresso]

May I propose you add a meta-theological section explaining how the Bible deductively tells us the story of the Kingdom of God and God's designing history to a universal reign on earth and how he administers his Kingdom through a variety of covenants?

I can't decide if you are making fun of me or you are serious in your suggestion. Either way I have no idea whatsoever about how to respond to this.

So, either way, I will just say, "No thanks, I think I'll skip that section."

[lockeliberty]

Not making fun of you.

Dead serious.

Why has this suggestion befuddled you?

[ponyespresso]

Why has this suggestion befuddled you?

Well, I don't know if you read my first post after the article proper which explained that I have formed this study for believers who aren't really ready for the solid food of the Word. I wanted this to be an introduction into the world of hermenutics and serious study, with a focus on the method at this point over any specific subject matter (i.e. convenant, Kingdom of God, etc.)

Also, at six pages printed out it is longer than even I anticipated, and I cannot envision any other lengthly additions like the one you propose. Suffice it to say, if I can get through what I got at the moment, and they take at least 50 percent of it to heart and practice, well, I've hit one out of the ball park. Or, God has...well, you know.

I hope that explains this a little better.

pony

[lockeliberty]

Well, I don't know if you read my first post after the article proper which explained that I have formed this study for believers who aren't really ready for the solid food of the Word. I wanted this to be an introduction into the world of hermenutics and serious study, with a focus on the method at this point over any specific subject matter (i.e. convenant, Kingdom of God, etc.)

I'm not suggesting a complete treatise on Covenant theology. What I am suggesting is giving the new believer some sign posts in which they may follow scripture. By providing the new believer with the general theme of scripture, the Kingdom .of God, when they read through it they can see the acts of God redeeming his people. This undergirding acts as the theme or plot to the bible.

Look at all the bible based cults. What is the main source of their heresy? Faulty exegesis. Look at the posts on this thread. There are basically two models of interpretation. There is the subjectivists model in which one pours himself into the text and the objectivist model in which one tries to let the text speak for itself. In the subjectivist model the reader is speaking to the text. In this instance the reader is saying the text means what I think it means based on my 21st century worldview. For example, Jesus said: "Ask and ye shall receive". Ask what? Receive what? In my 21st century mind I'm thinking if I ask for a new car Jesus will give me one. What seems to be forgotten is that the bible was not written directly to them but was written by a specific author to a specific audience that had a completely different worldview then we do today. OTOH, a completely objectivists viewpoint is faulty precisely because regardless of whatever methods or rules we apply their is still subjectivity in any analysis. We should approach the bible understanding that we all come with our failings and sinful nature and are predisposed to understanding the bible based on our experiences and culture.

In Part I you provide a good framework for intrinsic analysis but you include extrinsic analysis under interpretation. Shouldn't both of these be included under observation? Additionally, you ask the reader to ask certain questions assumining they have a knowledge of Ancient far east cultures without the aid of extra-biblical sources. How is the reader going to know how to ask the correct questions if he does not refer to secondary sources? Interpretation then is by use of the analogy of faith. How do these historical events lead me to the cross? How do these historical stories provide an example of God's redeeming work in my life?

Let me circle around back to my original contention. The new believer needs a general theme in which to interpret the bible. These are not just scattered stories of the Jewish nation. Rather, this is a book about the Kingdom of God and how he acts in history to redeem a remnant for himself. Thus, the reader should ask himself how did God inaugurate this Kingdom, how did it continue, and what will be the final outcome? Of course all of these questions should point to the cross.

[ponyespresso]

I'm not suggesting a complete treatise on Covenant theology. What I am suggesting is giving the new believer some sign posts in which they may follow scripture. By providing the new believer with the general theme of scripture, the Kingdom .of God, when they read through it they can see the acts of God redeeming his people. This undergirding acts as the theme or plot to the bible.

I am not using this study for new believers though. These are folks who have been Christians for quite a long time. I am sure they are superficially familiar with the ideas of covenant and Kingdom of God, but they are only familiar with these as they have been told them through other writers or thorough preaching and such. Not through serious study of the Word itself for themselves.

If these were new believers then, yes, absolutely there would need to be some kind of introduction to the overarching theme of Scripture. But for who I will be talking to, and indeed, I believe for many Christians who have been going to Church for many years but still do not crack open their Bibles with any kind of regularity or commitment, then I think that this introductory approach to this type of methodology of study is sufficient.

Look at all the bible based cults. What is the main source of their heresy? Faulty exegesis.

Why just limit faulty exegesis to the cults? What is the difference between Calvinists and Arminians in regard to election and free will? Protestants and Catholics in regards to transubstantiation? What is the difference between denominations which forbid drinking and dancing to those who don't? They would ALL argue that their beliefs are correct because they have correctly interpreted a certain passage or passages and those who disagree with them, well, they are the ones with the faulty exegesis.

I will not fault this particular method of study just because it is open to abuse by the cults, when, let's be honest here, any method of study is open to abuse by anyone who thinks that God is with them and everyone else is against them (this includes very mainline denominations.)

We should approach the bible understanding that we all come with our failings and sinful nature and are predisposed to understanding the bible based on our experiences and culture.

Agreed. Maybe I should make this point stronger in the study.

Additionally, you ask the reader to ask certain questions assumining they have a knowledge of Ancient far east cultures without the aid of extra-biblical sources. How is the reader going to know how to ask the correct questions if he does not refer to secondary sources?

Context provides much of the clues to information. If you start asking yourself, "Why does that person ask that question of Jesus" or "Why does this person have these attitues towards that person or group" you can figure a lot of this stuff out. Not all by a long shot, but you would be able to have a good start for when you begin to look at secondary sources.

Let me circle around back to my original contention. The new believer needs a general theme in which to interpret the bible. These are not just scattered stories of the Jewish nation. Rather, this is a book about the Kingdom of God and how he acts in history to redeem a remnant for himself. Thus, the reader should ask himself how did God inaugurate this Kingdom, how did it continue, and what will be the final outcome? Of course all of these questions should point to the cross.

Agreed. But, beyond that, if you come to Scripture ONLY looking for signposts to the cross, then you would probably miss out on a myriad of other intragal messages that the Word has for us. This is why my focus here is more organized around method than message.