How to Study the Bible #3

Review Homework

Let’s pick up with Question 11

Outlining a Bible Passage

Purpose is to begin examining the text carefully

The goal is to break the text into ideas presented

Isolate each idea to present more clearly

Simple Outline Form

Can be used for any book of the Bible

Go thru the text and look for ideas being presented

Read text several times

Find the main theme

Write a short description

List all the main ideas

Always go in sequence

Sample Outline

Psalm 128

Theme: The Fear of the Lord

The fruit of fearing the Lord vs. 1-4

The Happy Results vs. 5-6

Charting

Once you have outline the text you are ready to break it down

This is done by charting

Charting is done by

Observation

Interpretation

Application

Charting Example (handout)

Poetry

Hebrew poetry is filled with figurative language

The language conveys ideas through words and phrases that create images for the reader

The distinguishing mark of Hebrew poetry is parallelism

It is the connection or contrast between one line and the following line or between one section and the following one

It is a repetition of thought that helps clarify the meaning

Psalm 1 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Assignment: Outline Psalm 1

Read text several times

Write a summary of the main theme

List all the main ideas of the text

Give verses as support

Review Outline

Chart Psalm 1

Write idea #1 in the O column

List everything you observe under idea #1

Do the same for idea #2 & #3

Under the “I” column explain the meaning of these observations

Under the “A” column make general and specific application