How To Study the Bible

Introduction

Welcome to the Selfless Church’s Online Courses where we dig deeper into the word of God and find ways to grow in our walk with Christ. The title of this series is “How To Study The Bible.” In this course you will learn why you should study the Bible, tools you should use to study the Bible, the different genres of the Bible, and methods for studying the Bible. Then, we are going to understand the story of the Bible. Lastly, we will study how to discover Christ in all of Scripture.

Why Study the Bible?

It is God’s Word/ Message

2 Timothy 3:16 “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

2 Peter 1:20 “20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,”

Spiritual Growth

Inquisition: 1 Peter 2:2 “2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,”

Maturity: 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 “1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,”

Teacher: Hebrews 5:11-14 “11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”

In Pursuit of Truth

Acts 17:11 “11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.”

Tools for Studying the Bible

Choosing a translation

Word for Word Translations

Interlinear

NASB

Amplified

ESV

RSV

KJV

NKJV

HCSB

Thought for Thought

NRSV

NAB (New American Bible)

NJB (New Jerusalem Bible)

NIV

TNIV (Today’s New International Version)

NCV (New Century Version)

Paraphrase

NLT

NIrV (New International Reader’s Version)

GNT (Good News Translation)

CEV (Contemporary English Version)

TLB (The Living Bible)

MSG

Choosing a note-taking process

Pens, Highlighters, Journals

Notebooks

Writing in Your Bible?

Choosing a study/ research tool

Logos

Accordance

E-Sword

Bible.org/ netbible.org

Gather Study Materials

Historical Commentary

IVP Bible Commentary: Old Testament

IVP Bible Commentary: New Testament

Exegetical Commentary

Word Pictures in the New Testament

Word Studies in the New Testament

International Critical Commentary series

Other

New Testament for Everyone Series

The NET Bible and Notes

Note: It is important to seek out specialized commentaries for particular books of the Bible. Also seek out voluminous sets.

Genres of the Bible

History- Acts; Chronicles; Kings

Poetry- Psalm

Wisdom- Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes

Gospels/ Biographical- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Epistles- Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, Colossians

Apocalypse- Revelation, Daniel

Methods for Studying the Bible

Topical study: studying various topics such as righteousness, faith, prayer

Word study: studying particular words such as agape, faith, holiness

Character study: studying characters such as Moses, David, Daniel

Inductive Bible study:

Observe the text, interpret the text, and apply the text.

Who, What, When, Where, Why, How

SOAP

Scripture- read and write the passage

Observation- ask the who, what, when, where, why, how questions

Application- consider how to apply

Prayer- ask God to help you do what you read

Understanding the Bible’s Story: The Chronological Bible Study Program

Nothing- the human race created out of nothing

Something- The Hebrew race created into something

Exit- Exodus from Egypt

Entering- Entering Canaan

United - United kings of Israel stand

Divided- Divided kings of Israel fall

Scattered- Judah is scattered

Gathered- Judah is gathered

Coming - Coming of Jesus

Going- Going of the church

**Note: Please consider the Chronological Reading Plan.

Discovering Christ in Scripture

The ultimate aim of all Scripture is to discover Christ.

John 5:39-40 “39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.”

Scripture is not about us. It is all about Jesus, and every moment we read from it and preach from it—it should point us to a deeper knowledge of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Genesis – The Seed of the Woman (Genesis 3:15)

Exodus – The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12)

Leviticus – Our High Priest and Sacrifice (Leviticus 16)

Numbers – The Bronze Serpent, Our Healer (Numbers 21:8–9)

Deuteronomy – The Prophet Like Moses (Deut. 18:15)

Joshua – The Captain that enters us into eternal rest (Joshua 11:16-23; Hebrews 4)

Judges – Our Deliverer from Injustice (Judges 2:16–18)

Ruth – Our Kinsman-Redeemer (Ruth 4:4–10)

1 Samuel – The Anointed One, Trusted Prophet (1 Sam. 2:10; 3:20)

2 Samuel – The King Who Builds the Eternal Kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12–13)

1 & 2 Kings; 1 & 2 Chronicles – Our Reigning King (1 Chronicles 17:11–14)

Ezra – The Restorer of the Temple (Ezra 6:14)

Nehemiah – The Rebuilder of Broken Walls (Neh. 2:17)

Esther – Our Advocate and Protector (Esther 4:14)

Job – Our Redeemer Who Lives (Job 19:25)

Psalms – Our Good Shepherd and Praise (Psalm 23, 22, 2)

Proverbs – Our Wisdom from God (Proverbs 8:22–31; 1 Cor. 1:30)

Ecclesiastes – The Meaning of Life (Eccles. 12:13–14)

Song of Solomon – The Loving Bridegroom (Song 2:16)

Isaiah – The Suffering Servant and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 53; 9:6)

Jeremiah – The Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5–6)

Lamentations – The Weeping Prophet for Our Sin (Lam. 3:22–23)

Ezekiel – The Son of Man and Life-Giving Spirit (Ezek. 37:1–14)

Daniel – The Fourth Man in the Fire; Son of Man Coming in Glory (Dan. 3:25; 7:13–14)

Hosea – The Faithful Husband to the Unfaithful (Hosea 3:1)

Joel – The One Who Pours Out the Spirit (Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2)

Amos – The Plumb Line of Righteousness and Justice (Amos 7:7–8)

Obadiah – The Savior on Mount Zion (Obad. 1:21)

Jonah – The Resurrection After Three Days (Jonah 1:17; Matt. 12:40)

Micah – The Ruler from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

Nahum – The Avenger of God's Elect (Nahum 1:7–8)

Habakkuk – The Justifier of the Righteous by Faith (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17)

Zephaniah – The Lord in Your Midst, Mighty to Save (Zeph. 3:17)

Haggai – The Desire of All Nations (Haggai 2:7)

Zechariah – The Pierced One and Coming King (Zech. 12:10; 9:9)

Malachi – The Sun of Righteousness with Healing (Mal. 4:2)