Basics of How to Study the Bible

How to Study the Bible

This is very important to our spiritual health and well-being. The Word of God is the primary means through which God reveals himself to us and teaches us about how we fit into His sovereign plan.

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2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Luke 6:40 ESV

40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

How to Study the Bible by Arthur, Arthur & De Lacy & How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Fee & Stuart

Observation

This is the first of three main steps in studying the Bible

Pray

Prayer is the tool that God uses to enable human endeavor with supernatural results.

The Holy Spirit supernaturally enables the believer to read and understand the Word of God on a spiritual level, not just an intellectual level. It is vitally important to invite the Holy Spirit to work in your life as you read and study the Word.

John 16:13–15 ESV

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Psalm 119:18 ESV

18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Read

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Luke 6:40 ESV

40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Pick a good translation-

ESV- Formal Equivalence/ Word for Word Translation

The Message- Dynamic Equivalence/ Thought for thought

KJV- Formal Equivalence

NASB- Formal Equivalence

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NIV- Dynamic & Formal Equivalence/ combination of both

Interlinear- Extreme word for word translation.

Reading from multiple translations also known as “text comparison” is a good habit to get into when studying a passage.

Context

“Text without context is pre-text.” Pastor Pete Piger

“Context is king”- Arthur, Arthur, DeLacy

Observe the Obvious:

Read with Purpose by asking: Who, what, when, where, why, how questions.

Who is writing?

Who are they writing to? (Jews, gentiles, fellow believers, prayer/praise to God) etc. . .

What is the occasion for their writing? Trouble, simply a narrative, instruction, example.

When was it written? (especially in relation to other passages)

Pray

Re-read (context)- Identify the Genre of Literature

Historical

Biographical

Poetic

Proverbial

Prophetic

Epistle/Letter

Combination (Gospels)

Take Notes

Taking notes on what you have read is also part of the observation, which leads to our interpretation and application.

At a Glance Chart- Example from Philippians

Book Theme: Rejoice in the midst of trials and blessings.

Book Key Verse & Reference: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Occasion for writing: Paul wanted to thank and encourage the church in Philippi. They had partnered in their ministry with him by sending him a gift and continuing in the work of the Gospel.

Author: Paul

Date: AD 61 Approximately

Historical Setting: During this time the Roman Empire was ruling the world. The Jews were under Roman authority and Paul was travelling around various cities in the region sharing the Gospel, but had been put into jail. (35 words)

Key Words: joy/rejoice, prayer, Gospel, humbled, Mind/attitude, content, peace

Ch.

Chapter Theme

Chapter Key Verse

Reference

Paragraph Theme

Verses

1

Love reaps eternal rewards through Christ’s work.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Paul greets the Philippians.

1-2

Paul loves and prays for them.

3-11

Even in prison the Gospel is preached.

12-14

Paul is joyful that Christ is being preached.

15-18

18-20

Paul will stay to encourage their faith

21-26

Be faithful to Christ even in suffering

27-30

2

Be Humble, be a light, be like Christ.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

Follow Christ’s example of humility

1-11

God will accomplish His work in you.

12-13

Be a light, hold fast and rejoice.

14-18

Help is on the way.

19-24

Be happy that Epaphroditus is ok and he is on his way.

25-3:1

3

Live like a citizen of heaven not the earth.

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

Don’t trust in man or your works.

2-11

Strive to live in Christ’s victory over sin.

12-16

You are citizens of heaven.

17-4:1

4

Rejoice and bear fruit in the midst of trials.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice!

Work together to live in harmony

2-3

Don’t worry; be happy that God is in control.

4-7

Dwell on things above and God will be with you.

8-9

Contentment is found in Christ

10-13

Give thanks to God who will provide.

14-20

Greetings to the rest of you from all of us.

21-22

May Christ’s grace be with you.

23

Mark Key Words, repeated phrases.

Identify the Main subjects

Identify the theme (of the book/chapter/verse)

Sometimes the verse and chapter divisions don’t make sense. This is why it is important to read the context.

Interpretation

Remember Context Rules-

Study the full counsel of God-

Remember Scripture never contradicts Scripture

Truth cannot contradict truth- God’s Word is truth therefore it cannot contradict itself.

John 17:17 ESV

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Don’t base doctrine on an obscure passage

Historical Grammatical Interpretation

What did the original writers (being inspired by the Holy Spirit) intend to communicate to their original audience?

What would the original audience thought the writers intent was?

Commentaries, Concordances, Dictionaries

Let Scripture interpret Scripture

Use a good concordance to find other passages that talk about the same topic

Word Studies-

Find a commentary or commentaries whose author/s agree that God’s Word is infallible, understandable and use Scripture to defend their positions

Concordances help you to find other passages that address the same topic/ use similar words

What was Paul’s relationship to Timothy? In 2 Timothy he calls Timothy his son. A cross reference helps us gain a better understanding of their relationship

Acts 16:1 ESV

1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.

1 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Act

1Cor 4:17

Philippians 2:9 ESV

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

Philippians 2:19 ESV

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.

Expository Dictionaries and lexicons are helpful in understanding the actual meaning of the word in the original language.

Review the 5W’s and How- This information also helps to interpret the meaning.

The historical background of the author and the recipients add to the ability to correctly interpret the message being communicated.

Properly Identify Figures of Speech

Simile (), Metaphor (), Exaggeration/hyperpole (), Metonymy (), Synedoche (), Personfication (), Irony (, )

Properly identify literary devices

Parable, Allegory, Types, Symbols- There are specific and varying steps to interpreting each of these forms of literary devices, where one thing means something else.

Prophecy/Revelation

There are specific guidelines for accurate interpretation of prophecy and the book of Revelation.

Application

James 1:22–25 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Answers the Following:

How does the meaning of this passage apply to me?

What truths am I to embrace, believe or order my life by?

What changes should I make in my belief, in my life?

Teaching

Reproof

Correction

Training in Righteousness.