How To Study The Bible
The Bible was written so that anyone who wants to know who God is and how they are to live in a way that pleases Him can read it and find out. God wants to bring us into intimacy with Himself.
The most important thing you need to remember is that to find out what the Bible says, you need to read it yourself in a way that will help you discover what it says, what it means, and how to apply it to your life.
As a result of Bible study you will:
1. Be equipped to study God's Word on your own.
2. Be independent of relying on another's interpretation.
3. Increase your knowledge of God and His ways.
4. Be strengthened in your personal faith.
5. Recognize the authority of the Word of God in your daily walk.
We will be looking at three parts of Bible Study.
1 .Observation answers the question:
WHAT DOES THE PASSAGE SAY?
2.
Interpretation answers the question:
Interpretation answers the question:WHAT DOES THE PASSAGE MEAN?
3.Application answers the question:
Application answers the question:HOW DOES THE MEANING APPLY TO ME?
OBSERVATION:DISCERN WHAT IT SAYS.
DISCERN WHAT IT SAYS.1. The Rule of Context - Context Rules
A.Begin with PRAYER.
Begin with PRAYER. B.Identify the CONTEXT
Identify the CONTEXT *Context means: "that which goes with the text"
"They are surrounding words, phrases
C.Observe the QBVIOUS
Observe the QBVIOUS *When putting a puzzle together. you look for straight edges -obvious.
D.Deal with the text OBJECTIVELY
Deal with the text OBJECTIVELY Let the text speak for itself. Don't just look for something that will speak to you or find a verse to help others. First look at it objectively in context, then personalize it.
II.Get the Big Picture - an overview.
Get the Big Picture - an overview. A.See the message of the book as A WHOLE.
See the message of the book as A WHOLE. B.Gain understanding of the author's PURPOSE FOR WRITING.
Gain understanding of the author's PURPOSE FOR WRITING. C.Identify the MALN THHEME of the book.
Identify the MALN THHEME of the book. D.How to get an overview.
How to get an overview. 1.Begin on YOUR KNEES
Begin on YOUR KNEES 2.Read and REREAD.
Read and REREAD. 3.IDENTIFY the types of literature.
IDENTIFY the types of literature. a.Historical
Historical b.Biographical
Biographical c.Poetic
Poetic d.Proverbial
Proverbial e.Prophetic
Prophetic f.Epistle
Epistle g.Combo
Combo 4.Read it with A PURPOSE
Read it with A PURPOSE Answer the questions:
Who? What?Why?When? Where?How? 5.Mark KEY words, phrases, statements.
Mark KEY words, phrases, statements.INTERPRETATION:DISCERN WHAT IT MEANS.
DISCERN WHAT IT MEANS.1 The search for meaning
A.Remember the CONTEXT rules.B.Seek full SOUNSEL of the Word of GodC.Scripture will never CONTRADICT scripture.D.Do not base your doctrine on AN OBSCURE passage of scripture.E.Interpret scripture LITERALLYF.Use reliable BOOKSII.Figure it out.
Figure it out.A.Figure of speech is a word, phrase or an expression used in a figuration rather than a literal sense.1.Simile is an EXPRESSED or STATED comparison of different things. They use words: like, as, such as. "His eyes were like a flame of fire"2.Metaphor is an implied comparison of two things that areDIFFERENT."I am the vine, ye are the branches"3.Exaggeration - a deliberate exaggeration for EFFECT OR EMPHASISMatt. 23:24 "you strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel"4.Parables - an earthly story with a heavenly MEANING5.Symbols - a PICTURE or OBJECT that stands for another thing. Rev. 1:20 candlesticks - churchesAPPLICATION: DISCERN HOW IT WORKS.
Application answers the questions:
1.How does the MEANING of this passage apply to me?
How does the MEANING of this passage apply to me?2.What truths am I to EMBRACE. BELIEVE or ORDER my life by?
What truths am I to EMBRACE. BELIEVE or ORDER my life by?3.What CHANGE5 should I make in my belief, in my life?
What CHANGE5 should I make in my belief, in my life?II Timothy 3:16-17 gives us the How of Application.
I.For doctrine - What the Word days on a subject. That teaching Is always
For doctrine - What the Word days on a subject. That teaching Is alwaysTRUE.
A. Find out what It says about a subject through observation and interpretation.
B. You are obligated before God to ACCEPI that truth and to live by it.
C. Adjust any false concepts or teaching you have.
II.For Reproof - exposing areas.
For Reproof - exposing areas.*Reproof is finding out where you have THOUGHT wrongly
or where you haven't been obedient.
III.Correction - taking necessary steps.
Correction - taking necessary steps.* When you apply corrections to your ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES God will work in you to do His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
IV.Training in righteousness - the handbook for living.
Training in righteousness - the handbook for living.* As you get into the Word of God, you see how God INTENDS for you to
live. To live the way God says to live is to live RIGHTEOUSLY.
In applying scripture to your life, the following questions may be helpful.
1.Is the teaching general or specffic?
Is the teaching general or specffic?2.Does it apply to a certain people?
Does it apply to a certain people?3.Has it been superseded by a broader teaching?
Has it been superseded by a broader teaching?4.Are there any commandments that you have not obeyed?
Are there any commandments that you have not obeyed?5.Are there any wrong attitudes exposed?
Are there any wrong attitudes exposed?6.Are there any new truths to be believed?
Are there any new truths to be believed?The following is the answer sheet for the above outline
How To Study The Bible
The Bible was written so that anyone who wants to know who God is and how they are to live in a way that pleases Him can read it and find out. God wants to bring us into intimacy with Himself.
The most important thing you need to remember is that to find out what the Bible says, you need to read it ~ourse1f in a way that will help you discover what it says, what it means, and how to apply it to your life.
As a result of Bible study you will:
1 .Be equipped to study God's Word on your own.
2.Be independent of relying on another's interpretation.
3.Increase your knowledge of God and His ways.
4.Be strengthened in your personal faith.
5.Recognize the authority of the Word of God in your daily walk.
Recognize the authority of the Word of God in your daily walk.We will be looking at three parts of Bible Study.
1 .Observation answers the question:
________________________________________________________?
2.Interpretation answers the question:
Interpretation answers the question:_________________________________________________________?
3.Application answers the question:
Application answers the question:________________________________________________________
OBSERVATION:DISCERN WHAT IT SAYS.
DISCERN WHAT IT SAYS.The Rule of Context - Context Rules
A. Begin with __________________________________________________________
B.Identify the __________________________________________________________
*Context means: "that which goes with the text"
"'They are surrounding words, phrases
C.Observe the __________________________________________________________When putting a puzzle together, you look for straight edges -
obvious.
D. Deal with the text __________________________________________________________
* Let the text speak for itself.
* Don't just look for something that will speak to you or find a verse to help others. First look at it objectively in context, then personalize it.
II.Get the Big Picture - an overview.
Get the Big Picture - an overview.A.See the message of the book as ________________________
See the message of the book as ________________________B.Gain understanding of the author's ___________________
Gain understanding of the author's ___________________C.Identify the of the book.D.How to get an overview.
How to get an overview.1. Begin on _________________________________________________________
2. Read and __________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________ the types of literature.
_______________________________________________________________________ the types of literature.a.Historical
Historicalb.Biographical
Biographicalc.Poetic
Poeticd.Proverbial
Proverbiale.Prophetic
Propheticf.Epistle
Epistleg.Combo
Combo4. Read it with __________________________________________________________
Answer the questions:
Who? What?. Why?When? Where?How?5. Mark _________________________ words, phrases, statements.
INTERPRETATION:DISCERN WHAT IT MEANS.
DISCERN WHAT IT MEANS.1. The search for meaning.
A. Remember the __________________________ rules.B. Seek full _______________________ of hte Word of God.C. Scripture will never _____________________ scripture.D. Do not base your doctrine on ___________________ passages of scripture.E. Interpret scripture ________________________________.F. Use reliable ______________________________.11. Figure it out.
A. Figure of speech is a word, phrase or an expression used in a figuration rather than a literal sense.
than a literal sense.1.Simile is an _____________ or ______________ comparison of different things. They use words: like, as, such as. "His eyes were like a flame of fire"
Simile is an _____________ or ______________ comparison of different things. They use words: like, as, such as. "His eyes were like a flame of fire"2.Metaphor is an implied comparison of two things that are "I am the vine, ye are the branches"
Metaphor is an implied comparison of two things that are "I am the vine, ye are the branches"3.Exaggeration - a deliberate exaggeration for _______________ Matt. 23:24 "you strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel"
Exaggeration - a deliberate exaggeration for _______________ Matt. 23:24 "you strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel"4.Parables - an earthly story with a heavenly
Parables - an earthly story with a heavenly5.Symbols - a _____________ or ______________ that stands for
Symbols - a _____________ or ______________ that stands foranother thing. Rev. 1:20 candlesticks - churches
APPLICATION:DISCERN HOW IT WORKS.
DISCERN HOW IT WORKS.Application answers the questions:
1.How does the __________________ of this passage apply to me?
How does the __________________ of this passage apply to me?2.What truths am Ito ____________, _________________ or my life by?
What truths am Ito ____________, _________________ or my life by?3.What __________________ should I make in my belief, in my life?
What __________________ should I make in my belief, in my life?II Timothy 3:16-17 gives us the How of Application.
I.For doctrine - What the Word says on a subject. That teaching is always
For doctrine - What the Word says on a subject. That teaching is alwaysA.Find out what it says about a subject through observation and interpretation.
Find out what it says about a subject through observation and interpretation.B.You are obligated before God to________________ that truth and to live by it.
You are obligated before God to________________ that truth and to live by it.C.Adjust any false concepts or teaching you have.
Adjust any false concepts or teaching you have.II.For Reproof - exposing areas.
For Reproof - exposing areas.*Reproof is finding out where you have ___________________ wrongly
or where you haven't been obedient.
III.Correction - taking necessary steps.
Correction - taking necessary steps.* When you apply corrections to your__________ and ___________
God will work in you to do His good pleasure. (Phffippians 2:13)
IV.Training in righteousness - the handbook for living.
Training in righteousness - the handbook for living.* As you get into the Word of God, you see how Godforyou to live. To live the way God says to live is to live ________________
In applying scripture to your life, the following questions may be helpful.
1.Is the teaching general or specific?
Is the teaching general or specific?2.Does it apply to a certain people?
Does it apply to a certain people?3.Has it been superseded by a broader teaching?
Has it been superseded by a broader teaching?4.Are there any commandments that you have not obeyed?
Are there any commandments that you have not obeyed?5.Are there any wrong attitudes exposed?
Are there any wrong attitudes exposed?6.Are there any new truths to be believed?
Are there any new truths to be believed?