Bible Study Methods
Problems in Bible Study
1. Reliance on another persons work
Results:
- No personal understanding of the text
- Weak presentation because it lacks personal passion gained from understanding
- The Bible becomes less important than the source of the study
2. Reliance on your own work
Results:
- The Bible is made to fit one's personal ideas
- The real meaning and relevance of God's message is lost
Solutions for Bible Study
Let the Bible text speak (exegesis)
- God has His message in the Bible
- Let Him speak out of the Bible text
Do not place your own meaning on the text
Steps for Bible Study
1. Observation
- Question: What does it say?
- Simple observation questions to ask about the text
Who - Who did what?
What - What happened?
When - When did it happen?
Where - Where did it happen?
How - How did it happen?
Why - Why did it happen?
- Look for repeated words or ideas
- Look for action and movement
- Look for connection and links
- Look for contrasts
- Look for summary statements
2. Interpretation
- Question: What does it mean?
This is the challenge to think about the text
Ask: What does this mean to the author and the audience?
- Understand time, place and culture when it was written
- Understand history and circumstances
- Understand purpose, problems and people
- Understand the context of history, geography and the Bible
3. Application
- Question: What do I do?
How will the truth that has been learned change my life?
- Are there specific commands to follow?
- Look for the main principle
How can the main principle be put to use today?
- Be clear, practical
Relate the application to the main points of the text
Summary
The Bible tells us about God
This is about God and His work
This is not about the teacher and his work
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for ... (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Pointing out what is right - teaching
Pointing out what is wrong - reproof
Pointing the way back - correction
Pointing how to stay right - training
1. Reliance on another persons work
Results:
- No personal understanding of the text
- Weak presentation because it lacks personal passion gained from understanding
- The Bible becomes less important than the source of the study
2. Reliance on your own work
Results:
- The Bible is made to fit one's personal ideas
- The real meaning and relevance of God's message is lost
Solutions for Bible Study
Let the Bible text speak (exegesis)
- God has His message in the Bible
- Let Him speak out of the Bible text
Do not place your own meaning on the text
Steps for Bible Study
1. Observation
- Question: What does it say?
- Simple observation questions to ask about the text
Who - Who did what?
What - What happened?
When - When did it happen?
Where - Where did it happen?
How - How did it happen?
Why - Why did it happen?
- Look for repeated words or ideas
- Look for action and movement
- Look for connection and links
- Look for contrasts
- Look for summary statements
2. Interpretation
- Question: What does it mean?
This is the challenge to think about the text
Ask: What does this mean to the author and the audience?
- Understand time, place and culture when it was written
- Understand history and circumstances
- Understand purpose, problems and people
- Understand the context of history, geography and the Bible
3. Application
- Question: What do I do?
How will the truth that has been learned change my life?
- Are there specific commands to follow?
- Look for the main principle
How can the main principle be put to use today?
- Be clear, practical
Relate the application to the main points of the text
Summary
The Bible tells us about God
This is about God and His work
This is not about the teacher and his work
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for ... (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Pointing out what is right - teaching
Pointing out what is wrong - reproof
Pointing the way back - correction
Pointing how to stay right - training