“Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.” (Psalm 119:33-35 NIV)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)
The BIBLE is the Word of God.
B-asic
I-nstructions
B-efore
L-eaving
E-arth
It is the most important instruction book you will ever need to guide your life.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was. He was with God in the beginning.” (John 1:1-2 NIV)
The Greek word ‘logos’ is translated as “word,” which means speech. It is described as a word, uttered by a living voice, by the sayings of God. ‘Logos’ is also defined as a decree, or a mandate, and the moral precepts given by God, who is the source.
God the Father, just as He spoke in the past through the 39 books of the Old Testament, continues to speak to His people today through the 27 books of the New Testament (and not through tradition) by using His Words spoken to Jesus, who then spoke to His 12 Apostles, who wrote them down, which are the books of the New Testament (Luke 10:16; John 13:20,17:17-20). When contending with the religious leaders, those who abused God’s law, and the devil, Jesus, responded: “It is written,” and not it is “said” (Matthew 4:4-10,21:13; Mark 7:6,10:5). The writers of the New Testament constantly appealed to the Scriptures alone as their base of authority in declaring what was, and was not true biblical teaching (Matthew 21:42; John 2:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Peter 1:10-12, 2:2; 2 Peter 1:17-19; Acts 17:11).
The Bible has been translated numerous times in a one-step process from the original languages into multiple languages throughout history. However, it has never been rewritten. There are approximately 5,700 copies of the Greek manuscripts that were made very close to the time of the originals, and they all agree with each other to 99.5% accuracy. The .5% variation would include textual misspellings or minor word alternations. There are also over 19,000 copies in the Syriac, Latin, Coptic, and Aramaic languages, which brings the total supporting New Testament manuscript purity to over 24,000 copies.
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would bring to mind all that He had said, as well as taught the 12 Apostles, thereby confirming that what was written in the New Testament was inspired and authoritative and warned that anyone who claims to be a Christian and does not keep or believe in the complete sufficiency of His Word is deceiving themselves, and is of their father the devil (John 14:25-26,17:17-21).
THE BIBLE IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY
The foundation of Christianity is the Bible, and it is the absolutely perfect revelation of Jesus Christ and the absolute and final authority in the life of the Born-Again Christian. It has been said that it contains 31,102 verses and approximately 757,400 words [I haven’t confirmed that]. It is the only infallible, inerrant, inspired, and dependable source for humankind to know God's voice. His Word sustains everything in the Cosmos and has the answers to all eternal questions. The focus of all Scripture is ultimately on Jesus. It is the blueprint of Heaven and the only reliable source of truth for all moral and spiritual information by which humans can successfully live each day and build a foundation for any endeavor. In its original text, the Bible is the all-inclusive, inerrant, divinely inspired word of God (See Psalm 19:7;119:142,160, Proverbs 30:5-6, Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 4:4;24:35; John 10:35;14:16-17; 23-26;21:25; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 3:15-16).
"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:5-6 ESV)
Jesus accepted the full authority of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17-18). He said the religious leaders were in error because they did not know the Scriptures nor the power of God, and constantly criticized and rebuked them for corrupting the basis of truth by equating their traditions with God's Word and making it ineffectual (Matthew 22:29; Mark 7:13).
Jesus consistently referred to the authority of the Scriptures. He said, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished,” and “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void” (Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17 ESV). He told the Disciples, “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” and prayed, “Your word is truth” (John 16:13,17:17 ESV).
After the resurrection, Jesus walked along the road to Emmaus and spoke with two confused and disheartened disciples who didn’t recognize Him at first, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27 ESV). Once again, Jesus confirmed that the Scripture is authoritative and can be trusted.
The Apostle Peter confirmed the divine authority of Scripture, “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV).
The Apostle Paul also referred to the authority of the Scriptures, “I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another” (1 Corinthians 4:6 ESV).
The Bible alone is inspired, the ultimate authority, and is the final judge of Tradition. The 12 Apostles knew that what they spoke about the Gospel was by the Holy Spirit and not by their wisdom or traditions (1 Corinthians 2:13). Peter made it very clear and declared by the power of the Holy Spirit that the purity of God's written Word must be maintained as the final source of interpretation.
"And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:19-21 ESV)
Scripture can only be understood correctly through the uncorrupted illumination of the Holy Spirit, who bears witness to it (See John 14:16-17,26; 1 John 5:6 – also Proverbs 1:23).
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27 ESV). He used the words "It is written (Gk: 'graphó') whenever He declared the will of God (Matthew 21:14;26:23; Mark 7:65,11:17; Luke 2:23,19:46; John 8:17,12:14). The phrase means to be exclusively transcribed and not hearsay. The Bible says His Word is absolutely sufficient in itself (Psalm 119:160). Jesus prayed for every future Born-Again Christian in His high holy prayer: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17 ESV - also Psalm 119:142).
The focus of all Scripture in the Bible alone is ultimately on Jesus. The writers of the New Testament constantly appealed to the Scriptures alone as their base of authority in declaring what was and was not actual Biblical teaching (Matthew 21:42; John 2:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Peter 1:10-12, 2:2; 2 Peter 1:17-19; Acts 17:11).
The Bible is breathed out by God in written form and is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Jesus said, "the Scripture cannot be broken," and in His very last commandment in the book of Revelation, warned not to add to nor take away from His Word (John 10:35; Revelation 22:18-19). To appeal to a tradition or the esoteric ramblings of a fallen human being as the divine authority is unsupported in God's Word.
"Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me." (John 14:23-24 ESV)
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." (Matthew 24:35 ESV)
The Bible teaches that Jesus, the Christ, is 100% fully God and 100% fully human. He was sent to save humanity from the bondage to sin. He was born of a virgin, died for our sins, physically rose from the dead, and will one day return to judge the world and deliver His people.
When you study the Bible, you are drawing closer to Jesus, because He IS the Word of God and is who spoke mountains and seas into existence and wove each of us together in our mother’s womb. When we study the Word of God, we are studying the very essence of who Jesus is! When we seek to get to know him through the Bible, He will reveal Himself to us. Every page we turn in Scripture is an invitation to know Him better. When we approach Bible study this way, it does not have to be a ‘duty’ but a divine opportunity to draw closer to Jesus! He said, "I am the truth, and the truth will set you free from the law of sin and death" (John 8:32; 14:16; Romans 8:2). The truth is Jesus, and by abiding in His word, you learn the full counsel of God (John 8:31).
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection…” (Philippians 3:10a NIV)
THE SCIENCE OF BIBLICAL STUDY
The Bible is filled with poetry, parables, and prophecy that were written using the ancient languages of its writers with words they understood in their cultural context. The study of the Scriptures requires the willingness to apply objective diligence and discipline using sound guidelines to search its words to reveal its meaning and apply its authority in practical ways without subjective confirmation bias or preconceived opinions and suppositions.
Any pilot will tell you that when flying an aircraft, you can’t trust your senses and experience. You must learn to rely upon and trust your instruments. There is no such thing as a new revelation. You may discover a truth that is like a revelation to you, but there is no new revealed truth separate from the Bible.
The Canon of the Old Testament Scriptures was completed by 400 BC+-. The New Testament Scriptures were completed by no later than AD 100 +- and first compiled into one book in AD 144 by Marcion of Sinope (AD-160), the son of the Bishop of Pontus. The first actual complete Canon combining the Old and New Testaments was the Muratorian Canon, compiled in AD 170 and definitively settled, accepted, and established at the Council of Carthage in AD 397, and later upheld at the Council of Trent in AD 1545.
Translating the ancient Hebrew and Greek languages into English (or any other language, for that matter) is a difficult task, as word definitions can be very different from English meanings. The language, culture, customs, and topography in the Bible are immensely different than those in the twenty-first century.
The structure of ancient grammar is also very different from modern English grammar. It does not use capital letters or English punctuation marks such as apostrophes, periods, colons, commas, hyphens, etc. The study of ancient texts requires readers to comprehend the principles that enable them to grasp ancient languages, customs, and interpret antiquated documents to understand their original meaning.
Through diligent study and knowledge of the Bible, one can discern and recognize the various subtle differences. The three most important rules of interpretation are context, context, and context! When reading the Bible, it is not wise to ask, "What does this verse mean to me?" because it will virtually guarantee that the reader will never understand its true meaning.
Because of the very significant differences of ancient languages compared to English, it is vital to understand those differences when attempting to support or promote an interpretation using the scientific laws of biblical Hermeneutics, which is the methodology used to study and interpret the Bible, by discovering the intended meaning of a text through careful and systematic analysis of the grammar used in the original language and its meaning within the historical context and within the totality of Scripture.
Every student of the Bible will be confronted by someone who claims the Bible has numerous discrepancies, contradictions, factual errors, or comes up with a 'new' interpretation or doctrine.
The laws of Hermeneutics were established to provide precise rules for study and interpretation. These rules are found in the writing of the foremost legal and biblical authorities, such as Irenaeus, who was a master interpreter among the second-century church fathers.
The laws of interpretation were involved in the great doctrinal debates of the theologians from the Council of Nice (AD 324) to the Council of Trent (AD 1545-1563). These rules are also used by Courts of Law throughout the Free World to determine the meaning of a disputed document, such as a Will or Contract. A person could not make sense of anything that was written if they did not use the relevant tools or resources. It is impossible to determine the true meaning of a Bible doctrine without them. There is nothing more important in all biblical learning than to know these rules and rightly apply them to Bible study.
Exact rules are needed for an exact result. One cannot derive a certain meaning from an uncertain rule. A Christian must not only study the Scriptures, but they must also decide how to interpret them. People can read the same text and derive different ideas because they assign different meanings to the same written words based on their culture and language.
The whole Bible is a context, and many false doctrines are based on a single word or term that is loaded with a non-biblical meaning, detached from all that the Bible teaches about it, and then built upon to construct a subjective interpretation. That is known as ‘eisegesis,’ which means interpreting a Bible text, then isolating it, and reading into it one's own ideas. A person goes beyond eisegesis when they focus on themselves and prioritize their own ideas and feelings as the primary lens of interpretation, which is known as narcigesis. No one has the right to speak as an authority on a Bible subject unless they know all that the Bible teaches on that subject.
When studying the Scriptures correctly, you must attempt to interpret and understand a text by the text itself within the context of the whole. Each passage of Scripture must be studied in its immediate context and then in the context of the entirety of Scripture. That is called ‘exegesis,’ which means to draw the meaning out. Jesus said,
"Is not this where you wander out of the way and go wrong because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?" (Mark 12:24 NIV)
Exegesis requires that the biblical text be analyzed by focusing on significant words objectively and examining them within the text as to how they were translated and used historically and culturally in context.
The ability to study the Bible effectively is imperative because it is an essential part of growing in maturity as a Christian. Reading the Bible daily is a great place to start, as it will inevitably lead to questions that need to be answered, given that it was originally written in different languages and cultures, distinct from those used today.
When you read the Bible, you are directly encouraged by Jesus, who, through His love and grace, gives eternal encouragement and hope, as well as through the stories of the people of faith found in it, where you see God’s goodness, faithfulness, and eternal glory (2 Thessalonians 2:16). The Bible renews the mind. It helps to know Jesus more, as it simultaneously builds trust in Him, leading you into obedience to His laws, and transforms you more into His likeness, while also decreasing any misunderstanding.
Before beginning any Bible study or preparing a message, it is important to understand the fundamentals of the science of biblical study so that you can become a true Berean and rightly divide God’s Word.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NIV)
The Bible is not a human text, but the inspired Word of God. The phrase "correctly handles the word of God" means to interpret and apply Scripture accurately. This involves understanding the entire context of the Bible in order to present God’s Word in a skillful and precise way to clearly teach its established truth so that verses won’t be misapplied, which can lead to incorrect doctrine and a misrepresentation of His message. Lack of knowledge often results from verses being taken out of context, which serves as a pretext for a proof text to twist the Scriptures into a pretzel to mean whatever a person wants (i.e., Eisegesis). Words can only mean what the original author intended them to mean in their grammatical and historical context.
Biblical Hermeneutics involves understanding and applying the centuries-old principles and methods of interpretation used in Courts of Law to accurately determine the author's original intent and the text's meaning. It is a "science and art" of how to read the Bible by recognizing the different types of literature in the Bible, such as letters, parables, poetry and prophecy, which is crucial for correct interpretation in order to avoid misinterpretation by considering the text's historical, cultural, and linguistic context, as well as its literary genre, in order to bridge the gap between ancient texts and modern life - uncovering timeless principles and applications to communicate biblical truth to others and making disciples effectively.
General Hermeneutics provides tools to understand any ancient text, using critical reasoning and examining it purely within its historical and cultural context. Biblical Hermeneutics begins with the presupposition that the Bible is a divinely inspired and authoritative text that contains necessary truths of reason and faith, not just historical ones, and considers the immediate historical context, but also emphasizes the wider canonical and theological contexts. Scripture is interpreted in light of Scripture, believing it presents a unified story. Theological truths, such as the divinity of Jesus, are seen as separate from the uncertainties of historical proof.
The goal of Bible study is to understand how God's message applies to Christians today and helps prevent misreading and misinterpretation, which can distort the Bible's message and the character of God. It also helps bridge the gap between ancient texts and contemporary life by focusing on the original meaning, thereby understanding how ancient messages of the Bible remain relevant and applicable today as intended by its Authors (i.e., Jesus!) rather than through a subjective lens. It leads to a more accurate interpretation to discover what the original writers intended to communicate to their audience.
The rules of biblical Hermeneutics must be considered and applied when using any Bible Study in order to accurately understand God’s Word, especially when considering what a verse means and how it applies to your life, in order to avoid falling into heresy.
BIBLE STUDY METHODS
The Bible Study Methods we will discuss can be used to deepen your trusting-faith and understand the beauty, goodness, and power of Jesus! Using various Bible study methods (rather than just reading the Bible without a specific plan in mind) will help you gain a greater love and appreciation for the Word of God!
Each method has its benefits and weaknesses, and provides outlines and roadmaps to help understand the culture, language, and context of the verses translated into your language and their original meaning. Using them in different seasons of life will help you develop a greater understanding of the breadth and depth of Scripture. The more you know God’s Word, the more He can use you for His kingdom purposes (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
“my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” (Hosea 4:6 NIV)
Each method is a framework that incorporates observation, interpretation, application, and personal reflection, and shares the same goal to help provide greater understanding of the Bible so you can apply it to your life and avoid “ignorant and unstable people” who “distort” the “Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16 NIV). Christians are to:
“…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18 NIV)
Growing in the “knowledge” of God involves both intellectual understanding and experiential engagement with Him, which leads to spiritual growth, transformation, and a deeper grace-based relationship with Jesus. God wants to reveal Himself to you through His Word, and by using proven study tools and resources, you can study the Bible without the confirmation bias of others in ways that will give you deeper spiritual insight, knowledge, and wisdom. Different Bible study methods can draw out different truths and applications, keeping you from spiritual deception, apathy, and the monotony of doing the same thing day after day, year after year, in your quiet time with God.
A.W. Tozer wrote about this power in his book ‘The Pursuit of God:’
“The Bible is the inevitable outcome of God’s continuous speech. It is the infallible declaration of His mind for us put into our familiar human words. I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not only a book which was once spoken, but a book which is now speaking …a word of God once spoken continues to be spoken.”
It must be noted that there is a danger of studying the Bible as an intellectual academic exercise, which can turn into a works-based obligation, and drain your spirit, mind, and body of divine power to grow and prosper. Plan your Bible study and set aside time in a quiet and distraction-free place that is ideal for you to focus.
Pray for Understanding
It is always a great idea to start any endeavor with prayer, and it is vitally important that you invite the Holy Spirit to guide your study and bring the Word to life with fresh insights and application in your life. Before diving into the Scriptures, ask God to speak to your heart. Ask Him to illuminate your mind and deepen your understanding of who He is. You can pray the same prayer that Paul prayed for the Ephesian church:
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:17-19 NIV)
Biographical
The Biographical Method is a study of the 2,900 people mentioned in the Bible by researching their strengths, weaknesses, victories, failures, and life-changing experiences so as to provide insight into your life ad will result in immediate results by contemplating the faith exhibited by the people of the Bible to help you recognize and remove those things that can or are hindering your walk with God.
Book-by-Book
In this Bible study method, you can choose to read and study the Bible one book at a time. Christians, as a family, should be reading through the Bible chronologically during devotion time. Using the book-by-book Bible study method, one chapter at a time, is a great way to do that. You don’t have to read the Bible chronologically; you can choose any book of the Bible you desire and read through it.
Character Study
The Character Study Method examines one individual mentioned in the Bible, tracing their life to illustrate what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus. This approach also reveals that even the most righteous followers make mistakes, offering encouragement and warnings from their lives.
Chapter Analysis Summary
The Chapter Analysis Summary Method is a deep study of subdividing each paragraph, sentence, and word in a book using a detailed and systematic process, chapter by chapter, by reading through it, then examining and summarizing what was read using specific evidence from the text and explaining how it relates to a particular theme in the Bible.
Devotional
The Devotional Method involves using a devotional book to guide a Bible study, but it is not necessarily intended to foster a deeper understanding. This method is designed to bring the truth of the Bible into a clear and inspiring focus for each day, as it focuses on a verse or verses to read, or provides an article that gives practical insights for encouragement and strength for personal growth. This is the least effective method for serious Bible study and is not recommended as the primary Bible study resource because it does not focus on the grammatical and historical context of Bible verses and can tend to cause dependence upon the devotional book rather than the Bible, so it is best used as a supplement to regular Bible study.
Expositional
The Expositional Method involves a deep study of a single Bible book, verse by verse, which includes exposing the overall details, including their meanings in their grammatical and historical context, and applying them.
Inductive
The Inductive Study Method consists of reading a passage in detail and making observations about it asking the five W’s (who, what, when, where, why) and how, in order to draw from it details, general conclusions, and or principles concerning the contents and purpose of the book by taking into account the history, context, author, and audience in order to understand and interpret the meaning of the words so that you can apply them to your life. This type of study is most often used to go through an entire book of the Bible verse by verse, and many Pastors use this method when preaching from the pulpit.
Meditation/Contemplation
The Meditation/Contemplation Method is based on Psalm 1:2, where David described how God blesses the person who meditates on God’s law, day and night. This is not some esoteric navel-gazing in incense-filled rooms, prayer walking, or going on a pilgrimage. This is reading a verse(s) repeatedly, noting key words, repetitions, the grammatical and historical context, and other text elements to understand, apply, and pray. The word “meditate” is translated from the Hebrew word ‘hagah,’ which means to ponder, speak, study, talk, or utter in order to gain insight.
Memory
The Memory Method of Bible Study involves memorizing Scripture, which is not easy because it requires dedication to memorize a verse and repetition to keep it memorized. The benefits are numerous, both in your spiritual life and in helping others with theirs.
Survey
The survey method aims to gain a general overview and understanding of every book of the Bible, exploring how they relate to each other. This is achieved through secondary resources, including Bible Commentaries, Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Maps, and reference books that provide information on the author, audience, date, historical background, and major themes.
Topical
The Topical Method is the study of a specific theme or subject in the Bible, such as the names of God, His faithfulness and other characteristics, prayer, anger, forgiveness, repentance, love, joy, financial principles, the role of women and men, spiritual gifts, spiritual disciplines, etc. This is the most straightforward and fascinating method that provides immediate results to gain in-depth and comprehensive insight into what the Bible says on a specific subject. In a Topical study, it is important to read Scripture in its full grammatical and historical context within the whole of the Bible. This message is an example of it. Jesus used this method when He taught the Disciples as He went through the Old Testament, including prophecies and typologies, which showed how the Messiah would die and enter into Heaven.
Verse-by-Verse
The Verse by Verse Bible Study Method is an in-depth analysis of a particular Bible verse, which allows you to analyze the verses preceding and following the main verse being studied. This method examines repeating words, phrases, and themes to understand their contribution to the book's overall context.
Verse-Mapping
The Verse-Mapping Method is a way to inductively study the historical context, transliteration, translation, connotation, and theological framework of a verse in the Bible to understand it fully. You will create a guide map of key words in a verse, including all necessary information to understand its grammatical, historical context, and meaning. Then, you will identify the message of the whole passage, highlight standout words, and research them using various study tools. You can see my whole guide to Bible verse mapping here.
Word Study
The Word Study Method will reveal the deeper contextual meaning(s) and their use in the Bible. The Hebrew language has only about 8,000 words, so they can have multiple meanings depending on the context in which they are used. When the original languages of Hebrew and Greek are translated into other languages, the rich meaning of the words in this grammatical and historical context can be lost because equivalent meanings may not be found in the language they are translated into.
Many popular Bible study methods are variations of this tried-and-true approach (including many on this list). It’s also important to note that an inductive Bible study doesn’t require asking all of these types of questions every time. All you need are the passages that help you best understand the message's meaning and apply it.
ACRONYMS
Many different Bible study methods use acronyms to help you easily remember the steps. Here are just a few of the more popular ones to give you an idea of how they work.
ACTS
A-sk
C-hapter
T-hink
S-cripture
To follow this method, you will first Ask God what He wants you to understand from your Bible study. Then, you will read a full Chapter slowly and carefully as you Think about its meaning, original context, and how it applies to your life. You will finish this Bible study by writing down one or two verses in the Scripture that stood out to you.
APPLE
A-ttributes of God
P-romises
P-rinciples for Living
L-esson Learned (or sin to avoid)
E-xample to follow
When reading a Bible passage, it’s a good idea to find the attributes of God that are mentioned in the passage and take note of how His promises, goodness, faithfulness, splendor, and holiness are mentioned.
FEAST
F-ocus
E-ngage
A-ssess
S-park
T-urn
This Method of Bible Study is designed to delve deep into the meaning of Scripture to enhance your relationship with God.
HEAR
H-ighlight
E-xplain
A-pply
R-espond
This method will encourage you to read a passage of Scripture and highlight the portions that stand out to you as you observe, interpret Scripture, and apply God’s Word to your life.
REAP
R-ead
E-xamine
A-pply
P-ray
You begin by reading the passage, contemplating its content, identifying its key points, and noting any person, place, or thing mentioned. Then, examine the verse and dive into any of the questions you had from reading it. You will follow it up by applying the passage to your life and praying!
Seven P’s
P-ray
P-osition yourself to hear from God
P-urpose of the passage in order to understand its central message
P-ore over the passage and paraphrase the major points
P-ull out the spiritual principles
P-ose the question
P-ersonal Application for obedience
This method is a structured and comprehensive approach to Bible study that helps you deeply engage with Scripture by focusing on key elements for an impactful exploration of God's word.
SOAP
S-cripture - reading a passage and writing out one to two specific verses by hand.
O-bservation - asking questions of the text (who, what, where, when, how).
A-pplication - considering how you should respond to what you’ve read.
P-rayer - thanking God for what He’s shown you, and for His empowerment as you seek to live faithfully in light of what you’ve discovered in your time in the Word.
This is a proven and effective inductive approach to Bible study to help deepen understanding and encourage personal reflection that is built on the four practices:
TEXT
T-alk to God in prayer before you read.
E-ncounter God and humanity in Scripture as you reflect on two simple questions: what does this passage say about God, and what does it say about humanity?
eX-amine your heart, considering what needs to be confessed, added, taken away, or maintained as a follower of Jesus.
T-alk to God and others, thanking Him for what He has shown you in Scripture, and share what He’s shown you with someone else.
This Method is an accessible and memorable Bible study approach:
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, the Bible is the best source to interpret itself.
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:20-21 NIV)
The Bible is God's inerrant Word and is the authoritative source for the proclamation of the Church and the norm by which it is tested. God is a God of truth; He will not allow genuine contradictions or historical blunders to corrupt His integrity.
The illumination of the Holy Spirit helps give an accurate understanding of the teachings of God's Word (Matthew 16:17; Luke 24:45; Ephesians 1:15-23; Colossians 1:9-13; Philippians 1:9-11). The direct illumination and guidance of the Holy Spirit in understanding God's Word follows personal study and instruction by teachers who understand and have been gifted to communicate His Word (Acts 8:26,30-31;17:10-12; 18:24,26).
Please remember that God never contradicts Himself. No matter what position or authority a person claims to hold, the Bible cannot be changed by any additions, subtractions, or modifications offered by anyone. Once a person attempts to conflate various verses, supplement, supersede, distort, or subtract from the Bible, they enter into heresy.
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:14-17 NIV)
The original handwritten books of the Bible are inerrant because they originated from God and can teach and equip you for good works. Ultimately, this must be accepted by trusting-faith that God inspired the Old and New Testaments.
The primary reason that Christianity continues to grow exponentially is that those who accept the claims of Jesus found in the Bible, repent of their sins, and receive Him as their Lord and Savior are radically changed from the inside out. Christianity is not just a religion but a relationship with God Himself in the person of Jesus.
Christianity is not about what a person does but what Jesus already did on the Cross for all humanity. The choice to accept or reject Him is freely made. The Bible is reliable and trustworthy, serving as the primary means by which a person hears the voice of God.
