Bible Study
From BibleWiki
This article will walk you through the basic points of Bible Study. If you feel you do not get enough out of your devotions or just want to learn how to study the Bible, read the following guide.
Before studying, choose a topic or passage (like a chapter or book) that you would like to study. This guide is geared more towards studying a passage. For topical study, you can use a concordance or the search function of this website. Once you are done studying, post what you've learned on here to share with others.
Contents |
[edit] Observation
The first step of Bible Study is observation. In this step, ignore any previous knowledge you had about a topic or passage and just read it. When reading it, ask yourself the "Six W's":
- What?
- What is happening in the passage?
- When?
- When did the events in the passage occur?
- When was the book written?
- Where?
- Where did it happen?
- Why?
- Why did the events happen?
- Who?
- Who are the main characters in the passage?
- Who wrote it?
- Who where they writing to? (if possible)
- How?
- How did the events in the passage occur?
In order to answer these questions effectively, it may be necessary to read a commentary or previous chapters or books. It is especially important to understand the context (setting, background and audience) to effectively understand a passage. It is even better to understand the customs and culture of the people groups mentioned in the passage, but since even Bible scholars have trouble with this, so it would probably be best to gather this information from a commentary, by reading the notes in a study Bible, or by searching this website.
[edit] Interpretation
[edit] Structural
- Are there any repeated words or phrases? (this indicates an emphasis on that information)
- Does the author make any comparisons or contrasts?
- Does the author raise any questions, or provide any answers?
- Does the author point out any cause and effect relationships?
- Is there any progression to the passage in time, action, or geography?
- Does the passage have a climax?
- Does the author use any figures of speech?
- Is there a pivotal statement or word?
- What linking words are used? What ideas do they link?
- What verbs are used to describe action in the passage?
[edit] Setting
- Who is the author or speaker?
- What was this book written? What was the occasion of the book?
- What historical events surround this book?
- Where was it written? Who where the original recipients?
[edit] Contextual
- What literary form is being employed in the passage?
- What is the overall message of this book, and how does this passage fit into that message?
- What precedes this passage? What follows?
[edit] Generalization
- Distinguish between figurative and literal meaning.
- How did the original audience understand the passage.
- Identify permanent principles — the Word of God is timeless; however, we are the secondary audience, we must understand the meaning as understood by the original recipients, and determine the underlying principle that we can apply today.
- Some principles are clear while others are implied, and take place over an entire section, chapter, or book. Don't "find" a principle in every verse or chances are you'll be reading things into the Bible that aren't actually there.
- All principles must agree with the principles of the whole book, and the rest of the Bible; otherwise you are wrong.
[edit] Application
In this step you are looking for a broad application of the principle you just learned.
- What should your life look life once you've applied the principle?
[edit] Implementation
Finally, determine what specific changes you need to make to get there. Allow God to point these out to you, and ask him to apply them to your life.
