Source: How to Study the Bible

http://www.epiphanysoftware.com/howtosb.html
Captured: 3/15/00 5:22pm

This method of Bible study is not beyond any person of average intelligence who has fifteen minutes or more a day to put into Bible study. It will take, however, more than one day to the study a chapter if only fifteen minutes a day are set apart for the work.

• Select The Chapter
  Select the chapters you wish to study. It is well to take a whole book and study the chapters in their order. The Acts of the Apostles (or the Gospel of John) is a good book to begin with. In time one may take up every chapter in the Bible, but it would not be wise to begin with Genesis.

• Read The Chapter Five Times
  Read the chapter for today's study five times. It is well to read it aloud at least once. I see many things when I read the Bible aloud that I do not see when I read silently. Each new reading will bring out some new point.

• Divide The Chapter Into Its Natural Divisions
  Divide the chapters into their natural divisions and find headings for them that describe in the most striking way their contents. For example, suppose the chapter studied is 1John 5. You might divide in this way:

The Believer's Noble Parentage (1 John 5, verses 1-3)
The Believer's Glorious Victory (verses 4,5)
The Believer's Sure Ground of Faith (verses 6-10)
The Believer's Priceless Possession (verses 11,12)
The Believer's Blessed Assurance (verse 13)
The Believer's Unquestioning Confidence (verses 14,15)
The Believer's Great Power and Responsibility (verses 16,17)
The Believer's Perfect Security (verses 18,19)
The Believer's Precious Knowledge (verse 20)
The Believer's Constant Duty (verse 21)

In many cases the natural divisions of a chapter will be longer than in this example.

• Note Differences Between Translation

  Note the important differences between two or more translations and write them in the margin of your Bible.

  Write Down The Leading Facts
  Write down the leading facts of the chapter in their proper order.

  Note Persons Mentioned
  Make a note of the persons mentioned in the chapter and of any light thrown upon their character. For example, assume your chapter is Acts 16. The persons mentioned are as follows. What light does the chapter throw upon the character of each?

  Timothy
  Timothy's mother
  Timothy's father
  The brethren at Lystra and Iconium
  Paul
  The Jews of Lystra and Iconium
  The apostles and elders at Jerusalem
  A man of Macedonia
  Luke
  Some women of Philippi
  Lydia
  The household of Lydia
  A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination
  The masters of this damsel
  Silas
  The praetors of Philippi
  The Philippian mob
  The jailer of Philippi
  The prisoners in the Philippian jail
  The household of the jailer
  The lictors of Philippi
  The brethren in Philippi

  • Note Principal Lessons
    Note the principal lessons of the chapter. It would be well to classify these: e.g., lessons about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, etc., etc.

  • Note The Central Truth
    Note the Central Truth of the chapter.

  • Determine The Key Verse
    Note the key verse of the chapter if there is one.

  • Determine the Most Memorable Verse
    The best verse in the chapter. Opinions will differ widely here. But the question is, which is the best verse to you at this present reading? Mark it and memorize it.

  • Identify Verses Suitable for Sermons
    Note the verses that are usable as texts for sermons or talks or Bible readings. If you have time make an analysis of the thought of these verses and write it in the margin, or on the opposite leaf if you have an interleaved Bible.

  • Name the Chapter
    For example, Acts 1 might be called The Ascension Chapter; Acts 2, The Day of Pentecost Chapter; Acts 3, The Lame Man's Chapter; etc. Give your own names to the chapters. Give the name that sets forth the most important and characteristic feature of the chapter.

  • Note Subjects For Further Study
    For example, if you are studying Acts 1, subjects suggested for further study are, The Baptism with the Holy Spirit; The Ascension; The Second Coming of Christ.

  • Words And Phrases For Further Study
    For example you are studying John 3, you should look up words and expressions such as, "Eternal life," "Born again," "Water," "Believer," and "The Kingdom of God."

  • What New Truth You Have Learned
    Write down what new truth you have learned from the chapter. If you have learned none, you had better go over it again.

  • What Truth has Been Refreshed/Revived
    What truth already known has come to you with new power?

  • What Have You Resolved To Do As A Result Of Studying This Chapter
    What definite thing have you resolved to do as a result of studying this chapter? A permanent record should be kept of the results of the study of each chapter. It is well to have an interleaved Bible and keep the most important results in this.

  Study the Bible as the Word of God

  The Bible is the Word of God, and we get the most good out of any book by studying it as what it really is. It is often said that we should study the Bible just as we study any other book. That principle contains a truth, but it also contains a great error. The Bible, it is true, is a book as other books are books, the same laws of grammatical and literary construction and interpretation hold here as hold in other books. But the Bible is an entirely unique book. It is what no other book is——The Word of God. This can be easily proven to any candid man. The Bible ought then to be studied as no other book is. It should be studied as the Word of God. (1Thes 2:13). This involves nine things.

  • Study Candidly and Eagerly
    A greater eagerness and more careful and candid study to find out just what it teaches than is bestowed upon any other book or upon all other books. We must know the mind of God; here it is revealed.

  • Acceptance And Submission To Its Teachings
    A prompt and unquestioning acceptance of and submission to its teachings when definitely ascertained, even when these teachings appear to us unreasonable or impossible. If this book is the Word of God how foolish to submit its teachings to the criticism of our finite reason. The little boy who discredits his wise father's statements because to his infant mind they appear unreasonable, is not a philosopher but a fool. When we are once satisfied that the Bible is the Word of God, its clear teachings must be the end of all controversy and discussion.

  • Absolute Reliance Upon All Its Promises
    Absolute reliance upon all its promises in all their length and breadth and depth and height. The one who studies the Bible as the Word of God will say of every promise no matter how vast and beyond belief it appears, "God who cannot lie has promised this, so I claim it for myself." Mark the promises you thus claim. Look each day for some new promise from your infinite Father. He has put "His riches in glory" at your disposal. (Php 4:19).

  • Obedience To Every Command
    Obedience——prompt, exact, unquestioning, joyous obedience——to every command that is evident from the context applies to you. Be on the lookout for new orders from the King. Blessing lies in the direction of obedience to them. God's commands are but signboards that mark the road to present success and blessedness and to eternal glory.

  • Studying It As His Own Voice Speaking Directly To You
    Studying the Bible as the Word of God involves studying it as His own voice speaking directly to you. When you open the Bible to study it realize that you have come into the very presence of God and that now He is going to speak to you. Every hour thus spent in Bible study will be an hour's walk and talk with God.

  • Study The Bible Prayerfully
    The author of the book is willing to act as interpreter of it. He does so when we ask Him to. The one who prays with earnestness and faith, the Psalmist's prayer, "Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law," will get his eyes opened to see beauties and wonders in the Word that he never dreamed of before. Be very definite about this. Each time you open the Bible to study it for a few minutes or many, ask God to give you the open and discerning eye, and expect Him to do it. Every time you come to a difficulty lay it before God and ask an explanation and expect it. How often we think as we puzzle over hard passages, "Oh if I only had so and so here to explain this." God is always present. Take it to Him.

  • Look For "The Things Concerning Christ"
    Look for "the things concerning Christ" "in all the Scriptures." Christ is everywhere in the Bible (Lu 24:27). Be on the lookout for Him and mark His presence when you find it.

  • Improve Spare Moments In Bible Study
    In almost every man's life many minutes each day are lost; while waiting for meals or trains, while riding in the car, etc. Carry a pocket Bible or Testament with you and save these golden minutes by putting them to the very best use listening to the voice of God.

  • Store Away The Scripture In Your Mind And Heart
    It will keep you from sin (Ps 119:11), from false doctrine (Ac 20:29-30, 32; 2Ti 3:13-15), it will fill you heart with joy (Jer 15:16), and peace (Ps 85:8), it will give you the victory over the Evil One (1Jo 2:14), it will give you power in prayer (Joh 15:7), it will make you wiser than the aged and your enemies (Ps 119:98, 100, 130) it will make you "complete, furnished completely unto every good work." (2Ti 3:16, 17). Try it. Do not memorize at random but memorize Scripture in a connected way. Memorize texts bearing on various subjects in proper order. Memorize by chapter and verse that you may know where to put your finger upon the text if anyone disputes it.