How to Study the Bible

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

10 Steps to Bible Study

BEFORE YOU READ:

  1. Prepare to study:

        • Schedule your Bible study time to be free of distractions & interruptions
        • Gather the right tools (Bible & computer or Study Bible, journal, etc.)
        • Prepare your heart by praying for the Holy Spirit to give you the right attitude and to help you understand

  1. Pick a passage to study 

        • If you’re starting out for the first time, start with Book of John, or one of the other Gospel books Matthew, Mark or Luke
        • You can also pick by topic / genre: 
              • Genesis for the origin stories of creation, sin, and the patriarchs 
              • Exodus – Deuteronomy for laws, sanctuary system & establishment of nation of Israel 
              • Joshua – Esther for narrative history of the Israelite nation
              • Job – Song of Songs for poetry / wisdom literature
              • Isaiah – Malachi for prophecy / social justice
              • Matthew – John to learn about Jesus and His teachings
              • Acts for the history of the Early Church
              • Romans – Jude to read instructions to the early Christians & formation of doctrines
              • Revelation for end-time prophecies 
        • Or you can follow a Bible character
        • Read one story / passage rather than a whole chapter – some Bibles have headings the translators put in to break the chapters into smaller passages.  

  1. Get a broad overview of the book 

AS YOU READ:

  1. Read the passage in different translations

        • These Bibles are available online for free https://www.biblegateway.com
        • Make sure to read versions that were translated from the original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic and made after the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls – for example:
              • New International Version (NIV) 
              • Common English Bible (CEB)
              • New English Translation (NET)
        • You can also read NASB, NKJV, and The Message to get literal or paraphrased translations 
        • If you know other languages, read it in different languages as well to get a fuller translation because some languages have words that are closer translations to the original meaning of the ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic

  1. Annotate as you read

        • Circle key words or phrases that you want to explore 
        • Highlight / underline main ideas 
        • Question marks for what you don’t understand 
        • Exclamation point for things that surprise you 
        • Asterisk for what you want to remember 
        • Arrow for when you make a connection to another idea or experience 
        • Write “Ex” for examples  
        • Draw a picture / diagram / chart / symbol 

  1. Ask a lot of questions

        • What is the historical / cultural context for this passage?
        • What is the literary context for this passage?
        • How does God interact with each of the characters?
        • Is there anything in the passage that is unusual or interesting?

  1. Do textual analysis

        • Look for repeated words or phrases, themes, motifs, plots, characters, etc.
        • Notice shifts to direct discourse – they are often the heart of the story (things in direct quotation)
        • Read the story from each point of view, imagine the sounds/smells/sights/touch
        • Pay attention to what is said as well as what is not said that you’d normally expect
        • What comes before & after this passage?  Read the chapter before & after to see the literary context
        • Do a word study, exploring its possible meaning and use (www.blueletterbible.org)

AFTER YOU READ:

  1. Investigate answers to the questions 

  1. Summarise the main idea

        • Summarise the passage in your own words
        • What is the main idea / principle?

  1. Personal application

        • Ask, what message is God telling me today through this passage? 
        • Journal, reflect, and pray, asking God to help you live out what He has revealed
        • Share what you learned with others

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14