Tips for Bible Study
I too have taken the forbidden fruit … and oh my, it’s wonderful! For the first time in my life, I am now a hooked owner of a MacBook. When Roy had his Mac, I used to say that it was just a prettier version of my PC and that it wasn’t worth the extra cost. Being a good family man, he sold his and got a cheap PC.
But then I started noticing the difference in quality, capacity, etc. and when my PC started signalling its imminent death (I’ve had it for 4 years), and then my charger died on Sunday, plus JB Hifi had a 10% sale, I decided it was time. We’re going overseas in a few weeks so we can even claim the GST back (hurrah!)
Maybe it’s just the excitement of having a new computer, but I feel like I’ve been more efficient this week. Is it possible that the Mac actually improves the quality of life?
I kid… sort of.
Having good tools helps! It does wonders to motivation and productivity. Remember the first day of school when you prepared new pens, pencils, and notebooks in your new superhero or Hello Kitty book-bags? The joy of novelty can go a long way.
The same principles apply to Bible study. Reading and exploring the Bible with good tools and new techniques can bring the ancient text to life in a way that is interesting, enjoyable, and inspiring.
For example, try typing out your thoughts and questions from Bible study on your computer. Organise the notes into categories like “increasing faith” or “difficult texts.” Try to see a pattern between the passages that deal with the same topics.
I enjoy journaling in a brand new journal with a nice ballpoint pen. If you’re like me, get a new journal that you will actually look forward to using to write down your reflections on a passage.
Do you know multiple languages? Reading the Bible in different languages really help to bring to light the various meanings of words, phrases, and ideas. Just know English? No problem. Try reading the passage in different English translations: http://www.biblegateway.com. or http://www.biblecc.com. You can read parallel versions on the same screen to compare and contrast translators’ choices. I like reading the NKJV, the NIV, the NASB, and the Message versions together.
Pick one verse that you want to dig deeper into and look it up at http://www.blueletterbible.org. Click on the “TOOLS” button to see the different cross-references, commentaries, Bible dictionaries, etc. related to that verse. My favourite tool is “INTERLINEAR,” which shows you the original Hebrew or Greek words and their meanings. You can click on the “Strong’s” number to see a fuller definition and references to where that word is used elsewhere. For example, in John 3:16, the word “begotten” can be translated “the only one of its kind.”
Speaking of cross-references, if you have a Study Bible that has a middle column with footnotes, etc. try reading them! Many people have invested long hours of research to provide cross-reference texts that relate to that particular text, phrase, or idea. Read the various references to understand the greater context. You could do a cross-reference chain reading where you start in one text, read its reference, then that reference, etc.
I also recommend investing in some Bible commentaries. You can buy E-books or print versions – or go to a theological library if you live near one. Commentaries are not just for scholars. My favourite one is the NIV Application Commentary. It’s practical, user-friendly, and in plain English.
Listen to the Bible – it’s amazing how listening to someone else read the text (preferably, a dramatised version and not just a monotone speaker) can make you hear something you’ve never realised before was even in the Bible. There are apps and websites where you can download and listen to chapters of the Bible for free. Here are some: http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/
Paraphrasing a passage in your own words, creating a personalised Bible version, can help solidity the main idea. Or write a Haiku version.
If you’re artistic, draw the passage out or compose a song. Memorise a verse and ruminate on it.
For a simple step-by-step guide to How to Study the Bible, click here: How to Study the Bible
What are some ways you mix it up?
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