(1) Know why in-depth study of the Bible is important for the Christian.
(2) Be able to list three steps necessary for studying the Bible.
(3) Begin the process of carefully studying a selected passage of scripture.
(4) Appreciate the importance of the illumination of the Holy Spirit for Bible interpretation.
Introduction
One purpose of this course is to help you grow in your personal study and application of scripture. A good first step is to honestly evaluate your current Bible reading practices.
► Take a couple of minutes to discuss your current Bible reading practices. This is not a time to criticize each other; it is a time to reflect on the question, “How am I reading God’s Word?” Here are some questions to think about:
How often do I read the Bible?
When I read the Bible, how much time do I spend?
How do I select passages to read?
Do I understand what I am reading?
Do I remember what I read?
Am I able to make applications to my life?
What are 2-3 reasons that I don’t read the Bible more?
Samuel, a Taiwanese Christian, had been a Christian for 15 years, but showed few signs of spiritual maturity. He was frustrated with his lack of spiritual growth. After a Sunday morning service, his frustration came to the surface. “Pastor, you tell me to read the Bible. You say that God will speak to me through His Word. I’ve tried! I read the Bible every morning, and it doesn’t say anything to me. What’s wrong?”
The pastor replied, “Samuel, tell me how you read the Bible.” Samuel’s response pointed to an important factor in his struggles. He answered, “Each morning before work, I open my Bible and read a verse.” The pastor followed up, “Do you read through an entire book of the Bible or even a complete chapter before moving on?” “No, I just read a verse every morning – wherever my Bible falls open. And it rarely helps!”
To help Samuel understand the problem of reading the Bible in this fashion, the pastor asked him to open his Bible and read the first verse he saw. Samuel read, “Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead” (Obadiah 1:19).
Then the pastor asked Samuel some questions. “Where is the Negeb? Where is the Shephelah? Where is the land of Ephraim? Samaria? Benjamin? Gilead?” The answer to every question was “I don’t know.” The next week, they began a Bible study on “How to Read the Bible.” During the next several weeks, Samuel began to learn some principles of interpreting the Bible. He learned to understand how scripture speaks to us today.
The goal of this course is to help you learn and apply basic principles of Bible interpretation. Through these lessons and exercises, you will gain tools to help you understand God’s Word, to apply it to your life, and to teach it to others.
Why Should I Study the Bible?
Some people avoid reading the Bible because they believe it is too difficult to understand. Many who believe the Bible is God’s Word do not know how to interpret and apply it. Studying the Bible is hard work. Is it worth the work? Why should we study the Bible?
God Reveals Himself through Scripture
Scripture shows us who God is. God’s Word is an expression of the nature of God (Psalm 119:15, 27). Scripture shows us how God thinks, what is important to him, how he relates to people, and how he works in human history. God’s law (what he requires) reflects his character, his justice, and his wisdom (Psalm 119:137). Whenever we read the Bible, we should pay attention to what it shows us about God.
Scripture reveals God to the worshipper. It also guides the worshipper’s response to God, showing the way we must live.
The Bible Is a Lamp
The Psalmist compared God’s Word to a lamp that guides us in the way to live (Psalm 119:105). The Bible is God’s truth that teaches us how to think and live.
► Read Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 119:160, and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
God’s Word is the source of right doctrine. The Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. This principle does not mean that we can understand everything in scripture without other help. It does not mean that tradition is unimportant. It means that God’s Word is the final authority for the believer.
Because God’s Word is the source of truth, knowledge of scripture prepares and equips us for ministry. When we teach God’s Word accurately, we teach with God’s authority. The truth is his, not ours.
The Bible Is Spiritual Milk
Peter said that believers should desire the Bible as much as a newborn baby desires milk (1 Peter 2:2). Just as a baby must have milk to grow physically, a Christian must have scripture to grow spiritually. Without a regular diet of God’s Word, we will never grow to spiritual maturity.
As we learn the skills of biblical interpretation and practice discerning truth from God’s Word, we mature (Hebrews 5:14). Our ability to use the Word of God to teach others is developed.
The Bible Is Sweet as Honey
The psalmist compared God’s Word to honey (Psalm 19:10, Psalm 119:103). Honey is both healthy and sweet. We should consider study of God’s Word a delight, not unpleasant work. Just as a soldier at war rejoices to read a letter from his family at home, we should rejoice to read the Bible, God’s letter to his children.
When a young Jewish child begins school so that he can learn to read the Law, the teacher will put honey on the first letters of the alphabet and the child will lick the page to taste its sweetness. The teacher uses this object lesson so that “the child learns to associate [the Law] with delight and good taste.”[1]
The Bible Is the Sword of the Spirit
God’s Word is our weapon in spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:17). When Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness, he responded to Satan’s attacks by quoting from Deuteronomy (Matthew 4:1-11).
Scripture empowers us for spiritual victory and for effective ministry. Through Bible study, we are prepared to respond to false doctrine, to establish our congregations in true doctrine, and to minister effectively in today’s world.
Improper Reasons for Studying Scripture
► Read Hebrews 4:12-13.
There are many good reasons for studying scripture, but sometimes people read or study scripture with wrong motivations.
Some people may study scripture just to collect evidence to defend their opinion. Perhaps they even want to use knowledge to control others under their influence.
Some people may study scripture for prideful reasons. Perhaps they feel that they will gain spiritual status and be superior to other people. Maybe they want people to think well of them for their accomplishments. Or perhaps they assume that studying scripture will help them to earn God’s favor.
All of these are misguided reasons for reading or studying scripture. Hebrews 4:12-13 shows the proper attitude towards scripture. Instead of using scripture to accomplish selfish goals, we should remember that it is God’s Word, not ours. We should study it with an attitude of reverence for God. The Bible is our authority, and we should submit ourselves to it. When we teach it to others, we should do so with humility.
When we study and teach God’s Word in this way, it reveals sin or error in our lives and shows us how to turn from it. It changes our lives and the lives of those we serve and lead.
► What process do you currently use when studying a passage of scripture? Discuss specific steps that you take to find the meaning of a Bible text.
Samuel agreed that study of the Bible is important. However, he did not know how to study scripture. He needed a method.
This course is intended to provide a method for effective Bible study. Pastors can use these steps in sermon preparation. Bible teachers can use these steps in preparing Bible lessons. Every believer can benefit from using this method for personal spiritual growth.
The method followed in this course will involve three steps.
Observation
In this step, we ask, “What do I see in the Bible?” In this step, we observe as many details as possible about the scripture. Too many readers skip observation and move directly to interpretation. We cannot truly understand scripture until we have carefully observed what it says. In the step of observation, we look at the details of the scripture text itself. We will learn to identify details that are important to the message of scripture. Particularly, we will study terms, structure, literary form, and atmosphere.
Terms
When studying a book of the Bible, we look for words that are used several times throughout the book. 1 John uses some form of the word know more than 30 times in 5 chapters. When studying John’s letter, we can begin by tracing this word throughout the book. A list of places where John uses the word know will help us begin interpreting his message. To understand John’s message, we can ask, “What does John say we can know?” and “What are the characteristics of those who know?”
Structure
The books of the Bible were carefully constructed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As you study a book like the Gospel of John, you will find that John organized his gospel around seven signs that show who Jesus is. As we observe the structure of the book, it gives us a better understanding of John’s purpose.
When we study a passage, we may see that the structure follows a story (as in Luke 9:28-36). It might give reasons for a conclusion (as in Romans 6:1-13). It could use details to give a list of points (as in Ephesians 6:13-18). There are also other kinds of structure.
Literary Form
Paul wrote highly organized letters that argue his point much like a lawyer building an argument to a climax. To read Romans or other epistles well, you should carefully follow Paul’s logic.
By contrast, Jonah is a short historical account written to illustrate God’s love for all people. To read it well, you must ask, “What makes this a surprising, unusual story?” You are then ready to interpret the book of Jonah by asking, “What do the details of this story mean?”
Atmosphere
Here we ask questions like, “Where was Paul when he wrote the Epistle of Philippians with its message of joy?” He was in Rome, awaiting trial and possible execution. The situation makes us look at the reasons Paul said he had joy, because he felt this joy even though he was personally in a bad situation.
“Where was John when the heavens were opened to reveal God’s eternal plan in the book of Revelation?” He was in exile on the isle of Patmos. The time of persecution made the message of God’s victory a great encouragement of faith.
Interpretation
In this step, we ask, “What does the Bible mean?” After we have collected as many observations as possible, we look for the message of the scripture. We will learn to find the large themes that tie a book together along with the message of individual chapters and verses. We will ask, “What was the message of this book to the first readers?” We will look for principles that are true in all times, places, and cultures.
Application
In this step, we ask, “How do I apply the Bible to life and ministry today?” It is not enough to understand the meaning without applying it to our lives.
In his textbook, Howard Hendricks suggests two questions regarding application:[1]
How does it work for me? This looks at the application of the scripture in my life.
How does it work for others? This looks at the application of the scripture in the lives of those to whom I minister.
In England there is a university professor who is a highly respected scholar of church history. Academically, he knows the Bible very well; personally, he rejects any belief in God or God’s Word. This man knows much about observation and interpretation. Unfortunately, he has never applied the truth of scripture to his life.
James described such a person like this: “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like” (James 1:23-24). The professor in England is an extreme case; however, there are many people who know what scripture says, but who fail to live it in daily life. True Bible study must result in practical application.
[1]Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks, Living by the Book (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2007)
The Holy Spirit’s Role in Interpretation
► Can an unbeliever understand the meaning of scripture?
The answer to this question is “Yes, but only partially.” In this course, we will study a process to guide our interpretation. These steps will help us understand the message of God’s Word. The Bible, read like any other book, will reveal much truth to any reader.
However, without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, a person’s understanding will always be limited. Intellectual study alone can never reveal spiritual truth. Paul wrote:
For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:11-14).
An unbeliever can understand some of the message of scripture, but the deep truths of the Bible are revealed through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Studying scripture is more than gaining information; it requires faith and obedience. Until we submit to the authority of God’s Word, God’s Spirit cannot do his transforming work in our lives. Because of this:
Our study of scripture should be preceded by prayer. We should ask the Holy Spirit to guide our study. James wrote, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).
Our study of scripture should be followed by a personal response. The goal of Bible study is more than intellectual information; the goal is personal transformation. If we are not transformed through our study, we have missed the purpose of study. This transformation comes only through the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ parable about the sower and seed, some seed fell along the pathway and was eaten by birds. Some seed had no root and died when the sun grew hot. Some seed was choked by thorns. But some seed fell on good ground and brought forth fruit. Jesus explained that the good soil is the person who both hears and understands the Word (Matthew 13:3-23). This parable shows that it is possible to hear the Word without understanding. We understand God’s Word fully only when we open our hearts to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Lesson 1 Key Points
(1) Reasons to study the Bible:
God reveals himself through scripture.
The Bible is a lamp.
The Bible is spiritual milk.
The Bible is sweet as honey.
The Bible is the sword of the Spirit.
(2) There are three steps in the process of Bible study.
Observation: What do I see in the Bible? Study:
Terms
Structure
Literary Form
Atmosphere
Interpretation: What does the Bible mean?
Application: How do I apply the Bible to life and ministry today? Ask:
How does it work for me?
How does it work for others?
(3) We must have the illumination of the Holy Spirit when studying the Bible. Because of this
Our study of scripture should be preceded by prayer.
Our study of scripture should be followed by a personal response.
To begin the process of interpretation, choose one of the following passages of scripture.
Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Joshua 1:1-9
Matthew 6:25-34
Ephesians 3:14-21
Colossians 3:1-16
You will study this scripture throughout the course. For this first lesson, read the scripture carefully. Make notes in three areas:
1. Observation: List as many details as you can about the scripture you choose. Depending on the scripture, your details will differ. Some questions that may help you are these:
Where did events recorded in this scripture take place?
Who are the characters in this scripture?
What does this scripture command?
What words are repeated in this scripture?
2. Interpretation: In 2-3 sentences, summarize the primary message of the passage.
3. Application: List 2-3 ways in which you can apply the scripture in your life and ministry.
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