How to study the Bible It’s not just for new Christians. Anyone interested in studying the Bible will benefit from thinking about how to study it. In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Apostle Paul wrote:
The Greek phrase translated “handle rightly” (orthotomean) it also means “to guide on a straight path.” When we study the Bible, it is important that we do everything we can to stay on the right track when it comes to interpreting and understanding it.
If you need help getting started, this particular method is ideal for beginners, but can be geared toward any level of study. As you become more comfortable studying God’s word, you will begin to develop your own techniques and discover favorite resources that will make your study very personal and meaningful.
But how can we do that?
How to study the Bible. If you’ve never done this before, start with a small book, preferably from the New Testament; and not start another one unless you have finished the first one. In the book of James, Titus, 1 Peter, or 1 John are all good options for beginners. Plan to spend 3-4 weeks studying the book of your choice.
Possibly one of the most common reasons why some Christians don’t study the Bible is based on this complaint, “I don’t get it!” Before beginning each study time, it is good that he begin by praying and asking God to open his spiritual understanding.
The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)”
So as you pray, realize that the words you are studying are inspired by God.
How to interpret the Bible
A key foundation of Bible study is interpretation. Technically known as hermeneutics, biblical interpretation offers some basic principles to help understand the Bible. The most important principle is context.
This means that when studying the Bible one must take into account not only the immediate context of the part being studied. But also other forms of context; such as cultural, literary context and more. Usually it is enough to have a basic understanding of the immediate context of what is being studied.
Reading what comes before the passage being studied, what comes after it, and what the Bible says as a whole about the subject being studied are key concepts to keep in mind.
Most of the time, errors or interpretation difficulties when studying the Bible are the result of not having a proper understanding of the context.
Another important aspect of biblical interpretation is not to base an elaborate theological teaching on the basis of an apparently obscure or isolated passage. If a passage or teaching is important, there are often multiple instances throughout the Bible where the topic is most clearly discussed.
In such cases, looking at many parallel passages to better understand a topic is more helpful than looking at a more obscure or difficult passage. Also keep in mind the cultural context and genre of the passage being studied. Keep in mind that we are looking at biblical writings that are separated from our time by centuries more than 1,950 years.
In the case of the New Testament and even more so in the case of the Old Testament. The Bible was also originally written in different cultural contexts than what we are used to. This, of course, does not mean that the Bible is not relevant to us. But when it comes to studying it and trying to understand it, remember the issues related to the context.
Gender is also important. This has to do with the type of passage we are studying in the Bible. For example, the Bible contains poetry, wise sayings, history, letters, prophetic writings, apocalyptic literature, and more.
Sometimes when we study the Bible, knowing what genre we are studying will help us. For example, Proverbs contains many wise sayings purporting to be useful and general advice, but this advice is not always absolutely binding in the same way that a promise from God would be.
The last orientation regarding Bible study and interpretation has to do with the literal or figurative interpretation of the Bible. This sometimes also depends on the context. The Bible is full of rich language.
Jesus, for example, often used word pictures to help communicate his message, such as when he said things like “I am the door” (see John 10:7-9). Jesus is obviously not a literal door with a handle and hinges. This is a figurative passage meant to illustrate a point. And it is to take it to a spiritual level; bring it to an eternal truth for the understanding of those who would follow the Kingdom of Heaven.
You may also be interested in reading: Structure and Parts of the Bible… Know How the Holy Scriptures are Composed
How to study the Bible
One of the noblest activities in which a child of God can embark is to come to know and understand God better. The best way to accomplish this is to look carefully at the book he has written, the Bible, which communicates who he is and his plan for humanity. There are several ways we can study the Bible, but one of the most effective and easiest ways to read and understand God’s word involves a few tips.
As you continue to do this type of verse-by-verse study, there is no limit to the wealth of understanding and growth that will come from your time spent in God’s Word.
For this part of your study, you will want to consider choosing the right tools to aid your learning, such as a commentary, lexicon, or Bible dictionary. A Bible study guide or perhaps a study Bible will also help you dig deeper.
Bible Study Tips
Read the Bible slowly and carefully
It is better to read slowly and carefully than to read it quickly and carelessly. In our fast-paced culture, we often want to try to get to a point of understanding as quickly as possible. But it is better to read the Bible slowly, not quickly. Once a passage has been selected for study, read it slowly.
You will now slow down and read the book verse by verse, breaking down the text, seeking a deeper understanding.
Hebrews 4:12 begins with:
“For the word of God is living and powerful… (Hebrews 4:12)”
What a powerful statement! In this step, we’ll see what the text looks like under a microscope, as we begin to break it down. Use a Bible dictionary, and look up the meaning of the word that lives in the original language. It is the Greek word ‘Zaõ’, and it means “not only to live, but to cause to live, to quicken, to enliven”. So you begin to see a much deeper meaning: God’s Word gives life and makes life come true.
Because his word is alive, you could study the same passage many times and continue to discover new and relevant revelations along your journey of faith.
Journaling often aids Bible study.
This can be for devotional notes, questions you may have, and more. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate journal, but rather a simple notebook in which you can jot down ideas you come across during your Bible studies.
Study the Bible with other believers
Studying the Bible on its own is useful for personal and devotional times, but make sure your Bible study can involve others as well. Some ministries offer small group Bible studies. Many times other people will have the same kinds of questions about the Bible as others. As a result, studying and discussing the Bible with other believers will help everyone grow in their faith.
Try not to skip too much in your study hours.
Instead of reading short, isolated verses from different books of the Bible, try to focus on longer passages and books. You may want to select a broad topic to study as well, such as God’s plan of redemption.
In general, however, studying the Bible book by book is better than jumping around a lot from one section to another. If your time is occasionally limited, but you would still like to study the Bible more carefully, try reading entire psalms or passages from Proverbs.
What is the point?
Studying the Bible can be a lifelong adventure. It contains simple and practical ideas, but also profound and moving insights that will help Christians of all stripes grow in their faith. Bible study should never be just an academic endeavor, although that has its place.
Always keep in mind that the main point of studying the Bible is to know God better so that he can be glorified. Along the way, we will be edified, challenged, and changed for the better. Learning to correctly handle “the word of truth” (see 2 Timothy 2:15) through Bible study can be enjoyable and rewarding.
Why should we study the bible?
personal edification
For thousands of years the Bible has been read not only as history and the word of God, but also as personal edification. This, of course, is a more meaningful reason to study the Bible for those who believe in God, but the Bible is also surprisingly uplifting for those who don’t. It’s full of individuals faced with moral choices, life challenges, and frankly, situations that apply to us even today. As Paul wrote:
»All Scripture is inspired by God and useful to teach, rebuke, correct and train in justice, so that the man of God is fully prepared for every good work.(2 Timothy 3:16-17)»
The Bible is available for us to learn not only on an intellectual level, but also on a personal and emotional level.
to help others
But the Bible is not just for us to keep to ourselves as individuals. It is also useful to help others. We learn to ask for wisdom so we can help others by studying the Bible. Proverbs, for example, contain general principles and ideas to help anyone live their lives in a way that is useful and pleasing to God.
Studying the Bible to help others is not just for ministers or pastors. But it is something that everyone can do. Knowing what the Bible says on different topics, we can help others in difficult circumstances, encourage them and thus give them a word of encouragement.
Learn about the ministry of Jesus
For Christians the Bible culminates in the New Testament account of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Some 2,000 years after the time of Christ, his life and ministry remain relevant even in our contemporary world.
No matter how one views Christ, like the Bible, it cannot be ignored. Far from being a distant prophet or an irrelevant figure in history, Jesus Christ is at the foundation of Christianity. In particular, studying the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John will help anyone gain a better understanding of Jesus, his mission, and his ministry.
To apply it to our life
For the…