Bible Study

Have you ever thought about how best to study the Bible? Many people will just pick it up, read a passage or two, and call it a  wrap. They do not choose to dive deep into what the Bible says. But, how could they begin? The first step towards being able to dive deep into God's Word is by knowing what passage to study. You need to choose a passage before you can study it! 

1. 
   

Pre-Requisite: Read the Passage       

• Read the passage about three times

• John 20:30-31. This passage has an "obvious purpose statement". He is clearly explaining why he wrote what he did. It explains that John is an evangelical book.  

• Acts 1:8. This passage explains exactly what the goal was.  

• Revelation 1:19. John is writing as Jesus is giving him this information. Whenever the author is writing what Jesus is telling him to write about, it is an important passage.  

• Look for possible key passages 

• Look for section divisions 

• Outline internal divisions 

• Flow of argumentation  

 

Step 1: Verify Text and Translation  

• Textual Criticism (Higher criticism- the genuineness of the text, lower criticism- original writing of the text)  

• There are 23,986 copies of different books of the Bible  

• There are 400,000 variants  

• https://coldcasechristianity.com/  

• Verify- You are working with one complete thought  

• Try to be working with the best translation  

• Summarize Findings  

• Does the writing style change?  

 

Step 2: Identify Historical and Cultural Background  

What? When? Who? Where? Why? How?  

• Who wrote the book?  

• Who was the book written to?  

• Where was it written?  

• When was it written?  

• What is the occasion of writing? (1 Cor.) 

• What was the purpose of the writing?  

• What were the circumstances of the author when he wrote it? (2 Tim.) 

• What were the circumstances of those to whom he wrote? (1 Peter) 

• What can we glean about the life and character of the author?  

• What was the state of society? ( 1 Cor.) 

• What cultural influences were present with the audience?  

• What societal pressures might the audience be facing?  

 

Utilize Scripture to answer key questions:  

• Immediate context 

• Elsewhere in Scripture 

 

Step 3: Identify Structural Keys  

Why:  

• Structural keys will identify the flow of arguments and thought of the author 

  • These keys divide complete thoughts  

• Structural keys often identify emphasis (Lamentations)  

• Structural keys can reference points of time helping the reader understand when things will or have happened (Revelation)  

• Structural keys can reveal purpose or vice versa (John)  

What:  

• Structural keys can be grammatical (therefore, but, before, after, etc.) (Ephesians)  

• Structural keys are usually changed in thought (Ephesians)  

  • Change in dialogue (Habakkuk)  

• Structural keys can be questions (Romans)  

• Structural keys can be repeated words or phrases (James)  

• Structural keys can be locations (Acts)  

• Structural keys can be a change in the object of address (Psalm 103)  

 

Step 4: Identify Grammatical and Syntactical Keys 

Why:  

• Grammar and Syntax convey meaning  

  • Grammar pointing to the rules or principles behind the relationship between words  

  • Syntax pointing to the end product between these relationships  

• Similar to how Hermeneutics are the principles behind exegesis  

• Lexology is next- relationships between words define words 

  • Context is King!  

How?  

• Start by identifying the main parts of speech  

• Diagram your sentences  

  • Identify parts of speech  

• Identify figures of speech  

• Identify quotations  

• Identify cultural references  

• Identify phrases and clauses 

• Types of connection and what it connects to 

• Summarize your findings 

 

Step 5: Identify Lexical Keys ( I do not think that word means what you think it means) 

Why?  

• Words are foundational for conveying meaning  

• Whenever words are put together in a relationship, they convey meaning  

• The author chose particular words to convey meaning 

• We must understand the words in context to understand why the author used the words he did 

What?  

• Lexical keys are seemingly important words which are critical to understanding the meaning the author intended 

• All words are important if they were used, however, some words are seemingly emphasized or important for understanding the thought 

• i.e. 1 John 2:1–2 

Warnings: 

• Context is King 

• Context defines words 

• Etymology is not always useful – Sometimes dangerous 

  • Icebox and Butterfly 

How?  

• Gather the needed tools 

  • Interlinear Bible; Lexicon; Concordance; 

• Identify the emphasized word 

  • This can be done through repetition, obvious importance, the structure of the section or sentence, and other ways.  

  • Often words will be theological terms but certainly not always.  

    • i.e. justified, repent, Word, propitiation, etc.  

    • 1 Corinthians 6 

• Identify the Greek/Hebrew translation of the word using an interlinear Bible/Bible software 

• "No jot or tittle will be missed from the Scripture." (Mathew 5:18) A jot and a tittle are like the n and ñ.  

• Identify the range of meaning using a lexicon (blueletterbible.org)  

• Identify other places the author uses the same word using a concordance 

• Identify the context in which the word is used in your section 

• Correlate with Theological Dictionary/Multiple Translations 

• Summarize your findings  

 

Step 6: Identify Biblical Context 

Why?  

• Scripture is given progressively  

• Our passage falls within this progression somewhere 

• Biblical context is key to the definition of the meaning  

How?  

• Identify the theme of the book 

• Identify immediate context  

• Identify far off context- Does our author have to help context in other words 

• Identify wherein the line of impressive revelation the passage falls  

Warnings:  

• We are still dealing directly with the text itself 

• We are still steering clear of all theological implications  

• It is easy to inject our theological convictions at this step 

• The biblical context must become before the theological context  

 

Step 7: Identify Theological Context 

How?  

• Identify Theological Keys 

  • Specific words 

  • Look for the study of God, man, sin, angels, Jesus Christ, Bible, etc. 

• Identify Theological concepts 

• Identify theological attributes  

• What does this text add or subtract from our theological understanding?  

 

Step 8: Provide Interpretation  

• "What did the author intend for this passage?"  

• I now have all the information, now I need to put the pieces together 

 

Step 9: Correlation  

• Secondary Sources  

• Look at their information and decide if you think they are right or wrong based on process, not conclusion  

• Soniclight.com 

 

Step 10: Primary and Secondary Application 

• Look at the passage and figure out how you can apply it  

  • Is there a command to obey?  

  • Is there a promise to claim?  

  • Is there an example to follow?  

  • Is there a principle to follow for personal guidance?  

  • Is there wisdom to shape our Christan thinking?  

 

Step 11: Teaching 

• Why?  

  • We are told to teach others and make disciples 

  • Last step of the Ezra 7:10 model 

  • Three types of teaching: Formal, informal, and unaware 

• • Both preaching and teaching are done with the goal of peace in mind 

  • Both of these are done in love, and with spiritual wellbeing in mind 

  • Teach others with the goal of them to teach others 

  • Provide a verse analysis 

 

There were the notes I took from a class that helps me study the Bible to make sure I am not interpreting it wrong, and so that I can Give God Glory in all I do. I am planning to go more in-depth with what all this means later if this is confusing in any way.