INTRODUCTION
What is Bible Study Methods and Why Should I Learn This Material?
Many people sincerely want to study the Bible but struggle. They are just unsure of how to go about digging through the Word in order to find the treasures within it. Learning basic Bible study methods can help the student of the Bible find the great riches of God’s truth.
The method presented in these notes follows a course of six steps: (1) Observation (2) Interpretation (3) Application (4) Consultation (5) Organization and (6) Presentation. Each of these steps is crucial in the process and none should (usually) be skipped. These steps are explained below.
STEP 1: Observation
Why observation?
In order to study anything you have to first look at it. Astronomers and biochemists understand this perfectly well. In order to study the cloud movement patterns on Jupiter an astronomer must have a telescope in order to observe the clouds and how they move. Biochemists invest much money purchasing microscopes in order to observe cells that are invisible to the naked eye. It is all about observation.
The same is true when it comes to the study of the Bible. The student of Scripture must be willing to stop and actually look at the words and their relationship to each other. No proper interpretation of the text will come otherwise.
How to observe?
- Look prayerfully and expectantly
- Look closely
- Look repeatedly
- Look grammatically
- Look for answers to who, what, when where, why and how
- Look for repeated words / themes
- Look for contrasts and comparisons
- Look for conclusions (therefore, for this reason, that, etc)
- Look for lists
- Look with unbiased eyes
- Look with a writing utensil
STEP 2: Interpretation
What is the difference?
- Observation asks: “What is there?”
- Interpretation asks: “What does it mean?”
How to interpret
STEP 3: Application
What is application?
What makes a good application?
When application goes bad (legalism)
STEP 4: Consultation
Why consult?
Who should I consult?
STEP 5: Organization
Why organize?
How to organize? Forming an exegetical outline
STEP 6: Presentation
Why present?
How to present? Forming a presentation (homiletical) outline
