How To Study The Bible (Part 1)

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."  Joshua 1:8

The only "Bible Study Method" I've actually found in the actual Bible involves these three Bible Study Steps:

1.  Read the Bible.
2.  Meditate on the Bible.
3.  Do what the Bible says.

This seems to me to be the way the Bible itself says to "study it."

This "fits" the Bible Study Method I learned in church from Howard Hendricks's "Bible Study Methods" course.  I believe it is the "inductive Bible Study method" involving:

"Observation, Interpretation, and Application." 

This is what I learned.

OBSERVATION

First you simply "observe," a book, chapter, verse, etc., asking yourself the simple question,

"What do I see?"

• Who
• What
• When
• Where
• Why

That's it.  An overview.

Next, having observed everything you can, you move to the next level:

INTERPRETATION 

You ask yourself the question,

"What does it mean?"

Here you focus on:

• content,
• context,
• comparison,
• culture,
• commentaries, and
• concordances. 

The idea is that the better your observation is, the better your interpretation will be.  And the better your interpretation the more accurate your application, which is the third step I learned.

APPLICATION

In application, you ask the question, "What does it mean to me?"

• Is there an example to follow?
• A sin to avoid?
• A promise to claim?
• A prayer to pray?
• A condition to meet?
• A command to obey?
• A verse to memorize?
• An error to correct?
• A challenge to face?

It seems like a lot to know, and it took a while to get through the course.  Its "biblical" and "logical."  In other words, it fits what I see the Bible itself says about it's own study.

But I wanted to know how people in Bible days studied the word.  Of course they didn't each have several copies in several versions on their book shelves like we do, with numerous commentaries, concordances, notes, etc.  They didn't have the internet.  Yet beyond all of this, I want to read scripture as effectively as I can.  So I've thought about how to study the Bible, according to the Bible, and these are my conclusions. (click HERE to read them.)

How To Study The Bible (Part 2)

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.  Luke 24:25-27

This was the greatest Bible Study in History!  The Resurrected Lord Jesus Himself explaining the entirety of scripture, explaining the very essence of the scriptures:  "what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself."

This is how to study the Bible.  This is the truest Bible Study Method.  No matter what seminary or degree or method you choose, it must begin and end according to the following scriptures:

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

 

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  Luke 24:44-45

 

These are my conclusions about studying the Bible:

• As far as a Biblical Bible Study method, meaning the actual technique of the Bible study, The Bible itself seems to give only three necessary "techniques"

1. Read the Bible

2. Meditate on the Bible.

3. Do what the Bible says.

 

This may take many forms, like the Bible Study Method I learned. But as far as the Bible goes, you're supposed to read it so you that can focus your mind on it and then do it.  We are to be "doers of the word and not hearers (or thinkers) only."

 

Yet above and beyond these techniques, I see the one crucial thing:

 

Jesus must open our understanding so that we may comprehend the scriptures; He Himself must walk us through the scriptures, explaining what the Bible is saying about Himself.

 

This is Bible Study!

This is how you should define Bible Study from now on!

This is how you should define whether a pastor or teacher or minister is actually gifted by the Spirit to teach the scriptures.

This is how you should measure your every encounter with scripture: 

• Is Jesus opening your understanding so that you comprehend the scriptures? 
• Is Jesus, by His Spirit, walking you through the scriptures and explaining to you what the scriptures say about Himself?

No matter the commentary or seminary or method, if Jesus Himself is not opening your understanding about Himself in the scriptures, and if you don't act on what He is showing you about Himself, it is not true Bible Study.

 

 

Moses and You (Speaking to God Face to Face)

Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside of the camp. 
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.  Then Moses would return to camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.  Exodus 33:7 b,11

I want what Moses had with God.  What could be better?  We seem content to simply read about God and Moses, but from what I read, anyone could go to the tent of meeting...and stay there.

Anyone.
Joshua stayed.

We are told we have a "better covenant" based on "better promises."  Then we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who have the Spirit of the living God inside of our bodies, individually or collectively, are content with mere "Bible Studies."  We don't read God's word with the Author, the Holy Spirit, reading it to us.  We read it through denominational biases as merely the words of theologians, seminarians, and commentators.  Arguing.  Debating.  Dividing.  Not hearing God speak to us face to face as a man speaks to his friend.

Is this why Jesus came, so we could read and then argue over the Bible?
Is this why His Spirit is in us?

What do you want?

I want God to speak to me, face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.
And I have it, because I have God's Spirit in me.

So do you, if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

You are now the tent of meeting because your body is the temple of God's Spirit.
Let Him speak to you face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. 
Be like Joshua. Never leave His presence.