Learning to study the Bible is an adventure with multiple joys and benefits. Every transformed follower of Jesus can engage in Bible study personally and with others. The Holy Spirit, who is the divine author of the Scriptures, indwells you to teach you the meaning and application of the Word of God (John 14:25-26; 16:12-15).
Bible study is one of five spiritual practices with the Word, along with reading, listening, memorizing, and meditating. The Navigators Discipleship Ministry has a great way of visualizing those disciplines to make it easy to remember. You can access this resource here.
Bible study is learning to “rightly divide the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) in a way that pleases God and helps you grow in the craftsmanship of “Word working”. In this article, we will explore the three essential steps in Bible study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application.
Observation: Discover the Details
In observation, we become like reporters or detectives. Pay attention to the details by asking questions like:
- Who – people
- What – key ideas
- Where – places
- When – time
- Why – purpose
- How – means
Look for words that are repeated or emphasized, metaphors and visual language, truths that are central, arguments developed, or statements of purpose.
Interpretation: Understand the Meaning
In interpretation, we become like miners digging for meaning. We ask and find answers to questions to help us understand.
- Literature: What kind of literature is this? Law, History, Narrative, Letter, Prophecy, Poetry, Wisdom, Parable? Each has its own artistry and gives insight through the strokes of the pen. Pay attention to grammatical structure and the way thoughts are developed.
- Context: How does the context help you understand? Look at the context of verse, paragraph, chapter, section, book, and section of the Bible for connections to help gain meaning.
- Theology: What does the passage teach about? Examples include: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Man, Sin, Salvation, Christian Life, Angels, Satan, Israel, Church, Prophecy, Worldview Concepts, etc.
- Author: Author’s Intent – What can we identify about the human author’s purpose and meaning? How would the original readers understand what the author meant, given their time in history, culture, and context?
- Literal: Even though the Bible contains figurative language, the context gives insight into the meaning. If the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense, or you may wind up with nonsense!
- Prayer: Pray and ask God to give you understanding, “Open my eyes to behold wonderful truths in your law” (Psalm 119:18).
- Tools: Every craftsman needs tools. Tools for Bible study include: Study Bible, Other translations (ESV, NASV 2020; NKJV, NLT) Bible Dictionary, Bible Atlas, Bible Software www.logos.com; Commentaries – Bible Knowledge Commentary (OT & NT Volumes); Be Series by Warren Wiersbe; Tyndale IVP OT and NT (by individual book), Concordance or Bible App for searching worlds (Blue Letter Bible; Olive Tree). Over time, build your library like a study toolbox, and you will be able to mine out more meaning.
Application: Connect to Life
God gave His Word not to inform us but to transform us (2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Romans 12:2). The Bible is profitable and sufficient to teach us what to believe, how to live, and equip us for life and service (Ezra 7:10; Luke 6:46-49; Hebrews 5:12-14; James 1:22-25).
Remember that the first question is not “What does it mean to me?”, but “What was the application intended by the human author for the original readers or hearers?” Then we can identify the timeless truth for our lives.
Categories of Application
These categories help to identify the type of applications that the text emphasizes. When applying the Word of God, find a…
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Promise to Claim
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Prayer to Pray
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Principle to Apply
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Warning to Heed
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Example to Follow
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Sin to Avoid
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Truth to Believe
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Command to Obey
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Relationship to Practice
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Blessing to Celebrate
