How to Study the Bible
In this upcoming series of posts, we wanted to look at just how you study and read the Bible. The Bible is the Word of God, after all. It is not something to be taken lightly, even in the most casual setting. So what should we be doing when we sit down with Scripture?
There are variety of ways that people study the Bible. Some people pick a book and read it. Others flip open to a page and just start reading, waiting for understanding. Some others read the Bible from cover to cover. Some like to follow a specific plan or read through the text chronologically.
There is not necessarily one perfect way to study the Bible. The takeaway each and every time is that we are talking with God. What greater gift can there be than to communicate with the One who created the universe, the one who is beyond all time and understanding? Each time we read the Bible we get to know Him more, to understand who He is and who we are in relationship with Him.
There are, however, some common principles that will help open the Word to you. There are ways of reading Scripture that allow you to understand the text at a deeper level each time you read. With some of these common practices, you can dive into what you are reading and seek to better understand the God who inspired each word.
Please note, there is nothing wrong with just opening the Bible and reading. These tools are for studying the Bible. They are valuable and will add to your understanding and knowledge of Scripture. But you should always be comfortable reading the Bible in whatever form. God wants to talk to you so listen any way you can.
With that being said, let’s jump into this introduction.
When you read Scripture, look to understand what the text means in its original context as well as today. Context holds the clues to the intentions and realities of the author. Think about the audience and the situations that the author was writing in. All of this is part of the context. Without context, we can often miss the point. We often confuse the meaning of Scripture by removing it from its context.
Do you take a snippet from a conversation and pretend like that was the only thing said? Of course not. Without looking at the larger conversation, we lose the meaning.
The authors of Scripture were all inspired by the Holy Spirit. Each verse is as relevant today as it was when it was written. With that being said, we can often misunderstand the meaning of Scripture by not looking at what the authors meant when they originally wrote it.
There is not enough time for us to learn a whole language. So let’s be brief. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) with a couple little spots of Aramaic. There was a Latin version (the Vulgate) as well, but this was not an original text.
You do not need to be able to read and write Hebrew and Greek to use them as tools for understanding Scripture. Learning how to look up individual words or verses in the original language is easy through websites like Blue Letter Bible and Bible Web App. These tools can add a new level of depth to the understanding of the Bible. It can define the words and give you nuanced understanding of each word. This alone can help you understand and dive deeper into the meaning of God’s Word.
The Bible can often be confusing and you may be wondering what was meant by a certain passage or verse. Looking at the original language and words that were used can give you more information and clear up the confusion.
It’s like travelling to another country with an app for translating speech. Without it, you might be able to figure out a little bit of the conversation. With an app, you don’t have to guess. You can speak the language without speaking the language. The same is true with Scripture.
Parts of Speech
No, we are not going to get into a lengthy grammar discussion. As you read through a section of the Bible, you will start to notice certain words and phrases that seem important, that are repeated or emphasized.
Often times, the writer will emphasize their point by using similar words or ideas to express a point. Sometimes they will even use the same few words over and over to really drive home their point. Watching for these parts in the text will again bring greater clarity to what the author meant and what they viewed as truly important.
Commentaries
Commentaries are their own special tool and they can be helpful if you have access to them. Commentaries are books written by Biblical scholars (people who study the Bible for a living) to explain the Bible. These can be incredibly valuable resources.
However, each author is writing from their own perspective. Unlike the actual Word of God, the authors are writing their own interpretation. Still, learning how to use a commentary can be a great way to work through more difficult sections or to bring greater depth to the text.
Application
The last part to look at in Bible study is the application. What is God’s Word telling you? How are you learning more about God and understanding Him more through this passage of Scripture? There are many parts of the Bible that you can apply directly to your life. But there are many sections that simply teach us more about God and his plans for the world. Understanding not only how but when to apply Scripture is important in every reading.
Studying the Bible is vital to any Christian’s life. Knowing some of the basics is not only helpful, it is a way to grow closer to God through the study of His Word. God is speaking to you in many ways. Why not learn a little more about how to interpret Him?
Make sure to check back for more detailed posts about each of these topics – coming soon!