# How to study the Bible

God speaks to His people primarily through the Bible.

- God gave Scripture to make fools wise (1 Corinthians 1:27).
- He does speak in other revelations and visions, but they will *always* echo the Bible's messages and be pure, peaceable, gentle, fruitful, unbiased, and genuine (James 3:17).
- God's Word always leaves an impact on someone listening, and often includes the *speaker* (Isaiah 55:11).

Every Christian has the right and responsibility to investigate and interpret God's Word for themselves.

- Even if all Bibles were hypothetically destroyed, God would be faithful to give His wisdom to people wherever they are at.
- Correctly studying the Bible guarantees all Christians will agree on the things the Holy Spirit wants them to.

Some study techniques are better than others, but none of them are "perfect".

- Since we're imperfect, we'll pick up different parts of the Bible's truth each time we read it.
- The following techniques combined are the most thorough approach, but only the geekiest Christians have the time and patience for it.
- Do *not* start with the question on any passage, "what does this mean to me?"
  - That, instead, should be the last thing you ask after understanding the passage's context.
- In one sense, we can observe them as layers that God designed for inspiration:
  - 1: Skimming the Bible, with the story giving a broad concept
  - 2: Reading the proper story in all its details
  - 3: Interconnecting the story with other verses and historical context (a great place for Bible commentary)
  - 4: Meditating so deeply on Scripture that God blesses further connections through prolonged study

The approach to good Bible study is a pretty straightforward 3-step process of observe, then interpret, then apply.

## 1: Observe

Observe what the Scripture plainly says, without [judgment](mind-bias.md).

- Interpret personal experience through Scripture, not the other way around.

Read a Bible book in one sitting, with at least two different translations, at least 2-4 times.

- There are two major ways to approach Scripture:
  - Synchronic (bullet points): categories of the Bible's domains (e.g., God, sin, atonement, faith, etc.)
    - Synchronic is a zoomed-in view of what God wants us to see.
  - Diachronic (a conveyed [story](stories-why.md)): messages with a clear transition and conclusion (e.g., creation, fall, redemption, renewal)
    - Diachronic shows [patterns](symbols.md) across Scripture that also reflect on our existence.
  - Healthy understanding of Scripture depends on us holding *both* perspectives together to create a third dialectic.
- The best way to understand the themes of the Bible is to start with it being a dramatized [story](stories-why.md), *not* an exhaustive text that covers every unimportant detail of its subject.
  - At the same time, the events still typically hold literal merit (e.g., against [atheism](spiritual-exercises-evangelism-apologetics-atheism.md)).

Who?

- Who are the people, and what do they say?
- How are those people described?
- What do you know about that person from previous Bible studies or historical context?

- What?

- What is happening?
- Is it a miracle, and if so [what kind](god-capabilities.md) and who is involved?
- Is it a [story](stories-why.md), and can you easily understand it?
- Is it a command, or simply a suggestion?
- Is it an explanation, and is it true in explaining yourself?

Where?

- Where did this happen?
- Get a map and use it to trace the stories' events.

When?

- What period of time is it in the lens of history?
- What day and time of the day is it?
- What produced the event, what came before, and what will come afterward?

Why?

- Why did God include this story in the Bible?
- Why are some details *omitted*?
- How does the passage relate to your life?

## 2: Interpret

Interpret how the Scripture's information connects with everything else.

- We can only understand and properly comprehend Scripture through faith and the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14-15).
- This is a non-optional part of understanding Scripture.
- The Bible *will* interpret itself: Scripture explains Scripture.

Make sure you know precisely what the Scripture says, since it defines how you'll use it.

- Scripture only has one literal interpretation, and your interpretation will *heavily* define your [theology](theology.md).
- The more time you spend observing, the less you'll spend in having to interpret it.

### Content

Look for meanings and relationships:

- Words
- Repetitions
- Cause-and-effect
- Contrasts
- Questions and answers
- Interpret a word by its relation to its sentence.
- Interpret a passage by its context and setting.

### Context

Look at what comes immediately before and after the passage.

Interpret words with the meaning the author would have used at the time.

Ask questions about the book as you read it:

- Main personalities:
  - Who was the author?
  - To whom was he writing?
  - Does the book have any other significant personalities?
  - How do they relate to one another?
- Historical setting:
  - When was the book written?
  - Who was the book's historical setting written to?
  - What is the historical background of the recipients?
  - What was happening in that part of the world at that time?
- Purpose:
  - Why was the book written?
  - If there was a problem to correct, what was it?
  - What was the writer trying to accomplish?
- Themes:
  - What is the primary emphasis of the book?
  - What are some recurring ideas?
  - What subjects does the author address?

Unless a prophet's words have an obvious [symbolism](symbols.md), interpret the words in a usual, literal, historical sense:

- Statements are only symbolic if one of the following applies:
  1. An inanimate object describes a living being.
  2. Something's expression doesn't match its description.
  3. Specific historical facts or events are symbols of spiritual truth only if Scripture says it is.
  4. The story is a fictionalized parable (such as Jesus' depictions).
- If a story *is* symbolic, the characters aren't necessarily real and the entire story is intended to convey an important [universal](humanity-universals.md) pattern.
- Prophecies sometimes fulfill in installments, where each fulfillment of something else coming.
- A single prophecy can also fulfill itself to multiple ends (e.g., Revelation refers to both the Roman Empire *and* the [End of Days](theology-end.md)).

Proverbs have specific attributes:

- Often figurative and points beyond itself.
- Poetic guidelines, not guarantees.
- Worded to be more memorable than precise.
- Typically teaches how to live much more than about God.
- Intensely practical wisdom for specific life elements.
- Though proverbs are designed for selfless living, people can wrongly apply them to selfish behavior.

### Comparison

Seek reputable sources that reference the Bible directly:

- Cross-references to other Bible verses (e.g., Nave's Topical Bible, Thompson Chain Topics)
- Concordance to compare word use with other verses (e.g., Strong's)
- Name associations (e.g., Hitchcock's Bible Names)
- Greek/Hebrew lexicons (e.g., Abbott-Smith, Dodson)
- Up-to-date Bible atlas
- Online resources (e.g., SWORD project)

Consider morphological analysis (e.g., Robinson's, Packard, Open Scriptures), which examines the grammatical significance of the words used in the original language.

### Culture

God wrote Scripture to people at a specific time with specific issues, so do some research on the [culture](people-culture.md) of those times.

Use a Bible dictionary to understand relevant terms and customs associated with that culture (e.g., [Smith's](https://biblehub.com/dictionary/smith.htm), Easton's).

- Look for Bible encyclopediae to find *much* more historical context (e.g., International Standard Bible Encyclopedia).

Look at the historical setting of who would be reading the original document.

### Consultation

Listen to Scripture's common-sense interpretation first, then its historical context, and finally Bible scholars' opinions and commentaries.

- you must have your own understanding of the text itself, but also a willingness to understand how the rest of the Church sees that text.

Get a Bible handbook, and read introductions to specific Bible books as you encounter them.

Look at Bible commentaries to see how other believers have interpreted the passage.

- In particular, you'll learn more by reading commentaries of opposing [denominations](people-conflicts-christian-why.md) from your own.
- Even while they're written by fallible people, Bible commentaries and theology books are an excellent way to see another perspective you may have missed, especially if the writer was from a different historical period.
- Often, if nobody else is seeing what you see, you're probably wrong in your interpretation.

### Condense

Make your own [learning style](mind-memory.md) as you study.

- Make a book summary with an outline, chart, or diagram.
- If you need inspiration, use an existing reference book's outline.

Find patterns across the text:

- Style of writing
- Keywords in the book
- Lifestyle, culture, customs, and habits of the personalities
- The geography of the setting
- [Universal characteristics](humanity-universals.md) that still apply today
- Read the original language (Hebrew/Greek/Aramaic) to find even more patterns.
- Pay close attention to when specific details were included, and ask why.
- Also pay close attention when otherwise-relevant details were omitted, and ask why.
- Observe patterns other people detect, such as [the Bible Project](https://bibleproject.com/) or pastors.

## 3: Apply

Apply the Scripture personally to your daily life.

- God wrote the Bible to [change our lives](people-goodlife.md), not [increase our knowledge](mind-understanding.md).

There can only be one interpretation of Scripture, while there are certainly many applications of it.

- Most dominantly, relate the passages to your close relationships (i.e., your [marriage](relationships-marriage.md) or [family](people-family.md)).
- Consider how it applies to your [work](jobs-specialization.md).
- Lastly, look at how it applies to your [church](church.md) and lifestyle.

[Meditate](mind-awareness-meditation.md) on the passages as you leave the study.

Find ways to put the passages into practice:

- Ask God to help you apply the truths you uncover, and He will give you opportunities to relate them to your daily life.

Look for ways you can continue applying it:

1. Is there an example to follow? (1 Corinthians 11:1)
2. Is there a sin to avoid? (Ephesians 5)
3. Is there a promise to claim?
4. Is there a prayer to repeat? (e.g., John 17)
5. Is there a command to obey? (Romans 12-16; Galatians 5-6; Ephesians 4-6; Colossians 3-4)
6. Is there a condition to meet? (John 15:7)
7. Is there a verse to memorize? (Psalm 1; Isaiah 53; John 14)
8. Is there a challenge to follow?
9. How has the culture changed historically compared to today?
   - How does this specific cultural context translate to my present cultural reality?
   - How can I be more open-minded to different ways of seeing how others view things?
10. What specific issues do I have right now and how does this passage address it?
    - What should I do with this information?
    - How do these passages distinguish right from wrong?
11. Given these passages, what should I do and be?
12. With all this in mind, where am I going, and where should I be going?

If you're [teaching](spiritual-exercises-discipleship.md), pay *very* close attention to the needs and issues your disciples and congregation have.

- This requires intimate familiarity with their [hardships](hardship.md) and [decisions](mind-decisions.md), which is both time-consuming and [emotionally](mind-feelings.md) draining.

## 4: Persist

Spend time daily in His Word:

- God's inspiration *requires* diligent Bible study (Acts 17:11).
- Set aside time to read, digest, research, and analyze.
- [Pray](spiritual-exercises-prayer.md) for His wisdom and sight as you read His word and how it applies as you go through your day.
- [Grow daily](spiritual-exercises.md) by consistently reaffirming His truths and promises.
- God gives progressive revelation as you read back-and-forth across Scripture.

Explore new Bible translations:

- If you're using an idea-for-idea translation (common for new believers' first Bibles, e.g., [New International Version](https://www.thenivbible.com/)), get a word-for-word translation (e.g., [World English Bible](https://worldenglish.bible/) or [Berean Standard Bible](https://berean.bible/)).
- Consider a *very* literal translation (e.g., [Young's Literal Translation](https://archive.org/details/ylt_20220401)) or *extremely* idea-for-idea (e.g., [The Message](https://messagebible.com/)).

Explore unconventional ways to read the Bible:

- Use a digital Bible or, if you've been using Bible software, use a paper one.
- Look at a more eclectic Bible translation to gain a *completely* new viewpoint:
  - [Jesus-Centered Bible](https://www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible/)
  - [The Israel Bible](https://theisraelbible.com/)
  - [First Nations Version](https://firstnationsversion.com/)
  - [The Emoji Bible Project](https://www.emojibibleproject.com/)
  - [Hawaii Pidgin Bible](https://hipidginbible.org/)
- Interpret the Bible as a fictionalized narrative with themes and story arcs instead of as a direct historical document.
  - God designed a [mythologizing force](stories-myths.md) into us to interpret the patterns more than the story's details, so we can discover tremendous truths if we observe the [patterns](symbols.md) He designed, which require shifting away from given facts to observe them.
  - For example, God could have created the earth in 7 calendar days or 7 million years, but He still formed everything from nothing with (likely) no source material, and He therefore is always a Creator and Maintainer of everything, and many [conflicts](people-conflicts-christian-why.md) about the length of time sidesteps the plain fact that it was God's unknown doing.
- Read the Bible chronologically from when it was written instead of its canonized order.
- Make a deep study into what a specific word meant at the time.
- Focus on how the Bible refutes a specific [heresy](people-conflicts-christian-4_false.md).
- Research alleged [Bible contradictions or factual errors](spiritual-exercises-evangelism-apologetics.md).
- Draw comparisons and contrasts between Christian [culture](people-culture.md) and the Bible.
- Examine every instance of a Bible word and find associated patterns across them.

## Comparing translations

Each translation wrestles with [language](language.md) barriers that form a spectrum between precise *words* and precise *thoughts* as [culturally understood](people-culture.md):

1. Word-for-word - prioritizes translating the *exact* words and sentence structure (e.g., NASB, ESV, Young's)
2. Meaning-for-meaning - prioritizes the same meaning of each of the words (e.g., GOD'S WORD)
3. Thought-for-thought - prioritizes the same meaning of each of the sentences (e.g., NIV, NLT)
4. Paraphrase - effectively rebuilds the paragraphs to convey the same ideas (e.g., GNT, NIRV, Message)

- Even the most rigid translations use italicized words to indicate conjunctions and references that are *not* in the Bible's original text.
- The ideal way for most people to study is with multiple bibles next to each other (e.g., parallel bible, cross-referencing software).
  - The ultimate ideal is to read ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, but it's not necessary to generally understand the ideas and most people aren't that dedicated.
  - However, by using a concordance (e.g., Strong's) and a dictionary (e.g., Vine's), you can often derive more meaning out of a specific word.
- Frequently, the implications and meaning of Bible translations are *radically* different.
  - Reading anything from the King James family (e.g., KJV, NKJV) is effectively a variation of reading Shakespeare.
  - Many of the modern word-for-word and meaning-for-meaning translations feel like an intelligent person speaking.
  - Many thought-for-thought and paraphrase translations feel like an uneducated person speaking.
  - Some translations become so obsessed with [politics](politics-conservativeliberal.md) around [gender](people-gender.md) that they dramatically change pronouns to "fit a modern context" (e.g., NIV).

## Leading a Bible study adds elements to the experience

While you can choose to *not* study before meeting with everyone else, you won't add much value to the group.

- Always at least plan ahead by at least reviewing the passages and relevant cross-references.

Let the Holy Spirit guide you to what you'll focus on.

- Even if you have pre-scripted questions, the discussion may go in a different direction, and it may be where God wants you all to go.

Focus on asking questions more than stating information.

- [Making disciples](spiritual-discipleship.md) often requires [teaching](education.md), which requires them understanding the information for themselves.
- Usually, people must wrestle with questions themselves to come to the correct conclusion.

Stay focused on the experience as a relationship with God.

- It's a [spiritual discipline](spiritual-exercises.md) to lead a Bible study, not simply a routine.
- Often, many Bible studies become miniature [church services](church.md) through incorporating worship and prayer times into the scheduled meeting.

## You'll never get to the end of it

Bear in mind that no matter how deep you dig, you're expanding complexities regarding the profound [Gospel message](https://theologos.site/gospel/) and God's guidance on [how to live our lives](spiritual-exercises.md).

- God designed the Bible to be easily accessible to unintelligent people, so Bible study is simply one discipline among [multiple](spiritual-exercises.md) (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).