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How Do I Study the Bible: Methods & Tools

Anyone who has been born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, whether man or woman, will naturally have a deep desire to know God. The primary way God has given us to both learn about Him and develop a personal relationship with Him (two different pursuits) is through the Bible. The Holy Spirit, as Jesus said in John 16:13, leads us into all truth, and that truth is made known to us through the scriptures.

However, I've noticed that many believers in the church genuinely want to grow in their knowledge of God through His Word, but they often feel uncertain about where to begin or how to go about it.

Why should I study the Bible?

  • The purpose and reason for the man or woman of God to study scripture is to know Him who has called you and to glorify Him as He reveals Himself to you.
    • The book, paper, ink, and pages are not God. They are His Word and His revelation to us about who He is (Psalms 138:2).
    • The Bible reveals His character and nature, His will and plans, His love and compassion towards His creation, His promises and commands. And as we expose ourselves to His word consistently, we will find His truth being expressed all around us.
  • Christians often wrestle with difficult questions, both about life and about the scriptures themselves. Regardless of the nature of the question, our calling as believers is to seek answers from God, grounding our understanding in His Word.
  • When we study the Bible, it will develop your theology. What is theology? Comes from two Greek words Theos (God) and logos (word, communication). Theology is the study of the nature of God.
    • Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109AD) said in his work Proslogion that theology is "faith seeking understanding."
  • As we develop our theology, we develop our worldview. This means that the study of God's word transforms how we look at the world around us.
    • R.C. Sproul in his book Everyone's a Theologian said, "The ultimate truth is the truth of God, and that He is the foundation and source of all other truth. Everything else we learn-economics or philosophy or biology or mathematics-has to be understood in light of the overarching reality of the character of God."

How should I study the Bible?

  • There are three principles to keep on the fore front of your mind when studying the scripture.

1. Approach

  • God the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth - John 16:13
  • Hebrews 4:12-13, "For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division or soul and spirit of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer."
  • II Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work."
  • Job 23:12, "I have not failed the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food."

2. Discipline

  • I Timothy 4:6-8, "In pointing out these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have been following. But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godlinesss; for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
  • II Timothy 2:15 (NASB), "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the world of truth."
    • KJV - "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
    • R.C. Sprout - "We fail in our duty to study God's Word, not so much because it's difficult to understand, not because it's dull and boringh, but because it's work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we're lazy."

3. Obedience

  • John 14:15, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
  • James 1:22, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves."
  • Acts 5:29, "But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."

 

Methods of Study

1. Book/Chapter Study

  • Focus on one book (ex: Psalms, Romans) and study it deeply, chapter by chapter. Take a single chapter or passage and break it down, focusing on context, theme, and application. Helps grasp broader context and narrative.

2. Outline Study

  • Read an entire book of the Bible while marking shifts and changes in the story line. Create titles and subtitles to help understand flow and overarching message of the book. This helps with proper understanding of the entirety of that specific book.

3. Verse by Verse Study

  • Focus on one verse at a time. Analyze the meaning, context, grammar, background, key terms, and check for personal application. Great for in-depth understanding of scripture.

4. Topical Study

  • Study what the Bible says about a specific topic (e.g., forgiveness, prayer, justice). This means researching relevant scriptures that deal with the specific topic.

5. Character Study

  • Study the life, choices, and faith journey of a Bible character (e.g., David, Esther, Paul). Explore their story, strengths, weaknesses, and lessons from their life. Find similarities and differences within your life for application.

6. Word Study

  • Pick a key biblical word (e.g., "grace", "faith", "kingdom") and trace its meaning across scripture, using concordances or Greek/Hebrew tools. Great for deepening understanding of key terms and concepts.

7. Thematic Study

  • Follow a theme (e.g., convenant, redemption, suffering) throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Helps see the Bible's unity and God's plan over time.

8. Historical/Cultural Study

  • Study the historical, cultural, and geographical context to understand the background of the text. Use commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and background books. These help to clarify confusing or misundertood parts of scripture.

9. Devotional Study

  • Read scripture prayerfully and reflectively for personal encouragement and inspiration. Focus on personal application and spiritual growth. Great for daily quiet time.

10. Comparative Study

  • Compare different translations or versions of a passage to deepen understanding of the text.

11. Bible Journaling

  • Combine reading, note-taking, and artistic expression (drawing, lettering) to reflect on scripture.

12. Cross-Referencing Study

  • Follow cross-references to see how scripture interprets scripture. In fact, to understand the meaning of a theme or topic, cross referencing is the surest way to establish the truth concerning the topic or theme.

13. Memorization and Meditation

  • Commit verses or chapters to memory and meditate on them throughout the day.

14. Group Bible Study

  • Study in a small group for discussion, different perspectives, and accountability. Hearing other people share on scripture can help answer questions you may have. It can also be an opportunity for you to reinforce truth for others.

15. Sermon or Teaching Series Study

  • Study along with a sermon series or Bible class, taking notes and digging deeper. This takes returning to the scriptures used and the points made in the sermon to help develop your thoughts on the subject.

16. Bible Reading Plans

  • Follow structured plans (e.g., one-year Bible, chronological reading) to read large portions systematically.

17. Apologetics Study

  • Study scripture with a focus on defending and explaining the Christian faith.

18. Prophecy Study

  • Study the prophetic books (e.g., Daniel, Revelation) and biblical prophecy themes.

 

Bible Study Tools

Like any profession which carries one's lifestyle, there are tools that come with that specific profession. Some tools are needed daily while others are used sparingly. Some are treated more aggressively while others are not meant for wear and tear.

The same is true for the disciples of Jesus Christ. Our generation have access to Bible study tools like no generation before us. These tools help us with reading, understanding, interpreting, and diving deeper into the Bible for further study. They can provide historical context, offer interpretations, show variations in translations, and help teach how to apply the principles learned through scriptures.

Primary Tool

  1. The Bible
    • Parallel Bible
    • Study Bible
    • Journal Bible
    • Reference Bible
    • Reader's Bible
  2. Translations
    • Word for Word (Formal Equivalence) - The endeavor to identify a direct English equivalent for each Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek word found in the original biblical texts.
      • King James Version (KJV)
      • New King James Version (NKJV)
      • English Standard Version (ESV)
      • New American Standard Bible (NASB)
      • Revised Standard Version (RSV)
      • Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
      • Lexham English Bible (LEB)
      • Interlinear Bibles (Greek/Hebrew with English)
    • Thought for Thought (Dynamic Equivalence) - Thought for thought translations see to convey the intended meaning by rendering entire phrases into contemporary language, grammar, and stylistic forms.
      • New International Version (NIV)
      • New Living Translation (NLT)
      • Good News Translation (GNT)
      • Contemporary English Version (CEV)
    • Blending of Word for Word and Thought for Thought (Optimal Equivalence)
      • Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
    • Paraphrased - These translations are the most loosely rendered from the original Greek or Hebrew, aiming to preserve the overall meaning rather than strict linguistic accuracy.
      • The Message (MSG)
      • The Living Bible (TLB)

Secondary Tools

  1. Bible Dictionary - is a reference work that provides definitions, background information, and explanations of terms, names, places, customs, and concepts found in the Bible. It often includes historical, cultural, theological, and linguistic insights to help readers better understand the biblical text and its context.
    • Lexham Bible Dictionary
    • The Tyndale Bible Dictionary
    • Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
  2. Bible Encyclopedia - is a comprehensive reference work that offers detailed articles on a wide range of topics related to the Bible, including historical events, cultural practices, geographical locations, theological concepts, biographies, and archaeological findings. It often provides more in-depth information that a Bible dictionary and is deisnged to support scholarly study and deeper understanding of the biblical world.
    • Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
    • International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
    • Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible
  3. Commentaries - is a scholarly or pastoral resource that provides explanations, interpretations, and insights on the biblical text, usually organized book by book and verse by verse. It helps readers understand the meaning, context, and application of scripture by examining language, historical background, literary structure, and theological themes.
  4. Concordance - is an alphabetical index of words found in the Bible, listing every occurrence of each word along with its surrounding context and the verse reference. It is a valuable tool for locating specific passages and studying how particular words or themes are used throughout scripture.
    • Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
    • Young's Analytical Concordance
  5. Lexicon - a specialized dictionary that provides definitions and contextual information for words found in the Bible, particularly in its original languages.
    • Thayer's Greek Lexicon
    • The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible
  6. Bible Atlas - is a reference resource that contains maps, charts, and geographical informaton related to the lands, regions, and journeys mentioned in the Bible. It helps readers visualize the physical settings of biblical events and understand the historical and cultural geography of the biblical world.
    • Lexham Geographic Commentaries
    • New Bible Atlas
    • Zondervan Atlas of the Bible
  7. Bible Study Software/Apps
    • Logos Bible Software - Professional tool for in-depth study.
    • Bible Hub (Online) - Includes lexicons, interlinear, and commentaries.
    • Blue Letter Bible (Online) - Parse words, see meanings, tenses.
    • Biblegateway (Online)