How To Study The Bible.
Once you read the Bible, the next step is to find out what it means. This is called interpretation or hermeneutics ( the study of the general principles of biblical interpretation). Once you've correctly interpreted a biblical passage, you can apply it to your life and bring glory to God. The problem with false teachers today is that they try to make the Bible say what they want it to by trying to find verses to support a preconceived idea. We must learn to do better and not force the Bible to illustrate our preconceived agendas.
There are not many interpretations of a biblical passage. As John MacArthur says, “There may be many applications, but there is only one true interpretation.” God's Word is precise, not ambiguous. To interpret the Bible honorably and truthfully, there are some chasms to bridge, such as language, culture, and geography, but God has given us the tools to learn to overcome those chasms.
Some tips when studying the Bible:
Everything in the Bible is literally true, but not all of it is expressed in a literal way. When we interpret the Bible, the first approach is to be literal, considering the genre and whether it uses figurative language. Everything we read is filtered through the lens of both. For example, if you have a list of things to do, you don’t accidentally read it as poetry. If you tell your friend you have 300 loads of laundry, she does not take that literally. She knows you’re using hyperbole to describe that you have a lot of laundry. So, when reading the Bible, ask yourself, is it…
a narrative (a story or account of something that happened)
law (a set of rules meant for the nation of Israel at that time)
biography (the four Gospels which tell the story of Jesus’ life while on earth)
parables (fictional stories told using the stuff of everyday life to point to spiritual realities)
prophecy (messages from the prophets about future events and warnings)
a letter (Paul and others wrote many letters to the area churches to help them figure out how to run them properly)
poetry (using language arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm to inspire an emotional response)
wise sayings (practical advice about everyday life)
apocalyptic (a specific form of prophecy, largely involving symbols and imagery)
some figurative language to consider (hyperbole, metaphor, simile, personification, etc.)
Interpretation - compare the interpretation you see with all of Scripture. Scripture interprets scripture, and it does not contradict itself. Ask:
what was the author saying to his original audience?
what geographical, political, and cultural issues were happening at that time in history
why would God put this in the Bible? What does He want us to know about Him?
what does this verse mean in the context of the passage, the chapter, and the book)? Dangerous cults have been created on the basis of one verse out of context. Read Greg Koukl’s article, Never Read A Bible Verse.
Articles
The Substance of True Religion by Charles Spurgeon (article) - The habit of picking out portions from the Bible and separating them from their context may be carried a great deal too far, and in the process, the reader may miss the mind of the Spirit, and force upon the words meaning of his own. If we were to treat men’s books as we do God’s Book, we should be judged to be insane.
How to Study Your Bible by John MacArthur (article) - a commentary by Billy Sunday and guidelines for interpretation and avoiding mistakes.
5 Tips for Studying the Bible Effectively by Ligonier Ministries (article) - the Bible is a book with heights and depths, poetry and prose. Reading it requires even more purposefulness than reading other books.
How to Study the Bible by R.C. Sproul (audio) - As our ultimate source of truth is God Himself, studying His Word is vitally important. R.C. Sproul summarizes the significance and benefits of faithful Bible study.
How to Study the Bible’s Toughest Passages by Alistair Begg (audio + transcript)
Never Read a Bible Verse by Greg Koukl (article)
Why Study the Bible by R.C. Sproul (audio): God requires all of His people, not only ministers and scholars, to study His Word diligently. Today, R.C. Sproul explains why every Christian should seek to read the Bible regularly.
How to Study the Bible by R.C. Sproul (audio) - If we seek to be spiritually mature, we must diligently use God's means for our growth. Today, R.C. Sproul presents the reading and study of Scripture as the most essential means toward our maturity in Christ.
Defining Our Terms by Kevin Gardner (article) - The doctrine of Scripture is foundational to the Christian faith. But there is more to say about Scripture than simply, “The Bible says it. I believe it. That settles it.” If you don’t grasp what the Bible is and how it came to be, you’ll never fully grasp its meaning. Since the meaning of the Bible is vitally important to our faith and life, we will here briefly define a few key terms that relate to the doctrine of Scripture as the study of God’s Word written.
Costi Hinn lays out several practical insights for studying the Bible and retaining what you study.
In this episode, Andreas J. Kostenberger explains how to interpret Scripture from three effective viewpoints: canonical, thematic, and ethical. We discuss how Biblical Theology is arranged book by book from the Old Testament (using the Hebrew order) through the New Testament and how this differs from systematic theology.
The best way to understand the word is by reading it continuously and avoiding singling out just one verse. The guys offer advice for listeners to understand the Bible better. First, start with a literal meaning, then consider the historical setting, culture, customs, and traditions. Next, look deeper at the grammar within which a word or phrase is found. Finally, consider how the passage compares with other parts of the Scripture to form a more significant meaning.
How to Eat Your Bible: A Simple Approach to Learning and Loving the Word of God by Nate Pickowicz
How to Eat Your Bible will help you cultivate an appetite for lifelong study of God’s Word. Find practical guidance for overcoming the hurdles that have kept you from making Bible study a regular part of your life.
How (Not) to Read the Bible: Making Sense of the Anti-women, Anti-science, Pro-violence, Pro-slavery and Other Crazy-Sounding Parts of Scripture by Dan Kimball
Dan Kimball guides you on tackling many real questions that people wrestle with when reading the Bible and how to make sense of many more challenging and disturbing Bible passages. How (Not) to Read the Bible tackles big questions like: Does the Bible degrade women? Is the Bible anti-science? How could a loving God command such violence in the Old Testament? Does the Bible endorse slavery?
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