How To Study the Holy Bible Effectively and With Confidence
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Independent Bible Study Doesn't Have To Be Frustrating
However, it is God's will that we all study the Bible for ourselves. While we do need teachers (Acts 8:30-31, Eph. 4:11-12), we are also responsible for searching the scriptures and being sure of God's will for our lives (John 5:39, Acts 17:11, 2Tim. 2:15)
Learn here how to study the Bible more effectively, giving you the confidence to reference God's word on a consistent, even daily basis.
Study Guide Contents
- Pray Before You Read
- Know That There Is No One Correct Method of Study
- When You Don't Know Where To Start, Ask a Question
- Read With an Open Mind
- Know That the Bible Interprets Itself
- Study With a Heart Toward God, Not Rebellion
- Valuable Bible Study Tools
- Search For More Bible Study Tools
- About the Author
- Christian Centered News - World Net Daily
- Find Some Inspiration
- Any Questions or Comments?
- Other Lenses By I.C. Jackson You Might Enjoy
Pray Before You Read
You may think this is self-explanitory, but it's not. Because we read so much every day, when we pick up our Bibles to read, we do not always stop and take the time to talk to God before we begin.You should first thank God (Paslm 92:1, 100:4) for all that he has done and for the opportunity to learn of him. Then ask for guidance and blessing in your study efforts.
Know That There Is No One Correct Method of Study
There are different methods of Bible study - topical study, chronological study (chapter by chapter, verse by verse), character study, etc. Despite what some people advise, no one method is correct or even superior. They are all important, and they are all valid (Luke 24:32, Acts 17:2, 2 Tim. 3:16). What makes a good Bible student is the balance in methodology.It wouldn't be wise to focus on character study as a primary method, just like it wouldn't be very efficient to only study the Bible chronologically and not balance it with topical study. A well-rounded understanding of the Bible comes from well-rounded study habits.
Employing different methods of study also keep you from getting bored. Sometimes, when you don't know exactly what to read, you may pray and find that studying the life or actions of a particular Bible character will help to increase your understanding. Sometimes it helps to read the chapters of the books of the Bible in order, like a story - many of them are stories! Varying study methods keeps your attention high and your scriptural palate fresh.
When You Don't Know Where To Start, Ask a Question
My most treasured study tool for Bible research is the Strong's Concordance. It has a topical index, Hebrew and Greek Lexicons, and you can even search for Bible verses by the individual words in them. Find every Bible verse containing the word "compassion" or any other word, just like searching a dictionary!
I highly reccommend this tool for any serious Bible student.
The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Classic Edition
Amazon Price: $13.58 (as of 07/10/2009)
Read With an Open Mind
The Bible tells us not to lean to our own understanding concerning the things of God (Prov. 3:5). This is paramount for Bible study, because you will sometimes encounter passages that seem to contradict something else you learned or understood. If you shut yourself off from learning something new because you have a biased view of something old, you will never be able to expand your understanding. What seem to be contradictions or hard places in the word are opportunities for you to gain a greater understanding of what the whole of the Bible is saying.Usually, when something you read seems to contradict another passage of scripture, it is because your knowledge of the whole of the scriptures is limited, and therefore so is your view. Think of it this way: It would be difficult to write a report on the cultures of the world if all you know is what you have seen in U.S. You may have some insight into other cultures, but it would take an intense study of other cultures, preferrably in foreign countries, to get the most accurate report. If you are only familiar with certain portions and concepts of the Bible, your understanding of how it all fits together will be limited. This is why you have to have an open mind when studying - you may find that there are some huge pieces missing to the puzzle as you currently know it.
Know That the Bible Interprets Itself
The Bible is a book that many people believe is "subject to interpretation", but the fact of the matter is that the Bible interprets itself. That is the only way one could ever know if a Biblical teaching was truly in the vein of what the Bible actually means (as opposed to someone taking one or two verses out of context).There are two scriptural standards by which the Bible interprets itself:
1) By two or three witnesses let every word be established - (Matt. 18:16, 2Cor. 13:1 - See also Deut. 17:6, 19:15, 1Tim. 5:19, and Heb. 10:28) - This is a Biblical principle used in both the Old and New Testaments to discern between falsehood and truth. In matters of Biblical translation, the Bible is it's own witness, testifying at least two or three times (often much more) of standards and principles that can truly be called "Biblical". The Bible supports itself in sound doctrine, and therefore interprets itself.
2) Precept must be upon precept, line upon line (Isa. 28:10, 2Pet. 3:16) - This is how you are able to prove or disprove even the craftiest of teachings; those that are strung together with two or three scriptures which, when together and out of context, appear to be sound doctrine. If you have two or three witnesses saying one thing and someone else has two or three witnesses that seem to say another, then you begin to build upon the precepts of the Bible, or in other words, you see how the teachings "stack up" in reference to the rest of the Bible.
For example, one could pull a few scriptures together and claim that all saints should be materially wealthy. However, if you stack that teaching up against established Bible truths and principles, that argument will not hold its weight, proving that the foundational scriptures were taken out of context. Common sense would actually tell you that such a teaching cannot practically be true, but a well-rounded understanding of the whole Bible proves it scripturally.
Study With a Heart Toward God, Not Rebellion
One thing that Bible study will not do is convince you that God exists; the Bible is written to people who already believe in God and who are looking to know him and his ways. All human beings, whether they deny him or not, instinctively know that God exists (John 1:1-9, Romans 1:20-22), and when studying the Bible, it is your faith in God's existence and his willingness to help you that will lead you to the truth (Luke 12:32, Heb. 11:6). God's word will indeed confirm his existence and his character, but it will not prove it to someone who is rebelling against him in their hearts. Valuable Bible Study Tools
The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Classic Edition by James Strong
There simply is not a better comprehensive Bible c more...1 point
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Discover How to Make as Much Money as YouWant, Jus more...1 point
The King James Bible (with book and chapter navigation) by Various
View full size screen shot images of the first pag more...0 points
Holy Bible, Giant Print Presentation Edition: King James Version
It's great to have plenty of choices when a Bible more...0 points
Search For More Bible Study Tools
About the Author
I.C. Jackson is a lifelong Bible student and minister in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information on the ministries I.C. Jackson is affiliated with, visit www.clearwaychurch.org
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Find Some Inspiration
Any Questions or Comments?
If you have any further questions or comments about this lens, feel free to ask!
cappuccino136 wrote...
Practical and sound advice on this lens. It is exciting and such a blessing to study the Bible. The most helpful study principles for me "Know That The Bible Interprets Itself" and "Approach with a Heart Toward God, Not Rebellion". It took a long time, but in recent years I have learned to really appreciate the Old Testament. One thing that helped was when I was using the One Year Bible and reading segments from OT and NT each day. It helped me see lots of connections with common themes and sometimes reading an OT prophecy and seeing the NT fulfillment on the next page.
Posted September 26, 2008
Tiddledeewinks wrote...
I needed to find this today. My teen boys go early each week day, before school starts, to seminary at our church where they study the Bible. Last year they studied the Old Testament and this year they will study the New Testament. They won award certificates for not missing any days or being late and my youngest won an award certificate for memorizing the most scriptures!
Posted August 22, 2008
Rokusan wrote...
"Read with an Open Mind" ~ that was my problem all those years ago. I didn't. Ivo, thanks for writing this lens, and for lensrolling to my Psalm 127:1 lens. You're right, they're a great fit!
I'm lovin' this 60-day challenge. Wow, you've really started something!
Posted August 17, 2008
TheCandleGal wrote...
Les, I was the same way about the OT. I am blessed to have a pastor that puts it into every day terms for us and makes me want to go back and read the passage for myself every week! Know that you are not alone in your intimidation, though! God bless you.
Thanks for this lens, IC!
Posted August 16, 2008
icjackson wrote...
The Old Testament is actually very interesting - you just have to break it up into relevant pieces.
That's why children are taught Bible stories in Sunday School - the stories are what capture their attention and get God's point across.
It works, in my opinion, the same way with us. I don't have any texts to recommend, but we can always chat via PM about the individual stories that you can study so that you can really get into it with understanding.
Many of the stories tell like soap operas, actually! Pretty juicy stuff! But God uses their real life experience to illustrate principles, laws, and spiritual truths.
Thank you for your input, and I will be talking to you soon :-)
Posted August 07, 2008
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