How to Study the Bible
by Michael Prewitt
Seems our mornings are always so rushed, Karen mused, wiping off the kitchen table.
We hardly have time to greet each other around the breakfast table. Her husband Jim
had left early, as always, for his one-hour commute to work. The kids, Sarah and James,
were on the bus to a nearby Christian elementary school. Karen paused. Good thing
they all got through breakfast in less time today; they almost missed the bus! The
thought of Sarah and James bolting out the door, jackets flying, brought a flickering
smile.
Karen gazed out through the sliding glass door at the narrow woods of their suburban
property. Though a young family, they had a beautiful home in a nice neighborhood. Jim
had a good job as financial manager for a growing marketing firm. The children were
attending the best school they could find, even though it cost a bit more. And they all
went to church. Still, something seemed missing.
Karen’s eyes shifted back into the living room. A book on the end-table caught her
attention. The Bible! When was the last time she had read it? Last week, perhaps, when
she volunteered to help teach the church youth group. How could she be so negligent?
For a moment, her thoughts drifted back to when she was a girl. She recalled the
morning prayer circle, and the Bible stories that Papa read from his well-worn Bible.
Thank God I had such dedicated parents, Karen half-whispered. Still, some of her
siblings had turned from religion. Her brother Mark was the most successful of them, a
surgeon, but he never attended church. Karen sighed. Could our lifestyle be taking us in
the same direction?
Karen took the Book from the table. Perhaps bringing morning prayer and Bible reading
into her home would help. But she had to have something to share. Leafing through the
pages, her eyes caught phrases here and there. Many she recognized, but many more
seemed strange and puzzling. Holding the Bible to her heart, she sank to her knees.
―Lord, God, where do I begin?‖
Getting focused
Has trying to study the Bible ever left you feeling helpless and confused? When you
peruse its pages, do you wonder where to start? If so, you’re not alone. Many people,
including regular church-goers, find the daily, personal study of the Bible to be a
challenge.
The biggest hurdle is not finding better methods or tackling problem texts. It is setting
aside time, making Bible study a priority. Without this commitment, even the best study
guides cannot help. But prioritization includes more than just allocating time. If we
expect our minds to be clouded after a meal, or stressed after a hard day at the office,
we must schedule our Bible study accordingly. We must plan our day to maximize the
effectiveness of our study. While we must always begin each day with God, there may
be a good reason to reserve part of our Bible study until later in the day.
Prioritization also means that we find a place free from interruptions and distractions.
Let others in the family know that you cannot be disturbed during your time with God.
Don’t take your pager into the prayer closet. During family Bible study time, be sure that
the children stay focused. (However, if your children misbehave, avoid responding in a
way that will make family worship seem like a chore or punishment.) Turn off the
television. Put the kitchen timer where you can’t hear it ticking. You may even want to
silence the telephone ringer.
Above all, make Bible study a habit. Spasmodic attempts, however sincere they may be,
will be far more difficult to maintain. Do you have an extra alarm? Perhaps a computer
program that can remind you? They may help you to remember your appointment with
God. Establishing a habit is a key to mastery.
In short, the greatest obstacle to effective Bible study is not a lack of tools or intellectual
knowledge. It’s the decision, the commitment, to make Bible study a priority. When a
person has the resolve to study God’s Word, the other aspects will fall into place.
The right spirit
Some parts of the Bible are comparatively easy; its stories and psalms are a popular
reading choice. Other parts are more difficult. It can be tempting to leave the prophetic
and doctrinal portions to the pastors and theologians. If tempted to avoid the Bible’s
challenges, remember that the richest treasures are often the most deeply buried. Plus,
you never know what knowledge you will one day need.
Whatever we choose to study, it’s essential that we begin with prayer, asking the Lord
for guidance. Without the aid of the Holy Spirit, we will be inclined to draw conclusions
that match our human desires and our limited understanding. We need special wisdom
to comprehend the Bible’s mysteries. We also need grace to act out what we learn.
The Bible teaches us that its purpose is not merely to communicate facts, but more
especially to cause a spiritual transformation. The Bible describes this change in various
ways: being ―born again,‖[1] becoming ―a new creature,‖[2] putting on the ―new
man,‖[3] and so on. Without this spiritual transformation, the facts of the Bible will not
benefit us. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says it this way: ―But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.‖
We can read in the Bible, for example, about God’s mercy. But without the aid of the
Holy Spirit, we may abuse this knowledge to excuse or overlook our sins. Any teaching
of the Bible can be misconstrued to suit one’s opinions or preferences. When we thus
misread the Scriptures, we place our souls in jeopardy.[4]
Bible study is different than other types of study. A scholar can research a scientific
subject, and if he is bright enough, answer virtually any question about it correctly. Yet
thousands of scholars and theologians have been studying the Bible for centuries, and
still they cannot agree with one another about the Bible’s most basic purposes and
teachings. The reason comes back to the Bible’s spiritual nature.
Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees in His day, but blessed the children. He even
told His disciples, ―Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not
enter into the kingdom of heaven.‖[5] The Bible’s wisdom is not understood by a mere
knowledge of facts. To understand the Bible requires a childlike humility. Sometimes
children seem to comprehend the spiritual truths of the Bible more perfectly than their
parents or even their teachers. The reason is simply a matter of the heart. A child’s
comprehension may not be clouded, as much as others’, by personal ambitions,
agendas, preconceived opinions, situational ethics, and so on. That gives them a
spiritual advantage. In the words of Psalm 25:9, ―The meek will He guide in judgment:
and the meek will He teach His way.‖
More than head knowledge, the Bible is intended to impart an experience. The more we
receive of God’s Word, the more a Christlike character is to be witnessed in our life.
James 1:21 says, ―Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and
receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls‖ (RSV).
Digging in
Once we have prayed, the next step is to listen. We want God to show us what we must
know for the day. We want to see our weaknesses and vulnerabilities—spiritually,
intellectually, and physically—along with His solutions and promises. As we search, we
can meditate on each verse we find, evaluating it point by point. We can also compare
verses for a more objective understanding. The most effective Bible study may consist of
successive rounds of praying, listening, and searching.
This type of Bible study is generally called ―devotional study.‖ Of all methods, it is the
most essential, since it is the key to our own growth in grace. There are other types of
Bible study, however, that are important to consider. These include theme studies (such
as exploring a Bible doctrine), verse memorization, systematic reading (such as reading
through the Bible in a year), and more.
Often it is these other methods that bring the Bible’s more difficult texts to light. For
example, a prophetic passage such as Revelation 13 or a doctrinal one such as Galatians
4 might seem unhelpful in the daily spiritual battles we face. Consequently, a person
might unwittingly avoid them. However, such chapters contain key concepts of
inestimable value. Their value will not be known until the passage is understood. For this
reason, it can be helpful to try several Bible study methods, letting the insights of one
method add light to another.
The Bible teaches us to compare verses of the Bible with other verses: ―For precept
must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little,
and there a little.‖[6] The importance of this principle cannot be overemphasized. If we
truly believe that the Bible is inspired of one divine Source, then we must accept that it
is an interconnected and consistent work. When people turn from the Bible’s testimony
of itself to seek answers from critical scholarship, they demonstrate that they esteem
human wisdom above the divine. Supportive research from other books is of value, but
it must never supercede Biblical comparative study.
Fortunately, many Bibles make finding cross-references easy. Some contain central or
marginal columns that show related verses. Many also have an abbreviated concordance
in the back.
Some people wonder how they could ever make sense of certain Bible verses. Indeed,
many texts seem very obscure. I once felt that way about the New Testament book of
Hebrews. Fortunately, I found tremendous help in a commentary by an author I
respect.[7] As the puzzling verses became clear, I gained fresh insights into daily life
and answers to other Bible questions. When I completed that book, I felt God had given
me a new lease on Bible study, and had encouraged me to explore even deeper. Of
course, the knowledge we gain from Bible commentaries may need to be held
tentatively, for even the best Bible scholars can make mistakes. But you may find, as I
did, that taking the plunge opens up a whole new world.
Having the right Bible study references can make all the difference between finding what
you need and running into a brick wall. You should have a King James Version, since
most reference works link to it, among other reasons. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
is a good study aid to start with. It is very likely the most popular Bible help, and is not
difficult to learn to use. However, there are things that Strong’s will not tell you. If you
need further tools, consider an interlinear Bible, a lexicon, or any of the other helps
available through a Christian book store. A salesperson, pastor, or church friend may
have recommendations.
The heart of the matter
Effective Bible study is not about methods or techniques merely, but—more
importantly—whether we have the heart to accept, believe, and obey. Psalm 119:100
says, ―I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Thy precepts.‖ The
willingness to follow through with what we learn is what gives us true wisdom.
Make the conclusions of your study the subject of meditation. Pray about them. Often it
is good to write out your thoughts in a notebook, which stimulates you to think about
them in new ways as you write. Make concepts concrete by applying them to real life.
Bible study calls for everything we can give—our time, our concentration, our cherished
opinions, our entire lives. But its blessings make even the greatest sacrifice worthwhile.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
Ask, Is my understanding consistent with the spirit of the Bible?
Don’t jump to conclusions.
Be patient; some verses are hard to understand.
Don’t be infatuated by novelty.
Have a goal in mind, but not an agenda.
Don’t assume a familiar text means what you’ve always thought; reread familiar
passages for new insights.
Read the context. Most of the Bible wasn’t written as stand-alone verses, but as
books (e.g., Matthew), chapters (e.g., Psalms), and passages (e.g., Ezekiel). A verse
doesn’t always mean what it seems to mean at the first glance.
Don’t ―major in minors‖; concentrate on the broad themes.
Remember the things God has already taught you.
Get advice from knowledgeable, godly people if you’re having difficulty. But realize
that no one is infallible. Ultimately, you must know the Bible for yourself.
[1] John 3:3–8; 1 Peter 1:23.
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:17.
[3] Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10.
[4] See 2 Peter 3:16.
[5] Matthew 18:3.
[6] Isaiah 28:10.
[7] The book was Hebrews, by M. L. Andreasen.
Text from www.michaelprewitt.com. Originally published in Last Generation magazine.