PROFITABLE BIBLE STUDY

I. HOW TO STUDY GOD’S WORD

A. The Bible alone answers the following questions. (Deuteronomy 30:11-19; *read Acts 17:23-31)

1. Where have I come from? (Acts 17:26)

2. Why am I here? (Acts 17:27)

3. Where am I going? (Acts 17:31)

B. How can I know truth? (John 8:32; 17:17; Psalm 119:160)

1. The Bible reveals the mind and will of God

2. The Bible makes known the nature of truth

3. The Bible explains the true origin of man

4. The Bible shows the problem of sin and suffering

5. The Bible teaches the way of salvation and eternal life

C. The Bible and the Godhead

1. The source of the Bible is God, the Father. (Psalm 119:105; John 12:48-49)

2. The subject of the Bible is the plan of redemption through God, the Son and His work in redeeming man. (Galatians 4:3-5)

3. The author of the Bible is God, the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21)

D. The Bible and Jesus the Christ

1. His person and work is promised, prophesied and pictured in the types and symbols of the Old Testament.

2. His message of truth and ministry towards man is manifested in the four gospel accounts.

3. His life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension are explained in the epistles (formal letters to the churches of Christ in various locations).

4. His second coming is foretold in Revelation.

E. Ten great things a study of the Bible will do for one who desires to know and obey God. The Bible when studied will:

1. Uncover and convict the sins of men.

2. Instruct how to cleanse one's self from sin.

3. Impart strength, comfort and counsel.

4. Teach how to conduct one's self while on earth.

5. Be our sword for victory over sin. (Hebrews 4:12)

6. Supply what is needed to make our lives fruitful.

7. Teach both how to pray and what to pray.

8. Guide in the way of salvation.

9. Demonstrate worship that is acceptable to God.

10. Teach how to develop the mind of Christ.

F. The Bible is:

1. Its own best dictionary

2. Its own best commentary

II. BIBLE STUDY - DEVOTIONAL

A. The Bible is not an end in itself, but it is the means to the beginning of knowing the God of the Bible, doing His will, and being known by Him. (2 Timothy 2:15; Galatians 4:9)

B. A devotional Bible study involves the reading of God’s word with the intent of self-application. Keep in mind the context of the passage. The purpose is to learn how to live as a Christian before both God and fellow man.

C. How to execute a personal study:

1. Begin with prayer. (Psalm 119:18, 24; Romans 15:4; Philippians 4:6-7; James 1:5)

2. Write down the passage and take notes.

3. Read 1 to 3 chapters, or just a paragraph.

a. What is the passage about?

b. Read once more.

 4. Ask the following questions:

a. What is the subject?

b. Who are those spoken of in the text?

c. What is the key verse of the chapter or paragraph?

d. What does it teach me about the nature of man?

e. What does it teach me about the nature of God?

f. Does the passage teach me about Christ?

g. Do I learn of sin in my life to forsake?

h. Is there a command for me to obey?

i. Is there a promise for me to know?

j. Is there instruction for me to follow?

k. Is there a principle for me to apply?

l. Is there a prayer for me to learn?

5. Keep a journal of things studied and learned.

D. Commit passages to memory. (Psalm 119:11; 2 Timothy 3:14-17)

1. Realize one is never too old to start.

2. Record passages; book, chapter, verse.

3. Reflect (dwell upon) on God’s word. (Philippians 4:8)

4. Carry a compact Bible or pocket New Testament.

III.  BIBLE STUDY - A SYSTEMATIC METHOD

A. It is said, a person can study God’s word with a telescope, that is, see the great truths that stand out in each book of the Bible.  One can also study God’s word with a microscope, discovering and taking note of the finest of details in the Bible.

B. Method One - Study by chapter

1. The English Bible is made up of 66 individual books and is further divided into 1,189 chapters.

a. One can make an intensive three year study of the Bible by reading and researching one chapter a day.

b. This can be reduced in half by researching one chapter a day from both the Old and New Testaments.

2. Practical - read the chapter, finding its main subjects.

a. As you read, consider a title for each chapter indicating its main content. Example: The Gospel account of John

1. Chapter 1 - Jesus Christ, the Word of God

2. Chapter 2 - The Wedding at Cana

3. Chapter 3 - The New Birth

4. Chapter 4 - The Woman at the Well

5. Chapter 5 - The Healing of the Man at the Pool

6. Chapter 6 - The Feeding of the 5,000

b. Read again, making a simple outline of each chapter. Example:  John 1:1-51

1. Vs.1-9, Jesus Christ the eternal Word of God

2. Vs.10-18, Jesus came into the world

3. Vs.19-28, John bore witness of the Christ

4. Vs.29-37, John declares Jesus the Lamb of God

5. Vs.38-51, Jesus calls His first disciples

3. Review list of questions; take note of theological and practical problems.

a. Use a concordance to identify key words. Note what and how other passages use the word. Compare Scripture with Scripture to gain better understanding of its meaning.

b. When studying a chapter, consider both previous and proceeding chapters.

 C. Method Two - Study by paragraph. A paragraph is a unit of thought in writing usually containing several sentences. When the subject emphasized changes, normally a new paragraph begins. Note - ASV and RSV print the Bible text in paragraphs.

1. Studying the Bible by paragraphs is often called analytic Bible study.

2. Matthew 6:5-8 could be re-written into three sentences: “And . . .; But . . .; But . . . .”  See the relationship of the various parts of the paragraph.  From this, a simple outline can be made.  Example: Matthew 6:5-15

a. Jesus Teaches Us How To Pray

1). How not to pray. (Matthew 6:5, 7-8)

a). Hypocrisy in public (vs.5)

b). With vain repetition (vs.7-8)

 2).  How to pray. (Matthew 6:6, 9-13)

a). In private to your heavenly Father (vs.6)

b). The “model” prayer (vs.9-13)

3. Further study:

a. Study important words - vain, hypocrisy, pray, etc.

b. Compare other prayer passages.

c. Study the nature of prayer: conditions and results.

D. Method Three- Study by verse.  In studying historical passages especially the Old Testament and parts of the gospel accounts, each verse may have only one simple meaning.  However, other passages in the Bible contain more than one biblical truth and will demand a more detailed study.

1. Various ways to study a single verse:

a. Study by the verbs found in the verse.  Example: John 3:16  (“loved,” “gave,” “believes,” “should not perish,” “have”)

b. Study a verse by the personalities revealed.  Example: John 3:16  (“God,” “the world,” “only begotten Son,” “whoever”)

c. Study a verse by the nouns found in the verse.  Example: John 3:16  (“God,” “only begotten Son,” “eternal life”)

d. Study a verse looking for “great” ideas revealed in it - Example: John 3:16 - “The Greatest Verse in the Bible”

1). “God” - the greatest Person

2). “So loved” - the greatest devotion

3). “The world” - the greatest number

4). “He gave” - the greatest act

5). “His only begotten Son” - the greatest gift

6). “Whoever believes” - the greatest condition

7). “Should not perish” - greatest mercy

8). “Have eternal life” - greatest blessing

 2. At times a combination of such ideas applied to a verse will bring profitable results. Example: Romans 5:1

a. “Therefore” - this verse depends on Romans 4:20-25.  The basis of one's justification is found in the belief of God raising Jesus our Lord and Savior from the dead.

b. “Justified” - to make righteous.

c. “By faith” - personal obedient belief (faith), as a means of justification. (Romans 3:22; 6:17-18)

d. “We have peace” - “have” is not future, but present tense (now).

e. “Peace with God” - we (Christians) were enemies (Romans 5:10), but now "we (Christians) have peace with God” through what Christ did on our behalf.

f. “Through our Lord Jesus Christ” - the way of peace with God is through Christ Jesus our Lord (Acts 4:12).

 E. Method Four- Study by book

1. Inductive- method of studying in detail the contents of the book, drawing from the details, general conclusions or principles contained within.

2. Synthetic- method of study by reading a book to understand the general thought. The desire is to understand main idea without giving attention to detail.

3. Historical- method of study as it relates to history of a nation, a man, or a period of time.  Example: the Book of Exodus

a. Exodus speaks of the Hebrew nation from the death of Joseph in Egypt to the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses.

b. Exodus covers a period of some 400 years

4. Read verses two or more times. Consider:

a. What is the theme and key verse(s)?

b. How is the theme developed?

c. What does the book tell me about the penman and circumstances for writing?

d. What does the book tell about the people to whom it was written?

e. What are the main divisions of the book?

f. Is an outline apparent in the organization, development, and progression of the book?

g. Give division and titles to the paragraphs.

h. Give consideration to certain words, phrases, verses that stand out (i.e., Hebrews - “better,” Philippians - “rejoice”). 

F. Method Five- Study a book of the Bible by its words

1. Word study.  Certain words have great significance. Example: John 20:31.  After studying the gospel account of John as a book and by chapters, it is helpful to then trace the words “believe” and ”belief.” Read and underline the words.

2. Use a concordance and Bible dictionary.  Such studies increase one’s knowledge of Bible doctrines and theological principles.  Example: “Grace.” Conduct an extended study of this word in the Bible and one will learn God has always dealt with man by law, faith and grace. 

G. Method Six- Study by topic.  Topical studies are almost unlimited.

1. Study of topics and subjects. (i.e., prayer, promises, sermons, songs, providence, etc.,)

2. Study of rivers, lands, seas, mountains spoken of in the Bible.  Example: From Abraham’s mountaintop experience to his valley experiences.

3. Reading the gospel accounts/epistles, look for all the commands given by our Lord.

4. Look up the word in a concordance.  Example: “Prayer.” See also “pray,” “praying.”  Study may include words associated with prayer (i.e. “giving of thanks,” “intercessions,” "supplications," etc.).

5. Study each in its contents.  Look at the conditions under which such prayers were prayed, the words used, the results expected and received. 

H. Method Seven- Study by biography

1. The Bible is a record of God revealing Himself to man.

a. Life of Noah. (Gen. 5:32-10:32)

b. Life of Abraham. (Gen. 11:26-25:11)

c. Life of Joseph. (Gen. 37-50)

d. Life of Deborah. (Judg. 4-5)

2. Read the book(s) and chapter(s) of person’s life.  Example: Abraham. (Genesis 11-25; Hebrews 11; Romans 4)

a. Trace the character using a concordance.

b. Note indirect references elsewhere in Scripture.

3. Other studies: cultural, philosophical, sociological, etc.

 I. Rules for study and interpretation for the book of Revelation.

1. Originally written to encourage early Christians.

2. Primarily symbolic language, not to be taken literally.

3. Old Testament terminology and symbolism applied to circumstances during the first century.

4. Overall picture of vision, not dwelling on the symbols.

5. Interpret difficult passages in light of clearer passages.

6. Look at Revelation through 1st century glasses.

 CONCLUSION

1. Bible study involves teaching yourself the great eternal truths of God’s word.

2. Bible study blesses those desiring to know God and themselves. (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)