It is the mandatory responsibility of every believer to study the Bible:
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).
The Holy Spirit oversees our study as we pray for illumination, correction, conviction, and application. Every one of us must submit and humble ourselves under the authority of God's Word and live according to what we learn from it. All of the questions and principles in these steps are intended to keep us from monkeying with God's Word so that it remains our absolute authority.
Bible study is done in four steps:
1. Observation
2. Interpretation
3. Systemization
4. Application
Please note: The following questions are the most basic and essential ones to ask in each of the steps; they are by no means exhaustive.
Observation
The first step in Bible study is observation; where you simply read the text repeatedly in a good, formal translation (e.g. NASB, KJV, NKJV, ESV) and examine it like a detective by bombarding it with questions. Here are some basic questions to ask when doing observation:
Referential and purpose questions
- Who?
- What?
- When?
- Where?
- How?
- Why?
- What are the verb tenses (past, present, or future)?
- Is it in the imperative or indicative mood (command or description)?
- Are there any figures of speech or language idioms (e.g. hyperbole, sarcasm, rhetoric, etc.)?
- Are there any conditional, qualifying factors present that determine the scope of the subject (e.g. gender, race, time, etc)?
- Is something being emphasized?
Interpretation
The second step in Bible study is interpretation; where you see what the text actually means. According to the metaphysical laws of logic and communication, the Bible only has one correct interpretation and it is literal in its intent (literal = face value, plain, normal use of language). Thus, in this second step we seek to understand God's intended meaning of the text by examining the words of the text in their original contexts, disregarding our own personal biases, presuppositions, and prior theology.
To answer the following essential questions you will need to access several resources (Bible encyclopedias, lexicons, maps, commentaries, etc.). Here are some basic essential questions to ask when doing interpretation:
1. What did the words convey in the grammar of the original readers? *
The idea here is to find the tenses, referents, moods, etc. of the words as the original readers would have understood them; to see how the original grammatical structures convey the intended idea in the mind of the author. It is basic observation, but in the original language and in more detail.
2. What was being conveyed by those words to the initial readers? *
This has to do with word definition and usage. Words can change meaning over time. For example, if you were to read our English word "gay" in a newspaper from the 1930s it would mean something very different than it would in a newspaper from the 1980s. The writings of the Bible are no different. We must seek how the original words were regularly used in the time period when they were written.
3. How did the cultural setting influence and affect what was written? *
This question seeks to understand how the culture and geography illuminate the text. The circumstances, locations, philosophies, practices, etc. in which the original audience lived give us better understanding about the intent of the author.
4. What is the meaning of the words in their context? *
Context is king! The subject matter of the context must rule the intended meaning of the words. We are not allowed to say the words mean something other than what their context is implicating. The meaning of the text must always agree with and adhere to its immediate context.
5. In what literary form is the material written and how does that affect what is said? *
The literary form may be, for example, parabolic, poetic, narrative, or apocalyptic, and it affects how we interpret; Poetic writings contain much hyperbole and anthropomorphisms, apocalytpic writings are very symbolic, etc. A couple metaphysical rules of thumb: Firstly, any figurative or symbolic language always refers to something that is literal. Secondly, the literary style alone never gives us warrant to abandon a literal meaning.
6. How do the principles of logic and normal communication affect the meaning? *
Some biblical texts may contain apparent, but not actual, logical contradictions (e.g. Prov. 26:4-5). Taking into account how we normally communicate, we can find ways to harmonize any seemingly contradictory statements. This then can help us find the intended meaning of a text.
7. How is a New Testament passage using an Old Testament passage?
Since (according to the principle of progressive revelation) the literal interpretation of the Old Testament cannot be changed by the New Testament, we must see if the NT is using the OT as application, illustration, fulfillment of prophecy, etc.
* These questions come from Roy B. Zuck (Basic Bible Interpretation. 1991. SP Publications. Pages 66-67)
Some helpful resources for interpretation:
- http://www.biblehub.com
- Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible
- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts
- Rose Then and Now Bible Map Atlas with Biblical Backgrounds and Culture
- Bible Handbooks (recommended: Halley's, Unger's)
- Study Bibles (recommended: MacArthur, Nelson, Ryrie, NIV, ESV)
The third step in Bible study is systemization; where you seek to combine the interpretation of one passage with the interpretations of other congruent passages, which then form concepts that create a system of theology. This is how we discover and build biblical doctrines. In its basic form, any time we look up a cross reference we are engaging in systemization.
The supreme ruling factor in this step is that the system must never ever precede, nor overrule, nor influence interpretation. Never. Here are some basic questions to ask when doing systemization:
1. What are the contexts and/or principles of the passages being combined?
For a combination of two passages to be valid they must come from congruent contexts and/or principles. Only congruent contexts and/or principles can be rightly combined into a system without violating the original interpretations. We must examine the contexts and/or principles to make sure the passages are congruent with each other.
2. How does the combination of passages into a system affect the principle of progressive revelation?
God did not reveal His Word all at one time; He did so progressively over numerous eras. Therefore, Old Testament saints could never have known what was revealed to New Testament saints. The way OT saints understood God's revelation to them is the one and only way God intended it to be understood by everyone else. If the combination of passages violates progressive revelation then the system is invalid and must be changed to accommodate this essential principle. We must examine the passages to see if they can be combined without violating progressive revelation.
3. How can any apparent logical contradictions between combined passages be harmonized?
When combining passages that have congruent contexts and/or principles there may be an apparent, but not actual, logical contradiction created (e.g. Rom. 3:28 cf. Jas. 2:24). If it creates an actual contradiction then the concept reached is invalid, unless it is mandatory that the passages be combined (e.g. the triunity of God in theology proper). We must find a way to harmonize passages that allows the text to speak for itself and also keeps the concept(s) reached from being unnecessarily logically contradictory.
4. How is God governing mankind in each of the passages being combined?
God has governed mankind differently throughout history. This is essential and must be taken into account when combining passages into a system. The manner of God's governing mankind in one era may disqualify its passages from being combined with others (e.g. keeping the Sabbath, Spiritual gifts, circumcision, etc.). We must see how God governs mankind in each of the passages before attempting to combine them into a system because there may be a disqualifying factor.
5. How do the concepts reached affect the consistency of literal interpretation?
The system must never affect our ability to consistently interpret the Bible literally. If it does so then the system is invalid and must be changed to accommodate consistency; the Bible must always be allowed to fully speak for itself in each and every passage. We must seek to combine passages into a system which allows for consistent literal interpretation.
Some helpful resources for systemization:
- http://www.biblehub.com
- Strong's Concordance
- Topical Bibles (recommended: Nave's, MacArthur, Nelson)
Application
The final step in Bible study is application; where you seek to apply the biblical principles to your own life in order to glorify and please the Lord. Application always stems directly from interpretation and must never precede it, nor circumvent it, nor be separate from it. Although you can find applications in systemization, you may postpone that step in order to make applications from interpretation, but you must never skip observation and interpretation. Personal devotions, although very good for spending time with God, are notorious for neglecting interpretation.
Application is the purpose for which all Bible study is intended; so that God can sanctify our lives for His glory. Here are the basic questions to ask when doing application:
1. What is the principle being taught?
A principle is a truth of Scripture that can be either general or specific. A principle can be found in a main idea, a character quality, an event taking place, an action being performed, a command, etc.; and there can be many possible applications from one text. Some principles are explicit and easy to spot, while others are implicit and finding them may require much thought. Furthermore, some principles may be time based and cannot be applied to us today.
2. How does the principle relate to me?
Since none of the Bible was written directly to us today (yet all of it was written for us), we must see how biblical principles can relate to us. The principles must only be applied to circumstances that are congruent with their biblical context. We must look at a principle and look at our own lives to find a point of connection between them. One of the Holy Spirit's ministries is to show us these connections (Eph. 1:17-19; 3:16-19). This is where a principle for all becomes a precept for you. Once the Holy Spirit brings a personal precept to your attention, it must then be unquestioningly obeyed.
3. How do I implement the principle into my life?
When you have seen how a biblical principle relates to your life, you must then find a practical way to make it a reality in your life. This is where the rubber meets the road and we begin to change things in our lives to line up with the precepts of the Bible. It may involve changing our routine, creating a daily checklist, cutting off access to a temptation, etc. It could require a very painful sacrifice, but we must make any and every change necessary in our lives so that we can fully obey, fully please, and fully glorify the Lord Jesus, because He alone deserves it.
4. How does a passage relate to the Lord Jesus?
Jesus said: "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me" (John 5:39). The entire Bible relates to the Lord Jesus either explicitly or implicitly. Some of the very same principles that apply to us apply also to the Lord. The most enriching of all Bible studies is to see how each passage can relate to Christ. To know Him personally is eternal life; and to keep our minds fixed on Him as we engage His Word is wonderfully sanctifying indeed!
"Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen" (Heb. 13:20-21).
Nehemiah Ryan © 2014
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