Bible Study

Six methods of Bible study

The best Bible study methods are not as popular as inductive methods. So let me go ahead and say it. The Inductive Bible Study technique is the best Bible study method for beginners. You can learn about the Inductive Bible Study Method here. However, once you become more comfortable, feel free to try something new. 

There will be a transition period as you institute new Bible study methods. Feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or even thinking it’s taking up too much time can be expected as you start something new, which is entirely normal. 

These articles are just the tip of the iceberg regarding studying. Still, there are entire degree programs that teach people how to study the Bible to understand and apply it to everyday life, but it’s not just ministers or teachers who should study it.

Even though those degree programs are exceptional, we can still learn ourselves. Bible study is for anyone. Moreover, we can get into the word for ourselves with these practical studying methods.

The importance of studying the Bible

The Bible is unique in its purpose.

Studying the Bible is powerful. It unlocks supernatural wisdom and knowledge brought by the Holy Spirit The Bible is a unique gift left behind to help us in life. It gives us directions, instructions, encouragement, correction, and much more. There is no other book that reveals God to the human race like the Bible does.

By exploring the Bible’s words, you learn about Jesus, his sacrifice for our sins, and His desire for our lives on Earth and in Heaven.

The Bible gives practical advice for life

As we turn the pages of the Bible, we learn stories of yesteryear involving real people with real struggles. We unfold stories of how they overcame or failed. Both are uncovering lessons so precious and priceless.

Through scripture, we learn principles that should govern every area of our lives if applied correctly. Relationships, finances, healthy living, spiritual growth, everything a loving father would want to leave his precious children are inscribed beneath the covers of the Bible. 

Through this book, we discover not only our past but also the future of our world.

This precious book is filled with timeless truths that can apply to any circumstance in any season or rhythm of life at any moment in history.

The Bible was good for solving age-old problems and is suitable for solving current ones. Moreover, it is the only book that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can transform anyone’s heart if willing.

This book offers encouragement, inspiration, motivation, and healing. 

Proper Bible Study Leads to Change

Although the rewards of studying the Bible are countless, there are also many dangers to be conscious of. 

Misinterpretation has caused damage to faithful believers.

Not everyone approaches the Bible with the proper spirit or the appropriate motivation. Studying for yourself will allow you to distinguish truth from deceit.

Nowadays, examining ideas presented to us, even from the pulpit, is a good idea. However, sometimes errors can be subtle, so deep study is crucial.

Here is the thing about in-depth Bible study: you will expose things you would not have possibly learned from skimming through the Bible. With each new profound encounter, changing is no longer an option.

The more you learn and study, the more eager you will be to transform yourself to live a life that reflects Christ. And the more you spend time in His word, the more your ears and heart become attuned to the voice of God, even when He whispers. And naturally, as with any relationship, your intimacy with God evolves the more you become familiar with God.

Methods of Bible Study

Although many of us say we have a relationship with God, only 8% of American adults read the Bible daily. And that’s just reading. The number who study the Bible is fewer. Deep Bible study is not reserved for a select few, like ministers or teachers. A deep Bible study is for everyone.

The truth is that some, even those who read it, need to learn how to study it. So here we are. Let’s jump into some practical Bible study approaches that can be used to mine the Word of God for yourself and apply it to your circumstances. Keep reading to learn how.

Ways To Study the Bible

Book Study

Sixty-six books make up the Bible, and maybe you’ve read through entire books in the Bible or perhaps even the Bible as a cover, but which books did you study in detail? 

The objective of this study is not to concentrate on individual words or verses. Instead, looking at the big picture is our focus, and to do this, you need to know a few things:

• Who wrote the book, and when did they write it?
• What genre is the book?
• What are the primary themes in the book?
• What is the book’s objective? What would the message have meant to its original audience?
• Was it written to an audience? If so, who is the targeted audience?

You’ll need to read the entire book several times to find these answers. However, reading the book more than once is the only way to get a more profound knowledge of the written text.

Read different versions of the book, and listen to it audibly. Then read along with the audible version. Ask questions, and answer them as you read along. Then, when you think you have gotten the complete picture, write a summary of all you have learned.

Book Studies should be done before studying any single chapter or verse of the Bible.

Why? It will build the context you need to be able to interpret the chapters and scriptures. Reading without knowing the background is when we run the risk of misinterpretation. There is much to miss when the big picture is unknown.

 Chapter Analysis

We find 929 chapters that make up the Old Testament and 260 chapters that complete the New Testament, for a total of 1,189 chapters in the Bible. There is a sufficient amount of study in manuscripts. The first step to diving into a chapter would be compiling a brief background of the entire book you’re studying. 

Start by reading the whole book. This is the best way, even if you want to jump in. For example, suppose you are using a study Bible most time. In that case, you’ll find an introduction that talks about the book’s authorship, describes noteworthy events of the time, and recaps the book by chapters. It’s a good idea to read that and focus on the description of the chapter you will be reading. You can also read an overview from a bible study guidebook that summarizes all 66 books of the Bible.

To help reinforce your understanding, you can also use technology. Technology can be helpful when we find the right resources. For example, The Bible Project is an easy-to-understand series of videos that provide excellent overviews of Bible books, including descriptions of the chapters.

Once you have gathered the background, you are ready to explore. First, read the chapter several times in different versions. Since the purpose isn’t to focus on specific verses or words, analyzing different versions can help increase the understanding of the entire chapter more quickly. When you engage with the chapter, look for the central theme and list the supporting statements. Next, consider how the chapter supports the overall message or context of the book. Finally, recap the chapter, and underline the take-away lessons you want to apply in your life.

Verse-by-verse Method

Breaking down the 1189 chapters in the Bible, you’ll find 31,102 verses. 23,145 verses are housed in the Old Testament, and 7,957 are in the New Testament. We could spend our entire lifetime studying only the Bible, and we would still be unable to mine all the powerful truths buried deep within.

Yes, even in those verses of genealogies, there are still some incredible things to discover. For example, you would learn Rahad (a prostitute) is in Jesus’ genealogy, and it’s okay because grace is always greater than our sins. Praise God!

 The verse-by-verse study is a personal favorite way to study God’s word. 

A verse Bible study is where you choose a single verse in the Bible and scrutinize it, also known as verse mapping.

Context is always critical in Bible study. So before studying a single verse, gather the background of the book, even if you are familiar with it. Then, when you are through gathering your data, read the entire chapter that includes your particular verse snuggled within the pages of the story.

Now, zero in on the verse. Grab your journal and write the scripture on your paper. Skip a line and leave space around it. You’ll doodle all over and around it as you study in depth. 

Read the verse several times from various versions. Note any illustrations or concepts generated in your mind as you read. Determine which version to use in your study. Utilize a Bible dictionary or a Bible study app to research the original intended meaning of all the words in the verse. This will help enlighten the importance of the text. Read various synonyms and definitions. Please pay special attention, as the various word definitions may not fit the context and overall purpose of that verse and its primary message. How might the definitions of these words be similar or different from how we currently use them?

Examine the parts of speech of the words that are used. Identify the verbs and their tenses, conjunctions, adjectives, etc. What do they communicate? How do they interact with each other? 

Using a cross-reference, look up other scriptures that communicate the same meaning and read them. Then, in your own words, summarize or paraphrase the verse you are studying. Next, think about how the verse applies to you and your life. Take your time, and pray about what you learned from the scripture. Ask the Lord where He would like you to apply this in your life. Write down how you will use this in your life and in what specific area you will change. 

Word Study

If you’re a person who appreciates surprises, then this is the bible study for you. First, you should know that the Bible was initially written in just three different languages: Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, depending on the time it was written. Since the Old Testament naturally follows the story of the Hebrew-speaking Israelites, it is written mainly in Hebrew. However, there are a few parts, very few parts in fact, of the Old Testament written in Aramaic, leaving the New Testament written in Greek.

Just like English, the dialect of Hebrew and Greek have evolved over the centuries, even though they still exist today. And because of this, people who speak these languages might not immediately recognize the original content. It’s vital to keep this in mind as you lay down the words of scripture under a microscope.

The first step in exploring words is uncovering them in scripture. Begin by choosing a word from scripture that sparks curiosity when you read the Bible verse. Now, start digging to find the root. Take nothing for granted and forget all you may know about this word for the time being.

I enjoy and recommend using resources like Blue Letter Biblefind and BibleHub to find the original Greek or Hebrew root of the word. Pay special attention to whether the word is a combination or mixture of root words. During Language Arts class, recall learning about suffixes, prefixes, and root words. So be sure to examine the root words and their meanings.

When you have those essentials, it’s time to examine the word’s usage in that context. This will require a little understanding of grammar. How the term is used will help determine its function in the sentence. Is it a verb? If so, what tense of the verb is it? Is it a noun? Adjective? Conjunction?

Once you’ve deciphered those basics, grab a Hebrew or Greek dictionary. Then make a brief list of other possible meanings found in different scriptures and compare it to the meaning or purpose of the verse you are studying.

For deeper study, you can also research other scriptures where your word, with its same meaning, is found. Reading these can increase your understanding of their meaning and usage.

Step back and read the verse you began with. Then, write down what that word means in the context of the scripture you are studying. What does it mean for you and your relationship with God? How does it apply to the message in the scripture it’s found?

Topical & Thematic Study

A topical or thematic study cannot be completed in a single Bible study session. With that said, when undertaking this kind of study, you must prepare yourself and your surroundings and dedicate yourself to this stud for a season of unknown length. This is how multi-week studies are created. You could study a single topic from the Bible for an entire year and still not uncover all that there is.

To begin, choose a theme or a topic that interests you. Next, create a boundary for your study. This step is vital to help you avoid becoming overwhelmed with such a study. For example, choose the topic of faith. Your boundary can look for the word faith and observe how it is used and found in the Old Testament or the New Testament. You can even limit your findings to the book of Hebrews. Or maybe you want to study faith as it pertains to a specific person’s life in the Bible. Choosing a boundary will help direct you where to look up scripture portions within these limits. 

As you read the verses, linger around in each scripture to provide more understanding of the topic based on the context of these verses. This may include a quick word study of essential words in the text. Then, read some Bible commentaries for explanations to help further your understanding.

Compare and contrast how the theme or topic is presented in each verse. Take note of the differences and similarities. Be sure to notice and apply the context of each verse as you compare them. Consider the audience to whom this subject is delivered in each context and why. Take notes of your findings and thoughts as you go along.

Recap what you discovered and write down how to use it in everyday applications. Finally, supplement your knowledge by reading books to grow your understanding of the theme or topic. As you read, be sure to revisit and reference your study notes. Analyze the author’s ideas about the topic in the study.

Character Study

This form of Bible study is also called a Biographical study. It is estimated that there are over 3,000 people cited in the Bible. But, of course, some are only mentioned, with their stories never told, while others whose stories are told remain nameless.

Most people love character studies because they hit close to home. We can see them as genuine individuals with real hardships, triumphs, and very, very real disappointments with long-term consequences. Some of the same letdowns we face in our own lives. 

To begin, choose a character you wish to study. Then, research all the passages where the character appears. Read the scriptures thoroughly. Reading them several times will give a biographical glimpse of the person’s life.

A terrific way of encountering the person’s life and character more realistically is to listen to your favorite dramatized audio version. It can help with imagery and assist you in traveling back in time to help you feel present. 

Begin to ask questions. What is the conflict in the person’s life? How do they handle it? What was the state of their relationship with God, and how did that impact their lives? What are their strengths and shortcomings? What are their victories and failures? Ask as many questions as possible, and pursue all the answers. 

Include the context of the person’s life when analyzing the information you’ve acquired. Utilize Bible study tools, such as dictionaries, and commentaries, to assist you with your research. Take a closer look at individual words in the narrative you are reading. Pausing to do word studies can equip you with valuable insights into the character’s experience.

Recap what you have learned and decide how to apply it. For entertainment, find a good Bible movie about this character. Watch it and return to the Biblical account and your notes to compare.

A final word on the best ways to study the Bible

If you have been feeling afraid, trapped, stagnant, frustrated, or confused, Bible study may be the key to your breakthrough.

You will not only grow in knowledge but also in grace. 

Need help figuring out where to start? I recommend the Psalms or the Gospels.

Start reading one chapter and then pick apart a single verse from that passage. Then, your walk with God will only become imperishable.

Such a relationship will fulfill Jesus’ words: “… if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

In His Joy & Love,

Leticia Barker