How To Study The Bible
By: Dwight Hill
As we grow in Christ, it's important that we advance from manmade
Bible studies to digging into the Word of God for ourselves. A common
method is "inductive" Bible study. The words from the author of Hebrews
are salient:
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone
to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need
milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is
not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is
for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to
distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:12-14, NIV).
To begin, I would suggest that you select one of Paul's smaller books-1
Thessalonians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 or 2 Timothy. Do a background
study on the book: Who is the author; why was it written? Learn the
historical background, dates, key players, and such. Some Bibles have
summaries at the beginning of each book. A Bible dictionary can also be
helpful.
Then take the first chapter and work through it verse by verse. After
exhausting your analysis, consult a Bible commentary. Here is a sampling
from 1 Timothy (adapted from Issue 90 of Discipleship Journal, page 20):
Verse
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of
Christ Jesus our hope..." (1 Timothy 1:1, NIV).
Personal Paraphrase
Paul, one sent forth as Christ's representative, by the commandment of
God, the One who saves us, and Christ Jesus our hope...
Questions and Answers
Q. What does the word "apostle" mean?
A. The Greek word apostolos comes from the verb apostello, "send forth."
Cross References
Apostle: 2 Corinthians 1:1
God my Savior: Luke 1:47; Titus 1:3
Christ our hope: Colossians 1:27
Insights
The name Paul comes from the Latin name Paulus, which means "little." The
name Timothy means, "He who honors God."
Personal Application
I must begin to see myself in the role of Christ's ambassador who has
been authorized and sent out with a divine message. The authority of my
witness will only be as effective as my awareness of my mission.
After completing the verse-by-verse analysis of the chapter, assign it a
title and a key verse or verses. Write a summary paragraph as to the
thesis of the chapter. Repeat the process for subsequent chapters. When
the book is completed, give it a title.
Sadly, mediocrity is a hallmark of the age. Let me challenge you to set some
high goals for your personal spiritual growth.
For example, you might say that within the next 10 years you will have
studied in this manner a certain number of the books of the Bible-giving,
say, three hours a week to study (not to be confused with or substituted
for your "quiet time").
Wasn't it Michael Jordan who once said, "Aim at nothing and you are
sure to hit it"?
DWIGHT HILL is with the Business and Professional (B&P) ministry of The
Navigators. B&P exists to win and disciple business and professional
men and women in the marketplace and to help them live kingdom values in
their work environments. Visit B&P online and sign up to receive several
of the ministry's publications via e-mail, including Facts of the Matter,
in which this article first appeared.
