Basic Bible Study Techniques
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The Bible is God's revelation to man. It was not written to hide things. It was written (with a few exceptions) to reveal them. It should be read that way. If you treat the Bible as a thing of mystery, you will get confused. If you treat it as something understandable, you will understand.
One thing which prevents people getting as much as they might from the Bible is the body of beliefs they get from denominational and special interest groups, not necessarily based on Scripture. Many beliefs are so entrenched that their validity is rarely questioned. This can hamper attempts to find truth.
Some suggestions.
Approach the Bible as though it is written to be understood. If the plain meaning of a passage makes sense, accept this as its meaning.
If it does not make sense, then look for other passages about the subject and see what light they shed. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture.
When researching a subject, find every passage concerning that subject, then mould your belief by integrating these passages.
This can be facilitated by using some of the methods outlined in Using the Original Languages and Using Computers, found elsewhere on this site.
Do not take your beliefs to the Bible. Get your beliefs from the Bible. Our beliefs can sometimes get in the way of finding truth.
If you go to the Bible with a particular belief, you may find passages you can use to back up your idea, whether it is right or wrong. If you go without preconceived ideas, and examine what the Bible says, you may reach a different conclusion.
Be very careful about context. |
| | Do not give a general application to a specific statement.
Because the rich young ruler is told to sell all he has and give it to the poor, does it mean we all must do so? |
| | Do not apply commands from one period of Scripture to another.
In the argument about circumcision in Acts 15, the only things from the law the apostles and elders demanded from Gentiles were dietary and moral.
It is important to be careful when applying Old Testament law in a New Testament situation, certainly after the gospels. |
| | Recognize that the gospels and Acts have a Jewish context.
Jesus rejected the woman of Canaan initially, on the grounds that she was not of Israel. (Matt. 15:22-28)
There were no Gentiles at Pentecost - just Jews. The men of many nations were Jews from many nations, in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and Peter's message was addressed entirely to men of Israel (e.g. Acts 2:22)
The apostles were unwilling to go to Gentiles in the early part of Acts. The Lord had to give Peter a special revelation before he would go to Cornelius. Even then he was called to question over what he had done.
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| | Context can determine the meaning of words in the original languages. The Greek word krino (judge) is translated in many ways.
| Matt. 5:40 | sue |
| Matt. 7:1 | judge - find fault |
| Luke 7:43 | judged - discerning |
| John 3:17 | condemn |
| Acts 15:19 | sentence |
| Acts 16:4 | ordained |
| Acts 20:16 | determined - decided |
| Acts 21:25 | concluded - reached a judgement |
| Acts 23:6 | called in question |
| Acts 26:8 | thought |
| Rom. 14:5 | esteemeth |
| 1 Cor. 7:37 | decreed |
| 2 Thess. 2:12 | damned |
The suitability of each translation can be determined from the context. This word and its translations is dealt with in more detail in Using Computers. |
| | Historical context can be very important.
When studying the Old Testament prophets for example, considerable insight can be gained by recognizing the historical period of a prophet's ministry. What king is ruling, whether the prophet is speaking to Israel, Judah or both, what problems exist with surrounding countries, and a number of other features may be important. Most of the prophets give their historical situation in the first few verses they write. Paying attention to these things can prevent some of the more fanciful interpretations of these books.
Take special care with the first mention of a subject in Scripture. It may be definitive.
Gen. 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
This is the first mention of 'soul' in the Bible, and suggests that the breath of life entered the body and created a soul. Man does not have a soul, he is a soul. Standard doctrine does not see it this way, but this verse is definitive and should be involved in any study concerning the soul.
Be aware that translations are translations, and that any translation of the Bible will have bias depending on the beliefs of the translators. On occasion it may not be possible to get to the truth of a matter without investigating the meaning of the original language. An example of a bias that comes through in almost every translation is seen in
Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread
The passage is used as an authority for Sunday worship, and taking communion on that day. This is a common practice in Christendom, and so it is translated this way.
In fact the Greek says 'On the first of the Sabbaths' and is more likely to be referring to the lead up to Pentecost, the feast of weeks (Sabbaths). The word 'day' does not appear in the Greek.
Many translators have probably assumed the passage refers to communion on Sunday and have so translated it.
Question what you are told, and what you read. If those who are teaching you object to your questioning them, wonder about their suitability as a teacher. Good teachers do not just give you information. They teach you how to find out for yourself. The Bible encourages this. It says
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
Phil. 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
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The writer takes a dispensational approach to Scripture, and finds it very helpful in understanding the Bible. Much of the above is dispensational in approach.
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