Some of you have been studying the Bible for many years and already know the joy of study. On the next page, we have listed some of the procedures for studying the Bible and their most logical order.
Look for general structure
This is an example of how you might write observations on a printed scripture passage. You can write down your observation and draw a line next to the word or group of words you are making an observation about.
Practice B - Seek to Know Meanings 2. Answering questions
Begin by asking yourself questions
Try to formulate the insights you have gained through your study into some summary statements: Jesus seems to be saying these things in this verse or group of verses. It seems that Jesus is focusing on priorities, what we should put first in our lives.
Evaluation
It is possible to define words, compare translations, examine cross-references, and yet not really get to the heart of a passage's meaning. If we give Him the right place in our lives, we can trust that He will meet all our needs, even though He may not meet all our needs.
Application and Actualization
Problems?
- Look for admonitions
- Look for contrasts, comparisons, illustrations
- Look for grammatical constructions
- Look for use of questions
- Look for the general structure of passage
- Look for literary form and atmosphere
Pay particular attention to the way a writer uses contrasts, comparisons, and illustrations to convey his ideas. Sometimes he can arrange his ideas in a logical order, with one idea growing out of the next.
DISCOVERY SKILLS II Bible Focus: 1 Corinthians 13
- Look for key words
- Look for other details
- Analyze the structure
- Ask yourself questions
- Answering questions
I've given you an example of the kinds of questions you might ask yourself about statements and words in the first verse. Ask yourself some “understanding questions” and write them in the right margin of the printed copy of the chapter.
The Six Guide-Words
- Study Luke 23:32-49
- Analyze carefully Luke 23:34-49
- Build mental images
- Ask yourself questions
- Seek to find answers to questions
- Identify responses
- Identify with a person
- Meditate on this scene at the cross Complete these statements
- Read Matthew 13:1-3
- Read Matthew 13:18-2
- Ask questions for understanding
- Paraphrase the interpretation of this parable in terms of your own experiences
When you study a Bible story, try to see it in the context of the historical setting of that day. Your first reading should give you an overview of the main emphasis in the passage. What is the relationship between the things that hindered or helped growth and the results of the growth.
What is the meaning of verb tenses, conjunctions, some grammatical constructions. What is the significance of some literary patterns such as comparisons, contrasts, illustrations, repetitions, passage structure. What is the meaning of the illustrations - what you will eat - what you will drink.
You have already been introduced to some of the approaches in the process of interpretation.
Step Six - CONSULT
Step Seven -WRESTLE
Step Eight - SUMMARIZE
Purpose of Recording
Ways to Record
PART TWO: EXPANDING PHASE
So far in your studies you have focused on some fairly short and easy passages to learn some observational and interpretive skills. Remember, one of the purposes of this tool is to introduce these steps into Bible study slowly so that you don't become frustrated. You continue to develop the techniques you have already learned, but new ones are also added. We will study the book of James because it is a short book and does not contain too many difficult theological problems.
When you're developing skills, it's best not to get involved with difficult theological passages like we find in some of Paul's letters. While your focus will be on the content of the book of James, the main goal will be to perfect your study skills. You will not be able to analyze and interpret everything that is in the book.
But through the process, you will discover its core message and many of its lessons.
Observe the Whole Book
I hope you have developed enough skills in observation and interpretation that you are ready for our next phase in this study, the expanding phase where you study a book.
Seek to Discover the Writer and His Purpose
Seek to Discover Facts About the Readers
See also in your first reading whether you can discover something about the structure of the book. But pay attention to how the chapters are grouped by content. Genesis is an example where the material is organized according to the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
The Book of Exodus is an example in which the material is organized according to the experiences of the Children of Israel as they traveled from Egypt to the Land of Canaan. Both Genesis and Exodus are also examples of this type of organization in that the story is told in chronological order. The Book of Exodus is also geographically arranged in that the places as well as the events are emphasized.
The book of Romans is logical in structure, while the book of Philippians is ideological, organized according to ideas but not in logical order.
Focus on Smaller Sections
The prophetic books and the epistles are examples of this type of arrangement.
DISCOVERY SKILLS V Bible Focus: The Book of James;
- Observe the writer and readers
- Summarize purpose
- Consider the structure of James
- Consider the author
- Review
- Read thoughtfully
- Observe and record deliberately
- Select some key questions
- Interpret some of your questlons
In our study of the book of James, we will begin with one of the central passages of the book, James 3:6-12. In your previous studies, you were gradually introduced to some observation techniques. As you begin to study this passage, you must read it prayerfully and thoughtfully—praying that the Holy Spirit will guide you as you read and consider the words of the passage thoughtfully.
As we have said before, this process of wondering about the meanings of words and phrases is a natural process of the mind. When a person begins to think about a piece of writing, the normal action of the mind is to observe key words and phrases and begin to question the meanings. Observation Questions Understanding the Scripture Passage In the center section, write parts of the Scripture passage in order.
Follow those suggestions as you try to interpret some of the words or statements in this passage.
DISCOVERY SKILLS VI Bible Focus: James 3:1-5
Scripture Passane I’ Questions forUnderstandina
Wrestle with the meanings of
Application
Creative Expression
I CHAPTER 8 Observing the Whole
I Definition of Structure
Observing Structure Through a Diagram
Value of Structural Diagram
How to Analyze Your Structural Diagram
DISCOVERY SKILLS VII Bible Focus: James 3
Analyze diagrams
Make a structural diagram
Analyze diagram
Now that you have studied the entirety of chapter 3 of James, you should consider the relationship between the three paragraphs. During your studies, you analyzed smaller Bible passages to learn study skills. You have been working a lot on observation skills because these are very important skills to learn in Bible study.
So far in your studies you have written down each word in a paragraph and focused on as much detail as possible. Block as many divisions, both above and below the main line, as there are paragraphs in a chapter. Once you have mapped out a chapter, you can make a more in-depth study of just the sections you choose, but you will always study the section in context with the entire chapter.
Since you have already studied the various passages in James 3, summarize the teachings in this chapter using a vertical table.
- Read chapter one in James
- Title your paragraphs according to their content
- Bracket those paragraphs which seem to be on the same topic
- Select one paragraph
- Observe its contents
- Select a few of your key questions for interpretation
- Consider some ways in which you might personalize the truths in your paragraph
Follow the process you used when interpreting statements in a passage: define words; compare translations; look for one or two cross-references; struggling with meanings; summarize. Some of the statements in this chapter are difficult to interpret, and you may need to study a commentary to get someone else's insight. Consider some ways you can personalize the truths in your paragraph. truths in your paragraph.
Think about how you can apply and actualize one of the truths in a real-life situation. In every passage you have studied so far, you have been involved in some interpretation. One of the first and very important aspects of interpretation is the study of key words in the passage.
In this chapter we will focus in detail on the things you can do in keyword research.
Use of Dictionary
Depth in the interpretation of a passage depends a lot on the time you invest and the availability of resources. WORD ETYMOLOGY: This is the study of the origin and development of words over the centuries. Most major dictionaries include the etymology of a word, usually in parentheses after the pronunciation of the word.
To understand the etymology of a word, you need to learn some simple abbreviations and symbols, such as ME for Middle English, AS for Anglo-Saxon, FR for French, G for German, GR for Greek. The word first in brackets is usually the most recent form of the word.
Use of Translations
Use of Cross-References
Use of Other Resources
DISCOVERY SKILLS IX Bible Focus: James 2
Study James 2:1-7
Study James 2:8-13
Study James 2:14-28
Study key words
Summarize insights in a visual way
Until you have insight into both the content and structure of the biblical material, you really cannot fully understand the author's purpose in writing.
Importance of Summarization
General Ways to Summarize
C HAPTER C HART : When studying a chapter, make a horizontal or vertical chart for each chapter, allowing space for each paragraph
B RIEF S TATEMENT : Summarize the author’s purpose or the content of a paragraph or chapter in a brief phrase or statement
PARAPHIEASE: Write the content of a paragraph in your own words
S UMMARY D IAGRAM : Try to show relationship of ideas in a visual way
Summary Diagrams
Summarization by Means of Charts
What to Include in a Chart
DISCOVERY SKILLS X Bible Focus: James 4 Practice A - Make a Vertical Chart of James 4
- Short study
- Discuss the following statement
- Study the key exhortations in James 4:7-10
- Read James 4 prayerfully
- Make a horizontal chart of James 5
- Make a special study of James 5:13-16 Key observations
- Make a chart
Choose one of the themes from James (suffering, temptations, tongue, prayer, faith, and works) and create a special study that includes observations, interpretation, and application. Work with one other person and plan a way to involve the rest of the people in your study group or class in thinking about some aspect or teaching from James. a) Choose a hymn they can sing that reflects a teaching from James. The primary purpose of the skills is to teach you how to think when studying the Bible.
Let's imagine you have to teach one of the Gospels in a Sunday Bible class. The same procedure could be followed if you were studying the book of Acts or any of the historical books of the Old Testament. When you have finished reading the book, you should have a graphical summary of the entire book in front of you, showing the overall chapter content and the main structure of the book.
Discover what this chapter teaches about the four main concepts of the Bible: God, man, sin, salvation.
STEP THREE: Study Background
STEP FOUR: Interpret
STEP FIVE: Summarize
STEP SIX: Study Individual Passages
STEP SEVEN: Apply, Actualize
What do I learn about relationships? While the questions which have already been listed are important, another key question
While the Bible focuses on relationships, the tendency of the church has been to focus on beliefs. One of the reasons we have many denominations is that we disagree on what we should believe and what we should do. The message of the Bible is for losers like me who can never make it on their own.
A small group Bible study is one of the places where these things can happen. As recipients, we measure the success of the Bible study by what we received, disappointed or inspired, depending on the effectiveness of the leader. The entire responsibility for the success of the study rests on our ability to give.
In the role of enabler, our concern is also focused on our group members.