Bible Study

Everyone has struggled with Bible study. The Bible is a very big book... actually, it's 66 books, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by more than forty different people and over a couple thousand year period. It contains several literary styles, different ways of relating histories, and a whole lot of begets. To make things worse, it isn't even put together in chronological order! So how can we ever learn to understand the bible! Take a deep breath - and start with some basics.

#1 - Pray before you begin your study. Remember that Jesus is the Word of God, and that the Word is living and powerful (John 1:1, Heb. 4:12). If you approach Bible study as getting to know Jesus better, you will gain a deeper appreciation for what Scripture has to say. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God's word to you so that you may come to know the Lord more intimately. Pray that your heart will be opened to what the text really says. Understand that we all come into any situation with pre-conceived notions, biases, and prejudices (pre-judgments) about that situation. Ask that the Lord will give you insight into what these are and that He will help you get beyond what you THINK you know and into the true knowledge He wants you to have. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and the fear of the Lord.

#2 - Invest in a Bible that comes in a good translation in today's language. So many people labor under the assumption because many churches use the King James Version Bible, it must be the best. In fact, some teach that the KJV is the ONLY acceptable translation, but that is not the truth. The topic of Biblical translation is quite complex and there is much to debate. However, simplistically speaking, so long as the translators love the Lord and work to align what they say with what was said in the original languages, the translation will be a good on. As a result, the KJV Bible is a good one. It is, however, difficult for many people to read because the language is archaic. There are several excellent modern language translations available today. I have studied for many years now and tested several versions myself. Today, I find the Amplified to have safely and more accurately searched the originally texts, history, context, and links to other passages and is an excellent version to study.

#3 - Use colored pencils to underline or highlight key points. Don't be afraid to jot notes in the margins, either! My Bibles are a visual wonder - colors and notes and underlines - but as I go through the pages, I am reminded of sermons I've heard, insights the Lord has given me over the years, places I've been, things I've seen. I recommend using colored pencils or dual-point pencils for highlights because they won't bleed through the thin pages of your Bible. Some people like to have a system for highlighting: red for the works of the Holy Spirit, blue for miracles, and green for prayers, and so on. Others just randomly grab a color and highlight at will. The idea is to capture a thought, main idea, or entire passage - whatever works for you.

#4 - Look up related passages. This is where the center-column references come in handy. Any time you can look up related passages, you gain a deeper understanding of what the original passage means. Often, related passages are immediately understood - for example, in the Gospels, the related passages are each author's retelling of the same story. Sometimes, though, a related passage seems obscure. For example, in John 7:37 and 38, Jesus stands up and cries out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (NKJV) Some Bibles, including the NKJV, link back to Isaiah 12:1-6, which is a song that is sung at Sukkoth (which happens to be the great feast mentioned in John 7). It takes little digging to sort this information out, which is another reason why a study Bible is helpful. Additionally, chasing down these related passages guards against a common trap many Christians fall into: "proof-texting". This happens when you take an isolated verse or passage of Scripture and use it as "proof" of something you believe in or want to be true. Some people have used the Bible to "prove" that (for example) the Apostle Paul hated women, and that Jesus said it is perfectly all right to practice homosexuality. People are killed every year because they misapply Mark 16:18 and think that they must handle snakes in order to somehow prove that they are faithful. These are extreme examples, but unfortunately, the "minor" examples can be just as devastating spiritually! Many are led astray from the truth of what God's word says by what seem to be minor nuances and biases. Make sure that as you read, you are taking the whole of the Bible into account. Remember that God cannot lie and cannot contradict Himself! If something appears to be too good to be true - read deeper. If something appears to contradict - keep studying. Consult tried and true resources. Seek wise counsel from your pastor or a trusted Christian friend. Above all - pray. Ask God for the wisdom and discernment you need. He will give it to you!

#5 - Incorporate your other senses into your Bible study - all too often, we only use our sense of sight in a limited fashion as we read the Word. Broaden it by using other tools, such as a good Bible dictionary, maps, or pictures of the Holy Land. Find out for yourself what frankincense and myrrh really are. Use your sense of hearing by reading the word aloud. You could use an audio Bible, or even try recording yourself on tape. Explore the music of the Bible sometime. Discover what a shofar sounds like (if you've never heard one. Challenge yourself every single day to go deeper, to learn more, and to grow nearer to Him in all that you do.

I love you.