On How to Study the Bible...

Or, What You've Been Missing on Wednesday Nights...

Over the past few months I've been teaching a class on how to study the Bible. What follows is a summary of that class, in case you weren't able to make it.

First, here is a basic outline of steps for studying a passage:

Studying a passage:
I. Find a passage - find something that sticks out to you, whether it’s confusing or compelling. Try to focus on a few verses. Usually the size of a paragraph is about perfect. Normally, your Bible will indicate a paragraph break by the verse number being in bold text.
Example: 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (In this example verse 9 demonstrates a paragraph break by the number 9 being in bold text)
I. Forget everything you know about it (and everything related to it) - It’s important that we don’t just reinforce our beliefs, but rather allow the text to confront or confirm them. This is both the most difficult and most important part of the process. We are not studying the Bible to support our existing ideas, but to discover it's meaning (even if it contradicts our existing beliefs).
II. Read the text - focus on becoming familiar with it’s tone, only taking notes on what sticks out the most to you.
III. Read the text again - Take notes.
IV. Read the larger context - Take notes. By this I mean read the surrounding texts. Try to read the entire book, but in the event that it is too lengthy (Isaiah, Psalms, etc) read a few chapters ahead, and a few chapters after.
V. Read the text one more time – Now that you have a good idea of the passage, and it's context, you are better suited to determine which words and phrases are worthy of further research.
VI. Research Key Words and Phrases – using whatever resources at your disposal, study the aspects of the texts that you have determined to be relevant in step VI.

Here's a list of resources: All range from $18-25 a piece.
Dictionary of Paul and his Letters → Has entries pertaining to anything to do with Paul.
Bible Background Commentary → Has Cultural and Historical information sorted by Bible Reference

Finally, here's some advice about Bible study.
I. Study authors in scripture that have written multiple parts of the Bible.
1. Paul wrote everything from Romans to Philemon
2. Luke wrote both The Gospel of Luke and Acts
3. John wrote The Gospel of John, I-III John, and Revelation
It helps to study these authors, because it's easier to establish their vocabulary. By that I mean we can see how they use particular words in particular contexts. The additional material helps us better understand the author, and therefore better understand their intended meaning.

I. Study the New Testament.
II. - I am not saying the Old Testament isn't relevant. It is actually incredibly relevant. However, it's easy to be discouraged studying the Old Testament, because it is more foreign by nature, and therefore harder to understand than the New Testament. Once you gain some confidence in Bible study from the New Testament, move on to the Old Testament. Also, once you are more familiar to the Theology of the New Testament, you will have a better appreciation for the Old Testament.

-Ryan Lytton