The Proper Method of Bible Study

A vitally important study!!!!!

How do we know we’ve got the right teaching on spiritual matters?

1.       Pray: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the
     door will be opened to you," Matthew 7:7. We need to remember that God
     answers prayers four ways; yes, no, wait and with a substitute. For a lesson
     on the importance of prayer click on A Covenant for the Birds.
 

2.       There is a God in Heaven provides the evidences that
     prove the Bible to be God’s word.

3.       The Authority of The Scriptures shows that we must
     follow only the Bible.

4.       The Two Covenants shows that we are under only the
     New Testament commands.

5.       Using The Proper Method insures the proper
     conclusion.

METHODS OF BIBLE STUDY: In your author's humble opinion, this study is one of the most important lessons I have ever learned. Next to the plan of salvation this is number one in value. Dear reader, please read and re-read carefully and put this lesson to practice in your life.

The direction we shoot determines what we hit. If we are facing the side or back of the target we're not likely to hit the bull’s-eye. To hit that proper meaning of the Scriptures we must use the proper approach.

Unity demands that we all approach our Bible study from the same direction.

Proper understanding demands we approach from the right direction.

EXAMPLES OF VARIOUS BIBLE STUDY APPROACHES:

SILVER PLATTER APPROACH: (Spiritual) Pentecostals (Close your eyes and point; first thought is law).

A man was having financial problems. His preacher told him to close his eyes, open his Bible and point to a passage. Then he told him that this was God’s message to him and he should do what ever the passage said. A couple days later the preacher asked how his finances were coming along. The man replied, “No problem now.” "What verse did you point to?" "No verse. I found that I was pointing to margin of my Bible." "How did that help your finances?" "When I opened my eyes I was pointing to the words 'Chapter 13' so I filed bankruptcy."

Matt 27:5 “So Judas... went away and hanged himself.”
Luke 10:37 “Then said Jesus unto him, “Go, and do thou likewise.”

FIGURATIVE: (Allegorical) Methodist. I once heard a Methodist preacher tell the story of the Good Samaritan. He said that the man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, which means he was going down into sin. He fell among thieves, which means that he gave his life to the pursuit of wickedness. He got beat up which means, that wickedness robbed him of his happiness with God. The Good Samaritan came along, which means that God’s word came to him. Oil was poured into his wounds, which means the Holy Spirit came into him. The only problem with this is it is completely a fantasy and has nothing to do with Jesus’ actual message. Be careful how you interpret the Bible.

ONLY THE CHURCH CAN INTERPRET THE BIBLE: (Hierarchal) Catholics, Mormons, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their approach makes it difficult to study with them. Teaching this lesson to them may help.

ONLY THEIR PREACHERS CAN INTERPRET THE BIBLE: (Mystical) Catholics, Many church goers.

LITERAL APPROACH: Jehovah’s Witnesses. “I am the door.” Does this mean that Jesus was a piece of pine about seven feet tall, three inches thick, and had a door knob some place in his middle? The rule for figurative language in communication is: We take every statement as literal unless it involves an absurdity or a direct contradiction of other clear statements.

REASON: (Rationalistic) (Nature is the standard, reason is the guide) Unitarians. If it doesn’t measure up to my reason it can’t be true.

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INDUCTIVE-DEDUCTIVE approach – (Add and subtract)
Two truths never contradict.

This inductive/deductive method of study is used in every field of science and literature today except for studying the Bible. Why do some people reject it?

This is the method that Jesus taught us to use!

Jesus commanded us to teach everything he commanded, Matt 28:20.

Acts 20:27 teaches us to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

We must not go through the Bible cafeteria stile, choosing just what we want and discarding the rest.

Examples:
In Gen 2:17 God said, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

In Gen 3:4-5 Satan said, “You will not surely die...”

Adam and Eve did not die physically the day they ate of the forbidden fruit. That part of the Devil’s statement was true. We might say he told a partial truth but his partial truth made it a terrible lie.

Matt 4:1-4 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

How did Jesus defend himself against the Devil? He defended himself with the words, “It is written” (Ps. 119:11 - “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”)

Jesus taught, “We must live by every word…” i.e. we can not go with partial truths. We can’t go through the Bible cafeteria style. WE Must induct- ADD UP WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.)

Mt. 4:5, 6 “Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: (i.e. in one place - partial truth). ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” The devil can quote scriptures. “For it is written...” (i.e. in one place).

Mt. 4:7 “Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (KJV ‘It is written again, once more, furthermore or on the other hand.’”)

We must take it all. We must induct. We must add it all up.

2 Peter 1:20, 21 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

(“Prophecy” "the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God" - Vine) (“Interpretation” explanation, i.e. application - Strong) (Preaching God’s message is never done by the preacher’s own explanation. - NCC)

How then do we explain God’s message? We must allow the Bible to explain the Bible.)

Deduct:

2 Tim 2:15 - Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

(KJV “rightly divides the word.” Strong's Greek word #5114, definition: to make a straight cut, i.e. (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message) (NCC i.e. Deduct):

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THE SUM OF THY WORD:

See passages below each chart to fill it out.
Numbers within brackets indicate the column number.

SAGA OF THE CUT OFF EAR:

Mark 14:47 “Then one of those (1) standing near drew his sword and struck the servant (4) of the high priest, cutting (3) off his ear.” (7)”

Mt. 26:51, 52 “With that, one of (1) Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant (4) of the high priest, cutting (3) off his ear. ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said (9) to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.’”

Luke 22:50-51 “And one of them (1) struck the servant (4) of the high priest, cutting (3) off his right (6) ear. (7) But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him. (8)

John 18:10-11 “Then Simon Peter, (2) who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant (4), cutting (3) off his right (6) ear.(7) (The servant's name was Malchus.(5) Jesus commanded (9) Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’”

THE GREAT COMMISSION:

Matt 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing (5) them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching (1) them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Mark 16:15-16 “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach (1) the good news (2) to all creation. 16 Whoever believes (3) and is baptized (5) will be saved, (6) but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Luke 24:47 “…and repentance (4) and forgiveness of sins (6) will be preached (1) in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

 FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION:                                    

Acts 2:14 “Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice (1) and addressed the crowd.”

Acts 2:23 “This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death (2) by nailing him to the cross. Acts 2:32 God has raised (2) this Jesus to life.”

Acts 2:37, 38 “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart (3) and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent (4) and be baptized, (5) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. (6) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 8:12 “But when they believed (3) Philip as he preached (1) the good news (2) of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, (5) both men and women.”

Acts 8:12-13 - Simon himself believed (3) and was baptized. (5) And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

Acts 8:35-39 “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him (1) the good news (2) about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?’ 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized (5) him”.

Acts 9:17-18 “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, (1) ‘Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.” (5)

Acts 22:16 “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized (5) and wash your sins away, (6) calling on his name.”

Acts 10:34 “Then Peter began to speak Acts 10:39-40 "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him (2) by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him (2) from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.”

Acts 10:43 “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes (3) in him receives forgiveness (6) of sins through his name.” Acts 10:47-48 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized (5) with water?”

Acts 11:18 “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance (4) unto life.” (6)

Acts 16:14, 15 “One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. (1) When she and the members of her household were baptized.” (5)

Acts 16:31-33 “They replied, "Believe (3) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved (6)-you and your household." Then they spoke the word (1) of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.” (5)

Acts 18:8 “Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed (3) in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him (1) believed (3) and were baptized.” (5)

Acts 19:1-5 “While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ (3) They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John's baptism,’ they replied. Paul said, (1) ‘John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized (5) into the name of the Lord Jesus.”

OBSERVATIONS:

We could not know all that was involved in the Great Commission if we did not study all the passages that tell about it. Only by taking everything the Scriptures give can we learn the complete story.

Gathering all that the Bible says about any one subject takes work. Paul said, A workman needs not be ashamed if he divides the Scriptures properly.

Once all the scriptures are gathered on any one subject and material that does not directly relate is separated from the collection, we can know ALL that God has said on the subject. In other words we can now speak with authority. We can KNOW what God has taught.

Many Bible students are too lazy to gather all the facts together. Others are too self opinionated to allow God to have the last word. If we truly want to know God's will on any subject this method of Bible study will reveal the truth.

A Bible concordance is a wonderful tool to use as you study the Bible using this method. An even better tool is an automated computer Bible concordance. I use mine nearly every day. May God bless you as you study HIS word.

Textual study of the Bible, i.e. reading one verse after another and one chapter after another, is a wonderful way to study, but I would like to point out that, at least to my knowledge, there is not one textual sermon in the Bible. All sermons and all the lessons are taught by topics. I think it therefore follows that God wants us to do the work necessary to learn all He has to say on the various subjects that He teaches in the Bible. This takes WORK but is so valuable. I have personally known people who have read the Bible through many times but were almost illiterate when it came to most of the basic Bible teachings. The Bible commands us not only to read but to STUDY!

One other observation regarding the fulfilling of the Great Commission in the book of Acts. Although believing, repenting, confession and baptism are mentioned various times, only baptism is mentioned in each and every account of conversion in the book of Acts.

This column lists the studies that will lead to a proper understanding of God's Word

Just click on the title

We Can Know . . .

We can know our understanding of the Bible is accurate. Bible Study

There is a God in Heaven and the Bible is His Word

Prayer and God's Promises

 The Authority of The Scriptures

The Two Covenants

The Proper Method of Study