“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,
a worker who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
The day I became a Christian, I looked at the Bible in my hands and shuddered. It was a big book, and it contained complicated theological discussions, obscure historical references, confusing metaphors, and apocalyptic symbols. How would I ever understand it?
The answer, I discovered, was Bible study. The Book would release its treasures through systematic study grounded on and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
Well, if you are a believer, you already know the reality of which I’m speaking. You know that studying God’s Word is vital for the Christian’s spiritual well-being and growth. But perhaps you are struggling to know how to do that. Or maybe you’ve allowed your study to lapse, and it’s time to get going again.
If you’re struggling with knowing how to study your Bible, there are many excellent books that can help you. They range from simple devotional approaches to complicated systems of analysis, but ultimately they all come down to the same three disciplines: observation, application, and interpretation. Today I would like to offer you three simple questions you can use to guide you in your Bible study. These three questions are: ‘What?’ ‘Why?’ and, ‘So?’
What?
The ‘what’ question is answered through observation. In this step, the student simply asks himself or herself what is in the text. The goal is to see what is there and record what one sees. I encourage you to record your observations in a journal or notebook. The ensures you won’t forget them as you move forward.
Observing the text can be a relatively simple thing, and it may be best just simply to ask yourself ‘what’s there?’ But, if you’re looking for a more structured approach, you might consider using the following steps (selected and paraphrased from Kay Arthur’s book How to Study Your Bible):
§ Ask the “5 W’s and an H.” Methodically ask yourself these questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?Seek accuracy in your answers, and try to exhaust each question. For example, “Who is speaking? Who is this about? Who are the main characters?” and then, “What is the subject or event covered? What do you learn about the people involved?” and etc. You might even consider writing both the questions and the answers in your notebook. As you do, you will find your sketch of the passage being ‘fleshed’ out.
§ Mark Key Words and Phrases. A key word is simply one that is essential to the text. It might be a noun, a descriptive word, or an action. It would be considered key in that its removal would leave the passage meaningless. Mark these words and record them in your notebook.
§ Look for Lists. Make lists of the places where your key terms are used. These lists will help you see how a thought or term is developed or expounded upon throughout the passage.
§ Develop Themes. Look for the natural breaking points in the text. These may be paragraph breaks, or something larger, akin to chapter breaks. Once you’ve observed their presence, try to summarize the paragraph or chapter with a thematic title. Ask yourself how you might summarize the passage in one sentence for a six-year-old, and then write down that sentence.
Why?
The ‘why’ question is answered through interpretation. In this step, the student asks himself or herself the meaning of the text. The goal is to understand why God inspired the author(s) to write what they did. Ask yourself “What does it mean?” and then record your answers.
Here you would be wise to remember some basic guidelines concerning interpretation (again selected and paraphrased from Kay Arthur’s book How to Study Your Bible):
§ Remember that context rules. Interpretation of a particular verse or group of verses must always be rendered in light of the surrounding verses, the book in which it/they occur, and the entirety of the Bible. Questions to ask here include: Is my interpretation consistent with the theme, purpose, and structure of the book in which it is found? Am I considering the historic and cultural context of what is being said? Etc.
§ Remember that Scripture will never contradict Scripture. That said, sometimes you will find two seemingly contradictory truth taught in the Bible. An example of this would be the sovereignty of God and responsibility of man. When two or more truths that are clearly taught in the Bible seem to be in conflict, remember that we as humans have finite minds. Don’t take a teaching to an extreme that God doesn’t. Humble your heart in faith and believe what God ways, even in you can’t fully understand or reconcile it at the moment.
§ Interpret Scripture literally. The Bible was given that we might know God and His plan. It is not given to obscure the truth. Therefore, take it at face value – in its natural, normal sense. Look first for the clear teaching, not a hidden meaning. And, by the way, this includes the recognition and appropriate interpretation of figures of speech. It also means that we should observe the type of literature of any particular text, and, if it is poetry, treat it as poetry (for example). Or, if it is historical narrative, treat it as historical narrative.
Again, as you answer this ‘why’ question, be sure to record your thoughts. Write down your interpretative conclusions and state the observational data that supports your conclusions. Write it down so you won’t forget.
So?
The ‘so’ question is answered through application. In this step, the student asks how the text is to be applied – to himself or herself, to the church, to the world as a whole, and etc. Your goal is to determine and articulate what God would have you do in response to the text. Ask yourself So what? What does this mean for me? For us?
In this area it may be helpful to consider three additional questions (once again selected and paraphrased from Kay Arthur’s book How to Study Your Bible):
§ Does the passage state an application? Many passages include a clear exhortation or admonishment. Just remember to be careful in discerning whether the command is given directly to you. We are to learn from every part of the Bible, but every part of the Bible was not addressed directly to us. For instance, believers in the Church Age should approach the Mosaic Law differently than citizens of ethnic Israel did during the reign of David. This particular observation should impact our understanding and application of many of the Psalms, for instance.
§ Does this section of Scripture expose any error in my beliefs or in my behavior? Are there any commandments that I have not obeyed? Are there any wrong attitudes or motives in my life that the Scriptures bring to light?
§ What is God’s instruction to me as His child? Are there any new truths to be believed? Are there any new commandments to be acted upon? Are there any new insights I am to pursue? Are there any promises I am to embrace?
Two things should be said concerning application. First, it is important that we do not simply create lists of applications and write them down. I do think it is wise to make lists and write them, but it is equally important to do the things we write on the lists. The goal of our Bible study is to have a deeper knowledge of and love for God, and to facilitate a greater conformity to the image of our Savior, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our goal is not mere knowledge. In fact, if we pursue knowledge and do not apply what we learn, we will be worse off that those who had never pursued knowledge.
The second thing worth mentioning is that there are two types of applications that can be profitably written. They are unconditional and conditional applications. Unconditional applications involve those things we will do or not do, immediately and proactively, in response to our interaction with the text. Conditional applications are things we determine to do or not dodepending upon the situations in which we find ourselves. So, if the text says I should not retaliate against someone who strikes me, my conditional application would be, If someone strikes me, I will not retaliate. Obedience would entail a decision to act in a certain way should the opportunity or situation arise.
As I jot down these thoughts, I realize that the process I have outlined is an arduous one. Bible study requires work. It demands discipline. But it’s worth the effort. If we are to rejoice in the treasures of God’s Word, we must invest our time and energy in mining the Scriptures. The riches of Scripture are inexhaustible, and those who seek will be richly rewarded.
My encouragement to you is to determine again, today, to study God’s Word. Use these three questions to spur you back into action. Abandon yourself again to the Scriptures, that you might know Jesus and the power of His resurrection, that you might rejoice in the fellowship of His sufferings, that you might realize conformity to His death, and that you might be fully prepared for the resurrection from the dead.
“Not that I have already attained,
or am already perfected; but I press on,
that I may lay hold of that for which
Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”
Philippians 3:12
No comments:
Post a Comment