How To Study The Bible

Here is an outline of the three foundational questions to ask when studying the Bible.

WHAT does the Bible say?

• The first task of Bible study is to hear the words of Scripture as the original recipients heard it.
• The goal is to discover the original intent of the Scripture.
• This is not the only task of Bible study, but it is always the first task.
• Always examine the context. There are five main contexts that must be considered:

1. The immediate passage
2. The context of the book in which it is written
3. Other books of the Bible by the same author
4. The entire Old or New Testament in which the book / verse was written
5. The entire Bible

• The key to this step is asking the right questions.

1. Who is speaking? (Speaker)
2. Who is being spoken to? (Audience)
3. When did this happen? (Time Frame)
4. Where did the incident take place? (Location)
5. What is the main theme in the passage referred to? (Principle Thought)
6. What is being said? (Content)
7. Why is this being said? (Purpose)

NOW WHAT does that mean today?

• The second task of Bible study is to determine what the Scripture is saying today.
• The goal is to discern the eternal intent of the Scripture.
• This can only be done after having discovered the original meaning in step one.
• A text cannot mean what it never meant.
• In Hebrews 3:7-8 [show] Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,
  we see God admonishing the Hebrew Christians with the same words that He spoke to the Israelites in Psalms 95:7 [show] For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,
  . In the same way God will use the same words that He spoke to people in Bible times to Christians today.
• The key question – “Does this verse contain a direct command or an eternal principle?”

SO WHAT? How does it apply to my life?

• The ultimate task of Bible study is to know how to put the Word into practice.
• The goal is to determine the immediate intent of the Scripture for my life.
• This must only be done after answering the ‘WHAT?’ and ‘NOW WHAT?’ questions.
• The principles you apply to your life must agree with the whole counsel of Scripture.