Why and How do we Study the Bible?

Why study the Bible?

As a believer in Christ, studying the Bible is essential. God reveals his character and will to us through His Word. Every passage of the Bible reveals God's divine nature and intentions for mankind. It is eternal food and water which satiates our soul. Studying the Word hones our discernment and guards us against false teachings. But how might we do it? Studying the Bible feels like a daunting task. The Bible has 66 books broken into two major sections: the Old Testament (39) and the New Testament (27.) There are many online resources on how to split these up into more manageable pieces. But the point of this article is to explain the approach that works best for me and is not a one-size-fits-all approach. I encourage you to explore as many approaches as you like so long as their teaching is Biblically sound.

How I approach studying the Bible:

Pray- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning of the Bible to you, opening your heart and mind to its teaching. Pray for discernment and guarding against false teachings and misunderstanding.

Read the Entire Passage- not just the verse. This will give you a better understanding of the type of passage you are reading. (Explained further down.)

Pay Attention to the beginning of Chapter Summaries- these will help you orient yourself and provide the necessary context for understanding.

Take notes and ask yourself questions while reading- Take note of questions and things you have difficulty understanding. If your version of the Bible has commentary, keep yourself from reading the commenter's interpretation before discerning your own. (The commentary is not part of the Bible and should not be taken as Gospel.)

Seek to answer those questions- You are expected to struggle with passages in different seasons of life; sometimes, you must believe that God will reveal the meaning to you in time. Sometimes, he will direct you to pastors and teachers who understand the passage.

Seek a Mentor- If you still have trouble understanding independently, absolutely find a mentor, small-group leader, or pastor to discuss your questions with. Host a Bible study and speak with fellow believers if you can manage it. Conversations over the Word of God are always deep and meaningful, good for the education of all involved.

Trust in God, for nothing is ever done in our time but his alone. If you still need help understanding, keep seeking answers, but do not be discouraged or disheartened if it takes time.

Other Advice:

The Bible contains many different genres of literature, each of which should be read and interpreted differently. Some are made to reveal things to us; others are applied to daily life. Knowing one from the other can remove barriers to understanding and if the reading is meant for description or application.

Law- Usually refers to the first five books of the Old Testament, telling us about God and his nature and how we should behave according to who God has revealed himself to be.

Narrative- Stories of God’s people in the past, which accumulate into the bigger picture of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration.

Palms- Inspired poetry that helps people remember God’s word, which is especially important considering having a physical copy of the Bible is a modern convenience.

Wisdom- discernment and applicable truths that help guide our lives today. They unpack how the world works and how to have proper awe and reverence for God.

Prophecy- God’s messages to his people through prophets.

Gospels- Tell the unified story of Jesus and his teachings on earth, explaining who he is from many perspectives.

Parables-Creative illustrations by Jesus used to communicate messages about the nature and kingdom of God.

Letters- or Epistles, are letters from the apostles to early Christians and churches to address specific situations or issues in a particular area.

Apocalyptic- or Revelation is a typo of prophetic writing that has yet to pass. It speaks of the end times.

I hope these tips are helpful in your study of scripture. May God be with you always. I wish I knew these things as a new believer; there are parts of the Bible I have had to recontextualize over the years because of my misunderstanding. May God use this post to help you as he has helped me. God bless you all.

Heavenly Father, abundant is grace, power, and mercy; thank you for putting it on our hearts and minds to seek your word. I pray you are glorified. I pray for your continual sanctification as we live beneath your divine guidance. All praise, honor, and glory are yours. I pray in your Holy name ~ Amen

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christian, Writer of Fiction and Fantasy; human. I have been turning Caffeine into Words since 2007. If you enjoy my work, please consider liking, following, reposting on Social Media, or tipping. <3

God Bless!