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Study A Bible Study For Examining God’s Word Study: A
Bible Study For Examining God’s Word Introduction: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 The Word of God is living and powerful. God uses it in our lives to convict, cleanse, teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness. It is our sword in the spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness. In order to consistently and correctly handle God’s Word, you will learn the inductive Bible study method. The inductive method is the process of studying Scripture passages, and then basing your conclusion on that study. It includes the steps of observation, interpretation, and application. This approach will allow you to most accurately determine what the writer was trying to communicate. This study was designed for you to practice the Bible study principles as you learn them. You are encouraged to take extra time for further study, prayer and reflection.
Before we get into the actual principles of studying the Bible, let’s consider some verses that help us keep perspective. It’s not enough just to know what the Bible means; we need to also keep in mind some of the insights and warnings it gives us. Day 1 - Knowledge
puffs up. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 How might these verses be applied to someone who is very knowledgeable in the Bible?
Why do you think hard work is important in Bible study?
How does this come into play in your study?
How are we transformed? How big a part does
Scripture play? Explain. Day 5 - The Bible
reveals what God will do in us through His Spirit. Galatians 3:1-5 How does this give us
freedom from a yoke of slavery? Day 6 - Do not just
study the Word. James 1:22-25 Making it Practical 1. Complete the
following study in order to learn to examine God’s Word. Observation - “What do I see?” Observation is taking
a close look at the text Day 1 - Ephesians 1:3-14
Day 3 - Ephesians
1:3-14 (Try for 5 more)
Day 6 - Acts 2:42
Day 7 - 2 Chronicles 7:14
When we interpret the
Bible we are trying to accurately determine what the writer was trying to
communicate. There are certain “rules” to follow that will help us do that.
The first is that we cannot interpret a verse or passage and fail to take
the whole Bible into consideration. One resource that can help is Day 1 - Galatians 5:4 “A person can lose their salvation.” John 5:24 - John 10:28-29 -
2 Corinthians 5:17 -
Acts 10:43 -
Matthew 28:19 -
Taking the Bible in its literal, normal usage means the words say what they do in everyday usage. We apply to the Bible the same rules of grammar that we do when reading any other book. While we do not interpret allegorically (having hidden spiritual meaning), we do recognize the Bible uses figures of speech (word pictures) and symbols (a visible object or being that represents something invisible or spiritual). Day 1 - Genesis 3:1-7 Do these verses deal with a fictional story that tell us we all make moral choices that have consequences? How should they be interpreted?
Day 2 - Jonah 1:1-17 Is this a picture of how we are often swallowed up with problems as we try to get away from other problems? How should they be interpreted?
Day 3 - John 20:1-9 Does this passage tell us how the Spirit of Christ lives on and can impact our lives today? How should they be interpreted?
Day 5 - Matthew 23:16, 33 What figure of speech do you see? Explain how the figure of speech enhances your understanding.
Day 7 - Revelation 1:12-16 What symbols do you see? How do these symbols enhance your understanding?
Interpretation
- “What does it mean?” As valuable as it is
to have the Bible in our own language we must remember that the majority of
the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek. It is always helpful to go back
to the original language to define a word. The best places to find this
information are in reference books such as Strong’s Concordance or Vine’s
Expository Dictionary. For an explanation on how to do a concordance word
study see Appendix B. Using the original
languages helps to...
Day 4 - 2 Corinthians 5:17 creature
Day 5 - 2 Corinthians
5:18 reconciled
Day 6 - 2 Corinthians 5:19 imputing
Day 7 - 2 Corinthians 5:20 beseech
Neglecting the context is a common reason for misinterpreting the Bible. It is important to study each statement in light of the passage surrounding it. Read the verses that come before and after to examine the entire thought of the writer. This helps not to make determinations without seeing the whole picture. Determine how the following verses are used out of context and write out your reasons. Appendix D will provide you with help. Day 1 - Amos 5:23 “God does not want musical instruments in the church because He has said He will not listen to music.”
Day 2 - 1 Peter 3:3 “Women should not wear jewelry or go the beauty shop.”
Day 3 - 1 Corinthians 10:23 “There is nothing my unsaved friends can do that I can’t do as well because the Bible says, ‘Everything is permissible.’”
Because Scripture
originated in a historical and cultural setting, it can best be understood
in light of the Biblical history and culture. This information can be
gleaned from the Bible itself as well as from reference books such as Bible
encyclopedias, Bible atlases, and Bible times and customs. Day 1 - Exodus 7:14-10:29 The Egyptians had many gods that were worshiped at small local shrines. Some of those worshiped included: Hapi-god of the Nile, Heqet- frog headed god, Sef-god of desert. Vatcnit-god represented by flies, Seshmet-goddess with power of disease, Osiris-god of crops, Re-sun god, Isis-goddess who protected children.
Day 5 - Psalm 23; John 10:1-21 The biblical shepherd knew the sheep well and responded to them instantly. The shepherd had a name for each sheep and watched over them at night by sleeping in the opening of the sheepfold. The rod the shepherd carried was a heavy club used to protect the sheep from wild animals. The staff was used to help control the sheep.
Day 6 - Matthew 9:9-13 Taxes were paid to the Roman Empire and were collected by local people called publicans. The publicans would collect excessive taxes in order to make a good living for themselves. The Jews hated the tax collectors and regarded them as traitors.
Day 7 - Matthew
3:11-12 The winnowing fork was a five pronged fork. The fork was used by
putting it into the pile and throwing the mixture of grain and straw high
into the air. The grain fell back to the floor and the straw blew away. The
grain was gathered and sifted, the straw was collected for animals. The
refuse of the winnowed grain (chaff) was burned in stoves.
When we are studying
the Bible, each Scripture has only one accurate meaning. But, each Scripture
can have many different applications or ways of making it a practical part
of your life. Sometimes the application is made directly from the verses in
the same way it was applied when they were written. At other times the
application is made from a general principle that is timeless and implied in
the text. The verse has been applied when you put it into practice. Day 1 - 1 Samuel 15:22
Day 2 - Psalm 127:1
Day 5 - Acts 1:8
Recreation is a way of
outlining the passage that enables us to see it in better detail. We are
arranging the words to better see their relationship. When re-creating a
passage use the following guidelines: 1) independent sentences go to the far
left of the paper 2) dependent phrases are placed below the word they modify
3) keep grammatical rules of modification in mind 4) line up phrases that
modify the same words 5) if a phrase seems to modify several different words
select the one that is preferable to you 6) highlight connectives 7) use
lines and arrows when necessary 8) re-create in pencil so you can make
changes 9) don’t worry about perfection just do your best. Day 1-7 - Hebrews 11
After you become
confident with the observation, interpretation, application of the inductive
method of Bible study, you will want to build into your study a variety of
approaches. You may want to buy reference books that will assist you in your
study. Appendix F gives a suggested list of Bible study resources. Overview Approach
(Reading through the entire book a number of times to see it as a whole.)
Day 2 - Develop the outline of Titus.
Topical Approach
(Study of one particular issue or subject of interest.) Follow this format:
study-summarize-conclude-apply (see Appendix G). This study can be done with
a concordance or simply listing verses as you read through a book.
Biographical Approach
(Listing observations from a study of biblical characters for summary and
application.)
Theological Approach
(Focusing on what a book says about a particular aspect of God.
a.k.a.-Christ, salvation, sin, Holy Spirit)
Over the next two weeks you are going to do a detailed study of the armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-20. You will be using the inductive method to come to a accurate understanding of this passage. When you have completed it, select your own passage for a detailed study. Day 1 - Read through the entire book of Ephesians in order to get an overview. What is the main theme? Do you see an outline?
Day 3 - When Paul says in verse thirteen, “Therefore put on the full armor of God”, what is the context of this statement?
Day 1-2 - Do studies on words you think are key words in this passage. Use the Strong’s Concordance or the Vine’s Expository Dictionary.
Day 7 - Pray through the passage, especially focusing on putting on the armor of God.
1. The writer is very
connected to a “spiritual life.”
Follow this procedure when doing a word study in Strong’s Concordance. 1. Look up the word in
the concordance. A.1921 B.???????????; C. epiginosko; D. from 1909 and 1097; E. to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly F. AV - know 30, acknowledge 5, perceive 3, take knowledge of 2, have knowledge of 1, know well 1; 42 A. Strong’s # 6. Write down the
definition
Note: There are software programs available for finding the meaning of words in the original languages that can be obtained at your local Christian bookstore.
2 Peter 1:10 - 1589 ???????; ekloge; from 1586; 1) the act of picking out, choosing 1a) of the act of God's free will by which before the foundation of the world he decreed his blessings to certain persons; AV - election 6, chosen 1; 7 John 13:34 - 25 ???????; agapao; perhaps from agan (much) [or cf 5368]; 1) of persons 1a) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly; AV - love 135, beloved 7; 142 John 15:19 - 5368???????; phileo; from 5384; 1) to love 1a) to approve of 1b) to like 1c) sanction 1d) to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend; AV - love 22, kiss 3; 25 2 Corinthians 5:17 - 2937 ??????; ktisis; from 2936; 1) the act of founding, establishing, building, etc. 1a) the act of creating, creation; AV - creature 11, creation 6, building 1, ordinance 1; 19 2 Corinthians 5:18 - 2644 ??????????; katallasso; from 2596 and 236; 1) to change, exchange, as coins for others of equivalent value 1a) to reconcile (those who are at variance) 1b) return to favour with, be reconciled to one; AV - reconcile 6; 6 2 Corinthians 5:19 - 3049 ???????????????????????????????????; logizomai; middle voice from 3056; 1) to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over 1a) to take into account, to make an account of; AV - think 9, impute 8, reckon 6, count 5, account 4, suppose 2, reason 1, number 1, misc 5; 41 2 Corinthians 5:20 -
3870 ?????????; parakaleo; from 3844 and 2564; 1) to call to one's side,
call for, summon 2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be
done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc. 2a) to
admonish, exhort 2b) to beg, entreat, beseech ; AV- beseech 43, comfort 23,
exhort 21, desire 8, pray 6, intreat 3, misc 4, vr besought 1; 109 Amos 5:23 - Judgement (Day of the Lord) is coming because of the wickedness of Israel. God says he hates all of their “religiousness” including their songs and music. 1 Peter 3:3 - This verse is not teaching that these things are forbidden, but is emphasizing the far greater importance of inner qualities that produce beauty of character. 1 Corinthians 10:23 - This verse deals with Christian liberty and tells us that even though we have freedom not everything is beneficial for others. 1 Peter 2:24 - It speaks of the suffering of Christ in order that we might be dead to sins and alive to righteousness. Deuteronomy 5:12 - This was given to Israel and not the church. In addition the Sabbath is Saturday not Sunday. Galatians 3:26 - We are all sons of God “through faith in Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:22 - This is speaking to the issue of divisions and excess in the church, not that they should have no food there.
Therefore,
Concordance Bible Dictionaries Bible Encyclopedias Word Studies Bible Commentaries Bible Atlases History and Culture Other Resources
Study Summarize (limited
example) Conclude (limited
example) Apply
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