How to Study the Bible

Studying the Bible

- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15

- But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear – 1 Peter 3:15


God's word is so simple to understand, you have to have help to misunderstand it…

- But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty - 1 Corinthians 1:27

- But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ - 2 Corinthians 11:3

- The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple – Psalm 119:130


Spiritually discerned

- For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward – 2 Corinthians 1:12

- But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned - 1 Corinthians 2:14

- But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you – John 14:26


Context - Text out of context isolated from co-text becomes a pretext to false teaching

- See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise – Ephesians 5:15

- For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little – Isaiah 28:10


Proof text - The final guide to the interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself.

- at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established – Deuteronomy 19:15

- Example: Matthew 4


Mysteries and symbols in scripture are defined and explained in scripture

- Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to his good pleasure which He hath purposed in himself – Ephesians 1:9

- which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit – Ephesians 3:5

- Example: Luke 8:5-15


Scriptures testify of Jesus

- Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. - John 5:39

- For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me – John 5:46


Biblical Meditation

- This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. – Joshua 1:8

- I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. – Psalm 119:15


Test all things with scripture

- To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them – Isaiah 8:20

- And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.  These [Bereans] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.  Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.  - Acts 17:10-12

- Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

- Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. – 1 John 4:1


Do not add to or take away

- Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you – Deuteronomy 4:2

- Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar – Proverbs 30:6

- For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. – Revelation 22:18-19