-EO{0iB d("o? It is a trustworthy (pistos = faithful; cp Paul's 4 "faithful sayings" - 1Ti 1:15, 4:9, 2Ti 2:11+, Titus 3:8+) statement deserving full acceptanceit is for this (godliness) we labor (kopiao = to the point of exhaustion; present tense = continually) and strive (agonizomai = as when striving in an athletic contest emphasizing concentration, discipline, conviction, effort; present tense = continually)." That seems important to delve into deeper. They do not seem very ancient. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. The world will learn better, and will more likely be brought to know Christ when the lives of Christians are better, and when the Bible of the Christian Life shall be more in, accordance with the Bible of Christian doctrine. 1 Peter Youre attempting to get a sense of the whole before you begin to break down the parts. He alone is in a posture to learn from God, who sincerely gives up (surrenders, yields) his mind, conscience, and affections to the power and rule of what is revealed unto him. It is impossible to study the Scriptures diligently without running head-on into the need for application, "for the word of God is living and active (energetic, effective) and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge (sifting and analyzing) the thoughts and intentions of the heart and there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open (the bending back of the neck thoroughly exposing it to the eye of the skillful surgeon or the criminal on trial with a sharp dagger bound to his neck with the point just below the chin, so that he could not bow his head but had to face the court) and laid bare to the eyes of Him with Whom we must give account." If a Christian is careless in Bible reading, he will care less about Christian living. In short, as John MacArthur says "Bible study is not complete until we ask ourselves, What does this mean for my life and how can I practically apply it?, We must take the knowledge we have gained from our reading and interpretation and draw out the practical principles that apply to our personal lives. 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy The Bible is divine in origin. trailer Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. ", Oswald Chambers in his typical "no nonsense" style reminds us that"One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it", We have to be careful not to deceive ourselves. The Apostle Paul's great passion was transformed, Christ like lives as he explained to the saints at Colossae writing we proclaim Him (Christ in believers the hope of glory), admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. Careless Observation These three parts are observation, interpretation, and application. Application of God's Word will not always be "pain free", but it will always be profitable. (Persevere!). Marking them will help you see the sequence of events and lead to accurate interpretation of Scripture. 3 John The New Testament gives us further teaching about the way of approach, and makes new demands on our spiritual life, whilst offering us a new standard to live up to. Then you could go back and look at how the other Gospels start: Matthew begins by giving us Jesus genealogy and then gives us a little glimpse into His birth. Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. (He 4:12, 13-see notes He 4:12; 13). It is more focused on the immediate application of the passage to your life. If you skip this step, you will never enjoy your Bible study and the Bible will never change your life. David Shepherd rightly exhorts us to leave out not "step" in study of God's Word but to be diligent to Read it to get the facts, study it to get the meaning, meditate on it to get the benefit. But this is exactly what happens when we fail to apply what we have observed and interpreted. What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? who delude themselves. (Skip Heitzig How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It), Puritan Thomas Manton adds that "What we take in by the Word we digest by meditation and let out by prayer.". Some people say they cannot meditate; they do not know what it means, or they have no time, or they go to sleep when they begin. Look at Matthew 21:42-44 as an example. Hebrews There is always something new to uncover in the Bible. There are several reasons for this . R4`:|ut\#jDAh]Y1]|{ >^*8"I+ +N-rjiSS-Q*c9eF,xyV]%^p]=dG- J&naSP Ruth What is the key to applying the Bible to my life? Ask yourself the five Ws and H: Its critical at this stage not to add anything to the text or take anything away. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson). Zechariah Application takes place as you are confronted with the truth and you respond to that truth in obedience (in faith). And the botanist had a big notebook under his arm and a great big magnifying glass. We build up a reservoir of responses so that whenever the truth gets too convicting, weve got a multiplicity of reasons why it applies to everyone else but us! 0000060059 00000 n 1 Samuel (3) substituting rationalization for repentance. We may hear words like "hermeneutics" (the science of interpretation) or "exegesis" (critical explanation or interpretation of a text) and think interpretation is something best left to experts. But meditation is a matter of habit, and we can all be trained into it. The well known Puritan writer John Owen had some pithy comments on the need to study the Scriptures with the ultimate intent to apply them to one's life. These divisions are incredibly convenient. The questions that might come out of your observations about Mark might include: Why does Mark not include the Christmas story in the beginning? This fundamental step must be taken if one desires to accurately interpret and properly apply God's Word. Don't deceive yourself! He now teaches two courses: "Bible Study" and "Advanced Bible Study." "All of my courses are built on the basic pattern of observation, interpretation, application and correlation (or . I have known of some, too, who gloried in final perseverance, but who, if they had finally persevered would certainly have been in hell, for they were on the road there. (Basic Bible Interpretation). Girdlestone in his 1887 classic "How to Study the English Bible" has a chapter on application that speaks to "THE PRACTICAL AND DEVOTIONAL USE OF THE BIBLE" - We have now come to the last and most important stage of our subject. In observation, you were asking the question, What did I see? In interpretation, you ask, What does it mean? If you have not done a thorough job in the exploration phase, the interpretation phase can be difficult. Which road will you travel? We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. It is thework of applying something (I like that -- it make take a little "holy sweat" to apply what we have learned, but it is worth the effort exerted! Many times a Bible passage is read only with eyes but not with the mind engaged. When you break the discipline of Bible study down to its simplest forms, its just a few steps: Explore: What did God say (to the original readers)? Revelation, Search Wikipedia using spiritual discretion, Authority of God's Word - study on 2Timothy 3:16-17, Ezra 7:10 - Exposition of the "Ezra 7:10 Principle", A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation. Exodus 0000003614 00000 n When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. (Mt 7:13, 14+). Until all on the altar we lay; The writer of Psalm 119+ (virtually every verse of which deals with some aspect of God's holy Word) speaks to the importance of one's attitude that should undergird and stimulate right and ready application of truth gleaned Princes persecute me without cause, but (what's being contrasted?) Make them your own. We dont study the Bible just to gain knowledge. Reportedly, Crowfoot put the pass in a leather pouch and wore it around his neck for the rest of his lifebut he never once availed himself of the rights and privileges it spelled out. For he set its foundation upon the seas, and established it upon the ocean currents. Lifting verses out of their immediate context is a sure way to find yourself in heresy land. Not just for information In this spirit of readiness we seek to turn God's truth into action. EP !HOz 2 John This step is asking these questions: What are the biggest ideas and the important details? (How to study the English Bible), SPACE PETS Note that the question is not"Is this truth relevant to my life?" A Silly yet Serious For example, Philippians 4:13, in context, isn't about being the greatest and most famous basketball player, but about being content and having joy in any and every circumstance ( Phil 4:10-13 ). Once you think youve done all you can here, its time to move on to the final phase: application. (Self deception is the worst form of deception and occurs when we come to believe there is virtue in hearing the truth of God but failing to apply it.) What are its elements ? Did they know where the Messiah was to be born? is the result of The following books are a great place to learn more about this simple methodology: Kay Arthurs inductive method has helped millions of people learn how to study the Bible for themselves. For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. Your goal in observation is to notice as much as possible. There are a lot of excellent study Bibles available. God's promises are not a substitute for prayer, but a stimulus to it. Study the Bible to be wise The world desperately needs to see the Word's miracle-working power at work in our own lives as living proof! King Edward VI of England would stand while the Word of God was read in worship service. This becomes extremely important when youre studying a book with a single prolonged argument, like the Book of Romans. Then we have mentally to adjust the picture thus formed with the pictures already in our mindto hang it, so to speak, in its right place, so that it may blend with the convictions of truth already attained. It comes from knowing more about the Bible and applying it to our spiritual needs. Sometimes the application will simply be deeper faith and firmer belief. The main tool for each step is the Bible itself, meaning that when there is a question in my mind as to a passage's meaning, I first look to other scripture to provide the answer. This is a motivating truth that you can trust and which you should welcome and willingly acknowledge. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. When people started complaining, he told the congregation, "I'll preach a new sermon when you act on this one. Here are a few questions you can ask: There are a few essential rules to remember when attempting to interpret a passage: Make sure you spend a good chunk of time with this phase. Bible study is intentionally digging into a passage of Scripture and using various interpretive techniques to understand what the author is saying. Especially let this be so with the promises. What a glory He sheds on our way! (Keying into the term good news early will help you understand Marks Gospel, as its a critical term that he uses repeatedly.). Inductive Bible Study. For the first question, you might think through your initial reading of Mark. Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?" ( Ps 24:1-3 ). And if at any time, when we study the Word, we have not this design expressly in our minds, yet if upon the discovery of any truth we endeavor not to have the likeness of it in our own hearts, we lose our principal advantage by it (John Owen). Refrain, Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word (cp Ep 5:26-note). Whenever (every time) we read the Scriptures, the question we should always honestly seek to ask is How does the meaning of this text apply to me? You can find the Inductive Bible Study Workflow (with five other Workflows and many other Bible Study tools) inLogos Starter. After studying the importance of salt to first-century Judean people, you would have a clear picture of its significance to Jesus original audience. 63 12 The mind delights in having the truth presented clearly; the imagination is gratified by its illustration; the feelings are stirred by its application. 10 Questions the Internet Is Asking about the KJV. For Inductive Bible study, we don't begin with a topic and then try to find specific verses that make a teaching point. Permissions We need to be specific here. Okay, so what is inductive Bible study, exactly? Not just for knowledge, but much more-- Every promise must be grasped and realized as true : every precept must be registered in the heart, and acted out in the life, in the strength of God. When thou passest through the river I will be with thee, the floods shall not overflow thee! Oh! We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. We must get into the Word of God for ourselves. 1:20-21). Sow a thought, reap an action. How about Son of God"? As someone has blunted phrased it "Interpretation without application is abortion.". Solicitation Disclosure Statement THE ERROR IN THE "FORK" IN THE ROAD 1. To know and not to do is not to know at all. Reading and studying the Bible are two different practices. What does the term Messiah mean? This speak of a personal choice that must be made) any man is willing (thelo = desires, wishes, delights [cp Ps 1:2-note], takes pleasure, is inclined to; the present tense - speaks of one's general direction of their life) to do (present tense - again speaks of one's general habit of practice = toward obedience not toward disobedience) His will, he shall know (ginosko = speaks not just of "head" knowing but of an experiential knowledge, a more intimate knowledge) of the teaching (didache - word study), whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself. John Calvin commenting on proper application wrote thatWe must observe that the knowledge of God which we are invited to cultivate is not that which, resting satisfied with empty speculation, only flutters in the brain; but a knowledge which will prove substantial and fruitful whenever it is duly perceived and rooted in the heart.. Someone has rightly observed that it is possible to be full of Scripture and full of carnality. We may find something in every passage which comes before us both to pray over and to thank God over. Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. Both reflect what is really there. This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. Using a trusted commentary can help in a few ways: It can help show you the details you missed in the observation phase. This can train you to be more of an explorer in the future. You too can try and prove God's wonder-working precious and magnificent promises that provide everything needed for life and godliness -- but only if you seek to apply them to your life. About people or human nature? For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. Its about observing exactly what the text is saying. Where similar words are used, explore the context of each of those instances. And so we should react with overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or dread, this latter emotion relevant especially to those who read but fail to heed God's Word (application). Often, the headings in modern Bible translations identify pericopes. It would touch as many lovely blossoms as it could, but derived absolutely no benefit from it. What I mean is just this. Are we spiritual or are we natural? (Ps139:23, 24+; cf. Isaiah He is a prayer-hearing God, but will He hear our prayers? Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. yUew.7.J~rr9xn-j3Pv_Kp>.ow?oo^>]xgOqI| JSM.OQF=r%0'c[',(d2`\gNHbqsO&&#v>b[Wg7xr|*M R 2 Samuel + ((this mirror = Gods Word = unique for it shows our inner nature as a regular mirror shows our exterior. Through the inductive method you follow a process of studying the Bible one book at a time. No, even though the town of Bethlehem was only only five miles down the road from Jerusalem. As you carry out your inductive Bible study you will find that observation, interpretation, and application often occur simultaneously. Judges How does he save or provide a way when people are unable? Are you ready and willing for Gods Word to cut deeply into your own life (reproof), to lay bare the hidden places of your heart, and to do its work of convicting, convincing, and converting your mind in any and every area? T Is there a Truth to memorize and meditate upon (Click here)? Your next question should be, Hows my saltiness? As for the doctrines, recollect that a doctrine killeth except as it is personally grasped and as you feel your interest in it. If you do not this, you are reading to your own condemnation. --C H Spurgeon, Choose Book of Bible to Study By One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. You haven't completed your Bible study until you've allowed the Bible to "study' you and you respond accordingly to it's teaching (which tells us what is true and right and so structures our thinking), reproof ( tells us when we are out of bounds), correction (reveals sin and provides the dynamic whereby you can conform to Gods will) and training in righteous living (Gods means of showing you how to live), all in order that we as men and women of God might be complete or whole and what we were created to be so that we might be thoroughly equipped for good work (2Ti 3:16, 17-note). Step 2: InterpretationWhat does the passage mean? If you skip this step, you will never enjoy your Bible study and the Bible will never change your life. r2T4000F1h+JTqkR=9K'ZOH1{csjr3U 0aq^rD[ZZZFTRq:(3k @ 2c> )KI1.Ff~2cxq;c 0c`x@ ]^ Could that be a clue about his intended audience? Joshua Before the Word of God can bring change to our world, it must first change our life. Once you know what the passage means (interpretation), you are responsible to put it into practice in your own life. Follow it by personally doing what it bids thee. Samuel addressing King Saul after his serious "miscalculation" (sin) said "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? and then Create an account or log in to get started. All action presupposes prayer, and all prayer ought to lead on to action. As the devotional writer Matthew Henry prayerfully put it"O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! meditate and meditate and meditate, Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. Good Bible study does not happen by accident. Instead, we need to be Bible "bees", using inductive study to go deep into the Scriptures obtaining its divine nectar and then allowing God's "nectar" to change us. As you work through these steps regularly, you will get better at them and you will be transformed. A person may study some branch of sciencesay electricityfor the enjoyment the knowledge gives him, without the least intention of applying it practically. Luke Connect: What is God saying (that is always true or that is true to all readers in all settings)? However, interpretation can also involve separate actions or steps beyond merely observing the immediate text. 6. Or well walk by His side in the way. Comment: Sins of omission (failing to do what God wants us to do) are sins just as surely as sins of commission (doing what God has told us not to do).