Inductive Bible Study PRINCIPLES OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY

Transcription

1 Church Multiplication International - Albania Principles of Inductive Bible Study - 1 BIBLE STUDY METHODS Lesson 4 Inductive Bible Study PRINCIPLES OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY I. INTRODUCTION Inductive Bible study is the foundational method which is incorporated in all Bible study. In this session we will follow three steps of inductive Bible study: observation, interpretation, and application. II. OBSERVATION Observation is the recording of what may be seen in reading a selected Bible passage. It answers the question, "What does the text say?" The following paragraphs identify procedures that help to determine the meaning of a text. A. Observation Requires the Right Mental Attitude Serious study is work. When approaching the Word of God, one must have patience and determination to keep working until the text is understood. A note of caution should be given here. Do not get lost in the details; divide your time proportionately for all parts of the passage under study. Do not stop with a first glance; go on to ask questions and seek meaningful answers. Do not give equal weight to everything; carefully discern what is more important. B. Use the Basic Questions, Who?, What?, Where?, When?, How?, and Why? Ask these six basic questions of each verse. You may or may not be able to answer all of them, depending on the passage. 1 Who? a) Who wrote this book of the Bible? (If this is not clear in the passage, you may find the answer in the first verses of the book.) b) To whom was it written? c) List all the people mentioned in the verse or passage. 2. What? List all the events, objects and actions mentioned in the verse. 3. Where? a) Where was it written? b) Where is the action in the passage taking place? c) List all the places mentioned in the verse 4. When? a) When was it written? b) When did/does/will this action take place? c) List all the references to time. In what tense (past, present, future) was the passage written? 5. How? How did the action take place? 6. Why? Does the passage indicate the reasons or motives? (Be careful not to read your own ideas into the passage instead, read the passage carefully.) C. Discover the Form or Structure of the Passage 1. Kinds of figurative language a) Simile

2 Church Multiplication International - Albania Principles of Inductive Bible Study - 2 A simile compares two dissimilar things, using words like, as or than. Psalm 1 compares the righteous man to a tree planted by streams of water. Both bear fruit and prosper. b) Parable A parable is a simile in a longer story form. Jesus helped the disciples understand His kingdom by telling a parable about workers who were paid equally though some had worked longer than others. He begins with the words, For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.... (Mt 20:1). c) Metaphor A metaphor compares two dissimilar things without using obvious words such as like or as. When Jesus says to the Pharisees and Sadducees, You brood of vipers!, He was using a metaphor to indicate his hatred of their self-righteousness (Mt. 3:7). d) Allegory A parable is a long simile; an allegory is a long metaphor. In Judges 9:7-15, Jotham tells a story about a worthless thorn bush being king over the other productive trees to describe a corrupt political leader. e) Hyperbole A hyperbole expresses something in extreme terms to make a point. When Jesus says that a judgmental person has a log in his eye and doesn t know it, he is saying something that is physically impossible. His point, however, is that a person who is unaware of his own sins is totally unable to evaluate another person s sin. f) Sarcasm Sarcasm criticizes by using undeserved or ridiculous praise. Paul criticizes the Corinthians pride by writing, Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings and that without us! (1Co. 4:8). 2. Interpreting figurative language Deciding when the biblical writers were using language figuratively or literally is serious work. It would be a grievous error to ignore one of God s commands by claiming it to be figurative language. On the other hand, to say that every verse in Bible should be interpreted literally leads to some perplexing problems. When Jesus said, I am the bread of life, He obviously could not have been speaking of Himself as a literal loaf of bread (Jn 6:35). How can we know the difference between literal and figurative language? Consider the following questions: a) Does the passage become absurd or impossible if it is interpreted literally? Example: All the trees of the field will clap their hands (Isa 55:12). b) Does the passage describe God, who is Spirit, as if He had a physical body and other strictly human qualities? Example: Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear (Isa. 59:1). c) Does the passage state that it is figurative? Example: Listen to another parable:... (Mt. 21:33). If none of the above is true, interpret the passage literally. D. Find the Key Words Example: In 1 John 2:15-17 the key word is world Write down each time the word occurs and tell what is said about it in that place. E. Consider Comparisons and Contrasts Example: In Psalm 1, to what is the righteous man compared? In two columns, show the contrast between the righteous man and the unrighteous man.

3 Church Multiplication International - Albania Principles of Inductive Bible Study - 3 Righteous Man Unrighteous Man F. Note the Progression of an Idea or the Flow of Thought Example: Isaiah 40: [God] gives strength to the weary and; 2. increases the power of the weak. 3. youths grow tired and weary and; 4. young men stumble and fall but; 5. those who hope in Lord... renew their strength... soar... run... walk.... G. Note Repetition Example: Read John 17: What repeated words do you see? (You should see at least four.) List the repeated words and note what Jesus is saying about each one. How are they related to each other? H. Visualize the Verbs Example: Return to Isaiah 40: As you read these verses again, visualize the actions that are being described. I. Picture the Illustrations Example: Read Matthew 9: Try to picture the illustrations in your mind. J. Examine the Explanations Example: Matthew 13:31-39 K. Note Connecting Words and Conjunctions Example: Galatians 5:19-23 L. Be Willing to Change your Viewpoint M. Mark Your Bible as You Read Note: Many people do not like to write in their Bible. It might be suggested that they write out the text being studied or that they get another Bible which they can write in. III. INTERPRETATION Interpretation is understanding the meaning of what has been observed in Bible study. It answers the question, "What does it mean? A. The Process of Interpretation 1. Determine the author's purpose 2. Determine the key thought a) What is the author writing about? b) What is he saying about this subject? c) What is the central idea of the passage? (in one sentence). 3. Determine the flow of thought B. The Basic Rules of Biblical Interpretation 1. General principles of biblical interpretation a) Work from the assumption that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God b) The Bible is its own best interpreter c) Saving faith and the Holy Spirit are necessary for a proper understanding of Scripture d) Interpret personal experience in the light of Scripture and not Scripture in the light of personal experience

4 Church Multiplication International - Albania Principles of Inductive Bible Study - 4 e) The primary purpose of the Bible is to change our lives, not to increase our knowledge f) Every Christian has the right, the responsibility, and the privilege to investigate and interpret the Word of God with the help of the Holy Spirit 2. Grammatical, historical, and theological principles of biblical interpretation a) Interpret words in harmony with their meaning in the historical and cultural context of the author b) It is important to understand the Bible grammatically before trying to understand it theologically c) When two doctrines taught in Scripture appear to be contradictory, accept both as Scriptural in the confidence that in God's sight they are resolvable d) When figurative language is used, one main idea is applicable; do not try to read too many things into the passage C. The Correlation of Biblical Principles Correlation is relating what is being studied with other portions of Scripture and within the passage itself. 1. If you have a Bible with cross-references, be sure to check all of these. 2. In one paragraph, summarize the context of the passage 3. Develop an outline 4. Develop a chart IV. APPLICATION Application is implementing what has been studied to daily living for the purpose of personal character development and ministry effectiveness. It asks the question, "What does it mean to me personally? Which of the following areas does it address? A. Faith What does this passage teach me about personal faith? B. Attitudes What do I learn about good or bad attitudes? What are the results of each of these? How can I change a negative attitude? Is there any help for release from negative or destructive attitudes such as fear, worry, anxiety, hatred, resentment, or jealousy? C. Actions What should be my actions? Are there errors to avoid? Actions to be changed? D. Sins What sins are pointed out in my life? Do I need to confess them to God? To my fellow man? E. Examples What examples should I follow or avoid? F. Challenges What are some concrete ways I can apply the challenges in my relationships to family, friends, and my local church? G. Promises What are some specific promises that I can claim as my own? Are there conditions to be met? ACTION PLAN Read John 17. Make a list of repeated words. What does this passage say about the world? Answer these questions about the glory of God: What does the word "glory" mean? (If you have a Bible dictionary, look up the definition of this word). When did Jesus' glory begin? How did Jesus bring glory to the father on earth? How do Jesus' followers bring glory to Him?

5 Church Multiplication International - Albania Principles of Inductive Bible Study - 5 Source: The Alliance For Saturation Church Planting Church Planter Training Manual. 1998