How To Study The Bible Part One - Introduction

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1 Hi There, I'm so glad you've dropped in. I have never learned as much, or enjoyed studying the Bible as much as I did when I was in an inductive study. However, I've been out of that type of study for a while now, so I thought I'd give a brief lesson on Inductive Bible Study so that it might enhance your time in God's word, while at the same time remind myself what it means to inductively study the word of God. I mentioned this is a brief study and is in no way intended to be a thorough training in inductive study, but I hope it is enough information to change the way we read and study the word of God. For now, this is an opportunity to work at your own pace as you work through these lessons. For anyone who has comments or questions, just click on the "Contact" tab on the Menu, send an , and I will try to answer the best I can. Welcome to Part One of How to do Inductive Bible Study. The word inductive comes from the word induce. Webster s defines induce as: to lead on, or to move by persuasion or influence; to call forth or bring about by influence. As women, we can relate that definition to child birth when we talk about inducing labor, but when it s referred to as a way to study the Bible the word may sound a bit elusive, or even intimidating. Perhaps it will be more encouraging that the synonyms are: reasonable, logical, rational. We want to come to the reasonable, logical conclusion in our study by applying the Biblical tools to get us there. Inductive Bible study merely means that we are going to induce knowledge of God s Word into our lives by using the Bible as our primary source of study. Through inductive study we should be led to the natural conclusion of what the passage of scripture that we are studying means. We use the Bible as the main source of study, as it should always be the book that we spend the most time in, and go to first. After time directly in God's word then we may begin to look at concordances, dictionaries, commentaries, and other Bible helps for further information. Study helps like Exhaustive concordances, for example, (i.e. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) are books that list every use of every word in the Bible. You may be asking, why do I need to know every word that is used in the Bible? Well, along with every word in the Bible it also has a definition for the root word used and helps us gain understanding to the text. If we are to handle God's word accurately we need to know what the text says first hand. Knowing the meaning of the words help us to know what God intended in the text. Knowing how that word is used in other verses gives us more insight. So, we will mention study helps later. One point of caution here though, knowing the root word alone is not always helpful in discerning how the word is being used in a particular verse. Prefixes, suffixes, syntax, rules of grammar, all play a part of getting a clear definition. We won't be doing a class on Hebrew and Greek in this study, so all that to say, be careful as you study not to base doctrine on a root word definition, it simply gives you a general definition.

2 The goals of these lessons will be: - to learn how to make the most of our time in God s Word. Learning to read with a purpose, to observe, interpret, harmonize and apply the Word for ourselves. - to wean ourselves from a diet consisting entirely of the milk of the word, so that we are able to chew and digest some of the more meatier portions of scripture. - to develop study skills so that we can interpret and apply God s word correctly in our lives. Turn to Romans 12:1-2. Perhaps you will want to write down what the Apostle Paul says. At the very least, stop and think about the words spoken here. My prayer is that as we learn to use these tools that it will spur us on in our desire to know God and His word in a deeper, richer way. It's a step in the direction of the verse found in 2 Peter 3:18. Take a look, for that is the goal. So shall we get started? In order to inductively study we are going to learn how to: OBSERVE the text we are reading INTERPRET what the text means based on our observations and harmonization APPLY it in our life. The first item of business, always, when beginning to read or study the Bible is PRAYER. We are told that the things of God are spiritually learned, so, before we begin to look at what God is saying we need to make sure that the lines of communication are open between us, confessing any sin that may hinder being alert to the Holy Spirit speaking to our heart, and asking Him to teach us as we study His word. 1 John 1:9 explains this to us, look and see what the instruction is there. It's a wonderful thing that God is so faithful, especially since we are not. It does not matter how many times we confess, He is always faithful to forgive and restore fellowship with us. Why is the Holy Spirit's help so important? Look up I Corinthians 2:11-14 and answer. As believers, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who makes it possible for our spirit to understand the Word of God. However, sin pushes aside the control of the Spirit, as we take control our self, effectually closing off His leading us. He's still there, but you might envision a wall separating you from hearing or understanding Him when you are in a carnal, or sinful state. Thankfully, because of the faithfulness of God, His Holy Spirit does convict us, and that wall is quickly removed with our confession of sin to Him. Confession is simply agreeing with God, acknowledging that what we did, said or thought, did not line up with His righteous perfection, that it missed the mark He had set. When we confess,

3 He does the work of tearing down that dividing wall and our communication with His Spirit becomes open once again, fellowship with the Lord is restored. It's then, as we open God s Word that it can be with expectation that His word will speak to us individually. His Spirit to our spirit, teaching us the things of God. He is, after all, a personal, intimate Father, and desires us to know Him intimately. Prayer is a vital conduit for that communication, being in fellowship is primary in order to understand His teaching. Recently, a little boy sitting behind us in Church pulled out the pew Bible, looked inside and exclaimed to his mother, "Mom, THIS is the FIRST Bible!" Mom, half-listening replied, "Put it back, we don't need it right now." The little boy tried again, repeating excitedly, "Mom, look, it's the first Bible because it says right here, 'In the beginning'." It was all I could do not to burst out laughing. But it was a good reminder that not all are aware that the "first bible" was not written in English, nor was it one complete book. Living in this era of "the church age" we are blessed to have the full council of God's word bundled into a nice neat package called the Holy Bible. It consists of 66 books, written by 40 authors over a period of approximately 1600 years. The original scrolls were, of course, written at different times, and in different places. They had a partial, now we have the whole. The completion of the Bible took place in 96 a.d. The ancient scrolls were written in the languages of Hebrew, some Aramaic, and Koine` Greek. Hebrew was, of course, the language of the Israelite people (otherwise known as Hebrews, Judeans, or Jews) and in the Old Testament from Gen. 11 to the book of Nehemiah you will find their story. They were the chosen people of God, or the people that God chose to bring the Messiah to earth, Jesus Christ. Because of their importance in fulfilling God's promise, His dealings with them are well documented for us throughout the Old Testament books, and we see in the New Testament that He is not finished with them. His covenant with them was an eternal covenant, but we'll save that for another study. The last book to be written in Hebrew was the book of Matthew, since it was addressed to the Jews it was written in their native language. But then, another language becomes the language of choice as Alexander the Great takes control of the known world. Being a military man, he was not happy about everyone speaking different languages or dialects but preferred an exact language so that all would understand his commands, so Alexander the Great demanded that all people in every empire learn a common language which we call Koine` Greek, or common Greek (not to be confused with modern day Greek which differs from Koine`). Isn't it amazing that God would orchestrate, and use a Ruler that did not even believe in Him, to create a single, exact language that everyone would be required to know? A precise language that would tell the gospel story to the world. With the New Testament, came not only a new language but a new covenant, or promise. A new dispensation in which God deals with all people through His grace, rather than through the Law. In saying that, let me clarify, God has always dealt with people in grace. It was always their faith in the coming Messiah that brought Old Testament saints to salvation, their belief declared them righteous before God, and in His grace He saved. Just as we, in this present

4 church age, are looking back at the Messiah in faith bringing us salvation. Grace has always existed, but with the Jewish people God gave the Law to show their desperate need of a Savior since they themselves could never live up to the Law on their own. It was God's grace that showed them their need of a Savior, just as He does for us. His grace has always been, and will always be amazing! The English Bibles we have today come in translations and paraphrases. Translations were interpreted, or translated from the Hebrew and Greek languages "word for word." Whereas, paraphrases are translated "thought for thought," meaning they translated the thought of the sentence or paragraph rather than a word for word translation. If you've ever looked at the array of "bibles" you will recognize they come in all shapes and sizes and depth of meanings. For study purposes it is best to have a translation, sticking as close to a word to word translation, and save the paraphrases for your leisure reading. Another thing to point out is that the Bible never contradicts itself. If we find what we believe to be a discrepancy, or contradiction during our times of study, we can get clarification by looking at the original language because quite often what was precise in the Hebrew or Greek becomes muddled by the translators not having as exact a word to translate to that they are translating from, so they compromise and pick one that might be close. In doing that, they end up translating it one way in one text, and another in a different text. Exhaustive concordances, Bible dictionaries, as well as other helps, can lead us in the right direction as far as definitions and cultural relevance. Our goal here is to take general study skills and apply them as best we can so that we can have a clearer picture of who God is and what He is saying to us through His Word. Some questions may come up during that type of study, and when they do, put them on a mental shelf until you can ask a Pastor-Teacher, or dig deeper yourself. A lot of times, those questions on the shelf are answered as you continue to do more inductive study. From the very beginning of His word we see that God existed, He created, He provided. And throughout scripture He reveals more of Himself to us. There's a bonus to our study, Daniel 11:32b speaks of it, But the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Learning God's character, who He is, helps us to be able to "display strength and take action." That alone should be enough cause to want to know Him more! To be able to rest in faith knowing that He is indeed in control, and all powerful, so we can move forward in His plan for each of us knowing the One who has prepared the way. The more we know Who this God is that we serve, the easier it will be to do His bidding. If you've never done a character study of God, or looked at His names that describe Him, I would highly suggest it. In inductive study you will learn to do this a bit more in every text you read, but for now, take a look at 2 Samuel 22 which is rich in its description of the Lord. As you read through the text, let's ask the questions, Who Is God? What has He done? Underline everything that it says about the Lord God, as I have begun doing for you in the first two verses.

5 1 And David spoke the words of this song to the LORD in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said, The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 3 a My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence. 4 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. 5 For the waves of death encompassed me; The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me; 6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears. 8 Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of heaven were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry. 9 Smoke went up out of His nostrils, Fire from His mouth devoured; Coals were kindled by it. 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down With thick darkness under His feet. 11 And He rode on a cherub and flew; And He appeared on the wings of the wind. 12 And He made darkness canopies around Him, A mass of waters, thick clouds of the sky. 13 From the brightness before Him, Coals of fire were kindled. 14 The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice. 15 And He sent out arrows, and scattered them, Lightning, and routed them.

6 16 Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare By the rebuke of the LORD, At the blast of the breath of His nostrils. 17 He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. 19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. 20 He also brought me forth into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. 21 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not acted wickedly against my God. 23 For all His ordinances were before me, And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also blameless toward Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. 25 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness before His eyes. 26 With the kind You show Yourself kind, With the blameless You show Yourself blameless; 27 With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the perverted You show Yourself astute. 28 And You save an afflicted people; But Your eyes are on the haughty whom You abase. 29 For You are my lamp, O LORD; And the LORD illumines my darkness.

7 30 For by You I can run upon a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall. 31 As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tested; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. 32 For who is God, besides the LORD? And who is a rock, besides our God? 33 God is my strong fortress; And He sets the blameless in His way. 34 He makes my feet like hinds feet, And sets me on my high places. 35 He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your help makes me great. 37 You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped. 38 I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed. 39 And I have devoured them and shattered them, so that they did not rise; And they fell under my feet. 40 For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 41 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, And I destroyed those who hated me. 42 They looked, but there was none to save; Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them. 43 Then I pulverized them as the dust of the earth; I crushed and stamped them as the mire of the streets. 44 You have also delivered me from the contentions of my people; You have kept me as head of the nations; A people whom I have not known serve me. 45 Foreigners pretend obedience to me; As soon as they hear, they obey me.

8 46 Foreigners lose heart, And come trembling out of their fortresses. 47 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be a God, the rock of my salvation, 48 The God who executes vengeance for me, And brings down peoples under me, 49 Who also brings me out from my enemies; You even lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the nations, And I will sing praises to Your name. 51 He is a tower of deliverance to His king, And shows lovingkindness to His anointed, To David and his descendants forever. Now, look back and just read only the underlined parts. Do any of those things about God resonate with you? In the space below, or on a separate paper, write down some ways that God is those things to you, and then take a few moments to give thanks to Him. That one chapter is full, isn't it? But, so is the rest of the Bible. It will take more than a lifetime to unearth all the treasures found in God's word, but as you begin to apply the study techniques in sessions to come I think you'll find jewels that will adorn your faith. Let me leave you with this last verse for the day from James 1:25: "But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does." Be blessed! Knowing the word of God is vital, but applying it is what brings joy to our life.