BASIC BIBLE STUDY TIPS FOR YOUNG MINISTERS AYODELE OSUNMAKINDE
In my course of teaching the word both home and abroad, one reoccurring question I have answered the umpteenth time is centered around my method of studying scripture or how do I get these my revelation knowledge.i m always quick to respond letting folks know that there is no special method or special revelation knowledge beyond praying, reading and trusting the Holy Spirit the author of the book to work with us as we explore dimensions of the word. So here are some of the tips that I believe would help us, young ministers, to rightly divide the word of truth; PAGE 1
1. The whole scripture is one big ocean with many tributaries. One Message, One Mission, and One Direction. The message is primarily the provision of God the father, the finished work of Christ and the present ministry of the Holy Spirit. PAGE 2
2. So scripture is about what the father provided, that Christ finished and that The Spirit is doing. As you study watch out for these 3 themes they will guide you on how to accurately divide the word. So as you study, ask where is the father here? Where is Christ and what is the Spirit doing with this? Then pronto! The eyes of your understanding are enlightened. PAGE 3
3. Essentially the flow of scripture follows the same flow in the creation of man man was CREATED, man was FORMED and man was MADE PAGE 4
4. To have a good grasp of the flow of scripture study people, places and events. For example, as you study people take not of them, look at such a person everywhere, David, for example, you cannot fully decode David without looking at Him beyond the historical in Samuels, Kings, and Chronicles You have to look at David in psalms, the prophets, in the gospels, epistles and in revelation then you begin to see David the real McCoy. PAGE 5
Same for places and events for example Ephesus Ephesus in Acts, Ephesus in the Epistles, Ephesus in Revelation and of course the epistle to the Ephesians must be studied as one stream. This is what is referred to as THE WHOLE COUNSEL without which you cannot have an accurate overview of scripture. PAGE 6
5. Of course take note of FIRST MENTIONS where a thing is mentioned first in scripture, usually, the first mention and the rest of the mentions in scripture are interrelated like isotopes and allotropes. PAGE 7
6. One key way to flow with scripture is to enter into the story by the Spirit and at that point, you are in by the Spirit and you then follow the story like a biographer as the Spirit lead you all the way into the story showing you what is hidden behind the letters. PAGE 8
7. It s best to be established in one translation before using others. have a translation you are stuck with, NKJV or KJV is simply the best, establish your studies in either of this before using any modern translation.it is usually difficult to get into the flow with most modern translations without a solid understanding of either the old or the new King James version. Stay with one translation significantly for a season. PAGE 9
8. As you study please notice the difference between biblical acts and biblical doctrine, some things are referenced only once, they are biblical acts but biblical doctrines are usually referenced at least two or three times in scripture. PAGE 10
9. Whenever a story is referenced in another part of scripture in part, always go back to the original story, it gives you the necessary insight to appreciate the larger context of the quoted text PAGE 11
For example a portion of Joel 2 was quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost but going back to the book of Joel shows you one great intention behind the outpouring not mentioned in Acts is the raising an army of the Lord, same with the origin of the Just shall live by faith as seen in Habakkuk reading from Habakkuk will deepen your understanding of the origin of the revelation that was used to teach faith in the new testament same is also true for all old testament people, places and events quoted in the new always go back to the original story. PAGE 12
10. Study progressions of the ministry of the Holy Spirit from creation in Genesis 1, in the old testament, in psalms, in the prophets, in the gospels and then in the epistles. Even in the same book like Acts study progressively, progressions from Jerusalem, to Antioch, and to Ephesus. You will see a common thread. You must do a thorough literature review before you make a statement. PAGE 13
11. Study scriptural terms for example prophets, the spirit of prophecy, gift of prophecy, work, election etc. or like faith is a spirit, faith is also a gift of the spirit, faith is also a fruit of the spirit Study anything of faith hearing of faith, the law of faith, righteousness of faith. PAGE 14
12. Always mind the tenses in which New Testament truths are written. The scriptures are written in tenses carefully crafted by the Holy Spirit, using present tenses in some places can rubbish the truth. PAGE 15
13. Always remember scripture was not written like a textbook, so the emerging truth can be somewhere while the eventual truth miles apart, for example, the emerging truth about Sonship was Christ was the only begotten son of God but eventually he brought many sons to glory so now are we the sons of God because we are now sons, the only begotten son Christ is now the firstborn among many brethren (eventual truth) PAGE 16
Like the story of Adam and Eve, a missing element is in 1 Timothy in which we are told Adam was not deceived Also, take note of timelines like in Acts the next chapter can be the next 7 years PAGE 17
14. One study model that can help is the LUKE MODEL in which in your own words you give a narrative of the harvest of scripture in such a manner that your listener or reader (Theophilus) can be reassured of the certainty of those things in which he was instructed, Luke sat down and did a review of what those who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word handed down to us, he simply followed the model of looking at all that Jesus began to do and teach and we have the gospel according to St Luke. Read Luke s introduction, again and again, it is the basis of how an enlightened mind can decode the word of God. PAGE 18
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. LUKE 1:1-3 PAGE 19
In the above submission by Luke we see powerful tools of an accurate biblical narrative. a. Set in order scriptural narratives often they are not in any definite order. b. Pay attention to those things fulfilled among us mind tenses and contexts. c. Just as those who from the beginning always check out sources and resources. d. Eyewitnesses and ministers of the word balance eye witnessing report with the ministry of the word, i.e. eye witnessing must be subject to the broader ministry of the word. e. Delivered them to us strategic importance of scripture today. f. Perfect understanding of all things from the very first you get 6 if you do 1 to 5. g. Review scripture and give an orderly account line upon line, precept upon precept. PAGE 20
15. Another model is the Stephen model in Acts 7 a model in which like Stephen you take off from a point in the word and study the progression of that course, Stephen narrated how the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham and gave us how it progressed to Christ, this is a kind of an aerial view of scripture. Every young minister must be conversant with this. Seeing how developments in scripture are linked! PAGE 21
16. Another model is to study the teachings of Apostle Paul outside of the epistles in Acts and juxtapose this with his letters in the epistles. For example, a recorded teaching of Paul was recorded in Acts 13:16-21. This is very similar to the narration of Stephen; every young minister must be able to give an orderly overview of scripture impromptu. That is the real deal! PAGE 22
17. As you continue to study you begin to see patterns, trends and links and then you always want to study beyond study you begin to think in scripture, you then live it. PAGE 23
18. Remember Christ is at the centre of it all, from any scripture you can preach Christ, remember Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. PAGE 24
19. Read and listen to solid teachers of the word, for example, read everything Kenneth E. Hagin wrote and study along. PAGE 25
20. Continue reading, praying, studying and meditating. The word works! Hope these helped? Let me know. PAGE 26