Method to Study the Bible
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39
Pray – specifically “Give us this day our daily bread”. Jesus is the “Bread of Life”. To eat His Word is to digest it and make it part of you. What knowledge does He have to give you of Himself. What is He saying to your heart today. As your days so shall your strength be. Eat for strength.
Find a book to study and stick with it. This will be where you return for the root of your study.
Do not bring a pre-conceived idea of what you will study but rather glean from the Word what He has for you that day.
You are conversing with the King of all Wisdom. He wants you to come to Him as the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon. He is waiting for you to tell Him all that is on your heart, to ask Him the hard questions, and He in return will reveal to you everything even all His hidden mysteries. I Kings 10.
TOOLS: You will need a Bible with margins, a Strong’s Concordance (your phone works), a pen (I have found that using one color keeps my Bible looking nicer) and a straight edge, journal (optional).
Principles to use:
1. The Spirit of Prophecy is the Testimony of Jesus Christ or in other words a Revelation of Jesus Christ. Seek Him in every study. Revelation 19:10
2. Know the historical context of your passage. His-Story repeats itself. There are Biblical patterns. You might look at a Bible timeline. Does this story remind you of another passage or period of Bible history or prophecy? Find the passages place in the Big Picture. This may take time if it is not at first evident to you. It becomes clearer the more you study.
3. Divide Big picture into little pictures and focus on those bite size pieces. For example, a few verses, a verse, a phrase or even a word could be a bite size piece. Look for the “character” of the bite rather than just information.
A. Look up verse words you want to know more about using the Strong’s Concordance. You can also look up maps and historical records using research tools.
- What words are there in Hebrew or Greek and what words are not in the original text and have been added for clarity?
- Do you understand or do you have questions? Write your understanding or question down in your journal.
- Where and how and in what context are those same words used again in the chapter, book or Bible?
- Does God bring another passage or passages to your mind? If so, GO there and read in context.
B. Let the Bible interpret itself or its own symbolism (compare scripture with scripture) to find out what the symbol or key phrase means. (Hosea 12:10) Use the top margin of the page you most associate with the symbol or key phrase as a reference page for future information collected on that symbol or phrase. Make an A-Z index at the back of your Bible to index your symbol or key phrase text page. See pictures below.
Most symbols are used for both the mystery of Godliness and for the mystery of iniquity. Always put your index text with a * (Example: Matthew 6:33* for “seek”) beside any fuuture text that relates to the symbol or key phrase.
C. For time mark any time passage with a capital T. Make a Time page in your Bible index.
- Is there a character context?
- Is there a starting or ending context?
- Are there phrases connected with the time prophecy?
- Look at the whole prophecy (Big Picture). Look at the Little Pictures. What is the spiritual significance? Is there a time this type of thing has happened before or will happen later? Within the book you are studying? Prophetically?
D. For promises dear to your heart mark the passage with a capital P.
4. The Bible is primarily a Revelation of Jesus Christ or the Mystery of Godliness, but remember it is also a revelation of the mystery of iniquity so that we may guard against it.
5. 1 Corinthians 2:7-14/Job 11:7-9: Don’t be afraid to use your imagination but fill it with His Word.
6. Remember how we hear is important. Luke 8:18. You have heard the Word, now find a specific way to put it into action today.
A – Ask
B – Book of Bible – Bread of Life
O- What comes around, goes around again - patterns
U- You – character or flavor of your passage bite or symbol.
T – Testimony of Jesus Christ
T- Time with character/ historical / prophetic context
I – mystery of iniquity
M- Mystery of Godliness
E- End it with action!