Bible Study Principles

Welcome to the section covering the Principles of Bible Study

Bible Study Principles (1)

  1. It’s generally true in life, no less in Bible Study, that we only get out what we put in
  2. And it has been well said that ‘any preacher can get out what he’s put in!’
  3. Although it can also be said that each Scripture has one Interpretation and perhaps a number of Applications
  4. Where it is difficult to clearly interpret a verse and there are two interpretations possible it’s good to take the sweetness out of both!
  5. We do need to remember that whilst all Scripture is for us, not all Scripture is written to us or about us!
  6. And we do need to appreciate that some things are beyond our comprehension and clearly stated so!
  7. An example of this in Romans would be ‘the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!’ (Romans 11.33)
  8. However, this should not stop us benefitting and enjoying what God has done and provided, and recorded for us in His Word

 

Bible Study Principles (2)

  1. ‘We should never teach from the Old what is not taught in the New’
  2. And appreciate that Prophecies may cover more than one event.
  3. Prophetic Events can be very far apart though close together in the text
  4. And there is a perfect harmony within the Scriptures in Particulars, Principles, and Prophecies.
  5. The original Scriptures were written in Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament)
  6. And Translations enable us to understand what was originally written.
  7. Commentaries attempt to help us understand the passages and may help us by pointing out what the original words mean/meant.
  8. Alliterations can be helpful in summing up and remembering a passage but usually don’t work in another language!
  9. And highlighting repeated words or expressions can also be helpful.
  10. It’s worth remembering that it’s far more important that the Word marks us than we mark the Word!

Bible Study Principles:(3)

1   Its good to understand and be able to explain our Bible:

  • It contains everything our Father wants us to know
  • Is all about the Saviour: Figures, Feelings, Foretelling, Facts, Features, and the Future of Christ
  • And can be summarised by A Man, A Family, A Nation (The Old Testament) : A Man, A Family, A Nation (the New Testament)

2   It’s also good to understand individual Books in the Bible and have an overview/ understand the context of the Chapters and Verses, it has been well said ‘a scripture out of context is a pretext!’

3   Within the Bible Romans is found in the New Testament and forms part of a trilogy expounding Habakkuk 2.4 ‘the just shall live by …faith’ which is quoted three times in the New Testament; Romans (the just), Galatians (shall live), and Hebrews (by faith). This is a good illustration of the saying ‘the New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the New revealed’

4   Very often scripture easily divides itself so that using words found in the passages/book we find headings that give us the Context. This can be seen in Romans:

  • The ‘Gospel of God’ (1.1)                                                           Chapters 1-8
  • The ‘Wisdom and Knowledge of God’ (11.33)                       Chapters 9-11
  • The ‘Will of God’ (12.2)                                                               Chapters 12-16

5   We can also add our own headings which capture the sense of the passages and help us to remember their distinctions:

  • The Gospel of God’                                 (1.1)     

           Chapters 1-8            Doctrinal

  • ‘The Wisdom and Knowledge of God’  (11.33) 

          Chapters 9-11          Dispensational       

  • ‘The Will of God’                                      (12.2)   

          Chapters 12-16        Devotional

6   Sometimes, in the same way, these sections can be broken down further, so we could divide again the first eight chapters of Romans using verses 16- 18 of Chapter 1:

  • ‘The Wrath of God’                                                                       Verses 1.18-3.20
  • ‘The Righteousness of God’                                                         Verses 3.21-5.21
  • ‘The Power of God’                                                                       Verses 6.1-8.39

7     Repeated words in a section of a Book will often help us identify the context of a passage within the Book as in chapters 9-11 of Romans where ‘Israel’ is used twelve times and nowhere else in the Letter

8   Other Images/Pictures can often help us remember a Book and its contents, so we could think of Romans as/containing:

  • The Christian’s Statue of Liberty                                              Chapters 1-8
  • The Tree of Grace                                                                         Chapters 9-11
  • A Bird in Flight                                                                             Chapters 12-16

9   Finally, a word of caution. There is a rhyme which says ‘Wonderful things in my Bible I see, some put there by you and some put there by me!’ The above principles/suggestions for Bible Study will help guard against this as we ‘Delight’ and ‘Meditate’ (Psalm 1.2) in the Word of God.