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Good Bible Study Resources

• Study Bibles
  
  • Life Appliction Bible
  • Harper Study Bible
  • NIV Study Bible
  • ESV Study Bible
• Commentaries (one volume)
  • New Bible Commentary Revised
  • Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Bible Commentary
• Bible Handbooks
  • Halley's Bible Handbook (original or revised)
  • Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible
  • Holman Bible Handbook
• Bible Dictionaries
  • Davis Bible Dictionary
  • New Bible Dictionary

How to Study the Bible

Rev. Allen A. Ruscito

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11)

The Bible is not merely a human book different from others in the sense that it is concerned with the subject of religion. On the contrary, it is a divine book as well, for its human authors spoke only as they were taught and moved by God the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:13, II Peter 1:21).

The Christian Church speaks of this as the fact of inspiration (II Timothy 3:16; Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter I), which act of God makes the Bible the Word of God written (I Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:12), the only infallible rule of faith and practice. Having said this, it becomes apparent to all that the first rule for effective Bible reading and study is that the Bible should be read prayerfully and expectantly.

We should come to meet a Person who is the grand theme of the entire Book, namely Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. The living Christ comes to us and speaks to us personally as we read the record which God has provided for His people.

However, as we study and meditate upon the Bible, let us remember that it is a Book that requires our daily obedience to its commandments and principles as well as our faith in its doctrines and promises: "But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (James 1:22-25)."

Basic rules for correct Bible study and interpretation:

• Observe all details and relevant facts of a passage of Scripture before you attempt to interpret its meaning. Read a difficult passage several times and in several translations in order to discover the true meaning of the original text.
  • Make use of Bible dictionaries, concordances, and commentaries to understand important words and ideas.
  • Study the historical background out of which the passage comes to discover the significance of the author's words to the original readers.
  • Discover the character of the composition (history, poetry, letter, etc.) and the various forms of expression (metaphor, simile, hyperbole, etc.). Analyze the structure of a book and its parts.
  • Study the context carefully. How does this verse with its details fit into the paragraph, and the paragraph into the book, and the book into the total structure of divine revelation and redemptive history? The contents of any writing must always be seen and interpreted in the light of its structure.
• Interpret straight forward, not fancifully. Try to understand the author's intention.
• Compare one place in Scripture with other passages of Scripture dealing with the same topic or theme.
• Evaluate the significance or importance of the passage you are studying in relation to the contents and structure of its respective book and the Bible as a whole. What is its relative value?
• Recognize that the truth is infinite and many sided. Avoid extreme and unbalanced interpretations.
• Always try to apply what you have learned to your personal circumstances in life as well as your private and public practices. Always be willing to be re-created, formed, and renewed by the Holy Spirit speaking to you by and with the Word of God.
• Base all doctrinal views on direct statements of Scripture.
• Allow the Bible to speak for itself. Come to it with an open mind. Do not impose pre-determined systems of interpretation or doctrinal conclusions on any passage or book.
• Correlate newly learned Biblical truth with the body of Christian knowledge you already possess. Develop an expanding understanding of the Word of God. Be willing to revise and adjust your thought in the light of new Biblical evidence.
• Summarize your findings so that you can express what you have learned accurately, concisely, and logically.

Remember! The basic steps are: Observe, Interpret, Evaluate, Apply, Correlate, and Summarize.

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).

Select Bibliography

Irving Jensen, Independent Bible study Chicago Moody Press, 1963.

Howard Tillman Kuist, These Words Upon Thy Heart. Richmond: John Knox Press, 1947

Robert A. Traina, Methodical Bible Study. New York: The Biblical Seminary in New York, 1.952

Oletta Wald. The Joy of Discovery. Minneapolis: Bible Banner Press, 1956