How to Study the Bible

Here are a few rules that I follow when studying the Bible because they have been a great blessing to me. There are more but we will start with a few basic thoughts from the Word of God.

1. DEFINITION: If we do not understand EVERY WORD we might come to the opposite conclusion when compared to the actual meaning of the verse.

Acts 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Luke 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

2. CONTEXT: If we only read the verse without the whole picture of the idea that the author is trying to impart we once again can very easily be mislead.

Josh 8:34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

3. UNBIASED: Once again if we come to the Word of God with our own preconceived opinions and ideas we are very likely to read things into the Bible that simply are not there. Many times we hear the Preacher, whether ordained or not, read a verse then go into a long explanation as to why the verse means something that only he can see. Or sometimes it is done by whole denominations in their creeds. You know: that document that you MUST AGREE WITH AND SIGN before you are allowed to be baptized, or otherwise join the denomination, offshoot, branch or group.

2Pet 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

4. We must know what the Biblical rules are as given by the Bible and not allow ourselves to be mislead by those around us. A good speaker does not always know everything.

1 Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

5. Remember that the Priests and leadership were responsible for the DEATH OF THE SAVIOR!

Matt 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

6. Include all the verses on any given subject:

Have you ever sat in church and listened to a sermon where the speaker takes one verse that is hard to understand and makes it say something that you know it should not say. Well here we have a way to avoid those “one verse sermons”. In other words when we study every verse about a topic and every verse is allowed to speak and if we find one or two verses that seem to say something otherwise we know that we have to stay with the majority vote.

Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

7. Most importantly we need faith:

Matt 8:7-10,13 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

8. Pray for the Spirit of God and Christ:

1John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Blessings!