You can use certain things to help you study the Bible. There are free online Bible commentaries, Bible concordances, Bible dictionaries, Bible encyclopedias, Lexicons, and even a free online "interlinear Bible." Those tools are good to use in your Bible studies. However, I want to teach you a few extra steps to help you study the Bible. I will give you two different approaches that you can take to help you study the Bible.  

Approach number one:

Step One: Words that Compare and Contrast

• (Identify Comparison Words—Similes). When reading a text, it is imperative to identify keywords that make comparisons. These small or little words often bring the Bible to life by comparing a spiritual truth to an earthly one helping us grasp the true meaning behind the author's intent. Key Words: (Like, as, such as, as much as). Pay attention to the "similes," which are words that make comparisons using “LIKE” or “AS”.

• (Identify Comparison Words—Metaphors). Words that make comparisons without using “Like” or “AS”.

• (Identify Contrasting Words) When reading a text, it is imperative to identify keywords that make contrasts. These words help us understand the pivot that the author intended. Keywords: (But, however, yet, nevertheless). 

Examples of Similes: 2 Timothy 2:3 "Suffer hardship with me, AS a good soldier of Christ Jesus." I used to be in the military, so I understand what it's like to be a good soldier and suffer hardship while being a United States Marine Corps member. You, the reader, have to think about what it's like to be a good soldier and what it's like to go through things. Begin to highlight and write down ideas about a "good soldier." What does it mean to be a good soldier? I had to make sacrifices such as being away from my family and putting my life at risk. Regardless of how depressed I felt, I still must continue to do my job as a marine. So, that is what it's like to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Regardless of our feelings, we as Christians are not governed by our feelings. We still must get the job done. We still must depend on God. Even if God doesn't give us certain things, we still must keep our confidence in HIM. We must continue to be ready to suffer for the Gospel of Jesus and for the advancement of preaching the Gospel and living Holy because God is Holy.

We are at war, and the devil will not cease fire. The devil doesn't care if you are hurt or wounded and down. So, no matter how hurt we are in this present world, we must not let our emotions and feelings dictate our confidence in God. We must always reply to the situation with the proper attitude. How we reply to or respond to a situation often determines how long we will stay in that situation. What is the proper attitude for Christians to have while they are suffering? We should ask God to help us respond with the right attitude. We must continue to be a good soldier of Christ in all situations, no matter the outcome. When we die and leave this world, we will get to see Jesus face to face and be with HIM forever. Let us be a good soldier of Jesus Christ "....And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

• Here are other Examples that you can try for yourself:

  • 1–Peter 2:2 "AS newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation." (Thank about what it's like to be a newborn baby)

  • 1–Thess. 5:2, "For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just LIKE a thief in the night." (Thank about how a thief don't want to give themselves away while they rob your house, etc. You don't know when a thief wants to steal stuff from you. Also, you don't sit around waiting for someone to break into your home all day, so usually, we are not prepared for it. We don't know when Jesus is coming back, so we as Christians should always be prepared)

  • 1–Cor. 9:27 "I discipline my body LIKE an athlete…." (How does an athlete discipline their body when they are preparing for a race or a marathon, weightlifting competition, etc., They don't eat certain foods, they train day in and day out. Finally, ask yourself, "why do an athlete have the determination to go through hard training?" The answer is because they want to win the prize. They endure all the pain and suffering because they have motivation and determination behind what they are doing. So, we too, must become like an athlete in this Christain journey. I'll let you figure out from here and make a list of things you can do as a Christain to live Holy for Jesus in your daily life. And we do this because our prize is to be with Jesus whenever we die. There are other heavenly prizes (eternal prizes) in heaven that we out to strive for).

  • Eph. 4:32, "Forgiving one another Just AS God through Christ has forgiven you."

  • Eph. 5:25, "Husbands love your wives, JUST AS Christ loved the church."

  • Rom. 6:19, "Just AS you used to offer yourselves AS slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves AS slaves to righteousness leading to holiness."

Examples of Metaphors: Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my SHEPHERD I have all that I need." The words LIKE or AS are not being used, but the word "shepherd" is still a comparison or a metaphor. How does a shepherd take care of a sheep? How does a shepherd disciplines a sheep? The same way a good shepherd takes care of the sheep, this is how Jesus cares for us. Also, why does a shepherd have to take care of a sheep? Can the sheep take care of itself?

• Here are other Examples that you can try for yourself: 

  • James 3:6, "…the tongue is a flame of FIRE. It is whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body." ( A fire can start small, but it spreads and may become out of control. Think of a wildfire. How can we deal with the tongue? We must be careful what we do as well as what we say. A tongue is very small, but it can create major problems if we do not discipline it)

  • Isaiah 64:8, "We are the CLAY and you are our POTTER. And all of us are the work of your hand." ( I couldn't help myself. I had to add some more insight to it. This supposes to be your chance to try it for yourself. Just as a Potter has the right to shape the clay, God has the right to make us into whatever HE wants us to be. However, we must submit ourselves to God and allow the Holy Spirit to continue to teach us, help us, lead us, and transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit has that right to transform us, but we must be willing to allow the Potter to shape and form HIS clay (us). ).

 Examples of contrasts: Rom. 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, BUT be transformed by the renewing of your mind." ( Paul is saying that we ought not to allow ourselves to be shaped into this world's mold or to be molded by the world. I believe we should not dress like the world, behave like the world, don't act like the world, etc. So Paul said instead of doing that, "BUT" allow your mind to be transformed and renewed. How can we allow our minds to be transformed and renewed, or what can we use for our minds to be renewed? I believe the answer is God's Holy Words. We must not only read it, but we must study it. Studying God's Holy Words does something within us.

• Here are other Examples that you can try for yourself: 

  • Eph. 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, BUT only what is helpful for building others up…." ( list some things we should not do. I.E., gossip about others, slandering others, lying, cursing, criticism, etc. BUT, we must do the opposite of unwholesome talk. We must say things that help build others up. You can list ways how we can say things that build others up.)

  • Mark 14:36, "….Father, he cried out, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me, YET I want your will to be done, not mine." (our human WILL may desire something that God doesn't want for us. In other words, what we want and what God wants are different. It's better to be like Jesus and say, "Father, I want this or that, but you know what is best for me. YOU have all knowledge, all power, so I pray and ask you for your WILL in my life to be done". It's not about my will, but YOUR WILL. 

Step Two: Purpose Words, Conditional Words, and Modifiers

• (Identify Purpose Words and Results Words)You want to observe certain words that indicate a purpose or a result has taken place. These observations are some of the most important as they truly help us understand what purpose or result the author wants his readers to experience in their lives. Essentially, "What is supposed to happen in my life as a RESULT of this or that?" Keywords: (That, in order that, so that, etc...)

• (Identify Conditional Words) Certain Words provide conditions we must fulfill first, before God will do HIS part. keywords: (If)

• (Identify Modifiers Words) These are words that modify other words, thus strengthening the meaning of the text. Whenever you come across these words, then highlight them or underline them because it’s important that you learn how to pay attention to these words. Read the Examples of Modifiers Words sections below to understand how to recognize those words.

Examples of Purpose Words / Result Words: 1–Peter 2:2, "As newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, THAT by it you may grow in respect to salvation." The word THAT is indicating a purpose and or a result. The result of YOU (All Christians) longing for the pure milk of the word, studying the Word of God, meditating on the Word of God, reading the Word of God, and understanding the Word of God has a purpose. The purpose and the results of you doing those things are SO THAT you may grow in respect to salvation. As Christians and followers of Jesus Christ, we do not want to remain as " a spiritual babe or spiritual babies." We want to experience spiritual growth and spiritual maturity.

• Here are some examples that you can try for yourself:

  • James 5:16, "Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other SO THAT you may be healed." (sometimes, you might feel embarrassed by our downfalling and our sins, but it's important that we have another "brother or sister in Christ" to help us. We are not supposed to judge each other and put each other down, but we need our brothers and sisters in Christ to hold us accountable. We confess our sins to one another so that we may experience healing in our lives.)

  • Eph. 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—Not by works, SO THAT no one can boast. (What are the purpose and the result?)

  • 2 Tim. 3:16-17, "All scripture is God–breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, SO THAT that servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

  • 2 Cor.5:21, "God made Him(Jesus) who had no sin to be sin, SO THAT in him we might become the righteousness of God."

  • Josh. 1:7, "Be careful to obey the law my servant Moses gave to you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, THAT you may be successful whereever you go." (What are the purpose and result of doing those things? God wants to help you be successful, but you must obey God. Don't try to obey HIM because you want a blessing. You should want to obey God simply because HE is God. Your priority must be right)

Examples of Conditional Words: 1–John 1:9, “But IF you confess your sins, God is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” Please note that this verse is NOT saying that you will not be saved if you don’t confess your sins. Please understand that God judged ALL sins on the cross through Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. This verse says we can simply confess our sins to restore our intimacy and fellowship with God. Let's say, for example, that you are married and sinned against your wife. You are still married to your wife, but if you want to have intimacy and fellowship with your wife, and to restore a good relationship with your wife, then you need to confess your sins one to another. This verse is saying that if you do not confess your sins to God, then you will not have intimacy and fellowship with God. But, if you confess your sins, then God will forgive you. So this verse is conditional upon what you do. You must first do your part by confessing, and then God will do his part by being faithful, forgiving you of your sins, and cleansing you from all wickedness.

• Here are some examples that you can try for yourself:

  • Deut. 28:1, “IF you fully obey the Lord your God…the Lord will set you high above all the nations of the world.” (So, God set a conditional promise for HIS people. He told them that if you do your part, then God will do HIS part and set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience God’s joy, God’s favorite, His protection and etc.,

  • Rom. 8:13, “For IF you live according to the flesh, you will die; but IF by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. (Try that one for yourself. Make a list of what will happen if you don’t do your part, then make a list of what will happen if you do your part. And how does that apply to your life? How does it apply in our generation?)

Examples of Modifiers Words: 1–Peter 2:2, “As NEWBORN babes, long for the PURE milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” (Did you notice that Peter didn’t just write about any kind of babes. But, he specifies what kind of babes. He pointed out “NEWBORN” babes. So, think about a baby that just has been born. A NEWBORN baby is desperate for milk from its mother’s breast or bottle. So, we should be just like “NewBorn” babes and long for what type of milk? Is it just any type of milk? No! It’s PURE milk. The word PURE modifies the word MILK. In other words, we as Christians need to long for the truth of God’s Words. Milk that is not contaminated. Many people in our generation have mixed God’s Words with today’s ideology and their personal beliefs about what they think of God and who they believe God is to them. A girl once told me it was okay for us (me and her) to have sex because God understands that we have a physical need. In other words, she said God is allowing us to have this sexual sin because HE understands that we are weak and have physical needs. And that is a LIE. God does not permit us to sin. God’s Holy Spirit is not weak. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to say NO to committing any type of sin. We DO NOT have to sin. The book of Romans helps us to understand that God gave us the power to say NO to sin. We are free from sin because you gave your life to Jesus. However, if you did not give your life to Jesus, then you are still living under the power of sin. I encourage you TODAY, right NOW, to invite Jesus into your life. All you have to do is simply believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins (no matter what you have done), believe that Jesus was buried, and God raised Jesus from the dead. God will place HIS Holy Spirit in you and your heart if you do that. Many of us might not feel saved because salvation is NOT based on feelings. Salvation is based on your believing in Jesus Christ and what Jesus has done for you. Also, you don’t have to speak in tongues to be saved. And, you do not have to speak in tongues to prove that you are saved. Not everybody speaks in tongues. You can search the Bible and many books too, and you will never find that God or the Bible mentions that you have to speak in tongue to be saved, have a feeling of being saved, and need tongues to prove that you are saved. Paul asked a rhetorical question, "do we all speak in tongues?" The answer to that question is "NO." 1–Cor 12:30

• Here are some examples that you can try for yourself:

  • 2–Cor 4:17, “Our LIGHT and MOMENTARY troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (How does Paul describe our troubles? The answer is “LIGHT and MOMENTARY.” So, those words modify the word “troubles.” Also, did you notice what type of “glory” Paul is talking about? Paul didn’t just mention “glory,” but he mentioned the type of glory, “ETERNAL” glory. (Now, do you see and understand why I want you to highlight or underline MODIFIERS? Those words that strengthen other words are very, very, very important. So, take notes of them!) How are our LIGHT and Momentary troubles different from non-believer troubles? And why?

  • Luke 14:25, “LARGE crowds were traveling with Jesus….”

  • Col. 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through HOLLOW and DECEPTIVE philosophy….” (How do those ideas sound? It might sound good, right? But, we as Christians need to be careful about what we listen to and to whom we are listening to. I’ll let you make a list. See, it’s fun studying the Bible if you know how to study)

  • 2 Tim. 4:2, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with GREAT patience and CAREFUL instruction. ( You tried this one, okay.)

Step Three: Connections, Commands, and Repetition

• (Identify Causal Words) These words explain a reason or cause for something. Keywords: (Because, for this reason, therefore….) Note that anytime you see the word “Therefore,” then please find out what it is THERE FOR.”

• (Identify Connecting Words) These are words that connect pieces of a text together. They often times help to form lists as well. Keywords: ( And, but, commas, etc.)

• (Identify Repetition Words) When reading a text/verse, pay attention to words that are repeated in that text. The repetition gives you a clue that this is a theme that the author wanted his intended readers to really get.

• (Identify Commands Words) Underline or highlight any commands/imperatives you see in the text. They signal some action that God wants you to take.

• (Identify Specific Words) Finally, you want to take note of any “specific” or “interesting” words that you would like to know the deeper meaning of that you feel would help you better understand what the passage is saying.

Examples of Causal: Eph. 5:31, “FOR THIS REASON, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh.” (Whenever you see these words or phrases, then it forces you to go back to the passage or passage before Eph 5:31 so you can understand FOR THIS REASON means. So now, you have to go back and read Eph. 5:22-30, and you will see that he is talking about how a husband could be a husband and a wife could be a wife. He talks about the different roles of a husband and a wife and how they relate to one another in order to have the best type of marriage. Now, the author is saying “ because of the things that I already share with you in the last nine-verses, THIS IS THE REASON/FOR THIS REASON why a man needs to leave his father and mother so that he can be joined with his wife )

• Here are some examples that you can try for yourself:

  • Hebrews 12:1, “THEREFORE since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down….” (Now, you have to go back to the previous chapter to figure out why the author or writer is saying, THEREFORE. In the previous chapter, a list of people is given in the “Hall of Faith,” and examples are given to us. If you continue to read the chapter before Hebrews 12:1, it will help us Christians understand that those before us endured suffering or tragedies but still kept their faith in God. They had struggles in their lives, but they overcame them. Because we have so many examples of people who lived the life of faith, THEREFORE, let us strip off every weight that may slow us down. I remember I once struggled with porn addiction, but I made up my mind that I wanted to be free from it. I know I have the power of God living inside me. So, all I did was begin to set myself up for success by deleting accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc because I didn’t want to see photos of girls wearing clothes that reveal too much of their bodies. I had to be mindful of what movies and TV shows to watch. I had to stop talking to certain females. I had to stop using certain websites. I was taking off every weight that was slowing me down and taking off everything that was making me stumble and fall. I was not the only Christain that went through this situation. Many other Christain experienced the same thing, and they overcame it by living a life of faith. So, because so many witnesses surround me, THEREFORE, I too will live a life of faith and strip off every weight that slows me down. What is something in your life that is slowing you down in your daily walk with God? Make a list of them and write down ideas about how to overcome them. Do not put yourself in harm’s way. We can do whatever we want in our lives, but just because we can do whatever we want doesn’t mean that everything is good for us. If you are a Christian, then you have to give up something. Whatever is making you fall, whomever you are hanging around that is causing you to stumble, whatever place you go that is making you do wrong things, etc, must be given up. Give it up if you want to become a better Christain for Jesus Christ. Besides, God commands Christians to be Holy because HE is Holy.)

  • 1–Peter 3:13, “THEREFORE, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you….” (Try this one for yourself)

  • 2 Cor. 12:10, “THEREFORE I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (Why would Paul be excited in taking pleasure in being persecuted and going through things? Well, you have to go back and read. I’ll let you go back before 2 Cor.12:10 and find out why. Then, you will see and understand THEREFORE and "the reason" why he takes pleasure. It’s easy to go forward and read that Paul mentioned that “when I am weak, then I am strong,” but don’t be lazy. Go back and get the true understanding of this verse.) (okay, I’ll help you, lol. Paul is saying that because he doesn’t want to get the “big head,” and he doesn’t want to become proud and arrogant. God has allowed certain things to happen in Paul's life to keep Paul humble. Also, it’s these things that kept Paul depending on God. Paul asked God three times to take this thorn away from him, but God refused to do it. What was happening? Because Paul now had difficulties in his life, it forced him to depend on Jesus. So Paul looked at the positive things that came out of his struggles and that it made him depend on God, which is a good thing. THEREFORE, because of that, Paul can take pleasure in his “ infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul got to experience the power of God because he depended on God. You, too, can experience the power of God and witness the Holy Spirit in your life, giving you the power to say NO to things that go against God.)

  • Rom. 12:1, “THEREFORE, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice….”

Examples of Connecting Words: James 4:8, “Draw near to God AND He will draw near to you.” The word AND connects the thing you have to do, and then God will do.

• Here are some examples that you can try for yourself:

  • John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, AND My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, AND it shall be done for you.” (There are two conditions here: First, you have to abide in Jesus. You have to spend time with Jesus. Get to know Jesus by studying the Bible, praying to HIM and etc., The Second condition is that HIS Word must abide in you.)

  • Prov. 28:13, “He who conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses AND renounces them finds mercy.” (Did you notice the word BUT? That is a contrast word that you learn in STEP ONE. So now you have contrasting words with the use of connecting words. This verse reminds me of myself. If you read my “About” page, then you will get to peek into my past. I thank God for giving me an awakened consciousness. I confessed my sins AND renounced them; yes, I found mercy. I thank God for HIS Grace and Mercy.

Pay Attention To Commas! Commas help us build a list. We can take our time and focus on each thing that has commas. For example, 1–Timothy 3:1-3

• 1-timothy 3:1-3, “Here is a trustworthy saying: whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” ( You twelve things to focus on and to learn/study about. You can make a list because of the commas. This is one method by which a preacher or a teacher can get so much out of one verse. You have to train your mind to be able to study in a good manner. Also, these steps you are learning are very helpful when interpreting the Bible.

Examples of Repetition Words: Hebrews 11: Throughout this chapter, we see the words “by faith” mentioned several times. You will see that by faith, people did this or that…The Bible gave many examples of what those people did “by faith.” So, you can see that God wants us to know that if you are going to be a Christian who live your lives by faith, then here are some example of people that did it before you.

• Here are some examples that you can try for yourself:

  • 1-John: The word “love” or some form of it is mentioned 51 times in the book of 1st John. (What is John trying to get us to understand about love and what love is all about? And, what type of love does God has for us?)

  • Leviticus: The word “holy” is repeated many times, indicating that this book teaches us how holy and set apart God is compared to mankind.

  • James 2:21-26 21: Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his ACTIONS when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his ACTIONS worked together. His ACTIONS made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

    25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her ACTIONS when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. (What does this passage tell us about our ACTIONS and faith? We can have faith in God, which is a good starting point. You do not have to do something to be saved. But if you are saved, your faith should be demonstrated by what you say and what you do. )

Examples of Commands Words: 1-Tim. 4:12-16

• 1-Tim. 4:12-16: 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

  15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. ( Count the commands/imperatives and verbs that are being used. There are 8 commands given. Think about what each one means and why Paul told Timothy those things. You may refer to the historical setting in the New Testament section on the Bible Study Review website.)

Example of Specific Words:

• Rom. 8:30: “And those he PREDESTINED, and also CALLED; those he called, he also JUSTIFIED; those he justified, he also GLORIFIED. “(Don't assume that you know the meaning or definition of a word. Keep in mind that those words in Bold have a Greek meaning. The Bible was translated from its original language to English. If you know how to use the tools to look up those words in it's original meaning, then you will find that there is a deeper meaning that will help you grasp what God is saying in that text and what the author intended for his readers. Once you know the background story to the book, why the author wrote, whom he wrote to, define certain words in its original meaning, etc., you would be better to interpret the Bible in the right context. Never place your "own" idea into the text to interpret the Bible. So, underline those SPECIFIC WORDS and put a question mark (?) next to it so later you go back and look up the meaning of those words in it's original meaning. There are free online tools that will help you look up words in Greek.)

• Rom. 12:2: “Do not CONFORM to the PATTERN of this world, but be TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING of your mind.” (You might think you know what those words mean, but if you are unsure, look it up. And, don’t use today’s dictionary to look up words. Use a bible dictionary and use a Greek tool. You can find some good tools under the “Online Resources” navigation panel. I might add more free resources in the future. But I’m not sure.)

• Col. 1:11: “….so that you may have great ENDURANCE and PATIENCE.”(You already know the drill) There might be some deep Greek meaning that truly opens up the text. If you give it a try, then you will see. Studying the Bible can be fun if you know how to Study the Bible and know what tools to use.

Approach number two: 

(The SOIL—Method). There are many ways to approach Bible study, and one of the simplest, clearest, and easiest methods is "inductive Bible study. 

• Inductive reasoning moves from specific examples to general conclusions.

• Deductive reasoning moves from general examples to specific conclusions.

So inductive Bible study starts in specific passages in the Bible (instead of a secondary source) and uses those passages to get to broader biblical truths. 

Bible study is important to our growth as followers of Jesus. In a parable, Jesus compares the word of God with a seed. The seed planted in good soil represents those with honest and good hearts, who hear the word, apply it, and with patience produce a crop or fruit. (read Luke 8:11-15)

An easy way to remember how to do inductive Bible study is with the acronym SOIL:

1. (S)—election (Selection)

• What Do I Study?—

1. (O)—bservation (Observation)

• What Do I See?

1. (I)—nterpretation (Interpretation)

• What Does It Mean?

1. (L)—ife application (Life Application)

• How Does It Apply?

Step One: (Selection) What Do I Study? 

Select a passage, book, topic, etc. Most Bibles are divided not only into books, chapters, and verses but also into sections with topical headings, so it's easy to see where a passage begins and ends. Also, you can do a character study or a word study. 

Step Two: (Observation) What Do I See? 

Psalm 119:18 says, "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." 

Ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher and to guide you into truth. Ask God for "eyes to see." Read the passage multiple times, drawing out all the relevant details from the text. (Take notes on what you notice, and write down any questions that come to mind).

Don't skim the passage like the way you'd click and scroll through the internet looking for something to catch your eye. Study the scene like a detective. What do you see? Noticing details requires conscious effort. Read the passage a second and third time. (Sometimes, you must read the passage in a different translation). *Special Note* Do not read things into the text, but do try to draw out every relevant detail from the text. Ask Questions, and write things down, so you do not lose those "Aha!" insights by trusting them solely to your memory. Use tools: Study Bibles, commentaries, concordances, Bible dictionaries, Bible encyclopedias, interlinear Bibles (Greek and Hebrew to English), Bible handbooks, Bible atlases, timelines, and topical Bibles can all enhance your observations.  

This is the observation phrase:

• First, Observe The Text.

1. Look at words that "compare and contrast (similes and metaphors)."

2. Look at words that are "purpose words and modifiers." Are there any commands and repetition words(repetition words are any words that appear more than once in the passage or text) in the text or passage?

3. What is the literary genre (form), such as narrative (story), epic, priestly writings, law, liturgy, poetry, lament, teaching, prophecy, gospel, parable, epistle (letter), or apocalyptic literature (about the future and did it already came to past)?

• Second, Observe The Context.

1. What comes immediately before and after the Bible passage?

2. What is the broader context of the passage? For example, which part of the Old or New Testament is the passage located in?

3. Is it a short Bible story within a larger story? Or possibly a specific teaching within a lengthier, more general teaching passage?

• Third, Observe The Details. (Ask the 5 W's and H: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How?). Often this information is in the first chapter or in the introduction to the book. You can also use Bible tools—such as maps, timelines, and study Bible—to help you find answers to the following questions. (You can find some good information on the Bible Study Review website).

1. Who?

   • Who is mentioned or involved here?

   • Who seems to be the primary character?

   • Who is the original audience?

2. What?

   • What is going on or being said?

   • What is the sequence of events?

   • What words (verbs, adjectives, prepositions, etc.) did the Spirit-guided author choose?

   • What descriptive details do I see?

   • What is the mood and setting?

3. Where?

   • Where are the events happening?

   • Where is the original audience when first hearing this passage?

4. When?

   • When is this action taking place?

   • What time spans are mentioned?

   • Are there any time gaps?

5. Why?

   • Does the author explain why these events are unfolding?

   • Does the author offer a motive for a character's words or actions?

   • Does the author tell why he is writing this?

6. How?

   • How do the characters respond?

   • How does the scene conclude?

Once you've asked all your observation questions, written down your answers, and consulted your tools, it's time to move on to the next step: Interpretation.

Step Three: (Interpretation) What Does It Mean?

 Psalm 119:27 says, "Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds."

The first thing to remember is this: When interpreting a passage, we ask, "What does God intend to communicate here?" We are not asking, "What do I feel this passage means to me?" Discerning God's intent may sound like a tall order, but here are some interpretation suggestions to get you started. 

Questions to Ask:

• What might the original audience have understood the Bible passage to mean?

For example, in Jesus’s parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16–21), what did it mean in Jesus’s day for someone to own large barns?

• How do the paragraphs, phrases, or words fit into the author’s reason for writing?

For example, the Gospel writers—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—weren’t just recording historical events; they wanted to show readers that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah, and Savior. How might a specific story in their writings fit into the larger message they want to convey about Jesus?

• How might the type of literature (narrative, poetry, parable, etc.) help us better understand the meaning of the passage?

For example, the New Testament epistles (letters) were written to address specific concerns that early churches faced. When reading the epistles, keep in mind that there is often a backstory—something that has already happened—that can help you better understand the reasons for the specific teachings.

Word Problems

If there is a particular word or phrase in the Bible passage that’s confusing, try one or all of these options:

• Look up the word in a concordance and find other places in Scripture where it’s used.

• Check the notes (usually at the bottom of a page) and the cross-references in a study Bible.

• Consult a Bible commentary or concordance that shows the words in Greek or Hebrew and gives various meanings for the words.

• Compare this passage with other Bible translations. Use Bible websites or apps that allow you to look up a passage in multiple translations side by side. This allows you to see how other Bible scholars translated the word or phrase and gives you insight into the nuances of the words.

General Biblical Truths

This is the stage where inductive Bible study moves from the specific to the general; from the specifics of a Bible passage (or passages) to general biblical truths about God and humanity.

• What does this Bible passage reveal about who God is and what HE is like?

• What does this passage tell us about human nature?

• What does this passage explain about the world we live in?

• Does this passage have anything to say about good or evil?

• Does this passage teach truths about sin, forgiveness, or salvation?

• Does this passage teach things about the church or what it means to be a follower of Jesus?

Here are some examples of general biblical truths from Psalm23—truths about God, human nature, the world, and following Jesus—to help illustrate the interpretation process.

Step Four: (Life Application) How Does It Apply?

Psalm 119:60 says, “I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”

Applying the Bible is the final, crucial step of Bible study. This is where we put God’s truth into practice. We live it out. We seek to be doers of the Word (James 1:22). Though a single verse or passage never has multiple interpretations (meanings), it can and does have a myriad of different possible applications. Pray for God’s strength to help you grow through your study.

How to Find Good Applications

After you have carefully observed a Bible passage and prayerfully determined what truth God meant to convey through it, you need to state that truth in the form of a broad “now” principle. This serves as a kind of “bridge” between interpretation and application. Here are some questions to help you build that bridge.

The Contemporary Questions

• How can Christians apply what the biblical author has said to the assumptions, values, and goals of our lives and society today?

• What are the general biblical truths found in this passage that apply to our contemporary situation?

• Is there anything this passage has to say about certain social issues, such as racism, justice, poverty, or money/

• How do these verses or principles apply to the church as a body?

The Personal questions

• What does this Bible passage teach me about. . .

  • Who I am and how God sees me?

  • The things I’m worried about and need in my life?

  • My role in my family, workplace, school, neighborhood, with my friends, and in my local church?

  • The difficult decisions I face?

  • My choices regarding sin, forgiveness, and love?

  • My personal goals and ambitions?

  • How I talk to and treat others around me?

The Action Questions

• What am I going to do about what I have learned?

• What personal goals am I going to set in my life to implement the truths found in this passage?

• If I act on what I learned from this passage, how might it impact my relationship with God?

• As a result of what I’ve learned from God’s Word, what should I pray about?

Here is an example of two different men applying God’s words to their life. For example, a men’s group studying Ephesians 5:25 and the command to “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church” all agreed that the timeless principle there is that husbands are called to love their wives unconditionally and sacrificially. But their individual applications of that principle will look very different. For example,

• Bob has decided to back out of his fishing trip and stay home to do three “honey do” projects that his wife Elizabeth has been begging him to do for months.

• Stephen feels nudged to apologize to his wife, Ellen, for being a slob and not helping around the house. He wants to give her a weekend at a nice hotel.