How to Study the Bible
For the Christian, there is no greater authority in this life than the Bible. In it, God
reveals Himself and His desires for humanity. Thus, it is of the utmost importance
for all who claim to be disciples of Christ to learn how to study the Scriptures. And,
since the Bible is God’s revelation, our goal is to discover what He intended for us
to understand. Though, this is not always easy, its rewards make the work worth it.
The first step in Bible study is the choice of a passage. The amount one studies
can vary from a verse or two, to an entire chapter. The main rule to keep in
mind is to choose enough verses so that a complete thought is presented. For
example, Ephesians 1:3 is not long enough to study, since it is not even a full
sentence. Adding a few more verses is also too short, since the entire thought is
not completed until verse 14. Thus, one might want to choose Ephesians 1:3-14.
The paragraph breaks in an English translation are helpful in this area. Usually
the translators who put them together tried to include a complete argument,
story, or thought in a paragraph.
After choosing a paragraph (or so), you want to read not only the passage, but also
its context (or surrounding portions of text). This may mean reading the chapter or
two before and after your chosen verses. In a short book (like Ruth, Colossians, etc.),
it may be profitable to read it in its entirety. This has understandable advantages.
In a story, knowing the events before and after what you are studying will help you
get a feel for what is going on. In an epistle (Romans to Jude), knowing what the
entire letter is about will help you understand what is important about your portion.
When you have become acquainted with the text for study, a three-step method is
used to examine the passage.
OVERVIEW OF THE OIA METHOD
Step 1: Observation (Discover the facts)
Key Questions: who, what, where, when, why, how
Key Process: Make lists
Step 2: Interpretation (Recover the original meaning)
Key Questions: What, why, how
Key Process: Identify the author’s intent
Step 3: Application (Uncover the truth for today)
Key Questions: How is it relevant?
Key Process: Move from the original to the contemporary context
How to Study the Bible
I
How to Study the Bible
STEP 1: Observation (Discover the facts)
Key Questions: Who, what, where, when why, how
> Who
Who are the characters in the story?
How is each one described?
• Who is being addressed?
• Who is doing the addressing?
• Who is the author?
• What do we know of him?
•
•
> What
What is happening?
What has happened?
• What will happen?
• Note the order and detail of the events, actions and conversations of the people
in the story.
• What is known about the persons, places and time references?
•
•
> Where
Where does the story take place?
Is it famous or of special significance?
• Locating it on the map helps to visualize it.
•
•
> When
When does the story take place?
What is the time element?
• To find this information, you may have to look at surrounding passages.
•
•
> Why
Why do the events happen?
Why do the characters act and react the way they do?
• Why did the author record this story?
• Why did he place it here?
•
•
> How
How does the story happen or unfold?
How does it end?
• How do the events and actions of those in the story shape that ending?
• How is the story told (style)?
•
•
II How to Study the Bible
How to Study the Bible
STEP 1: Observation (Discover the facts)
Key Process: Make lists
Type
Definition
Examples
Atmosphere
General tone or mood of the text and
changes in mood as you read through
the chapter and book.
I John is very pastoral:
readers called children,
beloved, etc.
Key words, ideas,
or concepts
Which seem important or stand our in
the passage?
Mark 1:21-27: authority
Repetition
Repeated words often give clues as to
the main focus of a passage.
Mark 1:1-13: baptism
Continuity
The repeated use of similar words,
phrases, ideas/
Phil.” Brother, partner,
fellow worker
Emphasis
Emphatic actions, statements or words;
may reveal feelings of the writer.
Mark 11:23: I tell you the
truth…
Commands,
warnings, promises
Note imperative verbs, promises with
conditions.
Mark 13:33: Be on guard!
John 15:14: You are my friends
if you do what I command.
Questions
How does the question function? Does
it introduce an idea? Summarize a
point? Challenge thinking?
Mark 4:30: What shall we
say the kingdom of God is
like or what parable shall
we use to describe it?
Comparisons
Association of things that are opposite,
different; often introduced with the
word “but.”
Mark 11:17: My house shall
be called a house of prayer...
But you have made it a den
of robbers.
Illustrations
Used to help make a point or clarify it.
Matt. 6:28-30: …why do
you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies grow…
Cause and
Effect/Means to
an End
When “a” is done, “b” happens /
”a” is done intentionally so that “b”
will happen.
Mark 1: The mighty acts of
Jesus caused crowds to
flock to him. Also, if-then
statements.
How to Study the Bible
III
How to Study the Bible
Type
Definition
Examples
Sequence,
progression of
ideas
Movement from particular to general
idea or activity.
Mark 1:29-34: Jesus heals
Peter’s mother-in-law, then
many people.
Climax
Progression from lesser to the greater
to the greatest.
Mark 11-16: Jesus’
entry into Jerusalem to
crucifixion to resurrection.
Preparation or
introduction
Inclusion of background or setting for
events or ideas by which the reader is
prepared to understand the events
that follow.
Mark 1:1-13: Quotation
from Isaiah prepares
reader for appearance
of John the Baptist.
Omissions
That which seems important but isn’t
mentioned or explained.
Mark 11:12-14: Why did
Jesus really curse the fig tree?
Important
connectives
(prepositions/
conjunctions)
Reveal key ideas and relationship: but
= contrast; if = conditional clause;
for, because, therefore = reason and
results; in, into, with = important
connectives.
Gal. 2:19: For through the
law I died so that I might
live for God.
Grammatical
Construction
Notice verbs and tenses, the use of
pronouns, adverbs, and adjectives.
Eph. 4:14: Then we will no
longer be... tossed... blown...
by every wind of teaching
and by the cunning and
craftiness of men in the
deceitful scheming.
Literary Form
Note if the passage is discourse,
narrative, poetic, etc.
Paul’s writings are letters.
General Structure
Arrangement of ideas in the passage;
relationship of verses; statements;
examples; lists
Matt. 6:25-34: General
statement, then elaboration
about worrying and faith.
IV How to Study the Bible
How to Study the Bible
STEP 2: Interpretation (Recover the original meaning)
Key Questions: What, why, how
> Significance
What is the significance of a key word, phrase or statement?
What is the significance of the verb tenses, connectives and the way the
grammar is constructed?
• What is the significance of the observed patterns (contrasts, repetitions, etc.)?
•
•
> Meaning
•
•
What is the meaning of the word, phrase, or statement?
How could it be defined?
> Implication
•
•
What is implied by the use of a particular term or phrase?
What is implied by the use of a question or illustration?
> Relationship
What is the relationship of words to other words?
One part of a verse to another part?
• What about verses to verses, paragraphs to paragraphs, chapters to chapters?
• What is the relationship between the beginning and end of a chapter or section?
•
•
> Progression:
What, if any, is the progression in the thought pattern?
Does it move toward a climax?
• Is one idea built on another?
• Is there any significance to the order of words or ideas in a series?
•
•
> Literal or figurative
•
Should a term or statement be considered literally or figuratively?
STEP 2: Interpretation (Uncover the original meaning)
Key Process: Identify the author’s intent
> Pray and meditate
Pray and meditate on your observations.
Ask the Lord to give you understanding through His Holy Spirit.
• Ask Him to guide your thinking and give you an open mind and heart.
• Know that God wants to not only teach you but fellowship with you and
transform your life.
•
•
How to Study the Bible
V
How to Study the Bible
> Define key words, terms, and phrases
Use your observations to examine more closely the words and phrases that help
you get at the meaning of the text.
• Use a Bible dictionary and concordance.
• Seek to find the meaning of words/ideas in their original context.
•
> Consider cultural and historical context
When was it written?
To and by whom?
• What do we know of the author?
• Use references to look up info on the culture in which the passage was written,
the people in the story and those for whom it was written.
•
•
> Note literary type
•
•
What type of writing is this (e.g. gospel, narrative, etc.)?
How does knowing the type help to interpret the text?
> Paraphrase
Try to rewrite important phrases or the entire passage in your own words to
further get at the meaning.
•
> Compare Scripture with Scripture
•
•
Look at other translations and cross-references.
Look at the sources of any verses quoted in the text.
> Identify
Put yourself in the passage: Ask yourself what it must have been like.
Feel, taste, smell, see, hear, live the story or passage.
• What do you discover?
• Then, try to get into the “skim” of the characters.
• What were they thinking and feeling?
•
•
STEP 2: Interpretation (Uncover the original meaning)
Key Process: Identify the author’s intent (continued)
> Discover “indicators”
What does the passage indicate about God?
About the persons involved?
• Other issues?
•
•
VI How to Study the Bible
How to Study the Bible
> Determine significance
Why is the passage here?
How is it important to the message of the book?
• What is the significance of the actions, questions, words, places, etc.?
•
•
> Notice literary context
•
•
How does this text relate to what precedes and follows?
Notice the relationships between words, parts, and paragraphs.
> Wrestle
What are the implications of this text for the people in it?
For the original leaders?
• How did they hear the text?
• Try to draw some conclusions.
•
•
> Consult
•
Look at commentaries to compare your conclusion with those of others.
> Summarize and record
Summarize your interpretation into principles or generalizations.
Try to state clearly the main point of the author.
• Write it down.
•
•
STEP 3: Application (Uncover the truth for today)
Key Questions: How is it relevant?
> What am I to know…
About God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
About myself/ourselves, others, or the world?
• About God’s grace, love, forgiveness, etc.?
• About sin?
•
•
> What I am to think…
About values?
About attitudes?
• About convictions and principles?
• About perspectives?
•
•
> What am I to feel?
Compassion or empathy?
Conviction or motivation?
• Excitement or gratitude to God?
•
•
How to Study the Bible
VII
How to Study the Bible
> What I am to do…
Act out of conviction?
Confess and repent?
• Try something new?
• Reconcile?
• Avoid or take specific action?
• Reflect, pray, offer praise, or memorize Scripture?
•
•
> What areas am I to become more like Christ…
Character?
Ministry?
• Obedience?
• Relationships?
• Actions, attitudes or values?
•
•
> How I am to relate…
To God and His church?
To family and friends?
• To leaders, employers, co-workers, strangers, and neighbors?
• To the community, nation and world?
•
•
STEP 3: Application (Uncover the truth for today)
Key Process: Move from the original to the contemporary context
> Pray and meditate
•
•
Ask God to help you to apply the meaning of the text.
Meditate on the main point you derived from your interpretation work.
> Consider the original context and intended response.
What were those in the story expected to learn, and how were they
expected to respond?
• How were those who first read the story expected to respond?
• What did the author want them to learn, know, think, feel, do or become as a
result of their reading or hearing the text?
• Knowing this will out appropriate boundaries on the modern-day applications
you can draw.
•
> Consider what the passage says to our society and culture today.
What does the passage say to our society, our American culture,
or our Asian-American-ness?
• How does it inform, correct, or affirm our corporate identity?
•
VIII How to Study the Bible
How to Study the Bible
> Reflect on what the passage says to our church or the local community
What does the passage say to our community of faith?
Are there promises, warnings, commands, or words of encouragement
we need to hear?
• How does it address the community we live or belong in?
•
•
> Make personal connections to the text or main point
How am I like to different from the recipients of the text or the
characters in the story?
• Rather than pass judgment on the people depicted, the goal is to let
the discovered truth address issues in your own life.
•
> Identify the specific changes God wants you to make
Based on what God reveals to you, how does He want you to personally respond?
Is He asking you to change an attitude or behavior, or is He pointing out an
area for character development?
• What will you do with the truth the Lord has spoken to you?
•
•
> Offer petition and praise
Any change that we experience is a gift of God.
Therefore, it is important to ask the Lord to empower us through His Spirit to apply
biblical truth to our lives, to not just master the Word, but be mastered by it.
• Offer praise and thanksgiving for the work He is doing and will do in your life
as you place yourself under the authority of Scripture.
•
•
(Contributed by Raynold Nakamura)
Glossary Of Bible Tools
Bible Atlas A Bible atlas contains information concerning the geographical
features mentioned within Scripture. It often contains maps of significant locations,
as well as explanations of their history.
Bible Dictionary Akin to any dictionary, a Bible dictionary defines the noteworthy
terms in Scripture. Its entries are usually brief and most helpful for those words or
phrase of which one has little or no understanding.
Bible Encyclopedia Similar to a Bible dictionary, a Bible encyclopedia seeks
to give, in a concise form, the pertinent information about various terms. The
entries are longer than that of a dictionary and usually provide a more complete
understanding of words or phrases.
How to Study the Bible
IX
How to Study the Bible
Bible Translations Since the Bible was primarily translated from Hebrew and Greek,
English Bibles are translations. And since translators can render foreign languages
in different ways, various translations will read slightly different. It is often good to
have others (such as ESV, NASB, NIV, NKJV, etc.) beside that which you primarily use.
Comparison of different translations can help illuminate particularly difficult sayings.
Commentary A commentary is the result of a scholar’s Bible study. It contains
what the commentator sees as the interpretation of a given text of Scripture. It
does not always give application, but will usually contain pertinent observations
and interpretations. These can help check your understanding of a text, and even
point out those lessons that were missed.
Concordance A concordance is a list of those places in the Bible where a given
word appears. These come in two types: concise and exhaustive. The former gives
only selected Scriptures for important terms. The exhaustive concordance gives
every instance of a word’s usage. This not only helps one get a feel for a term’s
meaning, but it may also lead to other passages that speak on a similar topic to
the one you are studying.
Manners and Customs There are various books that deal with the culture present
at the time of the Scriptures. These can be categorized under the heading of manners
and customs. Since the Bible was written over 2000 years ago, it is often hard for us
to conceive of what civilization was like as described in Scripture. Books on manners
and customs help to fill in the cultural gap between Bible times and ours.
Study Bible A study Bible is a Bible that contains cross-references and short
notations. Cross-references show where a similar word, phrase, or idea is used
somewhere else in Scripture. The notations in a study Bible are almost a short
commentary on a verse. They are not as complete as an actual commentary, but
they are a quick way to check your own understanding.
Systematic Theology Since the Bible speaks to many topics, some scholars
have attempted to take all the teachings within Scripture on given subjects and
organize them in a systematic way. Thus, a systematic theology helps to gain an
understanding of what the entirety of the Bible teaches on any given topic.
For a more detailed explanation, please see Donald Whitney’s book,
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Chapters 2 and 3.
X How to Study the Bible
How to Study the Bible
summary
You should always begin with prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to open your mind and
grant you understanding of His Word.
First, choose a passage: Make sure that the passage you choose presents a
complete thought. This means that it may be several verses to several chapters.
Second, make sure that you read the surrounding passages to determine the context
of the passage in question. This can often be the whole book if you have the time.
Without reading the surrounding passages, you will be unable to determine the type
of literature, the style, or the tone of the passage (for example, if it is sarcastic).
Now you can go into the work of examining the passage using the “OIA” method.
Step 1: Observation (Discover the facts)
• Key Questions: who, what, where, when, why, how
• Key Process: Make lists of the facts from the passage
• Goal: Know what is actually happening or being said in the passage
In this step you are trying to determine what is going on. You need to put into
practice your skills of reading comprehension. Can you answer simple questions
about the text? Do you know who is talking and who is being talked to? It is
important to notice anything that seems strange, needs to be explained, or has
any other interest. It is vitally important in your Bible study that you figure out
objectively what the Bible is saying, what is going on in the passage, and who
the passage is concerned with.
Step 2: Interpretation (Recover the original meaning)
• Key Questions: What, why, how
• Key Process: Identify the author’s intent
• Goal: Be able to summarize clearly the main point of the author to his audience
In this step you are analyzing the passage to find out what it means. What idea
does the author want his audience to understand? How does he want them to
react? Here you are determining the spiritual truths and principles that the author
means to communicate to his reader. These can also be referred to as “specific
truths.” What are the things that the Biblical author intends to reveal about God,
man, and how the author’s audience ought to live?
Step 3: Application (Uncover the truth for today)
• Key Questions: How is it relevant?
• Key Process: Move from the original to the contemporary context
In this final important step, you determine what you ought to do with the “specific
truths” you uncovered. To do this you must understand and broaden the author’s
intent to the Biblical principle behind it. This principle can be referred to as
the “timeless truth.” That is, it is a truth about God and man that is applicable
independent of one’s immediate context. The timeless truths are meant to impact
your life today, and ultimately change you. How can you apply this timeless truth
to your life? Areas to consider are: How does the truth apply to your family, work,
school, finances, time management, etc. It may help to focus on the following
question: What does God want to see change in my life in a certain area this week?