Studying the Bible

Content

To step
Method 1 of 4: General approach
Method 2 of 4: Study techniques
Method 3 of 4: Studying with others
Method 4 of 4: Sample study plan
Tips
Warnings
Necessities

It is important to read the Bible carefully. But reading the Bible alone is not the same as studying it. The Word of God is worthy of respect, and it must be understood and put into practice. The Bible is one of the most misinterpreted books ever written, and most people find it very difficult to understand. The Bible has a long history of many cultures and eras, and it is related to modern times; it has been translated from the original manuscripts into Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic by eminent scholars. The purpose of studying the Bible is to understand the message in its proper context. If you don't know where to start reading the Bible, how often to read the Bible, how much to read at once, or how to get things out of it (apply it in your life / practice it), this article can help.

To step

Method 1 of 4: General approach

Plan your studies. Reserve a time and place to study. Develop a plan of what you want to read every day in a calendar. With a plan you are curious about what you can learn from God's Word every day; it also helps you stay organized by keeping track of what passages you have had and what lessons you have learned from them.
Get a good study Bible. Choose a translation to use during your studies. Choose real translations instead of simple paraphrasing translations, then you can be sure that you are reading the original translated text, not a critic's interpretation.
- Avoid Bibles translated from Latin instead of the original Greek and Hebrew. These may contain incorrect translations. You may also prefer later translations (such as the New Bible Translation) instead of the older King James Version, because it will be easier for you to understand.
- Always make sure that your understanding of a passage you have read is consistent with the full doctrine of the Bible (that is, God's Plan of Salvation, 2 John 1: 7-10); each revelation that which you get that does not fit with the doctrine of Jesus alone must be put away. You should also look at years of Church history to compare your findings with history. If you discover something that everyone in Church history disagrees with, you are probably wrong (apostates are not careful - they think they are the new prophet!). So to be a good student of the Word, do your research: the Puritan Hard Drive is a good place to start, as are Ligonier Ministries and Wretched radio (there are links to good biblical, Christian sites and church history). Don't be too arrogant when studying. It is easy to brag about your discoveries instead of meditating on them in prayer. Extensive study is good, you need to know the fundamentals of the faith, but don't let your ability to memorize names from Church history exceed your ability to memorize the scriptures word for word! (Food for thought, Joshua 1: 7-9). Remember, even illiterate people can have a deeper understanding of the Word and a closer relationship with God than you because they meditate on it. Just knowing names and facts is not good enough. You have to practice it and preach about it.
- Good literal translations into English include the New Revised Standard Version or the English Standard Version. Good combination translations include Today's New International Version and the Holman Christian Standard Bible.A good dynamic translation is the Contemporary English Version, although this is usually looked down upon by serious scientists.
Study the Bible with a prayerful attitude. This should be the first step in understanding the Bible. Bible study should be approached with a prayerful desire to learn. Discipline yourself to be with the Word. The Bible will come to life for you. It's spiritual food.
Pray. Before you even begin, ask God to help you understand his word. Take the Bible literally. Don't assume it's a parable or story just because it seems vague. Don't try to interpret the Bible. “You must remember that nothing of what the prophets said in the Books could be interpreted without the help of the Holy Ghost. For they did not invent those words themselves, but the Holy Ghost moved them to speak for God. " (2 Peter 1:20, 21) That's how misunderstandings arise.
Focus on the New Testament first. Although the New Testament supplements the Old and vice versa, it is better to read the New Testament first as a beginner. The Old Testament will be easier to understand if you read the New Testament first.
Consider reading John first. It is best to start with John, because it is the easiest Gospel to read, identifies who Jesus really is, and prepares you for the other 3. It would be helpful to read it 2 or 3 times for a good understanding of author, subject, context and characters. Read 3 chapters a day. Concentrate on reading and be patient.
- When you are done with John, move on to Mark, Matthew, and Luke. That is also quite simple reading material. Read all books - in order - after you have read all of the Gospels.
- When you are done with the Gospels, consider reading the letters from Romans to Jude. Since Revelation is pure prophecy that does not occur in the New Testament, leave it for now. If you are well acquainted with the great prophets, go to Revelation.
Select the subjects to study. Study by subject is very different from studying a book or chapter. The index of most Bibles contains specific study topics. When you find an interesting topic, you can start simply reading the verses. This will give you a general idea of what the verses have to say. For example: salvation, obedience, sin, etc. Remember: Reading a chapter several times will help you find things you may have missed or skipped before.

Method 2 of 4: Study techniques

Use the dictionary. Make sure to look up words in the chapter you are reading. This will help you better understand the Bible.
Keep a notebook. That way you force yourself to read every day. Also ask yourself questions and write them down in your notebook. Use the "who", "what", "when", "why" and "how" formula for your studies. For example: "Who was there?", "What happened?", "Where is this happening?", "How did it end?". This simple formula will help you understand the story.
Underline important material or things you really like in your own Bible. But don't do this in someone else's copy.
Use cross-references and footnotes if they are in your Bible. These are small numbers and symbols that point you elsewhere in the text for more information, or show you when something has been discussed before. Footnotes are usually found at the bottom of a page and tell you where information comes from or explain complex ideas or historical events and concepts.
- Try to pick out a few words that stand out and look them up in a concordance to find other verses that speak about the same thing.
Follow the references in your study Bible back to the first time it was used. A cross-referenced Bible is essential here.
Keep a diary. You don't have to write much. Just use a page of a notebook with the date, book / chapter / verse at the top. Ask yourself a few questions and make an overview of what you read. This helps you reflect what God reveals to you through His Word. Write down ideas or verses or thoughts that come to mind as you read. Think "Who, What, When, Where, How." Answer all possible questions under each category. Compare your findings with what you know the Bible teaches. Then look at it again and pray.
Get rid of all distractions. Turn off the television or radio. Unless you are studying with a group, try to find a quiet place with a table to read and write things down. This is time for yourself, between you and God.

Method 3 of 4: Studying with others

Find a Bible study group. Find a group of people you can study with. The text is very complicated, and it is important to have some help with it. They will also motivate and inspire you.
Share what you have found with others in your Bible study group. Discuss what you have read with others who may have more experience in reading and studying the Bible than you.
Don't take what anyone else says on the subject except as a guide. Let the Bible inspire you. Increasing your knowledge of Biblical principles takes years of dedication, hard work, and ordinary reading.
- The Bible is not just one book from Genesis to Revelation. There are 66 books written by different authors at different times. A number of authors have written more than one book, but they were written at different times for different reasons. You will find similar topics and meanings in all books of the Bible.

Method 4 of 4: Sample study plan

Determine your order. You can certainly read the New Testament in sequence if you wish, but there is a reason there are plans to read the books out of sequence. One of them is described in the following steps.
Start with the Gospels. Each Gospel gives a different picture of Jesus. Matthew shows Jesus as King; Mark shows Jesus as Teacher (Many scientists think Mark is the son of Peter. (1 Peter 5:12, 13) Further study shows that Mark is the missionary who worked with Paul, 2 Tim. 4:11); Luke shows Jesus as a man (Luke was a physician, probably a Greek, from Asia Minor (Col. 4:14); and John shows Jesus as God, that is, the Messiah.
- Read John again for continuity. This will give you a more complete picture of the Gospels. John was the last Gospel written. Matthew through Luke are known as the "Synoptic Gospels" because they basically tell the same story, with their own accents. Johannes fills in the gaps left open by others. It is a book that completes the story of the Gospels.
Then read Acts. Acts, also known as "Acts of the Apostles," was written by Luke and portrays the revelation and development of the early church.
Read Galatians through Philemon. These 6 shorter letters are personal letters from Paul to 3 of the churches he attended, and to 3 of his friends, Timothy, Titus and Philemon.
- Read the Letter to the Romans. It presents the means and the way to Salvation, and then the Letters to the Corinthians. This is the introduction to the Holy Spirit, setting out His doctrine and Gifts, followed by Hebrews through Jude. The Teachings of the Early Church Elders.
- Unless you have been a Christian for some time and have a good understanding of prophecy, leave Revelation to more serious students in their college days.
Continue with the Old Testament. The Old Testament is compiled by order of convenience, not chronology. You can read it in groups to make it easier. There are 929 chapters in the Old Testament. If you read 3 a day, you've read it in 10 months.
- Read Genesis. This is creation and the early relationship with God.
- Continue from Exodus through Deuteronomy. This is the Law.
- Read the history books. Joshua to Esther.
- After the history section, you will read the books with wisdom and poetry.
  - Often referred to as the oldest book, Job shows a man's relationship with God and other people, and is full of lessons about how things could have been better. It's a great lesson about what God expects of man.
  - The Psalms were written by a king of Israel who was a man after God's own heart, despite the fact that he was not only a sinner but also a convicted murderer.
  - The Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Songs, was written by King Solomon in his youth. It was a poetic work by a young man who was in love. King Solomon was the wisest and richest man in the world.
  - Proverbs were the writings of King Solomon as an adult when he was king of Israel, learning hard lessons of life.
  - The preachers were King Solomon's lamentations over a man who had wasted his life with a loose life, many wives and concubines, wine, and music. Ecclesiastes is a book of lessons on what not to do.
- After the books of wisdom and poetry you will start with the 5 major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel.
- Continue with the 12 Minor Prophets to complete the Old Testament.

Tips

At first, it can seem overwhelming to read every day. But when you are in the Word, it clears your mind and prepares you for the day. Reading the Bible is a necessary part of this. Do not give up. If you feel discouraged, ask the Lord for help.
Pray before you begin to study or read the Bible. Ask God to clear your mind and show you things in His Word before you start reading. In Ephesians 1: 16-23 there is a prayer for wisdom and revelation, and you can say this prayer for yourself.
When you begin your study of the Bible, you ask the Holy Ghost for help. It says in John 14:26 that He will teach you all things and remember what Jesus said. 1 John 2:27 is similar.
Make yourself a promise. Get up a little earlier every morning to read. The deal is, "No Bible, No Breakfast, No Exceptions." King David administered the word morning and evening (Psalm 1: 2).
The reason for reading the Gospels out of sequence is that each identifies Jesus differently. Johannes = God; Mark = Servant; Matthew = King; Lucas = Human. You also don't want to get stuck in the genealogies that Matthew and Luke begin with. Each has a different purpose to become familiar with.
There are 261 chapters in the New Testament. If you read 3 chapters every day, you will have read the New Testament in about 90 days. If you want to read the entire Bible, you can read 3 chapters from the New Testament in the morning and 4 chapters from the Old Testament in the evening. Then you will be finished with the New Testament in 87 days, and you still have 668 chapters in the Old Testament to go. If you read 3 in the morning and 4 in the evening, you will have read the entire Bible in about 6 months. However, it is better to read 3 chapters a day. Don't worry about how long it will take you to finish it.
Research the version or translation you will be studying with. Is it accurate? Is it just a modern readable version, or is it intended for study?
As a means of continuing to read every day, you can use an Annual Bible. This one is not for study, but will help you read the Bible in a year so that you can become more familiar with each book as you study it.
After reading the Bible at least once, with the help of a good teacher, you will read a good layman's guide to hermeneutics and apologetics. This way you know which questions to ask while reading and studying.
There are enough reference books and study guides to fill a library. You don't have to collect them all. That would cost thousands of euros. Buy what you need. Below is a long list. Don't feel overwhelmed.
Studying with someone who understands the Bible will help you understand everything and answer your questions. Enjoy reading!

Warnings

Do not read what every Bible expert says on a subject. You will get conflicting opinions, which will confuse you and make you give up. Be like the Beroeans, and judge everything you hear in the Scriptures by asking sharp questions and checking (Acts 17:11). Let the Bible speak for itself. The author (God) will give you revelations and inspire you.
Sometimes it seems like a scientific fact or your own common sense contradicts the Bible. If this happens, don't jump to conclusions; remember that your interpretation of the Bible will never be perfect. Therefore, you should never interpret the Bible (2 Pet. 1:20, 21). Find the passage you are having trouble with, and study the context and tone. Usually your understanding of the words goes wrong, so try to find an alternative meaning that removes your doubts and that aligns with the rest of your studies. If you are still unsure, ask a friend who knows the Bible well to explain it to you. If you are not satisfied yet, know that the conclusion you reach must be in harmony with the rest of the Bible. The unclear part will prove itself elsewhere in the Bible.
The Bible is not written in Dutch, but in Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek. This means some words and concepts no are direct one-to-one translations, but that the translators try to convey the feel and meaning of the passage. Some are translated literally, and others are functional. Read with an open mind, pray, talk to others, and take time to understand the views of the original authors.

Necessities

A good study guide
King James Version or other accurate Bible. Other good translations into English that remain close to the original text include the New International Version (used by academics as the most accurate translation), New American Standard Bible (NASB), Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), and the New King James Version (NKJV).
A diary or notebook
A Concordance - a book containing the words in the Bible and their basic meaning and original meaning, as well as other places where the words are used. Strong's Concordance or Young's Analytical Concordance are a good choice. The Strong lexicon helps you look up Hebrew or Greek word definitions in their original language. This is available online at the Blue Letter Bible website. This website also contains numerous commentaries, lessons, audio and video lectures and overviews.
Highlighter (optional)
A theme bible (Naves)
A Bible Handbook (Unger's, or Halley's)
A Bible Dictionary (Naves)
A Bible Commentary (Matthew Henry's)