Some Rules of Bible Study

SOME RULES
OF
BIBLE STUDY

GET THE BIG PICTURE
We have heard the expression "you can't see the forest because of the trees." Well, the same is true concerning the Bible. One should strive to get an overview of the Bible first (see the forest first, if you please) and then the details (individual trees) will be clearer later. Look at the Bible as a whole. Get the Big Picture. It is one Book, a Book inspired by God (2 Tim.3:16-17). The Bible was written by some 40 different writers over a span of more than 1600 years, yet its writers were in perfect harmony and unity. It is a book without equal. It is "the Word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Pet. 1:23). We need to have genuine respect for it.

PROPERLY DIVIDE THE BIBLE.
Paul wrote to the young evangelist Timothy: "Study to present yourself approved before God, a worked who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of God" (2 Tim.2:15). The Bible has two major sections: The Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is composed of 39 individual books, from Genesis to Malachi. The New Testament is made up of 27 individual books, from Matthew to Revelation. (The New Testament is not an abridgment of the Old Testament as some in their ignorance have thought!). Today the world is under the Gospel of Christ - the New Testament teaching of Jesus and His apostles (Eph. 3:3-5; Jn. 16: 1-15; Acts 2:42, etc.). The Old Testament, among other things, constitutes true history and its prophecies and truisms still benefit us today (Rom.12:4; 1 Cor. 10:11); but we are not under any of the Old Testament laws. Testament (Jn.1:17; Acts 15:10; Gal. 3:24-25; 2:16;5:4; Heb.7:12; 8:7-13;10:9-10). The New Testament has “all things that pertain to life and godliness..” (2 Pet. 1:3).

REMEMBER THE CONTEXT
It has been noted that "a text out of context is mere pretext." As it is true of any writings, when we read the Bible it is important to notice (1) Who is speaking, (2) Who is being addressed, (3) What the situation or circumstance was at the time, (4) Why such was being said, (5) Where the setting took place (5) When was the letter written (6) Before making any final decisions about a passage Consider first the immediate context, then the fuller context, and then the remote context. All of these may well play an essential role in our understanding of the Bible message. Perhaps a basic rule concerning the New Testament might be that we read all passages as if they directly applied to us, unless there are any contextual reasons, and at times there may well be, to not do so (see Mt. 19:21 as an example; point 3 above needs to be applied).

CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE WORDS
Words are vehicles of thought. The Bible is a book of God's thoughts (Isa. 55:8-9). It reveals God's very "mind" (1 Cor. 2:9-13). It has been stated that "the Bible as it is, is addressed to man as he is." Yes, you can "understand" the Bible (Eph. 3:4; 5:17; Mt. 15:10). And each word is important, else God would not have spoken it (Mt. 4:4; 1 Cor. 14:33, 37). When the Bible says that in baptism we are “buried” then we understand that immersion of the whole body must be understood (Rom.6:3-4; Col 2:12; Mt. 3:16).

APPLY THE TEACHING PERSONALLY
The Bible talks about some who are "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim.3:7). Many know their Bible very well. Yes, even the Devil "believes" and knows some Scripture (James 2:19; Mt. 4:1-11). False teachers know the Bible and often "pervert" it meaning (Gal. 1:7). They even "twist" or "wrest" "the Scriptures to their own destruction" (2 Pet. 3:16). This is all very sad, but don't alarm.What is needed is for us to spend most of our reading time in the New Testament Scriptures, learn to rightly divide the Scriptures, consider the context carefully, look at the words in particular (the directives of God) and then apply what we have learned. "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only" (James 1:22;Heb. 5:8-9). "And now why are you waiting,? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" Acts 22:16) Don't Procrastinate, Obey Acts 2:38.