How To Study the Bible

A Seven Step Plan

1. Preliminaries …                                           pages 2-3
                       2. A Seven Step Plan…                                     pages 4-5
                       3. Concordances & column references…        pages 6-8
                       4. Examples…				                pages 9-12
                       5. Exercises…					    page 13

Many do not study the Bible as they should, but for differing reasons.  One reason is simply unbelief. They do not believe that the Scriptures are the inspired word of God. I can understand the reluctance of one to begin such a great undertaking if he or she has decided that they do not believe that he Bible is the word of God.
But many believers do not study it as they should either. Sometimes it is because they still have too much of the world in them and so their focus is not clear. They are not willing to devote the time and energies necessary to Bible study because of conflicts with less important things. Until such a one becomes more aware of the serious nature of spiritual things, there probably will not be a whole lot of interest in Bible study.
But sometimes believers who crave spiritual growth are hesitant because Bible study is such a daunting task. But like any task, it should be taken a little bit at a time. We do not have to study the whole 1000 plus page book in one setting. Today, we can tackle a passage. Tomorrow, we’ll take on another. If one builds a house, he begins with a plan. He certainly does not build the roof first. He lays a foundation in a good place and proceeds from there. He will finish the foundation before going on to the sub floor. He does not even need to think about the roof yet, it’s day will come.
“How to Study the Bible” is a seven step plan. It is simply an organized method of Bible study. I have actually combined a few items from at least two different methods in this plan, altered them a little, and added another item that I thought was important and helpful. God bless you in the study of His word. There are exercises at the end of the book which may be used to apply the methods of study  outlined in the lessons. These exercises are simply texts of Scripture to study using these methods.

					Jon W. Quinn
					Oct. 24,2000  

1. Preliminaries

	There are many different methods of studying the Bible. Some methods are more productive than others. For example, one’s understanding of the Biblical text will be helped if he understands that complete thoughts, or points are designated in our English language by paragraphs. A new paragraph indicates a new thought, or point. Paragraphs often do a much better job at separating out particular thoughts or points than do verses or chapters in the Bible. Often paragraphs, and sometimes even sentences are divided in two by chapters or verses, so if you only read to the end of a chapter (or verse) you miss part of the point (see Philippians 1:18; 3:17-4:1 and Colossians 3:18-4:1 for examples of  such occasions). Remember that chapter and verse divisions were made by man as a study aid and not an original part of Scripture.

The Goal
	The key to a better understanding of Scripture is to use a good method of Bible study as opposed to a random, haphazard approach. The goal of this study is to provide instructions in one such method of Bible study.  This method will prove useful to both beginners and veterans. There will not be a whole lot of dependence on Bible study helps, though perhaps a concordance will be useful. Not everyone has easy access to a library of Bible encyclopedias, Bible dictionaries, lexicons, Greek word studies, commentaries and so forth. While those have their places, it is important to know that the foundation is built on God’s word alone. The comments of men may be good or bad. They may enhance or obscure Bible truth. We base our faith on what we find in the word of the Lord (Romans 10:17). So you won’t have to know Greek, but it will sure help if you know English.

Class Requirements
	1. A Bible. KJV, NKJV, ASV, NASB. You have my permission to throw away the Living Bible or Good News For Modern Man because these are not translations but paraphrases, and often bad ones at that. They are easy to read, but often lead away from the truth rather than to it. I would suggest that it will be extremely helpful to you if you use a Bible that does designate when a new paragraph begins. 
	2. A notebook. To keep notes. 
	3. A pencil or pen. (If you’re like me, probably a pencil with a big eraser would be best).
	4. A Concordance.  A good concordance is not quite “required”, but will be extremely useful and will help to enhance your profit as a student of the Bible.

Belief and Attitude
	Good Bible study is impossible for the lazy or indifferent. The “know-it-all” won’t get much out of it either since he/she already knows everything. Paul said, “If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know;” (1 Corinthians 8:2). He was talking of some that had become arrogant because of their advanced knowledge, but their arrogance and pride proves they did not really understand what they thought they knew. They knew the facts, but did not know how to use them.
	We need to believe that the Bible is the word of God and has been written for us to understand. It is God’s means of communicating with us. It’s words are important to us. It is authoritative and has direct application to our lives and the lives of our loved ones. The conclusions we draw from it are important and many will have daily application to our lives and show us the way to everlasting life if we will heed them. 
	We need to understand that every passage has an intended meaning. If you and I understand a passage differently in such a way as to present a conflict between our understandings, then one of us (at least) has misunderstood the passage. It is also helpful to understand that reading the Bible is a little like reading someone else’s mail (we have the Author’s permission). For example, the Lord (through His apostle Paul) wrote a letter to the Colossians and says, in effect, to them, “Don’t keep it to yourselves but share it with others.”  (Colossians 4:16).  So, in understanding the message, we need to ask the following two questions about a passage:
	1) What did He intend to say to the original recipients?
	2) How does this apply to me?

	It is hoped that you will find this study profitable.

Special thanks to Michael J. Schmidt for providing some of the material used above in his “How to Study the Bible.” 

2. The Seven Step Plan

	The Seven Step Bible Study Plan is a very basic procedure and easy to follow. It allows the student to use what he has developed thus far to dig a little deeper and grow a little more. If the student is a beginner, that is fine. He or she will not likely come up with  insights as deep as a veteran would, but he or she will come away from the passage with a better understanding than before. That is the point of growth. And the veteran will also find himself or herself growing as well.  These are the seven steps  that make up our method:

1. Read the passage through. Do this twice. On the second reading, briefly pause and reflect after each verse or so.
2. Choose a title. Write it down on paper. If none comes immediately to mind, go on with the rest of the study and then return here to choose and write down the title last of all.  It might be that you can think of two or three good titles, or think of a better one as you continue your study. Write them down and choose the one you think best fits the passage. Feel free to change your mind on this. As they say, “nothing is written in stone” as far as the title is concerned.
3. Meaningful or profound reference. Write down the specific reference to the verse or verses (no more than a group of three verses) that either includes the passage’s central message or perhaps is just an outstanding verse for you which has caught your attention for some reason. For example, in John 3 one might write “John 3:16” or “John 3:3-5” or perhaps another reference in the passage entirely. It’s up to you. Follow that with a short sentence or two explanation as to why you selected this reference.
4. The Passage Summarized.  Summarize what the passage says. No interpretation or commentary, just write a summary staying close to the actual words of the text. This is probably best done in outline form like so:
I. Main Heading (1:1-10)
  A. Sub point  (v. 1-3)
  B. Sub point   (v. 4-10)
II. Main Heading (1:11-18)
   A. Sub Point (v. 11-15)
       a. Sub sub point (v. 11-13)
       b. Sub sub point (v. 14-15)
    B. Sub Point (16-18)
5. Associated Passages. There might be other passages that would shed additional light on the subject matter of the passage being studied. Write them down as follows:

verse in passage       Other passage       Key thought
   vs. 11                     John ##:##          We are commanded to love one another
   vs. 13                     Matthew #:#        Hatred/anger as bad as murder 

 Veteran students will know of some associated passages themselves. One may also use the column references if your Bible has them to consider other passages. A concordance could help here as well by looking at keywords in the passage and then finding where that word is used in other passages in the Bible.
6. Difficulties. Write down the number of the verse or verses that may be difficult to understand. Can you explain what a verse means? If not , write it down. What exactly is it that is not understood. You might be able to do a little research on your own and find the answer you seek. It might be that if you look at the same difficulty a year from now, you will then know the answer. You could perhaps discuss it with someone else.
7. Personal challenge, application and profit. Yes, now it gets personal. It is time to look at this passage and glean something that will help you live your life better. Write down the following under “Challenge”:
   a. Verse(s) of the challenge (the verse where the challenge is found)
   b. The truth (this verse tells me to do this or not do this)
   c.  Personal application (This is what I am going to do about it…). 

Summary of the Seven Steps
1. Read
2. Title
3. Meaningful/profound reference
4. Passage Summarized
5. Associated Passages
6. Difficulties
7. Personal Challenge

Preliminary Exercise #1
	Select one of the passages on page 14 and read it over a couple of times (as per #1). Then think of a title for the selection (#2). Finally, suggest a “meaningful or profound reference.”  (#3).

3. Concordances and Column References
	In addition to having your Bible, paper, and a pencil/pen, it may also be helpful (though not mandatory) to make use of a concordance and/or the column references that many Bibles have. This would be most helpful with Bible study step #5 (Associated Passages). These tools will aid you in finding a passage that you remember but cannot recall its location and/or passages with which you are unfamiliar but may shed additional light on the text being studied.
	
Concordances
	Concordances are alphabetical in nature. An “exhaustive” concordance will list every word in the Bible in alphabetical order, and all the verses where each particular word can be found. An “inexhaustive” concordance will also list most of the main words in alphabetical order as well as several passages, but not all, in which each word occurs. Many Bibles have a brief concordance section in them. A concordance may or may not provide extras as well, such as a help in pronouncing the word, a brief definition, or the original Greek or Hebrew word from which our English word is translated. 
	For our purposes, our main interest is in simply finding passages relating to the text we are studying using our “Seven Step Plan” so that we can complete step #5. First, if possible, use a concordance that is based on the version of the Bible you are using. If you are using the KJV, then use a concordance based on it. If you are using the NASB, then a concordance based on that translation would be most helpful. 
	For example, Hebrews 1:3 reads as follows in the NASB:

“And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

I might want to find some passages relating to the word “power” used in this verse. If I opened my concordance, based on the NASB, I will find hundreds of places where this word occurs, listed in order of  their appearance in the Bible. Typical entries would look like this:

but also in p and in the Holy             2Th 1:5
Lord and from the glory of His p      2Th 1:9     
and the work of faith with p              2Th 1:11

This brief partial quote of a verse will help me to decide if I want to investigate the verse further and use it in my study.  The word “power” is used in several ways. I would be most interested in finding where it is used with reference to the power of the Son of God, since that is what my Hebrew text is about.  So, as I survey the entries in the concordance, I might notice the following one:

the p of Christ may dwell in me        2Co 12:9

Upon turning to this verse in my Bible, I would find:

“ And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

Now that’s interesting. I might add the following in Step #5 (Associated Passages)

verse in passage       Other passage       Key thought
v.3                       2 Cor. 12:9             Christ’s power that upholds all things  
                                                     also dwells in the faithful Christian

A good concordance is probably the most helpful Bible study tool one can have. Many Bibles also contain an abbreviated concordance in the back. In a pinch, they are helpful, but a separate, more thorough concordance would be better.

Column References
	Many Bibles have center or side column references which key in on a word,  phrase or idea expressed in a verse and give a few other passages which may be related. Again, we’ll use Hebrews 1:3 as an example.

“And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact <a>representation of His nature, and <b>upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made <c>purification of sins, He <d>sat down at the right hand of the <e>Majesty on high;”

	The column reference reads as follows:
	a. 2 Cor. 4:4 b. Col. 1:17 c. Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:14 d. Mark 16:19; Heb 8:1; 10:12 e. 2 Pet. 1:17

	Jesus is said to be “the exact representation of’ God’s nature. The letter <a> by the word “representation” refers us to the column reference where we find 2 Cor. 4:4. There ought to be something in 2 Cor. 4:4 which relates to Christ Jesus being the exact representation of God’s nature. So, we would turn to that reference and read:

“in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Here, Christ is referred to as being “the image of God.”  That’s a similar thought to His being the “exact representation” of God’s nature. But there’s more. If I check out the column reference in 2 Cor. 4:4 for “image of God” I am directed to look at John  1:18; Phil 2:6; Col. 1:15 and back to our original text of Heb. 1:13. After reading these, I might decide to use John 1:18 which reads:

      “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

And, associating that verse with verse 3 of our text do the following with step # 5 (Associated Passages)

verse in passage       Other passage       Key thought
v.3                            John 1:18             Christ, as the exact representation of 
                                                        God’s nature, explains God to us.	
	
Note how, in this example, we were first led to 2 Cor. 4:4. We could have used that reference and its key thought in our “associated passages”  but instead we looked at its column references and found another passage even better. Sometimes, Bible study can be almost like a treasure hunt. We may never have discovered the wonderful passage in John 1:18 and made the connection if we had not dug a little deeper. Personally, I believe John 1:18 relates better to our original text than does 2 Cor. 4:4

Both concordances and column references can be extremely useful tools in studying the Bible. They are easy to use and help us to make connections that we may not otherwise make. Also, where commentaries, and to a degree, Bible dictionaries, Bible handbooks and so forth, provide potential for false teaching, a concordance provides none as it is simply the words of the Bible in alphabetical order and the passages where they can be found. Column references only have a very small potential for such, usually in the form of directing one to a passage that really does not relate. (An example of this would be found in 1 John 4:3 and its discussion of the “antichrist.” The column reference would direct you to 2 Thess.2 3-7 which talks of “the man of lawlessness.” This would lead one to think these passages are talking of the same thing. They are not. The latter is a leader with false religious connotations who would come on the scene after a great apostasy.  The former describes a group of false teachers who denied that Christ came in the flesh and were already in the world (1 John 2:18; 2 John 7).

Preliminary Exercise #2
	Select one of the passages on page 14 and read over it a couple times. Then, using either a concordance, or column references, or both, find at least 5 associated passages and write them down using the following format. Also include whether your source was a concordance or column reference.

verse in text passage   associated passage    key thought    concordance/column ref.    

4. Examples

Example #1 (This first example takes a whole chapter. Any in depth study of a whole chapter is going to take time and effort. The second example will take a much shorter passage. Also, one may choose to really develop his study by using many more associated passages than I have used in this example. One may not come up with the same title and meaningful reference as I have. One’s outline summary may be different. One might have used different associated passages than I have (there are so many to choose from), cite different difficulties, or arrive at a different personal challenge. But putting forth the time and effort in personal study will pay rich dividends in coming to a better understanding of the Bible.)

(#1 Read)
Hebrews 1:1-14
HEB 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
HEB 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
HEB 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;
HEB 1:4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
HEB 1:5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, "Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee"? And again, "I will be a Father to Him And He shall be a Son to Me"?
HEB 1:6 And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, "And let all the angels of God worship Him."
HEB 1:7 And of the angels He says, "Who makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire."
HEB 1:8 But of the Son He says, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.
HEB 1:9 "Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee With the oil of gladness above Thy companions."
HEB 1:10 And, "Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Thy hands;
HEB 1:11 They will perish, but Thou remainest; And they all will become old as a garment,
HEB 1:12 And as a mantle Thou wilt roll them up; As a garment they will also be changed. But Thou art the same, And Thy years will not come to an end. "
HEB 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies A footstool for Thy feet"?
HEB 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

(#2) Title 
Jesus, The Son of God and the Radiance of His Glory 
(Hebrews 1:1-14)

( #3) Meaningful/profound reference
Hebrews 1:3 - Jesus is now at the right hand of God, and upholds all things by His power

(#4)  Passage Summarized
I. God Speaks to Us Through His Son (1:1-4)
  A. Spoke long ago through prophets in many different ways  (v. 1)
  B. Now speaks to us through His Son  (v. 2-4)
      1. Appointed Son as heir of all things (v.2)
      2. Made the world through His Son  (v. 2)
      3. Son Is the radiance of God’s glory (v. 3)
      4. Son is the Exact representation of God’s nature (v. 3)
      5. Son Upholds all things by the word of His power (v. 3)
      6. The Son made purification for sin (v. 3)
      7. The Son has sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high 
         (v. 3)
      8. The Son has become much better than the angels (v. 4)
      9. The Son has inherited a more excellent name than the angels (v.4) 
II. Contrast Between the Son and the Angels  (1:5-14)
   A. Jesus is the Son of God  (v. 5-9)
       1. Jesus is begotten of God (v. 5)
       2. Jesus is the firstborn of God brought into the world (v. 6)
       3. Angels worship the Son (v. 6)
       4. Angels are servants, Jesus is the Son (7,8)
       5. The Son sits on the throne of God forever (v. 8)
       6. The Son is referred to as “God” (v. 8)
       7. The Son’s scepter is in His hand (v. 8)
       8. The Son has loved righteousness and hated lawlessness (v.8)
       9. God has anointed the Son with the oil of gladness (v.9)      
    B. Jesus is the Creator (v. 10-12)
       1.  Laid the foundations of the earth in the beginning (v. 10)
       2.  The heavens are the works of the Son’s hands
       3.  The heavens and earth will perish, but the Son will remain (v. 11)
       4.  The Son will roll the heavens and earth up like a garment (v.12)
       5.   The years of the Son will not come to an end (v. 12)   
    C. Jesus Sits with the Father (v. 13-14)
       1. Unlike the angels, the Son sits at the Father’s right hand (v. 13)
       2. Will sit at the Father’s right hand until enemies are made a footstool for        
            His  feet  (v. 13)
       3. Angels are ministering servants (v. 14)
       4.  Angels are sent to render service for the sake of those who will inherit 
            salvation (v. 14)

(#5)  Associated Passages
    verse in passage       Other passage       Key thought
	v. 2                 Matt 17:1-8   	  Listen to Jesus! (transfiguration)
            v. 2                 John 1:1-3          All things made by the Son 
            v. 3                Acts 2:30-36       Jesus on throne at God’s right hand 
            v. 4                Hebrews 2:9        Son was temporarily made “lower 
                                                              than the angels”
             v.5                  Acts 13:32-34     Jesus “begotten” at resurrection
             v.6                  Matt 4:10           Must only worship God 
             v.8                  Luke 1:32           Son now sits on eternal throne
             v.11                2 Pet 3:7-13        Present heavens & earth will perish 
             v.14                Rev 1:20             Angels serve human needs                                            

(#6) Difficulties
v.  3    Look into significance of the phrase “exact representation of His nature”                      
v.   6   What does the term “first-born” signify?
v. 14  How do angels render service for the sake of those who inherit salvation? 
           What do they do?

(#7) Personal Challenge
(Verses 3, 6, 12)  To develop a greater appreciation for the eternal Son of God and encourage others not to so easily dismiss the words of the One whom angels praise, worship and serve. 

Example #2 (This second example is taken from a shorter passage. Hopefully, one will see how versatile a Bible study method such as this is.  It works well with lengthier passages as it does with shorter ones.)

(#1 Read)
2 Timothy 4:6-8
2TI 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
2TI 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
2TI 4:8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

(#2) Title 
Paul: Present, Past and Future
                 (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

( #3) Meaningful/profound reference
2 Timothy 4:8  -  The Lord will award a crown of righteousness to me on the last day if I am faithful

(#4) Passage Summarized
I. Departure (4:6)
  A. Poured out as a drink offering (v.6)
  B. Time for Paul’s departure has come (v. 6)
II. Paul’s had… (4:7)
   A. Fought the good fight (v.7)
   B. Finished the course (v.7)
   C. Kept the Faith (v. 7)
III. Future (4:8)
   A. A crown of righteousness laid up for Paul (v. 8)
   B. Awarded by the Lord (v. 8)
      1. Righteous  (v.8)
      2. Judge (v. 8)
   C. A day of reward (v. 8)
      1. Paul given his crown as an award (v. 8)
      2. All those who have loved the Lord’s appearing will be given the same as 
          their award (v. 8)     

(#5) Associated Passages
  verse in passage       Other passage       Key thought
     v. 6                 Phil 2:17   	  Sacrifice for the Lord a source of joy
     v. 6                 Phil 1:21-24        Depart to be with Christ 
     v. 7                 Eph 6:10-17         Being strong by putting on the full armor 
                                                  of God 
     v. 7                1 Cor 9:24-27       One must run the course according to the 
                                                  rules
     v. 7                 Rev 2:10             Must be faithful unto death
     v. 8                 Col 1:5               Our hope “laid up” in heaven   
      v.8                  James 1:12         Crown of life for those who love the Lord 
     v. 8                  2 Tim 1:12         The reward of “that day” guarded for 
                                                those who entrust themselves to God 
      v.8                  Acts 17:31          A day is “fixed” in which the world will 
                                                 be judged in righteousness
     v. 8                 2 Thess 4:13-18   All the faithful will join Jesus in the air
      v.8                 2 Tim 4:1            Jesus will appear and judge 

(#6) Difficulties
v.  6 What is a “drink offering?” 

(#7) Personal Challenge
(Verse 8)  To contemplate more on life’s ultimate goal and what I need to be doing to reach it. Not to allow other things to crowd out the priority of reaching heaven. 

5. Exercises

The following exercises are meant to aid in developing the ability to use the “Seven Step Plan” in one’s Bible study. Use these Scriptures to apply the methods of study  as outlined in the lessons. 

1. Romans 1:18-23
2. Ephesians 4:17-24
3. Philippians 2:12-18
4. Colossians 1:9-14
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
6. 1 Timothy 6:3-10
7. James 2:14-26
8. 1 Peter 1:13-21
9. 2 Peter 3:8-18
10. Revelation 2:1-7