How to Study the Bible

The purpose of studying the Bible is to find out what the Bible says. It is written in understandable language so that anyone can read it!

Late nights, eyes heavy, and work due in about an hour. This is the summary of the life of many college students. Reading and studying does not always bring the best memories to our minds. So, when people hear that they should study the Bible, it might seem less appealing than other things in life. Why? It takes some effort and work, but it is one of the most rewarding adventures! It is like when you have known a friend for a really long time and you have a deep conversation, and things are revealed that you NEVER knew about them! In our relationship with Jesus, He speaks to the deepest parts of us, and we discover things about Him that we NEVER knew before. 

In its simplest form, the purpose of studying the Bible is to find out what it says. It is written in understandable language, and Jesus used stories, called parables, that the common man can understand. It is made up of 66 books, each inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is also considered literature, but it is DIVINE literature. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” And because of this divine nature, the Word of God has divine qualities. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word of God and the Holy Spirit are both at work in the life of a believer to convict, correct, encourage, comfort, and the list continues. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Word of God is like no other book, and words should not be added or subtracted to it. 

I hope that if you are reading this, you already have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. If not, I hope that you will take a moment to read about Salvation and Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection, all to save us from our sins. If you are a believer, as you come to the Word of God to hear from God, begin in prayer and ask Him to lead you, illuminating truth that He wants you to see specifically. Pray that He would help you to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). The Word of God is precious and timeless and applicable and must be taught with care.

After praying over your time in the Word, where do you start?

It is beneficial to choose a book and start at the first verse, working through each chapter and book verse-by-verse. As you read, some verses will be illuminated, and these are good verses to take extra time on to understand. Study resources may include dictionaries, encyclopedias, original lexicons, and cross-referencing. If this is your first time studying the Word, maybe pick one of the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). These books are all about Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection. Romans is a good book to better understand salvation. James is a very practical book of how to live life following Jesus. Philippians and Ephesians are books of encouragement. In the Old Testament, Genesis is a good place to start as you will read about the Creation of the world and the start of the Israelite nation. Psalms is a book of encouragement and praise. And some people like to read a Proverb a day for a month, since there are 31 chapters in the book. Pray that God would lead you in where to begin. 

I’ve chosen a place to start, what now?

Read to get the big picture first. Get the whole story. If you are reading a short book of the Bible, read through the WHOLE book first. If it is a long book, read through the chapter that you will be studying that day. Having the big picture is beneficial because a verse taken out-of-context can drastically change the meaning, purpose, and interpretation.

Ask questions. Go over each verse and ask a few questions for each verse. Even some absurd questions will lead to insightful ones, so ask as many as you can for each verse. Sometimes it helps to even ask questions for which you already know the answer!

Read it again. Read the passage a few times until you can summarize it. This could be a mental summary, or you could write it down. What is each verse or passage saying? This may seem repetitive, but the more we read over things, the more opportunities that the Lord has to reveal truth to us through it! 

Review your questions. Go over some questions that you asked and pick a couple to focus on. Studying the Bible should not be overwhelming, so pick however many you feel you can tackle in the time that you have. Then, use any Bible resources that may be available: Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias, commentaries, etc. It is also beneficial to ask more mature believers that you know about what you have read. If your resources are limited, know that everything you need is with you and in front of you. As long as you have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, you have all that you need. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John wrote, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him” (1 John 2:27). 

As you dive deeper into a passage, remember to take the scriptures word-by-word and phrase-by-phrase. Each piece relates to what comes before it. Once you understand a teaching or doctrine, you must ensure that it fits with what you have read as a whole (the big picture of the book or passage). If it does not, you have probably misinterpreted or misunderstood the passage and need to revisit it. Everything fits in the context of Scripture. Sticking to the context of the book you are in will help you come up with the correct interpretation so that when you go to apply this doctrine to your life, you are applying proper and right doctrine. It is important to use Scripture to interpret Scripture. What does this mean?

Let’s talk a little about correlation, or cross-referencing:

To cross-reference is to find and study verses and passages that talk about the same concepts or use similar words as the section you are studying. For example, when studying Jesus’ baptism (John 1:29-34), John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God. By searching out other verses that talk about lambs, or specifically, the Lamb of God, we will gather more information on the meaning and purpose behind this name for Christ. Isaiah 53:7 says that He was “like a lamb to the slaughter.” Revelation 12:11 talks about the believers at the end of the Tribulation, saying that they will overcome “because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.” And in the Old Testament, people would have to sacrifice perfect lambs as an offering (Leviticus 4:32-35). By studying these other verses and reading them in their own contexts, we get a better idea of what God means when He talks about the Lamb of God. Jesus was the perfect, spotless Lamb that we needed to pay for our sins. Because of this, we do not have to have animal sacrifices anymore. Without these verses and a broader understanding, we would miss this. This is why cross-referencing is so important! 

A few other things that help us to study the Word are memorization and prayer. When we memorize scripture, we hide it in our heart and allow it to abide in us (1 John 2:24, John 15). Throughout Psalm 119, David talks about meditating on the Word of God and how beneficial and sweet it is in his life. To meditate is to go over the words and concepts over and over throughout the day. It is like marinating a piece of steak. It takes time to soak it all! Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  

Let’s look an example of how this process can practically look:

Example: 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Read: Read all of 2 Timothy, or at least all of chapter 3. (This is assuming that you have already studied 2 Timothy 1:1-3:15.) We know from chapter 1 that Paul is writing to Timothy, whom he had discipled, and in chapter 3, he is encouraging believers to suffer through persecution and hang on to the truth that they know in the scriptures. 

Ask Questions: 

• What is “all Scripture” at this point in time? 

• What does it mean to be inspired by God?

• What is doctrine? Reproof? Correction? Instruction in righteousness?

• How can the man of God be complete if he is still sinful here on earth and looks towards perfection in heaven?

• What does it mean to be a “man of God?”

• What does it look like to live a “complete” life?

• How do we equip ourselves in these ways?

• What is every good work? Is God calling me to any good works right now?

Read it again and paraphrase or summarize: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is about Scripture, which was written by people who were inspired, or given the words, by the Holy Spirit to pen. Scripture is good for developing what one believes and for conviction that we might become more like Jesus. It is beneficial to tell us what is right and wrong. As we read God’s Word, we will be made complete. God is what is missing in every unbelieving human heart. With Him, we have all that we need, and we will be equipped to do good works.

Review your questions (I will just pick 2): 

• What is correction?

  • Correction is the word epanorthosis in Greek and means “restoration to an upright or right state” or “improvement of life or character” (Blue Letter Bible). So, the word of God is good to improve us, morally. However, we know from other Scriptures that this life is not just about self-betterment. So… follow-up question: Where does improvement in character fit into the Christian life? Is it before salvation? 

    • No. Ephesians 2:8 says that we are saved by faith. But, most of the book of James talks about faith and works. If we have put our faith in Jesus, it should change how we live.

• What does it look like to live a “complete” life?

  • Other places in Scripture where we see the word complete are in 2 Corinthians 8:6 discussing that grace is made complete, 2 Corinthians 8:11 praying that the believers might be complete, 2 Corinthians 13:11 bidding farewell and saying that they should “Become complete,” Philippians 1:6 trusting that God will complete what He began, James 1:4 admonishing perfection and completion through trials, etc. 

  • To be complete is to be full of God. It is to yield to His plan in our life and allow His joy in our life.

Notice that I also used cross-referencing when finding the answers to questions. This is so important as other verses give you more context and understanding. After this, maybe pray through these verses, asking God to use the Word of God in YOUR life and in the lives of those around you. If you have time, maybe try to memorize the passage, abiding in it.  

Studying the Bible in this way will help to bring you face-to-face with our Lord as you personally interact with Him in the “living” Word of God. Bible study is more than learning a text; it is an ongoing, progressive, personal growing knowledge of the Lord of the text. Especially when we are young believers, it is important to be in the Word. When speaking to believers, Peter wrote, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” (1 Peter 2:2). This is how we grow and mature.

Here are some key characteristics about the Word of God:

Powerful: The Word of God is powerful! This does not mean that the physical book should be left untouched, too scared of its power to open the cover, but it means that when we read it, it changes us! These words point us to Christ and speak of who He is! When speaking on this topic, Jesus told those around Him that they searched the Scriptures, which testify about Him, yet they were unwilling to come to Him (John 5:39-40). And the words that Jesus spoke, which are recorded in Scripture, are LIFE (John 6:63). The writer of Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Spirit, wrote, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God cuts deeper than any doctrine or teaching of man. And He says that, “‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32). It is not only good for our own freedom, but it should be shared so that others might experience this same power! Romans 10:17 says, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Enduring and Trustworthy: In Psalm 138:2 the writer proclaims, “For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” It is our moral standard in a world that is covered in darkness. The psalmist writes, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statues of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;” (Psalm 19:7-8). 

Sensical, Cohesive, and Organized: The Word of God is meant to be analyzed and evaluated. We are meant to reason about it, think on it, chew on it. In this case, we also may want to have a teacher. When Ezra brought out the Book of the Law of Moses, he, Nehemiah, the priests, the scribes, and Levites “helped them to understand the reading” and taught them. The Word of God can be analyzed and evaluated. When Paul was in Berea, the people there “were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). And, as long as we have the Word and the Holy Spirit, we have what we need to be a student of the Word. And, it is meant to be taught. Paul, in writing to Timothy admonished, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). Similarly, Peter writes, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (1 Peter 3:15). We are meant to reason about it, think on it, chew on it. 

Hope: Lastly, the Word of God is hope! Romans 15:4: “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” It tells of hope for the present, no matter what situation we are in, and it gives hope for the future, as heaven is before us.

We have looked at the characteristics of the Word of God and how to study it, but, now, what do we do with it???

Let it change you and share! Following his own persecution, Jeremiah spoke of his struggle with the difficulty and sacrifice of the Lord’s leading, and yet he came to a certain conclusion: “Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not” (Jeremiah 20:9). The Word of God becomes like fire that is shut up in our bones that is spreading! So, it is meant to be eaten, savored, shared; and it is also meant to defend. In Ephesians we read about the armor of God, that we should take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” (Ephesians 6:17). This is how we fight the enemy. Look at Matthew 4 when Jesus was tempted. He combatted the temptations of Satan with the Word of God. 

I want to end with 1 Thessalonians 2:13. May you welcome the Word of God, thank Him for it, and let it do its work in you: “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”