by James F. Nyquist & Jack Kuhatschek
Several years ago the New York Times ran an advertisement of Mortimer Adler’s How to Read a Book. Under the picture of a puzzled adolescent reading his first love letter were these words:
How to Read a Love Letter
This young man has just received his first love letter. He may have read it three or four times, but he is just beginning. To read it as accurately as he would like, would require several dictionaries and a good deal of close work with a few experts of etymology and philology. However, he will do all right without them.
He will ponder over the exact shade of meaning of every word, every comma. She has headed the letter, “Dear John.” What, he asks himself, is the exact significance of those words? Did she refrain from saying “Dearest” because she was bashful? Would “My Dear” have sounded too formal?
Jeepers, maybe she would have said “Dear So-and-So” to anybody! A worried frown will now appear on his face. But it disappears as soon as he really gets to thinking about the first sentence. She certainly wouldn’t have written that to anybody!
And so he works his way through the letter, one moment perched blissfully on a cloud, the next moment huddled miserably behind an eight-ball. It has started a hundred questions in his mind. He could quote it by heart. In fact, he will-to himself-for weeks to come.
The advertisement concludes: “If people read books with anything like the same concentration, we’d be a race of mental giants.”
The Bible is God’s love letter to us. But if we want to experience the eagerness and intensity of the young man in the advertisement, we must learn how to study it on our own. This chapter considers basic skills in how to study the Bible. Whether you intend to use a study guide or to write your own questions, these are vitally important skills to learn.
In order to read the Bible with understanding, we need to answer three primary questions: 1. What does the Bible say? 2. What does the Bible mean? 3. What does the Bible mean to me?.
Answering the first question requires observation.
Answering the second question requires interpretation.
Answering the third question requires application.
Step One: Observation
Sherlock Holmes was known for his brilliant powers of observation. One day a stranger came into Holmes’s study. The detective looked over the gentleman carefully then remarked to Watson: “Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has been in China, and that he has done considerable amount of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else.”
Watson was so astounded by his abilities that he commented: “I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his process of deduction. ‘When I hear you give your reasons,’ I remarked, ‘the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled, until you explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good as yours.’
“ ‘Quite so,’ he answered . . . throwing himself down into an armchair. ‘You see, but you do not observe.’ ”
The first step in personal Bible study is to make several observations about the passage or book you are studying. Like a good detective, train your eyes to see the obvious and the not so obvious. You can learn to do this by bombarding the book or passage with questions. Rudyard Kipling once wrote:
I have six faithful serving men
Who taught me all I know,
Their names are What and Where and When
And How and Why and Who.
- Who-Who is the author of the book? To whom is he writing? Who are the major and minor characters?
- Where-Where do the events occur? Are there any references to towns, cities, provinces? If so, look these up in a Bible atlas or on a map. (Many Bibles include maps.) If you are reading a letter, where do the recipients live?
- When-Are there any references to the time, day, month or year, or to when events took place in relation to other events?
- What-What actions or events are taking place? What words or ideas are repeated or are central to the passage? What is the mood (joyous, somber)?
- Why-Does the passage offer any reasons, explanations, statements of purpose?
- Hour-How is the passage written? Is it a letter, speech, poem, parable? Does the author use any figures of speech (similes, metaphors)? How is it organized (around ideas, people, geography)?
By probing a book or passage with questions, you will uncover many important facts. As you discover them, write them down so you can refer to them later.
The importance of careful observation cannot be overstressed since your observations will form the basis for your interpretations. In one of his most baffling cases, Sherlock Holmes commented to Watson: “I had . . .come to an entirely erroneous conclusion, which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from insufficient data.”
Step Two: Interpretation
The second step in Bible study is interpretation. Here you seek to understand those facts discovered through careful observation.
- Were there any words you didn’t understand? Define them.
- Did the author use figurative language? This needs to be unraveled.
- Were major ideas presented? Try to grasp their meaning and significance.
- Did you encounter any difficulties? Seek to resolve them.
Meaning, significance, explanation-these are the goals of the interpreter. How do you reach these goals? And once you have reached them, how do you know you are not mistaken?
For example, have you ever been discussing a passage of Scripture with someone when suddenly he or she says, “That’s just your interpretation,” as if to say, “You have your interpretation and I have mine, and mine is just as good as yours!”
The person is half right. People often disagree on how the Bible should be interpreted. But just because there are many different interpretations of a passage doesn’t mean they are all good interpretations. A good interpretation must pass one crucial test-it must conform to the author’s intended meaning. You may have a seemingly wonderful interpretation of Scripture, but if it is different from what the author intended, it is incorrect.
How then can we discover the author’s meaning? By following five steps:
- Discover the historical context of the book you are studying.
- Identify the type of literature it is.
- Get an overview of the book.
- Study the book passage by passage.
- Compare your interpretation with a good commentary.
- Discover the historical context of the book.
The events described in the Bible took place thousands of years ago. This creates one obvious problem for understanding these events-we weren’t there! Therefore, we often lack important information regarding the background or context in which these events took place.
For example, almost every New Testament letter was written to address a particular problem or set of problems: the Galatians were seeking to be justified by law; the Corinthians wanted answers to questions about marriage, spiritual gifts, meat offered to idols and so on; Timothy needed to know how to restore order to a church.
Unless we understand these problems or questions, the letters are like listening to one end of a telephone conversation. We hear what the author is saying, but we don’t know why he is saying it. The same is true when we read other books of the Bible. We know only half of the story!
One way to learn about the background or context of a psalm, prophetic book or New Testament letter is to look for clues within the book or passage itself. For example, in 1 John we read, “I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray” (1 John 2:26). As we look elsewhere in the letter we discover that these false teachers had originally been part of the church: “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us” (1 John 2:19). John calls them “antichrists” (1 John 2:18). There are many other statements, some explicit and some implicit, which give us additional details about the situation that John’s readers faced.
Once you have looked within the book or passage itself, it is helpful to consult a Bible dictionary or handbook. For example, under the listing “John, Epistles of” you will find further information about the background and circumstances of 1 John.
It is also a good idea to read related passages in the. Bible. For example, Psalm 51 was written by David after his adultery with Bathsheba. We can read about David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11-12. (In Psalm 51 the heading over the psalm tells us why it was written. When such information isn’t given, a Bible dictionary will often mention related passages.) Similarly, if you are studying Philippians, you will want to consult the book of Acts, which provides information about the founding of the church at Philippi (Acts 16).
The more you know about the historical context of a biblical passage, the better equipped you will be to understand the message of the author. Such information can be like finding missing pieces of a puzzle. As they are put into place, the whole picture becomes clearer.
- Identify the type of literature you are studying.
The biblical authors communicated in a variety of ways-through stories, letters, poems, proverbs, parables, and symbols. The way they say things adds richness and beauty to what they say.
The literature of the Bible has been classified into various types. These include:
- Discourse. The New Testament epistles are the clearest examples of discourse, an extended, logical discussion of a subject. Some of the prophetic sermons and the longer sermons of Jesus also fall into this category.
- Prose narrative. This is the style used in books such as Genesis, Joshua and the Gospels. The author describes and recreates scenes and events from biblical history which are theologically significant.
- Poetry. The Psalms, of course, fit in this category. Poetry uses figurative language. It also uses different types of parallelism and is emotional in nature.
- Proverbs. Proverbs, such as those in the book of Proverbs, are wise sayings. They are practical principles for living. They should not be confused with commands or promises.
- Parables. Jesus used parables more than anyone else in Scripture. A parable explains a spiritual truth by means of a story or analogy. It is an extended simile or metaphor.
- Prophetic literature. The prophetic books include the four major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel) and the twelve minor prophets (Hosea, Joel and Amos through Malachi). The prophets were spokesmen for God who announced the curses and blessings associated with God’s covenant with Israel.
- Apocalyptic literature. The books of Daniel and Revelation are a special type of prophecy known as apocalyptic literature. The word apocalypse means to “uncover” or “reveal” something which is hidden. One distinct feature of these books is their heavy use of symbols.
Once you have identified the type of literature you are studying, consult a Bible dictionary. For example, if you are studying the Psalms, it would be wise to read an article on Hebrew poetry in order to learn how it is put together. Likewise, if you are studying Revelation, read an article on apocalyptic literature. It will explain why this kind of literature seems so strange to us and will offer suggestions for interpreting it correctly.
- Get an overview of the book.
On a large windswept plain in Peru, archaeologists discovered a vast series of strange lines covering an area thirty-seven miles long. The archaeologists first thought these lines were ancient roads. It wasn’t until they happened to fly over the area in an airplane that they discovered their true significance. The lines joined to form a design, an immense mural that could only be seen from high above.
In Bible study it is helpful to get an overview of the book you are studying. The parts of the book only take on their true significance in light of the whole. But remember that the way a book is put together will be closely related to its literary type. An epistle such as Romans is organized around ideas. Historical narratives are put together in a variety of ways. Genesis (after Genesis 11 ) is organized around people: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Exodus is organized around geographical locations and events: in Egypt, en route to Sinai and at Sinai. The Gospel of John focuses primarily on several “signs” which Jesus did. Psalm 119 is structured around the letters of the Hebrew alphabet!
- Begin by reading quickly through the book. As you read, try to discover its overall theme. For example, the theme of Romans is righteousness by faith. When it isn’t possible to read the entire book in one sitting, you should try to skim through its contents, paying particular attention to any chapter or paragraph headings contained in your Bible.
- Next, look for major sections or divisions within the book. For example, the major divisions of Romans are Romans 1-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-16. Each of these sections focuses primarily on one subject. Once you have discovered that subject, try to summarize it by giving a brief descriptive title to the section. For example, the various sections of Romans could be entitled: Being Declared Just (Romans 1-5), Being Made Holy (Romans 6-8), God’s Dealings with Israel (Romans 9-11) and Living as Christians (Romans 12-16).
- Now look for subsections-those major ideas which join together to form sections. The first section of Romans divides in two. Romans 1:18-3:20 describes the universal need for righteousness. Romans 3:21-5:21 describes how God declares us righteous through Jesus Christ.
- At each step of the way look for connections or relationships between the sections, subsections and paragraphs. For example, Romans 1:18-3:20 is related to Romans 3:21-5:21 because the former describes the need of humanity and the latter shows God’s solution to that need. Other connections you might look for include things that are alike, things that are opposite, cause and effect, movement from general to specific and so on. Continually ask yourself how these paragraphs, subsections and sections contribute to the overall theme of the book.
In other words, an overview is like looking through a zoom lens. You begin with a panoramic view through the lens (reading the entire book), then zoom in for a closer look (identifying major sections), then still closer (looking for subsections). Now you are ready to focus closely on the paragraphs, sentences and words.
The more times you read a book, the more familiar you will become with its structure and contents. Your original overview will help you to understand the whole of the book. This understanding will tend to affect the way you interpret its parts. But as you gain familiarity with the parts, your understanding of the whole may need to be modified, and so on. Each time you go through this cycle, you will come closer and closer to grasping the meaning of the author.
- Study the book passage by passage.
Once you have an overview of the structure and contents of a book, begin studying it passage by passage. In our modern Bibles a passage can be a paragraph, a group of paragraphs or a chapter. Realize, however, that the Bible did not originally contain chapters, paragraphs or verses (or even punctuation!). These are helpful additions to our Bibles, but we need not be bound by them.
- Read and reread the passage in order to familiarize yourself with its contents. As you read look for the main subject of the passage.
- Once you have identified the main subject, find out what the author is saying about it. If you are studying a paragraph, ask how the verses expand and explain the main subject of the paragraph. If you are studying a group of paragraphs, ask how each paragraph contributes to the main theme of that group. Do the same thing if you are studying a chapter.
- Pay attention to the context of the passage you are studying. Read the verses or paragraphs immediately before and after the passage. Ask, “Why is this verse or paragraph here? How does the author use it to make his point clearer?” Keep in mind how the passage is related to the overall argument or theme of the author.
- Notice the atmosphere or mood. Sorrow and agony pervade Jesus’ experience in Gethsemane. Galatians 1 radiates the heat of Paul’s anger toward the Judaizers and his perplexity over the Galatians. Psalm 100 is filled with joy. While this is a more subjective aspect of Bible study, it can give you rich insights into what the author or characters are feeling.
- Compare your interpretation with a good commentary.
Once you feel you have understood the main subject of the passage and what the author is saying about it, compare your interpretation with that of a good commentary. It can give you additional insights which you might have missed. It can also serve as a corrective if you have misunderstood something the author has said. But do your best to understand the passage on your own before consulting a commentary.
What to Keep in Mind When You Study
- Handle with care. Study the Bible with the same diligence and care you would study for a test by a professor or a driver’s license examiner.
- Assume the writer is being straightforward. Don’t try to find hidden meanings, but look for the clear teaching which may at first appear simple and obvious. We must learn the basic lessons the Bible teaches again and again.
- Use a contemporary translation of the Bible. Among those which are widely accepted, the New International Version (NIV), Revised Standard Version (RSV), New American Standard Bible (NASB) and the Good News Bible (GNB) are probably the best. Paraphrases like the Living Bible and J. B. Phillips New Testament are fine for general overview preparation, but are usually inadequate for careful study, especially in the carefully reasoned letters by the apostle Paul.
- Let the material season. Try to study the material several days ahead of time so it can mature in your own mind and so you can clear up any questions you encounter by talking with a friend or consulting reference works.
Step Three: Application
The ultimate purpose of Bible study is not simply to educate us but to transform us. In Romans 12:2 Paul gives us this exhortation: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” As we renew our minds through the study of Scripture, the Holy Spirit gradually transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ.
To properly apply the Scriptures, we must remember the nature of Scripture. We mentioned earlier that almost every book of the Bible was written to address specific problems, needs and questions of the people living at that time. The Corinthians had problems of division, immorality, marriage, food sacrificed to idols, spiritual gifts and lawsuits among believers. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to answer their specific questions.
We face many of these same problems and questions today. It is still possible to take a fellow believer to court, and we still have questions about marriage. In fact there are hundreds of ways in which our problems and needs correspond to those faced by the people in the Bible. This is natural since we share a common humanity.
This leads us to the first principle of application:
Rule #1: Whenever our situation corresponds to that faced by the original readers, God’s Word to us is exactly the same as it was to them.
But there are also situations from their clay which do not have an exact counterpart today. This, too, is to be expected because of the differences between modern and biblical culture. For example, almost no one in our society sacrifices food to idols. In such cases we should follow the second principle of application:
Rule #2: Whenever our situation does not correspond to that faced by the original readers, we should look for the principle underlying God’s Word to them. We can then apply that principle to comparable situations today.
What was the principle underlying Paul’s words about food sacrificed to idols? He was concerned that the Corinthians not do anything that would lead someone with a weak conscience to sin: “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall” (1 Cor. 8:13). This principle might be applicable to many situations today, such as whether a Christian should drink alcoholic beverages around someone who is a former alcoholic-or drink at all.
Once you understand these principles of application, you can think of unlimited ways in which God’s Word applies today. You can ask such questions as:
- Is there a command for me to obey?
- Is there a promise to claim?
- Is there an example to follow?
- Is there a sin to avoid or confess?
- Is there a reason for thanksgiving or praise?
- What does this passage teach me about God, Jesus, myself, others?
When you have completed your observation, interpretation and application of a passage, you can then finish steps 5-7 in the last chapter. If you are writing your own questions for the discussion, follow the suggestions found in the next chapter.
Practice Makes Perfect (Well, Almost)
Learning to study the Bible is like learning any other skill-the more you do it, the easier it becomes. At first, following the steps outlined in this chapter may seem mechanical, like learning how to type. But after a while, many of these steps will seem much more natural, almost automatic. And remember, you are not alone in Bible study. The Holy Spirit did not write Scripture in order to confuse us. He will help you to understand and apply the Bible as you pray, study diligently and make use of many of the study aids available today. Bon appetit!
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