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THE BASICS OF BIBLE STUDY
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THE BASICS OF BIBLE STUDY

Step 1 - Reading
Read a passage of scripture repeatedly until you understand its theme, meaning the main truth of the passage. Pay
careful attention to the context of the passage. Never isolate a passage. What does it mean in it's context? (Read
before and after because it is dangerous to take a verse of scripture out of its context.)

Step 2 - Interpreting
As you read a scripture, always keep in mind one simple question: What does this mean?
To answer that question requires the use of the most basic principle of interpretation, called Analogy of Faith, which
tells the reader to “interpret the Bible with the Bible.”
Letting the Holy Spirit be your Teacher (1 John 2:27), search the scripture He has Authored, using cross-references,
comparative passages, concordances, indexes, and other helps. For those passages that yet remain unclear, consult
some godly person you trust to help you.

Errors to avoid
  1. Do not draw any conclusions at the price of proper interpretation. That is, do not make the Bible say what you
    want it to say, but rather let it say what God intended when He wrote it.
  2. Avoid superficial interpretation. You have heard people say, “to me this passage means, “I feel its saying….”
    The first step in interpreting the Bible is to recognize the four gaps we have to bridge: Language, Culture,
    Geography, and History. (see below)
  3. Do not spiritualize the passage. Interpret and understand the Bible in its normal, literal, historical, grammatical
    sense, just like you would understand any other piece of literature you were reading today.

Gaps to bridge
The books of the Bible were written many centuries ago. For us to understand today what God was communicating
then there are several gaps that need to be bridged: the language gap, the cultural gap, the geographical gap, and
the historical gap. Proper interpretation, therefore, takes time and disciplined effort.

  1. Language! The Bible was originally written in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Often understanding, the meaning
    of a word or phrase in the original language can be the key to interpreting a passage of scripture. Today there
    are good word study materials available to assist you in this.
  2. Culture! The culture gap can be tricky. Some people try to use cultural differences to explain away more difficult
    biblical commands. Realize that scripture must first be viewed in the context of the culture in which it was written.
    Without an understanding of first-century Jewish Culture, it is difficult to understand the gospel. Acts and the
    Epistles (letters such as Romans, Galatians etc.) must be read in the light of the Greek and Roman Cultures.
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