How to Study the Bible

The Foundation of Bible Study

From God to us, with love! “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.” Abraham Lincoln

God is not silent, He has spoken! Revelation Revelation Inspiration Illuminatio n

God has clearly revealed Himself Revelatio n Natural-general Special-written Special-personal

He has revealed Himself- Natural-general Through His acts and works Revelatio n For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, Romans 1:20

He has revealed Himself- 2. Special-written, words, prophets, Scriptures Revelation God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, Hebrews 1:1

He has revealed Himself- 3. Special-personal in a person, the Lord Jesus Christ Revelation in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, Hebrews 1:2

Revelation- ἀποκαλύπτω; ‘to cause something to be fully known—‘to reveal, to disclose, to make fully known, revelation.’ “The revelation of the mysteries refers to divine purposes and doctrines which before were unknown and concealed.” Illumination

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, Romans 16:25-26 (NASB) Illumination

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Revelation 1:1-2 (NASB) Illumination

From God to us, with love! Revelatio n

His revelation has been recorded = Inspiration Holy Spirit Words – Authors Scripture Thoughts, culture and experience Revelation Inspiratio n

so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. Inspiration All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

Inspiration But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20-21

Inspiration Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, ... “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. 2 Samuel 23:1-2

His revelation is received, it is understood = Illumination Understand Holy Spirit, is essential in its interpretation Inductive Bible study- methodical Revelation Inspiration Illuminatio n

Illumination (Interpretation) I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:12-13 (NASB)

Illumination (Interpretation) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 1 Cor. 2:12–13.

Illumination through Preaching & Personal study!

Process of Revelation Truth Revealed Truth Recorded Truth Received Inspiration Illumination

Discovering Truth Truth = Meaning Perfect Revelation Revelation Inspiration Illumination

Discovering Truth Truth = Meaning Perfect Imperfect Interpretation Revelation Revelation Truth = Meaning Perfect Inspiration Illumination Interpretation Imperfect

Let’s practice on John 20:1-9! Three people came to Jesus’ tomb on resurrection morning, 1. What did each of them “see?” 2. How did each one respond?

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” John 20:1-2 Illumination

3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. John 20:3-5 Illumination

6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. John 20:6-7 Illumination

8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. John 20:8-9 Illumination

Three different words are used for “saw” in John 20:1-8 20:1, 5 = Mary and John “saw” Βλέπει- ‘to see, to become aware of, to notice, to glance at.” 20:6 = Peter- “saw” θεωρεῖ- “To gaze, to look with interest and for a purpose, usually indicating the careful observation of details.” Illumination

 20:8 = εἶδεν- “to see with perception” “to perceive, be aware of, understand. … implying not the mere act of seeing but the actual perception of some object, and thus differing from blépō, to see.” Zodhiates, S. The complete word study dictionary New Testament. Illumination

  Peter saw more after he entered than John did in his first glance, but John saw into the meaning of it all better than Peter. Peter had more sight, John more insight. John was the first to believe that Jesus was risen from the tomb even before he saw him. According to Luke 24:12 Peter went away “wondering” still. Robertson, A. T. Word Pictures in the NT Illumination

Developing an inquiring mind Next week: Developing an inquiring mind