How to Study the Bible

Bill Brinkworth

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15

Many readers of the Word of God quickly encounter Timothy’s admonition on studying the Bible. Some faithfully read the Word of God every day. Many do not, and even fewer study the truths God has preserved within the pages of His Word.

Not only, does it take extra time to study the Bible, but many do not know how to start. I learned a long time ago that a short reading of just a few verses each day will have less impact on one’s life than a Scriptural diet of several chapters. Actually taking the time to delve in and study the Word of God will be a far more life-directing, life-changing, God-leading influence than even reading several pages.

Then the question arises, how do you study the Bible? How does one set their mind or thoughts upon a Bible subject or book and get the most out of it? The answer varies from one person to another, since each of our brains and learning methods are different. Here are a few study methods that may help you get more out of the Word of God, so that you will learn more, that its content will help you with your life’s decisions, and that you will have a better relationship with the Lord:

Be saved! The Word of God is for the people of God and will not mean much to a person that is not saved! It will point an unbeliever to God’s truths so he can become a born-again (John 3:3) child of God and give him more understanding about God, but the Book’s wisdom is clearer and more precious to a child of God.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” I Cor. 2:14
Pray and ask God to help you understand His Word before you even begin! It’s His Book; you need His help to understand it!
Consistently read the Bible. Schedule and make it a priority to expose yourself to God’s Word every day!
Use the King James Bible. ALL the other versions, including the New King James Bible, alter what God’s Word says. One cannot build a spiritual life that is close to God, if the foundation, God’s Word, is corrupt and not true to what God originally had preserved!
Do not just read to fill a quota of verses or chapters. Read at your own speed to get something out of it. There have been times that I have spent most of my devotional time on one verse. There have been times that I have read several pages.
If you do not understand a word, stop and look it up in a dictionary. You will be surprised to find that you do not know all the meanings of words as well as you thought you did. Most do not need to know the Greek or Hebrew languages to get more out of their English Bible; they just need to understand the English language better!
If you find you have read several verses and do not remember what you read, read them again. The goal should be to get a blessing from the reading of God’s Word.
One method to slow one’s reading down and get more from the reading, is to make notes on what you have just read. A notebook or a wide-margin Bible can be used for this.
Since we are in the New Testament church-age, a believer should first have an understanding of Jesus, the early church, and the teachings for this time. First read and study the New Testament. With its understanding, when the Old Testament is read, one will get a fuller, clearer picture of what God did then and how it pictures what would happen later.
While reading a verse, read other verses that teach the same principle. Some study Bibles have references in the margin. Follow those references, and read those verses. Often you will get a fuller picture of what God is trying to show you through different passages.
When reading a verse, understand the context first. Understand who the verse was addressed to, why, and when, to better understand the verse. So many pluck a verse and apply it to whatever they want to apply it to, forgetting what situation, time, or people it was originally speaking of.
Read other Bible books that cover the same topic. For example, if you are studying The Revelation, it would be good to understand Old Testament prophecies in Ezekiel and Daniel. If trying to learn more about Jesus’ life it is important to read other aspects of His life in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Although, not to be trusted as one can trust the Word of God, a Bible dictionary, such as Unger’s Bible Dictioanary, can give some insight into a subject, place, or person you are reading about. Be especially cautious of books from authors or publishers that condone other Bible translations or come from denominations, or institutions, that teach differently than what the Bible teaches.
Look up, using a concordance (a book that has words listed and where they are used throughout the Bible), a word or name you want to learn more about. Some Bible computer programs are very useful for this purpose.
The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself! Although many books on a subject or book you are studying can be helpful; they can also be wrong! I have far more commentaries on my bookshelves that I cannot trust what the author says than I have books that have been proven reliable to what the Word of God says. All authors are only men and all do make mistakes! God’s Word, however, is from God and has His influential inspiration preserved and is trustworthy!
Do not compare with other versions and translations of the Bible! They usually originate from sources that were not accurate in their conception, change doctrines that support the translator’s beliefs, or change facts and doctrines. Comparing them with the real Bible (KJV) will only raise doubts and breed confusion!

These are just a few of the many ways to study God’s Word. No matter what technique is used, the main goal is to get as much out of every precious word God has kept for us to glean. Are you diligently reading and studying God’s Word?

“With God’s help, we can get out of the Bible what we invest in it.”

This lesson was featured in the Bible View #405.