When I made plans to re-start my weekly online Bible study broadcast, it made me take stock of the methods and means I would be using to study and teach the Bible. Any time you propose to stand and teach God’s Word, it ought to make you step back and take stock. Better to say nothing than to say it wrong and lead folks astray.
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
James 3:1
That conviction lead me to pen down these ten important principles that I’ll always seek to put into play while studying and teaching the Bible:
The Bible is God’s word.
This means that the words, the thoughts, the purpose — all of it — matters. There’s very real consequence for getting it wrong and huge benefit for getting it right.
The Bible has supernatural power.
Since it is the Word of God, it has the same power it had in Genesis 1:3. When God’s word goes out, it transforms. The things it touches are not, nor can they be, the same.
The Bible is always about Jesus.
From beginning (Genesis) to the future that is not yet here (Revelation), the main thrust is to reveal God to us. Hebrews 1:2 says that the revelation was most perfectly made in the Person of Jesus Christ. Even Jesus says (John 5:39) that the Scriptures are about Him. From telling us what we’re lacking to giving us flashes of the heroism, victory and salvation, we seek, every page of the Bible gives us shimmering glimpses of the myriad and varied facets of Jesus.
Each text means something and that meaning is not up to you.
Every word and verse means what the Ultimate Author intended for it to mean. Yes, I understand and believe that God used human writers to pen the words (2 Peter 1:21). But in His complete power over all things, He used them to communicate His message — both the actual ideas as well as the ways and means. So, it is arrogant to think that our opinions of what the text means or should mean given the evolution of culture. Our job is not to endue the text with meaning; we are to seek to understand it and to apply it to our lives.
The structure and patterns of scripture are often clues to the meaning and purpose.
I’ve never believed that God is a mean old ogre hiding the truth from us. Hebrews 1:1 says He’s been talking to us from the beginning. Romans 1:20 says that the truth of God is so evident that we are without excuse. So, when studying the Bible, getting to the meaning and the writer’s intent is possible. It will take some study and meditation and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It will definitely take more than randomly reading a verse or taking someone’s word for what the text says. But it is accessible. And one of the most apparent ways it is accessible is through the structure and form that the writer uses.
The context of every text matters.
Each text of Scripture is written with certain goals in mind, and those goals are usually evident by paying attention to where the text fits into a passage, a chapter, a book and the whole Bible. We also need to pay attention to the time it was written, the place (geographic) it is set in, and who the intended recipients are. All of that context not only is interesting, but it can often be vital to properly assessing the intended meaning of a passage.
Genre makes a huge difference.
The rules for reading poetry are different for reading a narrative, which are fully different than reading lecture notes or listening to someone talk about future plans. That’s true with most content, and it’s true of Scripture. So, you must take care not to approach a Psalm with the same mindset as Ezekiel or one of the Gospels. That is not to say that one is truth while the other is just flowery or figurative language. It is to say that they are all different ways that God chose to communicate the truth to us. And since He used different ways, we need to appreciate how those differences affect our understanding.
There’s usually a story there.
While the specific context does matter, each passage ultimately fits into the larger context of an overarching narrative that God is presenting. Each subplot fits into that larger context and adds further insight without contradicting or working against that big picture. Understanding the big picture and how the particular story fits in will help unlock the meaning.
All of Scripture is for you, but may not be about you.
It’s tempting to read yourself into the Bible, especially all of the good promises. But remember that the Bible is not ultimately ABOUT you. On the other hand, some folks will over-compensate for that literally ignore huge swaths of scripture (the Old Testament, for example) because it was written to ancient Jewish people. But Paul tells us I Corinthians 10 that these passages — though written to and about specific people — are actually for today’s reader.
Use the “because, so you must” principle.
Bible study is never just about understanding it or even being able to explain it. The real goal is to obey it. Of course, that’s always going to be easier (and more motivating) when you understand it. So, it’s not that you don’t need to understand the Bible. It’s just the important part is the obedience part. Truth that matters motivates action.
I’m going to do my best to hold myself to these standards. And I’d encourage anyone who studies the Bible with me to hold me to them too.
If you’d like to study the Bible with me, I’d love to have you join me live on Facebook or YouTube at 7 pm (eastern) most Tuesdays or follow the recordings on my podcast.
But even if you don’t study with me … don’t miss out on “the needful thing” (Luke 10:42) of learning at the feet of Jesus.
Seeking Christ in the Scriptures 