Bible Study

There has been much written about how to study the bible and the different techniques you can employ.  One can take a topical study, a systematic study, a chronological or even a biographical study.  These are just some of the types of study directions one could take depending upon what one wishes to explore.  There is so much to depth in scripture that it is endless how many directions one could take in an individual bible study.

John 14:25-26 (NKJV)

²⁵ “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

The added dimension of bible study is the leading of the Holy Spirit.  We can access a mountain of knowledge regarding scripture, but it would be no more than just information on a page unless the Holy Spirit takes these words and opens our understanding and makes application to our lives.  The word of God when read with the intent of knowing God, is like a sharp two-edged sword which cuts both ways, it tends to cut through our ideas and motives to expose the true heart of who we are before God.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The word of God casts down and excises false concepts which are contrary to what is written if we only let the word speak freely without injecting our preconceived ideas or notions which only get in the way, these are thoughts clearly of our own design. 

God’s word has stood the test of time since the early days of Constantine and the first Church Council at Nicea in the year AD 325, where the canon of scripture was first formed, even unto this day in which we live it still stands firm.   

The word of God has taken a lot of heat lately with many people and organizations attempting to re-interpret the bible according to a particular academic or social viewpoint.  As our culture changes so does our language.  There is obviously a need to update a version of the bible written in the “Kings English” to a more modern and understandable version which is easily readable.

One thing we always have to keep in mind is no matter what version of the bible we utilize, it is still an interpretation from one language to another which makes the interpretation imperfect from the original.  Many instances and nuances can be lost in interpretation due to societal, political, or even regional changes. 

For example, a family friend of ours who is missionary for Wycliffe bible translators related a story to me that when attempting to translate Isaiah 1:18 into a specific African dialect he ran into some difficulty.

Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They shall be as wool. 

Many from the village our missionary friend was working in did not know what snow was, for they had never seen snow or experienced it, so to translate this passage with the word ‘snow” made it incomprehensible.  So with wisdom and much prayer it was decided to translate this verse thusly;

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as the inside of a coconut”

Not only did the villagers now understand the passage, but they related to it because they had “experienced the inside of a coconut” and knew how white it was, and that God could make them that clean.

My point is not to argue about how the bible is interpreted, but to allow the Holy Spirit to come and to teach us that we may grow into the men and women of God who listen for that still small voice which is calling us to go deeper in relationship with Him.  That is what bible study is all about. 

Bible study is not an end in itself, it is only a means to an end—God is the Glorious end that we are after.  We must know Him and He must know us, and we must be transformed into His image, bible study is only a tool which we have to build our knowledge.  Even Satan has knowledge of the bible, but what we have that Satan does not is the Holy Spirit as our teacher who can take our knowledge and transform it into the implanted or engrafted word of God in our minds which can change our thinking processes.

1 Corinthians 2:13-16 (NKJV)

¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

I am a strong proponent of bible study, I studied the bible systematically and chronologically for many years, and that style has worked for me.  This type of study may not work as well for someone else who has limited time or resource.  Sometimes just sitting down with the bible and taking a short passage and reading it slowly and contemplatively can be very enlightening. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you something about the passage you may not see, and that He would bring illumination.  Sometime enlightenment comes quickly, other times it may take a while.  Either way, the Holy Spirit is still the teacher and we are the students.  Just remain patient and consistent.

May you find the joys that come from studying God’s word, and may the result of your efforts help you to find Jesus and His immeasurable love for you.  And may the Holy Spirit bring you illumination to see scripture in fresh and new ways that challenge you and build your faith.  And may you find a secret place with the Lord where He speaks with you about what you have studied and make application to your life.

Stephen Barnett

God is good all the time—All the time God is good!

Word of God Speak

Written by Bart Millard and Pete Kipley

I'm finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it's OK

The last thing I need is to be heard

But to hear what You would say

Chorus:

Word of God speak

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That You're in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness

Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You

Beyond the music, beyond the noise

All that I need is to be with You

And in the quiet hear Your voice

Repeat Chorus twice

I'm finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it's OK

Copyright © 2002 Simpleville Music, Wordspring Music, LLC and Songs From The Indigo Room  All Rights Reserved.

The Music and Lyrics above are displayed here and utilized for educational purposes only and not for profit.