Subject: How do I study the bible? |
Bible Note: Hello Mazon51! Welcome to the Study Bible Forum.. I'll try to answer your question. Here is how I study the Bible.. I start off the day by reading a daily devotional and then read a portion of Scripture. I usually read a portion of Scripture on an outline that I have created for myself that will help me read through the Bible straight through the whole year! But of course, my outline is "tailor made" for myself, reading books out of their place and reading this book before that book, so on and so forth. But I can assure you that I do finish the entire Bible through in one year! However, sometimes I "break" from that routine and do a "topical study", so that my Scripture reading doesn't become 'too routine'. Is there a topic that has affected you in your life? For instance, would you like to do a study on married people? What you can do is get a good concordance (I like Strong's), and study all of the passages of Scripture (within their context) that have to do with marriage. And then you can get a tablet of paper and write down everything that you find valuable to yourself and keep a journal or notebook of your findings! :) Then you can come back to it whenever you like, thus developing your own personal "commentary".. Another thing you can do to study the Bible is by doing "personal sketches".. You can focus on a particular individual, like Paul for instance, and do a study on Paul and what he might have been like in person. You can go into his biographical information: was he married? was he a Roman citizen? how he became saved? and do a study on that. This will also increase your knowledge of the Bible. Also, to delve a little "deeper", you can go into Romans or Hebrews and do a study on the 'main ideas' or concepts that run for several paragraphs- concepts of how the Law relates to believers, or the subject of original sin, or the subject of spiritual gifts, etc, etc.. You must find what is right for you, Mazon. For instance, there is a member on this Forum that likes to study Capitalization and the use of it throughout Scripture! :) People interpret Scripture in different ways and use different methods in studying it. But I hope that I have been helpful in sharing ways that I personally study Scripture and use the Bible. Do you drive alot? Would it be possible to study the Bible using Cassette tapes in your car while you go to and from work? This is also something that I've done- listening to the Bible on audiocassette. Sometimes I do this and sometimes I don't. You see, if I did it all the time, then it would become too "routine" for me, so I do this sometimes and read from the Bible at other times and so on and so forth.. The best way to "tackle" Bible study is to keep positive and to be creative with an open mind to what works for you. It may be discouraging at times, but the best way to overcome the difficulty of keeping on Bible Study is to determine what makes it difficult. Is the reading difficult? Is it just difficult to keep motivated? Try several different translations. I suggest even a paraphrase maybe, where you could read it like a novel. Maybe a good translation to start would be the one that keeps your interest, and then work from there. If any of these suggestions help, then let me know my friend! Nolan |