"HOW TO STUDY GOD’S WORD"
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16,17Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
Seeing that God has communicated to us His inspired word for the purpose of making us complete and that entrance into heaven will be based upon our compliance to His word, we should and must see the importance and the necessity of studying His word. How does one go about studying God’s word? Before one enters into a study of God’s word he must understand two things.
One must understand that God’s word can be understood. We read in the Bible that the scriptures can be understood by the people. So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. Nehemiah 8:8
By which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)," Ephesians 3:4
And to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Colossians. 1:9
Would it make any sense for God to give us His inspired word that will one day judge us (Jn. 12:48) and we would not be unable to understand it. The Bible can be understood and God expects us to use His book in becoming acquainted with His character and in gaining a knowledge of His will; but it will require study on our part. "…in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." Acts 17:11
One must also understand that God’s word can be understood correctly. One might ask, "What has studying God’s word correctly have to do with where I will spend eternity? The answer, "Plenty." In II Peter 3:16, Peter would write of those who twisted scripture "to their own destruction." Paul would say to those who would pervert the Gospel, "let them be accursed" (Galatians 1:7-9) and "Give diligence to show thyself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed of rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).
Often times we hear when it comes to studying God’s word, "Well, that is just your interpretation, this is my interpretation." We all need to realize that when it comes to studying God’s word there is no such thing as "my interpretation" or "your interpretation", but there is only God’s interpretation. Therefore we are either studying God’s word correctly or incorrectly.
For one to study God’s word correctly, they must:
A. Study God’s Word CONTEXTUALLY.
There are three questions to consider as one seeks to draw out the intending meaning of God’s Word.
1. How does the passage under consideration fit into the overall context of the Bible? Am I reading history, poetry, apocalyptic writing? How does that make a difference to my understanding of the text?
2. What did the text mean to it’s original recipients? What did the book of Romans mean to those Christians Paul wrote to (Romans 1:7)? What the book of Ephesians mean to the church at Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1)? What did the book of Colossians mean to the church at Colosse (Colossians 1:2)?
3. What can be gained by the modern student of the passage under consideration? What is the application for me? Context is "the part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning" (American Heritage Dictionary, p. 301). Failure to consider the context of a verse causes one to misunderstand God’s word. When considering the context of a verse, a persons need to consider the following:
a. Immediate context –the verse under consideration and the verses before and after.
b. Remote context—the book which that particular verse one is studying is found in.
c. Overall context—the overall or total teaching concerning what God has said on that subject under consideration.
The student of God’s word must realize that truth never contradicts itself. When one studies, if the immediate, remote and overall context does not harmonize, the student of God’s word must realize that somewhere in his study he has incorrectly interpreted God’s word. It is only when all three contexts harmonize, that one can know he has study correctly and has drawn out God’s intended meaning.
B. Study God’s Word CONCEPTUALLY.
Do I have a complete or incomplete concept of God’s teaching on grace, love, mercy, salvation, the church, etc… It is important that we understand the necessity of giving proper consideration to the total teaching of the Bible on a given subject. Failure to study all that God has set forth on a given subject will cause a person to have an incomplete concept of that subject and will hinder one from properly understanding God’s word. It is only when one has study a Biblical subject completely that he can truly understand God’s teaching on that subject correctly.
C. Study God’s Word CONCURRENTLY.
Concurrently—"Being in accordance, harmonious" (American Heritage Dictionary, p.289). It does a person no good if he fails to apply that which he has study to his life. The Bible speaks to the fact that we must do the will of God if we are to please Him.
Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6:46
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. I John 2:17
May we seek to apply that which we have study to our lives and thereby be blessed by God (James 1:25).
Mike Gurganus
PO Box 916
Henderson, NC 27536