My previous post addressed the importance of a template to help us stay on track with personal Bible study.  Today, I’ll share some considerations and tools that help us get the most out of our study.

To gain insight into Biblical truth, we want to ask three basic questions of the passage we are studying. The first question is “WHAT?” and we discover the answer through the process we will call observation.  Observation allows us to gather information about what the passage is saying. 

Basic Considerations

The Bible is a composite of 66 different books written over a period of about 1500 years.  40 authors from three different continents wrote those books in three different languages.  The Holy Spirit supernaturally inspired each writer and each word to give God’s revelation.  While the Bible displays an amazing unity of theme, it nonetheless reflects many different contexts.

To properly get at the “what” of a Bible passage, we start with the various contexts.  These would include historical, literary, and cultural contexts.  We also must consider where that part of the Bible which we are studying fits into the book that contains it.  Then we look at where it fits in the overarching narrative of the Bible and its place in redemptive history.  For a look at how contexts shapes understanding, click here to read my document Context Is King.

Also, we need to consider what type of literature we are reading. A literature type is called a genre (pronounced JOHN-rah).  We read poetry differently than we read history.  And we read a letter differently than we read a parable.  Many a student has come to a misunderstanding by claiming a promise from poetry or determining doctrine from a narrative.  To read more about the different types of Biblical genre, click here.

We will introduce some other considerations as we begin to work together through the process.

Helpful Tools

One doesn’t need an extensive theological library to interpret the Bible.  In fact, if you are a believer, you already have the most important tool.  The Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible dwells in you and serves to guide you into truth. (John 14:26; John 16:13)

You also need a Bible translation that is good for you to read.  There is a plethora of translations available today with various strengths and weaknesses.  When people ask me what is the best translation?, I reply, “the one you will read.”  I also have a paper on various Bible translations and translation philosophy.  You can read it by clicking here.

Speaking of Bibles, a good study Bible is also indispensable.  There are several on the market and probably whatever translation you prefer has a study Bible. My preferred translation and study Bible is the ESV Study Bible.  A study Bible will help give you important background and contextual information like author, audience, time of writing, and such as that.  Study Bibles also have commentary on verses, and I will have a word later about them.

I also recommend a couple of free online resources.  One of the best is BlueLetterBible.org.  Another really good one is the online Logos Bible Study app.  Logos is the Bible study program I use for all of my personal and professional study.  I have invested several thousands of dollars in Logos resources. But you can get several really good tools when you register a free account.

The online sites give you access to Bible dictionaries and other resources to help with the “WHAT” question observations.

And don’t forget the most important tool (and I hesitate to call Him that) is the Holy Spirit. Begin your Bible study with prayer, asking Him to reveal truth to you.

A Little Homework

As we work through this process, I want us to use the book of Colossians as our traning ground.  As we learn the process, we will see how to ask the three questions (what, so what, and now what) and find their answers. So, to get started, here is what I want you to do.  You can look up the answers to these questions in a study Bible if you have one. Or you can find a study Bible on one of the online resources I shared earlier.  You will find this information in the Introduction to the Book of Colossians.

1.  Who wrote Colossians and when?

2.  Who were the Colossians and where were they located?

3.  What genre is the book of Colossians? (this may not be in the study Bible, but figure it out for yourself.)

OK.  I can’t wait to see how you do using your tools!  This basic information will help us as we start our journey through this most amazing book.