Baptist Bible Institute

Methods of Bible Study

Teaching Notes

Introduction to Methods of Bible Study

Jeremiah 23:29  Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Matthew 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

I. The necessity of Bible study.

  A.  The Communication from the Lord.

        God reveals Himself and His will through His Word.

John 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

2 Timothy 3:14-17  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

  B. The Commandment by the Lord.

    2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that

    needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

    Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the

    name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to

    observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you

    alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  

  C. The Convincing and Conviction by the Lord through His Word.

    1. The Promise of God through His Word.

Isaiah 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

    2. The Power of God through His Word.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

    3. The Precious relationship revealed by God through His Word.

1 John 5:13-14  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

II. The nature of Bible study.

  A.  A determination by the student.

    1. To Study.

    2.  To Pray

    3. To honestly apply what has been learned.

  B.  Tools to be used.

    1. Bible, preferably without paragraph headings or notes

    2. Three or four column chart

    3. Concordance

Methods of Bible Study

I.  Theological Study of the Scriptures   Introduce the Theological Method of Bible Study by using a single chapter of Scripture. This study will be of The Gospel of John, chapter fourteen.  The subject of this study is God the Father   Prepare a four column chart prior to beginning the study.  Read the book or letter and then read the chosen chapter carefully until you are satisfied that you are familiar with the contents. Note each verse that mentions God the Father Read each verse carefully in context of the chapter and book.   Write in your own words (a short sentence) what is being revealed about God the Father   For example –
14:1  believe in God
14:2  Father’s house are many mansions
14:6  no man cometh unto the Father but by me
14:7  if ye had known me, ye should have known by Father also
14:7  from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him
14:8  shew us the Father
14:9  he that hath seen me hath seen the Father
14:9  how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
14:10  I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
14:10  but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doth the works
14:11  I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
14:12  I go unto my Father
14:13  the Father may be glorified in the Son
14:16  I will pray the Father
14:16  He shall give you another Comforter
14:20  I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you
14:21  he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father
14:23  my Father will love him
14:24  the Father which sent me
14:26  the Father will send in my name 14:28  My Father is greater than I
14:31  the world may know that I love the Father
14:31the Father gave me commandment

Create a teaching lesson or preaching outline.

The outline will include and introduction stating the purpose of the lesson or message, main points to explain the message presented in the Scripture, and the conclusion to provide the answer both the purpose stated in the introduction and an application to the lives of the hearers.

Using this pattern –

Repeat the study of this chapter for the statements about the Lord Jesus Christ

Repeat the study of this chapter for the statements about the Holy Spirit.

The Theological Method may be (and should be) applied to any portion of Scripture.

II.  The Biographical Method

The information may not be available for every point of the following outline for the individual chosen for your study. If, for example, ‘Parentage’ is not found in the Bible, keep the point in the outline and state “Parentage unknown”. Follow this practice for each of the points. These will act as place holders and will aid to maintain order as you examine each individual and to develop good biographical study habits.

Before completing the outline, gather all of the information available on the individual from the chosen texts following the same format used in the Theological Method. 

Continue to use the chart format to maintain an orderly investigation.

  A.  Birth and Early Life.

    1. Parentage

    2. Place and circumstances of birth

    3. Early training and/or experiences

  B. Conversion Experience and Call to a Specific Task.

  C. Ministry for the Lord.

    1. Nature of ministry

    2. Reactions of others to the ministry

  D. Character Evaluation.

    1. Good

    2. Bad

  E.  Relationships With Others

  F.  Death and Comments About the Death

  G.  Reason for the Inclusion of These Facts in the Text

You will use this guide to complete the following lessons –

Lesson One

Biographical Method using all the Scripture references about Barnabas

Acts 4:36; 9:27; 11:22,25,30; 12:25; 13:1,2,7,43,46,50; 14:12,14,20; 15:2,12,22,25,35,36,37,39;  1 Corinthians 9:6; Galations 2:1,9,13; Colossians 4:10.

Lesson Two

Biographical Method using a chapter of Scripture from Acts chapter nine to discover the change in Saul’s life.

Lesson Three

Create a teaching lesson or preaching outline from either Lesson One or Lesson Two

III.  The Geographical Method      

Using your Bible and a map of the Bible times, you will prepare a lesson from the

 the Book of Mark, chapters 5:1 – 8:9. 

Study the geographical setting of a Biblical account will bring the account to life before you and those listening to you.  This study method can and should be applied to any portion of Scripture.  The pattern taken for this lesson focuses on how the Lord can use one man to turn many to Him for salvation.

Use your three or four column chart to organize the Scriptural account as you follow the course of travel and events.

Compare the account given by Matthew 15:21 through 15:38.

You should follow the circuit followed by Jesus and the disciples as they arrived in Gadara in the Decapolis, departed West across the sea travelling northwest to Tyre and Sidon, and then returning to the area of the Decapolis.  Compare the attitude of the people, revealing the power of God through the testimony of one man.  The Word of God was being declared from the East to the West, at the same time, for the glory of God!

Write about the geography which brings to life the account to the readers.  God has given these details for the purpose of including us in the travel and ministry of the Lord.

Take for an example of your study that the sea is mentioned in the first verse of Mark chapter 5.

Consider the Sea of Galilee and the many lessons we might learn from it.  I have listed just a few for example.  It is used as a –

• Means of glorifying God     Mark 4:35-41  “What manner of man is this…”
• Means of transport              Mark 4:35,36
• Means of fellowship            Matthew 8:23; Mark 4:35, 5:1
• Means of judgment             Mark 5:11-13
• Means of employment        Matthew 4:18,21

Note down other things of interest that you have learned from this sea.

In your study, use a map that shows the route taken by the Lord and the route taken by the new disciple and discover what you can learn by studying the geography of the area. A map of Bible times is usually in the back of your Bible.

Do not rush through this study, but take time to enjoy all that the Lord and the disciples encountered along their way and the many lessons the Lord taught using His creation to illustrate truth.

The outline will include and introduction stating the purpose of the lesson or message, main points to explain the message presented in the Scripture, and the conclusion to provide the answer both the purpose stated in the introduction and an application to the lives of the hearers.

IV.  The Scientific Method. 

This method of study will result primarily in illustrative information which will enhance understanding of the context of the Biblical account being preached or taught.

  A.  Biology with all of its branches

Remember what God gave man the responsibility to manage – Genesis 1:26-30

    1.  Zoology

The Archive.org site online contains many good study sources. Be aware that this site will contain books and information that do not meet Biblical standards.  Choose your research information carefully.  I recommend two that you can download in PDF format. Animals of the Bible, one by Wood and the other by Hart, are an interesting and enjoyable addition to your library for your Bible Study. The Word of God, The Bible, contains many references to animals, God’s creations, and taking time to learn something of these animals will increase our understanding the accounts given in Scripture.

These resources can be especially good for family Bible study as children always enjoy learning about animals and may lead to informative discussions.

Example of Zoology study –

A Mule – a non-reproducing crossbreed between a jackass and a mare (horse).  Although the mule is only mentioned twenty two times in the Old Testament, much less than the Ass of the Horse, the mention of the mule reveals the practical attitude of David, choosing between the mundane and the magnificent to best serve his family’s royal position in the nation.

      a.  Regarded highly by Kings David.

   1).   For his personal use.

1 Kings 1:33  The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

1 Kings 1:43-44  And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king. And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule:

        2).   For his family’s use.

2 Samuel 13:29  And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

      b.  Rugged bearers of burden.

2 Kings 5:17  And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.

      c.  Received as valuable gifts.

2 Chronicles 9:23-24  And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

The scientific method of Bible study should also be applied to the following areas.

    2.  Botany     The study of plant life.

    3. Ornithology        The study of birds

    4.  Entomology       The study of insects

  B.  Gemology      The study of gemstones.

  C.  Geology        The study of the earth

The method of study should follow this pattern –

    1. List the item as it appears in Scripture using your three or four column chart.

    2. Consult a Bible dictionary or encyclopedia to get details of item.

    3. Note if it used figuratively and why.

    4. Collect all the information and determine what the Bible teachers about 

     it.

    5. Does the Lord use this to illustrate a life truth? (Sheep and shepherd)

V.  The Analytical Method

This outline is prepared for preaching or teaching.  Refer to the paragraph and subject divisions set forth in the preliminary outline below –

The Example of an Analytical study of  The Letter to the Ephesians.  This outline is prepared for preaching or teaching.  Refer to the paragraph and subject divisions set forth in the preliminary outline.

1:1,2	Prologue to the Letter to the Ephesians
1:3-14	Praise unto God
1:15-23	Prayer
2:1-13	Proof of changed lives
2:14-22	Placed
3:1-13	Promise
3:14-21	Perception
4:1-16	Perfection
4:17-32	Personal growth
5:1,2	Pattern of new life
5:3-21	Prohibitions and permissions
5:22-6:9	Principles of humility
6:10-18	Protection
6:19-24	Conclusion

The following portion of the outline from the study should help you develop your own teaching or preaching outline using the paragraph as a guide –

We have noted in the first two messages the Prologue, introduction, in verses 1 and 2, followed by the Praise in verses 3 through 14.  We continue by looking to the –

III.  Prayer.  Ephesians 1:15-23 

A.  Things that we may affect in the lives of believers. Ephesians 1:15,16

      B.  Things that we may know.  The –

    1.  Sovereignty – Ephesians 1:17a 

    2.  Spiritual understanding  Ephesians 1:17b

    3.  The Significance and Source of  His grace and peace – 

         Ephesians 1:18,19a  

    4.  Submission –   Ephesians 1:19b  

 C.  Things that we may receive with Him – Ephesians 1:20-23

We see Who He is and where He is, and we should realize that we will be with

 Him –

John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and

 receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

His Place – ‘…heavenly places…’

His Position – ‘…above all principality’  King of kings

His Power – ‘…and power and might…’  Lord of lords

His Presence – ‘…and dominion…’

     His Praise – “…and every name that is named…”

And all of this only through His Power, infinite power!! 

Conclusion –

Psalm 116:12-13  What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

Can you call Him blessed today?  Is He your Saviour?

Lesson One

Choose one of the sections from the chart above and develop an outline for teaching or preaching.

Lesson Two

Develop an outline from the letter of First John, Chapter one, using your three or four column chart.  Determine the paragraph divisions and changes in thought.  From the subject headings you will develop a teaching or preaching outline.

VI.  The Devotional Method

  A.  Begin in prayer.

  B.  Choose the text.  Write information concerning the text.

  C.  Read the text until the subject can be summarized in your own words.

  D.  Locate and write out the key verse.

  E.  Create an outline of the text. 

       (Organize the thoughts as they relate to the key verse)

  F.  Write your conclusions of the purpose of the text.

  G.  Write your conclusions of the application of the text to your life.  

        For example –

    1.  Praise to render unto God.

    2.  Prayers to pray.

    3.  Submission to God’s will.

    4.  Service unto God.

    5.  Sin to confess and forsake.

    6.  Changes needed in life.

Lesson One

Develop a devotional study that leads you to praise the Lord.

Lesson Two

Develop a devotional study that encourages your service unto the Lord.