Methods of Bible Study
Comparing Scripture with Scripture
Dr. Stephen Burke
Comparing Scripture with Scripture. You will need your Bible, a concordance, and your study chart to keep your notes in order. This method of study will be beneficial to those who do not have access to Bible commentaries or those who are not interested in using commentaries. I personally commend the use of helps in the study of Scripture, not as primary sources, but aids following personal study. For example, outside sources will be of help in language translation, historical settings, manners and customs of cultures, archaeological findings, and other practical facts that will help in determining the context of the Biblical account. First and foremost, though, should be our study comparing Scripture with Scripture.
You will need the concordance to research names, places, and incidents in order to relate the Biblical account in its cultural, historical, political, and especially religious context. Most computer Bible software contain a concordance for you to search for words in your study.
Strongs Exhaustive Concordance is recommended. In the 19th century, James Strong numbered every word in the Bible, Hebrew (8674) and Greek (5523) and its location in Scripture. This reference work enables the student to find words for location, meaning and context.
The Book of Micah will be used as the example of this kind of study. This study is an example for you to use and only deals with a portion of chapter one. You can apply the pattern of this study to any portion of the Bible, God’s Word. In your study, do not get bogged down and stop when the answer to your question does not seem apparent. Keep studying and you will find the answer in Scripture if you keep on searching. Prepare a teaching lesson from Micah chapter one.
To introduce the practical study of this book, ask the questions necessary to determine the main character of the Book
What was his name? Micah
Where was he from? A Morasthite
Is there any other mention in Scripture? If so –
What is the location?
Who were the inhabitants?
When did Micah prophesy?
During the reigns of the following kings of Juda:
King Jotham
King Ahaz
King Hezekiah
You can create a chart from Scripture detailing the reign of each of these kings. You might
also want to create a two or three-column chart with the reigns of the kings of Israel who
were contemporary with each of the kings of Judah. This information will add details which will aid in understand the message of Micah.
Which Prophets were contemporary with Micah?
Isaiah
Hosea
Who did the prophecy concern:
Samaria
Jerusalem
And the outside forces of Syria and Assyria.
Chapter One
| Subject | Scripture | Statement |
| Micah | Judges 17,18 | Cannot be the prophet as this Micah lived in the time of the Judges |
| Micah | 1 Chronicles 5:5 | This Micah was of the lineage of Reuben |
| Micah | 1 Chronicles 8:34: 9:40,41 | Micah of the family of Kish, in the lineage of King Saul, of the tribe of Benjimen. Also lived too early to be the prophet. |
| Micah | 1 Chronicles 9:15 | Micah of the returning remnant. Too late to be the prophet |
| Micah | 2 Chronicles 34:20 | Ministered during the time of King Josiah, too late to be Micah the prophet |
| Micah | Jeremiah 26:12-19 | Jeremiah mentions the Micah who prophesies during the reign of King Hezekiah as an example of the prophet preaching of the judgment of God upon the people. |
| Micah | Micah 1:1 | Micah the prophet during the reign of King Hezekiah |
| Morasthite | Micah 1:1; Jeremiah 26 | Only two references to this place, both in relation to Micah. |
| Prophecy | Micah 1:1 | The word of the Lord…….which he saw |
| Declaration | Micah 1:2-4 | The Lord knows what the people have done and is coming to them to testify and to judge |
| Reason for judging Israel | Micah 1:5:a | The transgression of Israel |
| Destruction in Israel | Micah 1:6,7 | Samaria is to be destroyed completely. |
| Information about Samaria | 1 Kings 16:23,24 | Hill purchased by King Omri of Israel |
| 1 Kings 16:29 | Samaria established as the capital of Israel | |
| Samaria established as a center of Baal worship | ||
| Refer to 2 Kings 17:1-18 and 2 Kings 18:9-12 for the fulfillment of Micah1:6,7 | Samaria destroyed as Micah prophesied. | |
| Reason for judging Judah | Micah 1:5:b | The false worship by Judah in Jerusalem |
| Judgment of Judah | Micah 1:9-16 | The following cities are only named by Micah and nothing more is known of them: Aphrah, Saphir, Zaanan, Beth-ezel, Maroth, Moresheth-gath. Joshua 15:20, 44 identify Mareshah as a city given to Judah. 2 Chronicles 11:5,8 state that Rehoboam fortified Maresha for the protection of Jerusalem against invaders. 2 Chronicles 14:9,10 identify Maresha as the place of battle between the Ethiopians and King Asa of Judah. God gave Judah the victory. 2 Chronicles 20:37 states that Maresha was the city of the prophet Eliezer who confronted Jehoshaphat for his partnership with King Ahab of Israel. 2 Chronicles 11:7 list Adullam as one of Rehoboam’s fortified cities. Adullam survived and was a village occupied by the returning tribe of Judah from the Babylonian captivity. Nehemiah 11:25,30 |
| Reign of King Jotham, son of Azariah | 2 Kings 15:7, 15:30-38 1 Chronicles 5:17 2 Chronicles 26:21; 27:1-9 | The reign of Pekah over Israel |
| Reign of Ahaz | 2 Kings 15:38, 16:1-20; 28:12 2 Chronicles 27:9 Hosea 1:1 | The reign of Pekah and his confederation with Syria to oppress Judah (God’s judgment) The reign of Hoshea over Israel 2 Kings 17:1 |
| Reign of Hezekiah | 2 Kings 16:20;18:1-20:21 1 Chronicles 4:41 2 Chronicles 28:27, 29:1-32:33 Isaiah 1:1; 36:1-30:8 | The reign of Hoshea over Israel. Israel carried away to Assyria 2 Kings 17:1,3,6,18,24 Assyria besieged Jerusalem Following the destruction of Israel 2 Kings 18:34 |
| Through this simple study of the Scriptures, we come to know the circumstances of the prophecies of God’s men, Micah, Isaiah, and Hosea | ||
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