How to Study the Bible
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JANUARY 5, 2022
STUDY NOTES
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
INTRODUCTION
Americans will stand accountable to God for their opportunities to read and study the Bible
Living the life of salvation requires the learning of the Word of God, Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought
to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let
them slip. Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and
disobedience received a just recompence of reward; Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect
so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us
by them that heard him;
No other generation has had the means of study and the freedom to study God’s Word as we have
Today many churches and Christian organizations give away Bibles and offer Bible Studies
The Bible is being printed in different languages throughout the world
Different translations are being printed in hopes of better understanding the Bible
Some are good, but be careful of turning away from the 1611 King James Version
The truth of the “Word” of God has not changed since the original writing of Scripture
The OT was originally written in the Hebrew language, the NT was written in the Greek language
You can purchase Hebrew language Bibles and Greek language Bibles (Read them if you like)
Man’s attempt to write scripture in modern language has often changed Bible meanings
The difference throughout the ages is the differences in the “words’ used by man
The English language has often changed the meaning of its own words
Biblical Truth can be explained in new words, but must not result in new truth
There is only one true interpretation of scripture, that which was written in the original,
Psa 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments
endureth for ever.
Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought
from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Deu 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor
diminish from it.
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God
shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which
are written in this book.
Many believe that it is too difficult or even impossible to learn the Bible (Take time to try)
It is not impossible to understand the Bible if we have a desire to read and study it
We should have a desire to learn the Bible in-order to make it known unto others
As we learn the Bible, we should have a growing desire to live the truths of the Bible
As we learn and live, we should have a desire to live and learn even more
We are to read the Bible, study the Bible, learn & live the Bible, live & learn more of the Bible
As Christians we should hunger and thirst after righteousness, Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do
hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Believe the promise)
SOME GUIDELINES
These thoughts are just suggestions, you need to develop your own plan for Bible reading
First do not think that it is necessary to read straight through the Bible in a certain time-period
Your plan can be to begin reading in Genesis and read all the way through Revelation
For most people that plan fails early in Genesis, by Genesis chapter 5, or in the book of Numbers
Some schedule their time so they can read through the Bible in one year (Good if you can do it)
There are One Year Bibles that will allow you to read from the OT and NT daily
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Others use a different schedule that takes more than a year to read through the Bible
There are many Bible reading plans that are successful, find one and use it
Many Study Bibles suggest a plan for you, but you must be disciplined to read and study
Just be sure that you have a time for Bible reading in your daily schedule
As you read your Bible daily you will become familiar with its themes and truths, Psa 119:2
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
TAKE TIME TO READ THE BIBLE
You must have a planned effort and a planned effort requires discipline (You must want to learn)
Schedule your time to read, select your reading for that time, keep that time (It will take time)
Do not set your reading goals too high in the beginning, begin slow, your main goal is to read
Advance in time as you become accustomed to reading the Bible daily (Put away the Cell Phone)
In your time for reading the Bible spend your time “reading,” do not cross reference scripture
Do not use study guides, just spend your time “reading” the Bible, learn to read the Bible
Have a time for reading the OT and a time for reading the NT each day
For the OT reading begin with one Proverbs and one Psalms a day, then from any OT book
Reading one or more Psalms each day will strengthen your desire to read the Bible
Read the NT a book at a time, start with the Gospel of John and then read 1 John
Then do a parallel reading of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, find a “Harmony of the Gospels”
Many study Bibles have a “Harmony of the Gospels” section, follow your daily schedule
Begin with Matthew and follow the guides which lead you to read the other Gospel accounts
Some study Bibles have a subject heading above the verse and give you parallel passages to read
You can do additional Bible reading by reading your Sunday School lesson for the next Sunday
Read the sermon passage that is being studied for Sunday and Wednesday night services
The Sunday School passages, and the sermon passages, should be read every day for the week
Once you have become a “Regular Reader” of the Bible, you are ready to “Study Scripture”
HAVE A BIBLE STUDY TIME
Regular reading of the Bible will discipline you to study the Bible, you will desire more Bible
Bible Study is a search for the unanswered questions and research of what you have read
Bible Study is the means of putting Bible Truths together, comparing Scripture with Scripture
The same Bible truths are taught over-and over again in the Bible, especially in the NT letters
A study of Bible characters will reveal great Bible Truths concerning our daily life
The character of their life and the circumstances they faced will vary, we can learn from each one
The truths of life that apply to each Bible character and their circumstances will apply to us today
Passages that are going to be studied must be read several times, read them over and over
You must realize the importance of “Repetition” and “Review,” which is the way we learn
Read the same passage over and over within a given time (Today, this week, keep your schedule)
During Bible Study time take notes and ask questions (Use a notebook or your computer)
Write down your thoughts and questions concerning the verses you are reading
Prepare for a monthly question and answer session during a Sunday afternoon service
Sharing questions and answers together can be a time of learning and learning to share
Study by chapter, by paragraph, verse by verse, word by word, learn original meanings
Word studies allow you to learn the original meaning of the Greek or Hebrew words
Be involved in more than one area of study at a time, you can lose your concentration
It often helps to continue your study time by switching from one study to another study
You can also switch from reading to study or from studying to reading
Switching studies can keep you mentally alert and your thinking fresh
RULES FOR BIBLE STUDY
Don’t determine what a passage says before you study it, study with an open mind and heart
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Be willing to change your mind as a-result of further and deeper study, always agree with God
Be willing to change your heart as a result-of understanding what the Bible is saying
Always make a personal application from your time of study, what does this verse say to me?
Ask, how do I apply what I have learned to my daily life? (Then watch for it to happen)
We are to “Learn” Scripture in order that we may “Live” Scripture
Some want to learn the Bible just for the purpose of arguing with others concerning their views
Study to obey the commands, claim the promises, heed the warnings, and accept the truths
And most important of all, learn Bible Truths in-order to reveal them to others, Psa 119:27 Make
me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
STUDY TOOLS
A personal library is the toolbox of one who works at studying the Bible
The right tools can make the job exciting, easy, and pleasant (There is nothing like Bible Study)
Have a good Study Bible (remember that foot notes are not a part of the inspired Scripture)
Read different translations (some modern translations are worded from personal interpretations)
There is nothing wrong with the King James Version, it has been preached for over 400 years
The truths to learn and live are still the same, the message to preach has not changed
Regardless of what Bible translation you read, Bible study tools are very helpful and beneficial
A Bible Dictionary is an A-Z resource about books, people, places, times, things, and doctrines
Use a Word Study Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (Especially for the NT)
Word Study Dictionaries define and explain the original language of the Bible (A must for study)
An Exhaustive Concordance is an index of every Bible word, identifying every time it is used
A Concordance is organized in English alphabetical order
Showing every single Biblical reference in-which that word appears (using a certain translation)
Single volume Commentaries of the OT and the NT explain the meaning of a verse
Read Bible book commentaries for the current book you are studying
Remember that Bible commentaries are the personal interpretation of different Bible scholars
Various verses of the Bible always agree, Bible scholars don’t always agree, guess who is wrong?
Study until you can understand what a comparative verse study is teaching us
Keep in mind that one Scripture will never contradict another Scripture
INTERPRETATION
To interpret means to explain or tell the meaning of something
Biblical interpretation is explaining what a Bible verse is saying, especially to us
Biblical interpretation must be presented in an understandable way for others to learn
In-order to properly interpret Scripture, you must put aside preconceived thinking
Which means don’t have your mind made up before you allow God to speak to your mind
Read the Bible with an open mind and an open heart, desiring to learn Biblical Truth
Each Scripture has its meaning which must not be changed to be what we want it to mean
Properly interpreted Scripture can be applied to various situations and circumstances of life
CONTEXT
Context means the study of a single word within a verse, a verse within a passage, a passage
within a chapter, a chapter within a book, and a book applied to the entire Bible
Not one verse of Scripture will contradict any other verse of the Bible
A text taken out of context is a pretext, which is making a verse say what you want it to say
People do not treat any other educational source that way, why do the Bible that way?
If you think you have found a contradiction in Scripture, you have not studied enough Scripture
Always accept a literal interpretation, when possible, even though it may not seem possible today
There are many examples in the book of Revelation, in past ages the literal seemed impossible
Today we can understand them as literally taking place and just waiting for them to happen
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When the literal makes sense, seek no other sense, which will result in nonsense
Scripture never contradicts Scripture, and all Scripture will be fulfilled as promised by Scripture
All-of the OT prophecies which have already been fulfilled were literally fulfilled
Revealing to us that the future fulfillment of Scripture will literally be fulfilled
STEPS FOR BIBLE STUDY
Be sure that you are saved, Satan blinds the mind of those who are lost, 2Co 4:4 In whom the god
of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
In Christ all things will be revealed, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
“In Christ,” we can learn and live, Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
As you read and study pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart, 1Co 2:9 But as it is written,
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God
hath prepared for them that love him. 1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth
the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no
man, but the Spirit of God. 1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1Co 2:13
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned. 1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he
himself is judged of no man. 1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may
instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Pray before and during your time of Bible Study, Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your
faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you,
making mention of you in my prayers; Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope
of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, Eph 1:19 And what
is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his
mighty power, Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set
him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power,
and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that
which is to come: Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head
over all things to the church, Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Never read or study the Bible without praying for the Spirit to illuminate the truth to you
Pray for the Holy Spirit to turn the light on so that you can see what the Bible is telling you
When the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart through the Word of God, agree with God, Jas 1:21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the
engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a
doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth
himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. Jas 1:25 But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful
hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Jas 1:26 If any man among
you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's
religion is vain. Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit
the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
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Agree with God and confess your sins, 1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and
not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 1Co 3:3 For ye
are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not
carnal, and walk as men?
Be committed to Bible Study, put forth the effort, Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the
scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Be determined to learn the Bible, work hard at it, 2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Have a strong desire to learn, 1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that
ye may grow thereby:
Study God’s Word with your whole heart, Psa 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep
thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
CONCLUSION
Do not be afraid to write in your Bible, mark verses, color code or high lite the scriptures
Making notes in your Bible is not the unpardonable sin
Write down the things that you do not understand about a certain verse
Often as you continue to read a passage you will find the answer to your question
Interpret the Bible with the Bible, use a cross reference Bible, compare Scripture with Scripture
Discipline yourself, find your best time of the day for study, then study a section at a time
Take every opportunity for studying with others (Sunday School; Faithful Church attendance)
One very important reason for learning the Bible is found in, Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in
mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
A 2013 BIBLE READING SURVEY
The conclusion from a survey for the American Bible Society:
“Americans love the Bible but don’t read it much”
88 percent say they own a Bible; The average household has four or more Bibles
80 percent agree that the Bible is from God
61 percent agree that they should spend more time reading the Bible
57 percent read the Bible less than four times a year
Only 26 percent read their Bible on a regular basis
One out of 5 Americans read the Bible; 50% of Americans think the Bible is no longer relevant
A 2021 BIBLE READING SURVEY
Only 29% of those contacted responded to the survey, another shocking statistic
Which indicates that the majority-of Americans are not interested in the Bible
The most committed Bible readers were those aged over 70 years
29% never read the Bible; 13% read the Bible less than once a year
8% once or twice a year; 8% 3 or 4 times a year; 8% once a month; 9% once a week
9% several times a week; 5% 4 or more times a week; 11% of Americans read the Bible daily
Do we even need to ask, why is America facing such difficult days?
Will we soon see the downfall of America?
How far down does America have to go before we call it “Downfall?”
Americans are not reading the Bible, but they are fulfilling Biblical prophecy
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away
their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
It is time for Christians to read the Bible, study the Bible, learn, and live the Bible
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