INTRODUCTION
The challenge for us as we study the Bible is this: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth” (II Tim. 2:15). We are called to Study the Word of God.
I. The Value of Inductive Bible Study
- Inductive Bible Study leads us to use the Bible as the primary source of information. It is exploring the Bible on your own by observing the text and context, discovering the meaning of the passage, and then applying the truth to our lives. The Inductive Bible Study Method may lead you to study words found in the Bible that may shed light as to the meaning of a verse. It is coming to your own conclusion of what the Bible says.
- Inductive Bible Study leads us to an interactive dependence on the Holy Spirit and Scripture. Our study of God’s Words must begin with prayer as we compare Scripture with Scripture even as the Berean believers search the Scripture. The Holy Spirit is our teacher. “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what god has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words, taught to us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words” (I Cor. 2:6-16).
- Inductive Bible Study believes that God is consistent in what He declares. There are no contradictions within Scriptures (Original Autographs). We must realize and confess that there are truths that are beyond our comprehension and not according to our logic. As the Apostle Paul says, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (Rom. 11:33-34). We do not sit in judgment of what God says is true or false. We affirm what He says is true and false.
II. THE INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY METHOD
- THE OBSERVATION OF THE TEXT
Observation answers the question: What does the passage say? It requires careful observation of every word, the word order, and the sentence structure including the grammar. It requires a general understanding of Bible history, human history, and geography, and the setting of the writing.
Excellent tools:
- NASB is the best literal translation of the Bible
- Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible by Zondervan.
- Expository Dictionary of the Bible by Wuest (Greek words)
- Strong’s Concordance or Young’s Concordance
- THE INTERPRETATION OF THE TEXT.
Interpretation answers the question: What does the passage mean? The basis for accurate interpretation is careful observation. It may require comparing Scripture with Scripture. It requires understanding different types of writing including figures of speech, parables, and prophesies. Only after coming to your own conclusion that you should read commentaries to check your conclusion or to supplement your understanding of the historical or cultural settings. Remember that commentaries are someone’s understanding of what the Scripture says. They are to be respected but they are not the final authority on faith and practice.
Guiding Principles for Interpretation:
- Let the Context rule of the surrounding verses, chapter, book
- Let the Bible be the guide for what it means and does not mean for Scripture will not contradict Scripture
- Avoid building doctrine on obscure passages
- Use the historical, grammatical, and literal interpretation, not letterism.
- Use commentaries for further clarification or insight
Excellent Commentaries:
- The Expository Bible Commentary Set by Gaebelin
- John McArthur Commentaries
- SonicLight by Dr. Thomas L. Constable’s Bible study notes: https://planobiblechapel.org/soniclight/
- THE APPLICATION OF THE TEXT.
Application answers the question “How does the meaning of this passage apply to me!” It is the “So What?” question as to how does this relates to me. Application is being confronted with the truth and calls for a response to the truth. II Tim. 3:16-17 says “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” The Word of God is to transform us, not just to inform us!
CONCLUSION
Inductive Bible Study is hard work. We want the answers to our questions, but the discovery of our questions will give us the greatest reward as we think both Biblically and Theologically.