How to Study the Bible Introduction 1. Biblical justification for studying your Bible a. 2 Timothy 2:14-19 b.

Ezra 7:10 c. Psalm 119:105, 130 d. 2 Timothy 3:16 2. Can I know what the Bible says? a. Exodus 31:1-5 b. Ephesians 1:15-18 c. John 14:26 d. Acts 2:17 e. 1 Corinthians 2:13 f. Matthew 11:25 g. WCF 1.8, All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. Case Study 1. Example Verse: Matthew 7:1: Judge not, that you be not judged 2. Interpretation: What does this verse mean? (There is only one correct interpretation.) 3. Application: How does this verse apply to my life? (There can be many applications.) Interpretation: What does this verse mean? THE FIVE Cs OF BIBLE STUDY 1. CONTEXT a. Immediate Context: the surrounding verses i. Matthew 7:1-6 b. The Entire Chapter i. Matthew 7 c. The Section of the Book i. Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) d. The Book of the Bible i. Matthew 1. One of the Gospels a. Do the other Gospels help shed light on this passage? i. Luke 6:37

Author Audience Theme of the Book What Type of Book? a. History b. Poetry c. Prophecy d. Gospel e. Epistle Who is Speaking? e. f. Who is He Speaking to? g. What is the Situation? 2. 3. 4. 5.

2. CROSS-REFERENCE a. If the passage is not clear, we must look to other passages to help us interpret this one i. WCF 1.9, The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly. b. Cross-References in Your Bible 3. CONCORDANCE a. Strongs Concordance i. (judge is the Greek word krino: Strongs Number 2919). 2919. krino, kree-n; prop. to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by impl. to try, condemn, punish:avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think. ii. Old Testament Verses: 1. Proverbs 2:1-5 2. Proverbs 15:21 3. Proverbs 19:25 4. Proverbs 28:7 5. Proverbs 29:14 6. Proverbs 31:9 7. Ecclesiastes 8:5 New Testament Verses: iii. 1. Luke 7:43 2. John 7:24 3. Acts 15:19 4. Acts 16:15 5. Acts 26:8 (Why should it be thought) 6. Romans 14:10 7. Romans 14:13 (krino used twice!) 8. 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 9. 1 Corinthians 10:15 10. 1 Corinthians 11:13 11. James 2:4 (not krino but krites the noun form) 12. James 4:11-12 b. Online Resources i. BibleGateway.com ii. OliveTree.com

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c. Other i. ii.

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1. Great Strongs Tools on this site! Others? 1. _____________________ 2. _____________________ 3. _____________________ Print Resources Bible Dictionary Greek and Hebrew Tools (you dont have to read Greek and Hebrew to benefit from these tools!) 1. Vines Expository Dictionary 2. Others? a. _____________________ b. _____________________ c. _____________________ Others? 1. _____________________ 2. _____________________ 3. _____________________ 4. _____________________

4. COMMENTARIES a. Commentaries come in different flavors: Good, bad, technical, devotional, etc. b. Find a good, trustworthy commentary i. Matthew Henry (available for free online!) ii. John Calvin (available for free online!) iii. Matthew Poole iv. More Modern Commentators: 1. R. C. Sproul 2. _____________________ 3. _____________________ c. If the results of your study differ from the commentator (and remember that you should be using a trustworthy commentary!) weigh this carefully. You should not automatically defer to the commentator, but you should consider the fact it is possible that you have gotten something wrong. d. A good commentary is a gift a godly preacher leaves to future generations. They are fallible, but they can also reveal great treasures of Scripture that we may have missed. 5. COUNSEL a. Ask your Pastor (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) b. Ask your Elders c. Ask a trusted Christian friend d. Ask your Father or your Mother or Grandfather or Grandmother (older saints may provide much needed perspective about applying Scripture to your life! Job 12:12) e. Above all else, ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit! PRAY! APPLICATION: How does this verse apply to my life? Once the passage has been properly interpreted, we can apply it. Some questions we can ask about this particular verse are: 1. Is it wrong to judge others? 2. How do I judge correctly? 3. What if I encounter someone who is sinning? (James 5:19-20) a. Is the person sinning? b. Is the person doing something I dont like? c. The two questions are not the same! Above all, use your wisdom, grounded in Scripture, and in addition to your 4. actions, pray! The Holy Spirit is the one who changes hearts and renews minds, and gives wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 2:6; Colossians 1:9).