How do you study?

I like to pick up studies from courses online, "layman" study guides and in taking seminary courses (I'm seeking a MAR). I make a lot of notes too, mostly in the back of my Bible. But, I also type things into Word docs for later use. I have been building a library of books as one of my tools. I buy all my books used from abebooks.com, Amazon, Christianbook.com and ebay. I love e-sword. That's pretty much my main electronic study aid. That and Google. But, I love being able to read a bound book rather than read electronically.

My hermeneutics class helped a lot. It taught me how to look up the cultural, historical, contextual and linguistic aspects of study. That one class has helped me more than any individual study I have done. Kind of like the old adage, give a man a fish...

I study in attempts to answer questions that may come up in the future discussions with current or potential Believers. It's really fun to me too. If I'd known in High School that I'd become a bookworm, I'd have laughed at myself. I love school and learning now. I wish I hadn't waited though. :o

Bible and prayer mostly. I pray the Holy Spirit who wrote the Bible (2 Peter 1: 20-21) to illuminate the scriptures (John 16:13). Occasionally I use the search engine / concordance.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Contrast with:

Hebrews 5:12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

Typically I prefer to study Biblical books or textual units rather than a topical study. I have several systematic theologies and many topical books, but the majority of my library is made up of commentaries and reference materials.

So, as far as my method goes, I will try to get an accurate translation of the text as best as I can, using minimal sources (TDN(O)T, lexicons, etc.). Then I will go to my critical commentaries (NIC, NIGTC, etc.). Then I will read some additional social/cultural/historical info from whatever sources I may have (DSS, ANET, introductions, dictionaries, etc.). Next I would read some biblical theologies and systematic theologies which would pertain to my text. Occasionally, I will look at how the text has been interpreted historically if I have not already been made aware of this in my previous reading. After all of this, I will usually go to some commentary or other book which will have some good applications of the text (I enjoy NIV Application commentaries in general). I will often go back and repeat the process, which is beneficial because you are building on a foundational understanding, rather than having everything be so new and overwhelming.

I also consider seeking wise counsel as a part of my study. I will discuss texts and topics with people whom I respect for their close relationship to God and their knowledge of the word.

As far as prayer goes, I tend to do that all along the way. As I study, I am made aware of my human-ness and my inability to understand anything on my own. I always pray for God's Spirit to guide me in my study and help me grow closer to Him in the process. When I study I don't consider it to be just me. God is always next to me, teaching me, explaining things to me and encouraging me. He is telling me about Himself and the things he has done.

And then, after I finish my study, I spend time just praying. It never fails that after a final prayer, I see the text in a deeper, more clear way. God has a way of simplifying things that we, in our best efforts, tend to make more complicated.

E-Sword
The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words
ChristianForums.com

Prayer, meditation and i have a lot of books from Dr. Fruchtenbaum. I also go on a couple of websites. I compare scriptures and never add/take away.

For example:
2When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"

4Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosyare cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."Matthew 11:4-6

This can be fully understood if one would read isaiah 35:5, and isaiah 42:6.

I flip to random pages.

AndrejFriedemann said:

What are your tools, what are your methods and why do you study?

My tools:
E-Sword (all modules)
PC Study Bible 4 (Advanced)
Several websites and also google...

I wish to add Libronix Library System (Logos series X) to that list soon...


Methods: Whatever I study, I not only read, but try to write down my results, what usually results in something similar to an article. I prefer not to study that many different things superficial, but rather to deeply outstudy some few things.

Why: I don't study b/c of general interest, but to show myself approved, to be a greater light and to learn about God. But, by the way, it really is fun to me.

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well i just started studing but the majority of the time I look at witnessing and spirtual growth as more of a "open book-notes" quiz then somethign to study for, but as far as reading to learn/which might be what youl mean by studying then thats kool too ... idk its 4 am =P lol

I have an enormous collection of books, Bibles, and study tools, but I recently added Libronix to my arsenal and find it indispensible. I highly recommend it.

The Lord has given me a sytem of study using books based on the numbers in Strong's.
Wigram Englishmen's Hebrew and Greek concordances show where words are used in the original language. In other words, a Strong's concordance will show where the English words are found...Wigram's will show where the Hebrew or Greek words are found regardless of how they were translated. One word that comes to mind is the word "believe" ([539] in Strong's) which is translated "nursing father" in Numbers 11:12.
I then use the Thayer's Greek lexicon and Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon for a better understanding of the word.
scott

I study a particular passage and keep it in my head for several days, whenever I type a section out or memorize it, I mark the section with a pencil throughout the Bible.

Amos 5.13
Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times, for the times are evil.

I study using my half-dozen or so Study Bibles, comparing notes, and checking the Hebrew/Greek. I've gotten into this habit because I lead a lot of studies and this is done in preparation for any question that may arise. The core of any study, though, is letting God speak to you through the Scriptures. Also, re-reading a selection several times is VERY helpful.

1. Read through the text several times. Identify the basics, genre etc.

2. Take a more critical look, asking questions about any areas I am uncertain on, terms, idioms, biblcial allusions to other passages, or outside writings. If there are allusions present go and study the other passage in the context, see what it meant in that time period, then see how the author is applying it now.

3. Check the immediate context of the passage, the rest of that passage, then chapter, then the book, etc. while asking the following questions. Generally the book itself can answer these.

a. who is the audience? Is it expressed?
b. who is the author?
c. what is the occassion for writing?
d. are there any overtly expressed themes or purposes in the book (John's statement about writing this so you might believe, and the theme of collecting witnesses, etc. Or Jude's statement that though he wanted to write about the shared salvation he felt he had to write to defend the faith.
e. What is the location of the events, and does it have any bearing?
f. What is the mood of the author in the case of epistles or psalms etc. Galatians is highly concerned. Romans is more formal and introductory, Ephesians and Philippians tend to be more rejoicing etc.

4. Check other Bible versions If deemed necessary read it in Greek or Hebrew (Hebrew is rusty though!)

5. If it is really a crucial topic parse all the verbs, identify parts of speech etc. to see if there are any nuances that are not coming through.

6. By now I should have a solid idea about the passage. Then I generally check commentaries to see how others compare with my thoughts. They also might point out allusions or interesting information that I might have missed.

7. The biggest thing that helps over the long-term is to read the Bible over and over. It is not until you get a general frame work for how it all fits in and start to have a familiarity with the overall text that you start to make a lot of connections on allusions to the OT, etc. Then when you read your brain seems to really grab at them immediately. You also save a lot of time once you have looked up the basics on each of the books, have an understanding of their setting etc, so that the next time you look at a passage in the same book you can skip right to the good parts!

Obviously prayer is important to, but here I am just outlining the cerebral part of the method.

I study by reading many chapters in the particular book at once. Its easier for me that way. Plus I learn more.

I have a couple of different concordances, and an online Bible that I use. I like comparing my English Bible with my foreign language ones because it's interested to see how they're translated (ie, Spanish to English, Chinese to English, whichever). I also do memorization, when I have time.

I also keep a notebook of past Bible studies I've done. I generally try to read through it a couple of times and do a comparison with my concordance/online texts that explain what the passage is dealing with, and then I'll do a verse by verse outline of the scripture in a notebook. It's interesting to go back and see how my views on a passage have grown and/or expanded.

PlumTea said:

This is pretty much what I've been doing; except for the skipping, I don't like to skip around even if the part I'm on is really dull.

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Oops! I should clarify. I mean when I am studying a passage in depth, I can skip some of the background work once I already did the background work on that particular book etc. The good part in this case is the study of the immediate verse, rather than having to look at all the information you already learned.

I wasn't referring to hopping around the boring parts of the Bible!

I think I put it in the wrong way!

The biggest problem I have found with most bible studies is that they do not take into consideration the context of the Bible itself. Most bible studies are based on the mistaken idea that God gave the human race as a manual for life. As a result they overinterpret many statements in the Bible.

Here is a practical example: If I read where a guy said "I will cross the widest desert" it would be good to know whether he wrote that in a contract or in a love letter to his sweetheart, regardless of the immediate context in which the statement is found.

Because of this error we find that many people have had many Bible studies and still hold on to erroneous views of the nature and character of the Creator.

Alright, I have broken down the Bible into six seperate blocks: The Books of Law, Genesis through Deuteronomy; The Books of History, Joshua through II Chronicles, I think; The Books of Poetry, Job through Song of Song, I think; The Books of Prophesy, Isaiah to I don't know what, to right before the New Testament; The Gospels, obviously; and finally, The Rest of the New Testament. I read four chapters a day, Monday through Saturday. Sunday I follow along with my Church's reading.

I intend on getting through it, eventually, though that's a secondary purpose. I really read it every day simply so that I have my daily, preferably in the morning, time with Him, and time spent with Him rejuvinates me and empowers me and relaxes me. And it gives Him the opportunity He likes to wash my mind of crap and share His will with me.

Not for everyone, but it's what works for me. The breakup means it's not constantly in the same book every day, so it doesn't get as boring, and I've been at it for almost a year now.