Inductive Bible Study

[GraceSeeker]

I'm curious how many people here are familiar with it? At my seminary (Asbury Theological Seminary), Robert Trainia wrote a book Methodical Bible Study that became the standard for how I was taught to study the Bible. It uses the inductive methodology, and I have found it this process very helpful not just in Bible study and the preparation of sermons, but in a whole host of other endeavors some of which aren't in the least religious in nature.

If people aren't familiar with it, and are looking for something that really does work (though it also requires work), I wouldn't mind taking some time to develop a thread that would teach it.

In short it is as simple as three steps "Obersvation", "Interpretation", and "Application". But then a lot of methods use those terms. So, it does get a bit more involved when practicing there techniques.

 

[Merrily]

Sounds useful.
That could make for an interesting thread.
Lectio Divina was the approach where I studied.

 

[circuitrider]

I'm curious how many people here are familiar with it? At my seminary (Asbury Theological Seminary), Robert Trainia wrote a book Methodical Bible Study that became the standard for how I was taught to study the Bible. It uses the inductive methodology, and I have found it this process very helpful not just in Bible study and the preparation of sermons, but in a whole host of other endeavors some of which aren't in the least religious in nature.

If people aren't familiar with it, and are looking for something that really does work (though it also requires work), I wouldn't mind taking some time to develop a thread that would teach it.

In short it is as simple as three steps "Obersvation", "Interpretation", and "Application". But then a lot of methods use those terms. So, it does get a bit more involved when practicing there techniques.

Sounds interesting!

 

[Maid Marie]

It kind of sounds how I study it but maybe not. A thread sounds interesting.

 

[food4thought]

I am familiar with that method of study from my time at Bible College back in 02-04, and like you said it is a bit more involved than just those three steps. I am currently taking a course in Inductive Bible Study through Liberty University Online, and it is even more in depth than the process I learned a few years ago. This class is based around the text "Grasping God's Word" by Duvall and Hays.

I must admit that I have not done a very good job of putting it into practice yet, as there never seems to be enough time to prepare in that way for a Bible study that seeks to cover an entire chapter every week. But it does sound like the best way I know of to ensure that what you get from a passage is what the author (or, more importantly, THE Author) intended when it was written.

I think it would be a good idea for a thread, GraceSeeker.

 

[MystyRock]

I haven't heard of it before. Is this mostly for you pros? Or is this something newbies can understand?

 

[GraceSeeker]

I firmly believe that it is for everyone. In fact, I intentionally provided the link in the OP that I did because it gives an Amazon page that not only has the textbook I used, but two others on the same subject. The one by David Thompson would be something anyone could pick-up and start using right away.

 

[ContraMundum]

Inductive method was one of the methods I was taught in hermenuetics back in the 90's. For the life of me I cannot remember the main textbook, but if I remember I'll post it. Later I studied (again) heremenutics in a Lutheran context and the textbook was "Theological Hermeneutics: An Outline for the Classroom" by Ludwig Fuerbringer. Both books and methods have proved useful but I have to admit I prefer the Fuerbringer one just for its pure academic approach to the text. I think many tools are best used in the study of scripture, not just one method either. Like a mechanic, not every tool is useful for each part of the car.

 

[iambren]

I'm not up to recent terms but this is how I study the Word. I look at all the facts in context,observe how it affects people THEN,then through some hermeneutical filters I translate that over time to apply it for today.

Seems to work for me.