Congratulations on diving into the world of Bible study! The Bible is one of the most sacred texts in human history. We discover wisdom, guidance, and inspiration within its pages, but better yet, we discover God. The pages of scripture reveal to us the character and nature of God, how he relates to creation, the origin of mankind, the fundamental problem we face, and the ultimate solution to that problem.
Delving into the depths of scripture can seem daunting, but Theology for the Little Guy exists to help remove the complexities of Bible study so you can know God, walk with Him, and help others do the same! How does one approach such a monumental work? Fear not, for embarking on a Bible study journey is not reserved for scholars alone. With a few fundamental principles and practices, anyone can unlock the rich treasures hidden within its pages.
Here are five steps to laying the foundation for personal Bible study:
Step 1: Understanding the Bible
Before diving into the specifics of Bible study, let’s spend a moment understanding what the Bible is. The Bible is a collection of sixty-six documents divided into two main sections: the Old Testament, containing writings prior to the birth of Jesus chronicling the history of the relationship between God and Israel, and the New Testament, which chronicles the life of Christ, his teachings, and the early Christian Church. The Old and New Testament documents pertain to the Old and New covenants, which govern the relationship between God and His people (Israel in the Old Testament, and the church in the New Testament). Understanding the difference between these two covenant relationships helps make sense of the Bible (more on covenants in a future article).
Step 2: Approaching the Bible with Reverence
Approaching the Bible with reverence means recognizing its sacredness and significance. This involves adopting a humble attitude, acknowledging that the words within its pages are inspired by a divine source. The writers of the Bible were human but believed their words were of divine origin (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21) It also means approaching the text with an open heart and mind, ready to receive its messages and teachings.
Step 3: Choose a Translation
There are numerous translations available and selecting the right one can seem overwhelming. It is impossible to translate the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts without losing some nuance of meaning. There is no such thing as a perfect Bible translation, but that does not mean that there are no faithful translations. Many of our English translations are excellent, but you will want to spend some time understanding the difference between them.
I recommend choosing a translation that balances readability with accuracy. Some popular translations include the New International Version (NIV), the English Standard Version (ESV), and the New Living Translation (NLT). Experiment with different translations to find one that resonates with you. It will be wise, however, to consult multiple translations that span the spectrum of translation philosophies. I consult five or six translations any time I do serious study. If you are just starting out, I recommend finding the translation that is most readable according to your reading level and working from there.
Step 4: Prayer and Meditation
Before delving into scripture, take a moment to pray for guidance and wisdom. Ask for insight and understanding as you embark on your study. No one can accurately interpret the scriptures without the aid of its author. Studying the Bible requires a reliance on the Holy Spirit. Meditation on scripture involves reflecting on its meaning and allowing its message to resonate within you. As you encounter the words of scripture, be sure to spend time listening to what the Lord is telling you. Along with the tools you will learn here, this practice can bring clarity and insight to your study.
Step 5: Enjoy yourself!
Remember the ultimate goal is to experience God and enjoy fellowship with Him. When you learn to pause and linger long enough to listen to God, you begin to enjoy a rich relationship with Him. Bible study is not about gaining spiritual knowledge, but the vehicle for knowing God personally. Remember this is not a sprint, but a marathon. Bible study is a journey. It takes time, but it is one of the greatest investments you can make.
Embarking on a journey of Bible study is a rewarding and enriching experience. By approaching the text with reverence, studying context, utilizing study tools, and applying scripture to life, you can unlock the rich treasures hidden within its pages. May your study of the Bible deepen your understanding of God’s word and lead you closer to Him.
One thing I found is that I like to use chat GPT to help explain things to me. Now I’m doing this for cyber security myself. But cyber security is super complicated and I think it would be similar to the Bible in a lot of ways and that it can be hard to translate into understand. Mind you the newer versions of the Bible easier to read. But I just thought I’d recommend that.
I agree that tools like ChatGPT can make certain tasks easier. It will be very interesting where AI tools will be even just a year from now. While ChatGPT may aid in explaining things related to the Bible, it cannot replace what takes place when a reader sits down and seeks to understand the Word of God for him or herself. The Bible is a living book written by the author of the universe itself. Reading it and studying it draws us in to experience communion with God in a way AI tools that attempt to help us understand simply cannot do. Another potential hurdle is trusting that ChatGPT is accurately interpreting the Bible for you. The purpose of this article (and subsequent articles) is not just to know what the Bible says, but to know God on a personal level. Thank you for your comment.
Wow, stumbling upon your article on how to study the Bible effectively for beginners was like finding a treasure chest! Seriously, you’ve done an amazing job breaking down such a complex topic into easily digestible nuggets of wisdom. Your step-by-step guide is like a roadmap for anyone diving into Bible study for the first time—I wish I had this when I was starting out!
I particularly appreciated your emphasis on approaching the Bible with an open heart and mind, allowing room for personal reflection and growth. It’s refreshing to see someone stress the importance of building a personal connection with the text rather than just memorizing verses.
I’ve got to ask though: for someone who’s completely new to studying the Bible, what advice would you give to help them stay consistent and not get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information? And do you have any favorite resources or tools you’d recommend to complement your guide? Keep up the fantastic work—you’re making a real difference in people’s spiritual journeys!
Hey Bob thanks for your kind words. Bible study is my passion, and I want to do everything I can to help people make sense of a complex book. When it comes to consistency for beginners, I encourage developing a reading plan that doesn’t get too ambitious. Some plans have you reading from multiple places in a day (Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs). I find that divides my focus and can hinder my comprehension. I advocate starting with something easier to read like a narrative (the gospels, Acts, Genesis, etc.), then reading a chapter or so at a time. Keep it simple and start small.
As far as resources go, I wrote a separate article highlighting my top five tools for studying the Bible, which can be found here. I hope that you find it informative and helpful. If there are any questions you have, I would love to answer them for you.