How to Study Your Bible

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How to Study Your Bible

• Basics of Grace

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Introduction
This is a Bible study method which has been
historically called "inductive," meaning that the
method is designed to let the text speak for
itself, rather than impose meaning onto it. It
is an exegetical method, meaning that one is
trying to "unfold" or more literally, "lead out"
the meaning of the text. The goal of this method
is to understand the meaning of God's Word so
that one can "walk in a manner worthy of the
Lord, to please Him in all respects" (Col. 110).
We have failed to be God-honoring in our
pursuits if understanding of the truth does not
lead to transformation of our life (cf. Rom.
121-2, Eph. 422-24).
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Tools
This method only requires the use of a good study
Bible and the internet to access online study
resources. For this study, we will utilize the
MacArthur Study Bible (NASB version) and the
online site, Blue Letter Bible (www.blueletterbibl
e.org)
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Passage Luke 189-14
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Overview of Method
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1. Spiritual Preparation
Spiritual Preparation This is the most
important step and often the most neglected.
Proper time in prayer before sitting down before
the "Book" is absolutely essential. It is also a
good time to remind yourself to be "prayerful"
through your study time.
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2. Background Preparation
Study the background of the Bible book. Where was
it written? When was it written? Was it original
a unit or several parts put together? Biblical
introduction also supplies information about
historical background (writers, readers,
locations, philosophies, cultures, etc.) Without
biblical introduction, interpretive mistakes are
easily made because the background and context of
the book were not properly understood. A good
study Bible will have introductory articles
before each Bible book that provide this sort of
information.
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Title As with the other 3 gospels, the title is
derived from the authors name. According to
tradition, Luke was a Gentile. The Apostle Paul
seems to confirm this, distinguishing Luke from
those who were of the circumcision (Col. 411,
14). That would make Luke the only Gentile to pen
any books of Scripture. He is responsible for a
significant portion of the NT, having written
both this gospel and the book of Acts (see Author
and Date). Very little is known about Luke. He
almost never included personal details about
himself, and nothing definite is known about his
background or his conversion. Both Eusebius and
Jerome identified him as a native of Antioch
(which may explain why so much of the book of
Acts centers on Antiochcf. Acts 111927
1313 1426 1522, 23, 3035 1822, 23). Luke
was a frequent companion of the Apostle Paul, at
least from the time of Pauls Macedonian vision
(Acts 169, 10) right up to the time of Pauls
martyrdom (2 Tim. 411). The Apostle Paul
referred to Luke as a physician (Col. 414).
Lukes interest in medical phenomena is evident
in the high profile he gave to Jesus healing
ministry (e.g., 43840 51525 61719
71115 84347, 4956 92, 6, 11 131113
1424 171214 2250, 51). In Lukes day,
physicians did not have a unique vocabulary of
technical terminology so when Luke discusses
healings and other medical issues, his language
is not markedly different from that of the other
gospel writers. MacArthur Study Bible, 1471
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Historical and Theological Themes Lukes style is
that of a scholarly, well-read author (see note
on 114). He wrote as a meticulous historian,
often giving details that helped identify the
historical context of the events he described
(15 21, 2 31, 2 1314). His account of the
nativity is the fullest in all the gospel
recordsand (like the rest of Lukes work) more
polished in its literary style. He included in
the birth narrative a series of praise psalms
(14655 16879 214 22932 34, 35). He
alone reported the unusual circumstances
surrounding the birth of John the Baptist, the
annunciation to Mary, the manger, the shepherds,
and Simeon and Anna (22538). A running theme in
Lukes gospel is Jesus compassion for Gentiles,
Samaritans, women, children, tax collectors,
sinners, and others often regarded as outcasts in
Israel. Every time he mentions a tax collector
(312 527 729 151 181013 192), it is
in a positive sense. Yet, Luke did not ignore the
salvation of those who were rich and
respectablee.g., 235053. From the outset of
Jesus public ministry (418) to the Lords final
words on the cross (234043), Luke underscored
this theme of Christs ministry to the pariahs of
society. Again and again he showed how the Great
Physician ministered to those most aware of their
need (cf. 531, 32 1547 31, 32
1910). MacArthur Study Bible, 1472
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3. Reading
Read the passage in several good literal
translations (NASB, NKJV, ESV). It is best to
read the entire paragraph (minimum) or better,
the entire chapter where the text under study is
located.
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4. Observation
Read and re-read the text until your mind is
saturated with it. While memorization is not
required, the text should be so vivid in your
mind that you have "almost" memorized it.
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4. Observation

• Begin to ask questions
• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• How?
• Why?
• Dont worry about making note of the obvious!

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4. Observation

• Pay careful attention to
• Repeated words
• Repeated expressions
• Contrast
• The authors logic or flow of thought
• Write down all of your questions, thoughts,
  observations, etc.

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4. Observation

• Purpose of the parable (v. 9)
• Contrast between the two men
• Who is justified? (v. 14)

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5. Identification

• Grammar syntax
• To what is each word, phrase, clause, sentence,
  and paragraph related? In what way is it related?
  For what purpose is each related? Sometimes,
  making a logical diagram of the text can be
  helpful to see these types of relationships
• Where is the prominence or emphasis? (pay
  attention to word order and the employment of
  emphatic words)

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V. 11 (ESV) - The Pharisee, standing by himself,
prayed thus 'God, I thank you that I am not like
other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or
even like this tax collector. V. 11 (NASB) - The
Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself
'God, I thank You that I am not like other
people swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even
like this tax collector. V. 11 (NIV) - The
Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself 'God,
I thank you that I am not like other men--
robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like
this tax collector.
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5. Identification

• Expression
• Are there any idioms?
• Are there any literary devices used? (these will
  be more common in narrative and poetic books)
  parallelism, inclusio, chiasm, etc.
• What is the literary form genre? (narrative,
  poetry, letter (epistle), proverb, parable,
  apocalyptic literature, etc.)

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5. Identification

• Expression
• Do a word study for each word crucial to the
  text. Comparing various translations often
  reveals the words that need to be studied.

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V. 13 (NASB) - But the tax collector, standing
some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up
his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast,
saying, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner! V.
13 (NIV) - But the tax collector stood at a
distance. He would not even look up to heaven,
but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on
me, a sinner. V. 13 (ESV) - But the tax
collector, standing far off, would not even lift
up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast,
saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' See
Blue letter Bible and commentaries
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V. 13 (NASB) - But the tax collector, standing
some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up
his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast,
saying, "God, be merciful to me, the
sinner! Note NASB margin reading 13 or
propitious
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5. Identification

• Expression
• State the argument, theme, or "big idea" message
  in your own words

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6. Examination

• What are the circles of context? (immediate,
  remote, external setting)
• How does the passage fit into each circle of
  context?
• The external setting is in the ancient near
  eastern cultural, historical, geographical,
  political, economic, and spiritual milieu

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Luke 181-14 (2 parables)
Luke 141-1927 (Ministry in Perea)
Luke 951-1927 (Journey to Jerusalem 3rd of 4
major divisions in the book of Luke)
MacArthur Study Bible, 1474
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6. Examination

• Are there any parallel passages?
• A parallel passage is another verse of Scripture
  which deals with the same event, topic, or
  discussion as the verse presently under
  examination A study Bible will help identify
  any potential parallel passages look in margins
  for verse citations

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6. Examination

• Are there any parallel passages?
• Pay the most attention to parallel passages which
  discuss the same historical event (narrative) or
  passages which are written by the same author
  about the same subject If your passage is in
  one of the four gospels, you can use the Blue
  Letter Bible Harmony of the Gospels to check
  for parallel narrative accounts in the other
  gospel books.

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6. Examination

• Are there any parallel passages?
• Care must be taken here not to import meaning
  from a parallel passage into the verse being
  studied. However, parallel passages can be
  helpful for double-checking one's conclusions or
  for bringing additional information about a
  subject not given in the verse under study.

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7. Solutionation

• Answer questions and solve interpretive problems.
  
• List any potential interpretive problems and
  corresponding solutions
• Choose one as the "preferred" solution and
  compare pros and cons with other possible
  solutions

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8. Consultation

• Check your conclusions against reliable
  commentaries.
• Some good commentaries include The Expositors
  Bible Commentary, The MacArthur New Testament
  Commentary, Thru the Bible, The New American
  Commentary Series. Blue Letter Bible also has
  several good commentaries, including Matthew
  Henry and Jamieson, Fausset Brown

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8. Consultation

• Check your conclusions against reliable
  commentaries.
• Watch for alternative interpretations and note
  any additional problems that you may have
  overlooked in your study. You should re-evaluate
  your conclusions if no commentator agrees with
  you.

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189 This parable is rich with truth about the
doctrine of justification by faith. It
illustrates perfectly how a sinner who is utterly
devoid of personal righteousness may be declared
righteous before God instantaneously through an
act of repentant faith. The parable is addressed
to Pharisees who trusted their own righteousness
(vv. 10, 11). Such confidence in ones inherent
righteousness is a damning hope (cf. Rom. 103
Phil 39), because human righteousnesseven the
righteousness of the most fastidious
Phariseefalls short of the divine standard
(Matt. 548). Scripture consistently teaches that
sinners are justified when Gods perfect
righteousness is imputed to their account (cf.
Gen. 156 Rom. 44, 5 2 Cor. 521 Phil.
349)and it was only on that basis that this
tax collector (or anyone else) could be saved.
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1813 - The tax collectors humility is notable
in everything about his posture and behavior.
Here was a man who had been made to face the
reality of his own sin, and his only response was
abject humility and repentance. He contrasts with
the Pharisee in virtually every detail. God, be
merciful. He had no hope but the mercy of God.
This is the point to which the law aims to bring
every sinner (cf. Rom. 319, 20 713 Gal
32224). 1814 justified. I.e., reckoned
righteous before God by means of an imputed
righteousness (see note on v. 9). MacArthur Study
Bible, 1518.
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9. Evaluation

• Conclude your study with any evaluation
• Be willing to modify or refine your conclusions
  based upon your additional study or insight
  gained in commentaries
• Acknowledge any uncertainties, ambiguities, lack
  of knowledge or need for additional information.
• Outline a method of "where to go from here" in
  order to further investigate standing problems.

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10. Application

• Once conclusions are made about the meaning of
  the passage, ample time should be spent in
  meditation, reflection, prayer, and personal
  application.
• What are the timeless theological truths that the
  passage is teaching?
• What can be learned about God from this verse?
• What in your thinking needs to change in light of
  this verse?
• Were you convicted or challenged by something in
  the verse?

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10. Application
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