#Precept ministries bible study tools how to#

How Observation, Interpretation, and Application Relate to Each OtherĪccurate interpretation and correct application rest on the accuracy of your observations.

#Precept ministries bible study tools how to#

When you know what God says, what He means, and how to put His truths into practice, you will be equipped for every circumstance of life. The basis for application is 2 Timothy 3:16-17: Rather, the application takes place as you are confronted with truth and decide to respond in obedience to that truth. Once you know what a passage means, you are not only responsible for putting it into practice in your own life, but accountable if you don't! Ultimately, the goal of personal Bible study is a transformed life and a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.Īpplication is not a third step in the inductive process. It's going to be exciting-and so enlightening! ApplicationĪpplication answers the question: How does the meaning of this passage apply to me? Usually, this is the first thing we want to know when we read the Bible, but proper application actually begins with belief which then results in being and doing. We'll also show you how to do word studies and use Bible study tools to greatly enhance your learning. We will give you principles of interpretation and offer special sections to guide you in handling different types of writing, including figures of speech, parables, and allegories. You may also use other help, such as word studies or the evaluation of resources such as commentaries and Bible dictionaries to check your conclusions or to supplement your understanding of the historical or cultural setting of the text. First and foremost, let Scripture interpret Scripture. One of these exercises is investigating cross-references. However, interpretation can also involve separate actions or steps beyond merely observing the immediate text. Thus, interpretation flows out of observation. Interpretation is not necessarily a separate step from observation, for often, as you carefully observe the text, you begin to see what it means at that very moment.

In that case, your understanding will be colored by your presuppositions-what you think, what you feel, or what other people have said rather than what God's Word says. However, suppose you rush into interpretation without laying the vital foundation of accurate observation. As you carefully observe Scripture, the meaning will become apparent. Interpretation is the process of discovering what the passage means. Interpretation answers the question: What does the passage mean? And the basis for accurate interpretation is always careful observation. You'll be awed at the wealth of spiritual riches in even the shortest books of the Bible-and you will have discovered it yourself! You will know that you know! Interpretation You'll discover that the more you read and get to know a book of the Bible, the more its truths will become obvious to you. Therefore, in the first part of this book, you will learn what to look for when you read your Bible.īecause observation is discovering what the passage is saying, it requires time and practice. Often, however, we forget what we have read simply because we don't know what to look for in the text.

we are waiting for the pastor to teach on this section of Scripture, so we'll know what to believe.

we don't really believe we can understand what we've read, or.we think God's Word will magically make an impression on us without any effort on our part, or.Have you ever read a book, chapter, or verse of the Bible and five minutes later have been unable to remember anything you have read? So often, we read the Bible with our eyes but not our minds. Observation answers the question: What does the passage say? It is the foundation that must be laid if you want to accurately interpret and properly apply God's Word.