I love reading the Bible and digging into its treasures. I want to be sure my interpretation doesn’t go off the rails. That’s why I’m such a big fan of inductive Bible study. While I love the full inductive process, it takes a lot of time. I’ve tried to simplify it for those times when I want to understand the context of a Bible passage, but I don’t have time to do the full process. Here are some of the steps I follow. Pray for God’s guidance as you pursue your own studies of scripture. If all else fails, read prayerfully and look at a trusted commentary.
I always start my Bible reading with prayer. I invite the Holy Spirit to join me in the process. He is here to lead us into truth.
I read the passage several times. Then I sit quietly with the passage, letting the Lord prepare my heart to hear His truth. Lectio divina is a great way to navigate this approach.
When I’m ready, I do a little inductive study. What’s in the text? What is the surrounding context? I try to see what’s really there in the text, rather than bring outside understanding to the text.
Then I look at two reliable commentaries to be sure my understanding lines up with how other trusted authors are looking at the passage. I make sure I’m using commentaries that are considered tried and true — a trusted pastor or teacher can help with that selection process.
And that’s my next step: to ask a pastor or teacher I trust to tell me if my understanding of the passage lines up with their understanding.
When I feel like I am reading the passage appropriately, I list one or more key truths from the original context. What are the truth points intended for the original audience?
Then I apply those truth points to my life today, to the church today, and to the wider community today.
After I’ve done that application to my current time, surroundings, and situations, I ask how is God leading me to respond in prayer, to surrender to a change in my heart, to a specific action, etc.
That’s the outline of how I approach Bible study when I’m not delving into the full inductive process.
I do recommend, when you are able, that you try out the full inductive Bible study process. It’s an incredible experience with God’s Word. But when the project is smaller and time is shorter, start with prayer, sit quietly with the Holy Spirit in the text, look at the text to see what’s there, check with trusted commentaries and a pastor or teacher, determine the truths from the original context, and apply those truths to your life today.
God bless you as you immerse yourself in His awesome and life-giving scriptures.
Adventures with God 