How Should We Study the Bible?

HOW SHOULD WE STUDY THE BIBLE?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

Someone posted this question in an online forum.  I have also come across the question on a number of occasions, especially during Bible study sessions. 

I must admit that there are numerous online suggestions on approaches to the study of the Bible. Each methodology serves its purposes. What is of utmost significance is that every believer ought to engage in the regular study of God's word [cf. Psalm 119:10-12, 105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17]

Some writers recommend that the reader does a survey through the entire Bible once or even twice a year. This would involve reading through several passages or chapters of Scripture on a daily basis. This marathon method would even involve reading through a number of short Bible Books or Letters in a single day.

For instance, one can read through the minor prophets such as Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Haggai in one study session and in that order!

While this suggestion may be helpful in providing a scoping through the Books of Scripture [and for accessing useful information as a reader], my view is that the survey approach is not suitable for an effective devotional study of Scripture. 

While each of the above prophetic books are fairly brief in length [11 chapters in total], each Book addresses a specific context or series of contexts that are unique to each writer. 

It may be difficult to collate all these factors in one reading.

Some have also suggested a thematic approach involving the study of a Bible theme in a given season. The reader selects topics such as love, faith or prayer. They may also study Bible characters. 

This method is usually suited to the corporate study of Scripture through a church teaching series or a Bible study book. It can also be employed under individual devotional study. 

For personal devotion, I would prefer [and would highly recommend] reading through one Scripture Book [or related passages in different books, as appropriate] in a given season in smaller portions rather doing a marathon reading through the entire Bible once or twice a year. 

I believe that Scripture speaks in context under each passage/Book of study and that the best way to grow in the knowledge of the word of God is to employ the inductive study method through the passages of a given Book at a time. 

This methodology presents a great opportunity for appreciating the background under which the author wrote and in discovering his original readers/recipients and outlining the moral issues that God was addressing under each specific context.

We should remember that we are secondary readers of the Books and Letters of Scripture! We should therefore put ourselves in the historical position that the writers and recipients were before we can interpret the texts. 

This approach is known as the hermeneutical study of Scripture. 

The reader can also pick out difficult passages or texts in a given Book in the course of his study and seek pastoral assistance. It is recommended that study aids such as Bible commentaries and encyclopedias are consulted for indepth understanding.

Reading through several chapters a day under a marathon across the entire Bible is not a bad idea. It just doesn't serve the readers core purposes for methodically discerning the mind of God in Scripture. I do not recommend this approach for an inductive study of Scripture. Scripture should edify the reader and illuminate his mind. 

Besides, why should one rush through the Scriptures in such haste? 

Where is it written in Scripture that believers must read though the entire Bible at least once every year? 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021