HOW TO CONDUCT AN INDUCTIVE STUDY OF SCRIPTURE
By Ezekiel Kimosop
How can we do an inductive study of Scripture?
This is a common question among believers. There are many approaches and methods that can be employed in studying the Bible and it is recommended that the reader samples through relevant books and study guides available in Christian bookstores for the purpose.
Allow me to propose an approach that I consider beneficial and workable for a meditative and indepth study of a passage or text of Scripture. For our illustration purposes, let us turn to the passage of James 1:1-4. Here are five steps under our methodology:
1) PRAY FOR THE ILLUMINATION OF GOD'S WORD
We should first begin with prayer before embarking on the study, asking God to open His word to us by His Spirit [cf. John 14:25-26). Psalm 119:105 says that God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
2) READ THE PASSAGE SLOWLY AND AT LEAST TWICE
When we read the word of God more than once we begin to discover the deeper truths in Scripture. God's word is illuminated more clearly and important insights discovered as we spend time prayerfully pacing through the lines of the text. Never read the Bible in a hurry!
3) MAKE IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS
We need to carefully observe the structure and content of the text and mark out key verbs, words, characters and commands contained in the passage. These are relevant for our effective interpretation of the meaning that the author intended to convey in the passage.
Let us take our passage of James 1:1-4 as an example. This passage addresses the importance of trials in shaping the spiritual fortitude of believers.
Let's begin with an examination of the author.
The writer introduces himself as "James a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (James 1:1, NKJV). Unlike Paul, this writer makes no reference to his apostolic title or authority. Was he an apostle of Jesus Christ? Did he choose to withhold his apostolic title in humility?
There are two James's who are mentioned in New Testament Scripture. One is identified in Matthew 4:21 as James the son of Zebedee and brother to John. This was the apostle of Jesus Christ who was later martyred by Nero. The Bible reveals that he was the brother of John [see Acts 12:2].
Bible scholars say that the writer of James must be a different character, given that the Letter was written long after the events described in Acts 12.
So who exactly was the writer of the Letter of James?
Among the three brothers of Jesus listed in Matthew 13:55 is one James. Bible scholars believe that this is the James who wrote the epistle by his name. He is elsewhere mentioned in Acts 15:13 during the proceedings of the Jerusalem Council and is later described by Paul as "...James, the Lord's brother" (Galatians 1:19).
The writer of Jude introduces himself in his epistle as "Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James" (Jude 1:1).
This leads us to conclude that the writers of the letters of James and Jude were the half brothers of Jesus by his legal father, Joseph. Bible scholars say that Jude is infact the Judas mentioned in Matthew 13:55 alongside James, Joses and Simon. It is believed that he changed his name following Jesus' betrayal by Judas Iscariot!
James was among the three key leaders of the Jerusalem Church during the great persecution and dispersal. His mention of his audience as "scattered abroad" is instructive of the context and background of his writing.
Having established the identity of the writer, we now proceed to examine the passage.
James 1:1-2 speaks of the letter of James being written to the twelve tribes who are said to be scattered abroad. Who exactly were these people and who dispersed them across the world? What occasioned their dispersal? This question is best answered by examining a Bible encyclopedia on the Letter of James. It should provide useful background information for the reader. Some study Bibles also contain footnote commentaries that may be useful for this purpose.
The twelve tribes are symbolic of Christians in their diversity following the persecution and dispersal of the Jerusalem Church under Nero [see Acts 12:1-4). These were predominantly Jewish Christians.
We should not for once imagine that the reference to the twelve tribes implies that this Letter was solely intended for the New Testament Jewish Christians alone! The Epistle of James, as indeed any other writing of Scripture, speaks authoritatively to all ages of the Church.
We are part of that "dispersed" community who are only separated by time from the original audience. The circumstances addressed by the exhortation of the text are not peculiar to New Testament believers. We too suffer trials and afflictions. We require God's wisdom in appreciating their purpose in our lives.
The passage opens by stating: "consider it all joy... Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance..." (1:2-3).
"Knowing" here is grasping or being persuaded by the truth regarding the purpose of trials. We need spiritual discernment on the working of God through trials that shape our moral character in order to conform to His divine purposes (see Romans 8:28-30). Trials and afflictions are important ingredients in Christian sanctification!
Here is the truth as revealed by Scripture: trials are intended by God to produce endurance in us, making us better able to bear afflictions. They are also meant to improve our spiritual alertness. We are to accept trials as God-given.
We learn that spiritual maturity is the end product of trials and afflictions.
Notice the contrast with the temptation described in James 1:13-15 which in this context is sponsored by Satan with the intention of bringing us into disobedience.
James goes on to exhort us in 1:4, saying, "Let endurance have its perfect result..."
We should allow God to have His way in our lives under those unpleasant circumstances and pray for the grace to endure the trial process. Besides, the Bible elsewhere assures us that God will not permit any trial or temptation that is beyond our capacity to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Job endured his trial with fortitude and was rewarded by God in the end (Read Job 42). Several men and women of old suffered for their faith. They left for us examples to emulate in our circumstances (see Hebrews 11). Jesus Himself suffered in obedience to God and God raised Him up in glory.
4) APPLICATION.
Having studied and made observations on the text, we should draw some moral lessons from our study of the passage. We can identify areas of our lives that this passage speaks into more clearly. Remember that the word of God first speaks to us before it speaks to others!
For example, if we reflectively consider our study of James 1:1-4, we can identify with some moments of difficulty that we may have gone through in the past. The passage may also describe some present experiences that we may be undergoing or someone known to us could be struggling with. This person needs our encouragement and prayer.
We learn elsewhere in Scripture that God can also use trials to chastise us and draw us closer to Him where we have deviated from the narrow path (cf. Hebrews 12:5-11). He punished the people of Israel using the heathen when they fell into disobedience and rebellion [cf. Habakkuk 2]. Again this is a reason for personal self examination.
We need to bear in mind that trials and afflictions do not affect our spiritual standing in Christ. They are not intended for alienating us from God's love!
Besides, trials are not always evidence of disobedience or lack of faith in the life of the believer. Paul's affliction recorded in 2 Corinthians 12 was permitted by God for His purposes. It was not in response to his disobedience! Paul was given a personal assurance by Jesus that His grace was sufficient for him (2 Corinthians 12:9).
5) OBEY THE WORD.
It is no use studying the word of God if we do not intend to obey the admonition contained in it. When God convicts us of a particular area of disobedience as we study His word, we ought to repent and return to the path of obedience. This is a healthy response in keeping with Christian obedience.
Where God reveals wisdom through His word, we should glorify Him for the insights learned and share with others.
Once we apply the word of God in our respective contexts, we shall stand guided.
We should conclude our study of the word of God with a closing prayer. We should thank God for speaking to us through His word and pray for His enabling grace to bear trials and afflictions and to walk more closely in obedience and in fellowship with God. The Bible elsewhere exhorts us to present our petitions to God and assures us that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021
