Peter Ikuobase

November 2007

Anders, M., 1998. 30 Days to Understanding the Bible in 15 minutes a Day. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers

Fee, G. and Stuart, D., 1993. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Scripture Union

Finzel, H., 2003. Unlocking the Scriptures, Colorado Springs: Cook Ministries

Warren, R., 2006. Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” Psalm 119:9

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

A top-down, analytical approach. Proceeds from basic facts to

conclusions. Derives life applications

Observation

Interpretation

Application

Whole Picture Individual Parts Fine Details

Read the passage several times. Initial impressions (brain dump –

what’s happening in the passage or book)

Record the major facts Who? (speaker, audience) What? ( Events, ideas, subject, key words,

tone)Where? (Location of action, writer and

audience)When? (Is the timing significant in the life of

the author, Israel or the church)

Create structural outline and principles of structure chart / observational chart

• Comparison• Contrast• Repetition• Cause to Effect• Effect to Cause• Explanation• Illustration

• Climax• Pivot• Interchange• Preparation• Summary• Question Posed• Question Answered

Same questions, more detail, detailed researchWho?What?Where?When?

Who?The writerThe receipientsThe characters involved in the action.The characters involved indirectly in the

action.Special people addressed in the passage.

What? (Key truths or events)Key ideas.Theological terms.Key events Important words (verb tense, commands)Figures of speechAtmosphere

Where?Places mentionedBuildingsCitiesNationsLandmarks

When?Date of the author’s writingDuration of the actionAt what point in the life of IsraelAt what point in the life of the churchPast, present, or future.

Principles of Interpretation Questions of Interpretation 5 C Framework for answers

Let scripture interpret scripture. Interpret the Bible literally. Interpret the Bible grammatically. Interpret the Bible in its historical

setting.

What additional research do I need to do to find out the significance of the facts that I observed earlier?Who? (the characters)What? (Key truths or events)Where? (the geography and location)When? (the time factors)

And the missing question:Why? (the purpose of the passage or

book) The reader’s need The writer’s message

The Five C Framework for InterpretationC1: State an initial proposal based on the

content.C2: Search the context.C3: Seek biblical comparisons.C4: Consult secondary sources.C5: State your conclusions.

C1: State an initial proposal based on the contentWhat is my hypothesis based on my

observation of the passage about The Readers’ need: The Writer’s message:

C2: Search the context.Read the passages before and after.Read the chapter before and after.Read the entire book to understand the

context of the passage.

C3. Seek biblical comparisons.Use cross-references to compare the

study verses with related verses elsewhere in the bible.

Consider the context of each new verse looked up.

Study the text in several different translations to get a fuller range of meaning for words or concepts.

C4. Consult secondary sources.Refer to secondary sources including:

commentaries, concordances, atlases, Bible dictionaries and encyclodpaedias, theology books, other reference works.

C5. State your conclusions.Conclusions about what the passage

means should flow out of the preceding steps.

State the Readers’ need:State the Writer’s message:

Response Relevance Universal Truths Relationships

General guidelines for applying scripture in my own life.Know yourself Relate the passage to life Meditate on the passage Practice what you have learned.

List strengths and weaknesses in your walk with Christ.

Keep adding to this list as you discover more about yourself.

Be alert to scriptures that address those areas so that you can apply them specifically to your life.

Write a number of principles from the scripture that seem to apply to you ( five or six is a good start). Determine the principles that apply to me.

How? a) Write brief statements of universal

truths that apply to you. b) Determine if the principle is

timeless and universal. c) Look for new relationships.

With God A truth to rest in A command to obey A prayer to express A challenge to heed A promise to trust A fellowship to enjoy

With yourself A thought or word to

examine An action to take An example to follow An error to avoid An attitude to change or

guard against A priority to change A goal to strive for A personal value or

standard to hold up A sin to forsake

Relate the passage to life

With others (home, church, work, school, society, world)

A witness to share An encouragement to extend A service to do A forgiveness to nurture An exhortation to bear A kindness to express A hospitality to extend An attitude to change or

guard against A sin to renounce

With Satan Spiritual armour to wear A temptation to resist A person to resist A sin to avoid and confess

Relate the passage to life

Select on verse from the passage to memorise. Single one principle from the passage to emphasize from the verse and focus on it during the coming week.

What will I do this week to apply these principles to my life?

List five concrete actions or attitudes that I can work on this week?

Epistles Prophecy Apocalyptic Narrative