TGOC Bible Class Cirricula – How To Study The Bible (1st Quarter) - Lesson #7 -Another Method of Bible Study - The Inductive Method

1. In this lesson, we are going to provide an overview of another approach to Bible study. Our approach will consist of three steps:

(a) Observation: “What does the text say?”

(b) Interpretation: “What did the author intend for the text to mean to the original

recipients?”

(c) Application: “What does this text mean for us today?”

2. These three steps are all crucial, and they must be done in this order. If you do not observe first, then you might mistakenly commit eisegesis (putting your own preconceived notions into the text). If you do not interpret secondly, then you might mistakenly take something out of its context. For example, John 14-16 is clearly addressed primarily to the twelve disciples. Jesus tells them He is going to send them the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth. Sometimes, people mistakenly misapply that passage directly to themselves. If that were the case, they would not need to be studying the Bible since they already have had all truth! Let us take a look at the three steps in more detail.

I. Step One – Observation

A. In the first step, the goal is to gather as much information from the text as possible like a detective looking for clues.

B. “What kind of information do we need to gather?”

1. We need to look for biographical information: “What people are mentioned, and what details are given about them?”

a. If possible, we want to know the inspired human author of the book. 

b. We want to know who are the recipients of the book.

2. We need to look for historical information: “What events are mentioned, and what details are given about them?”

3. We need to look for chronological information: “What times frames are mentioned, and what details are given about them?”

4. We need to look for geographical information: “What places are mentioned, and what details are given about them?”

5. We need to look for ideological information: “What ideas or themes are mentioned, and what details are given about them?”

C. If we shortchange this step we will sabotage the rest of the process of Bible study,

so it is important to confront any preconceived notions head-on.

1. As you approach the text, acknowledge that you have certain ideas already,

and make the necessary changes as needed.

D. How to do this step of observation.

1. Read, read, read! (Remember though that reading is NOT studying). 

Some ideas: 

a. Read the book in one sitting (Colossians 4:16). The early church would have probably heard the whole letter read when they first received it in a public church meeting.

b. Read in an edition of the Bible that has no chapter or verse divisions. Chapter divisions were made by Stephen Langston (1200s A.D.) to help on a reference point. It was good in its intent, but sometimes it breaks up a flow of thought (such as 1 Corinthians 11:1).

c. Read out loud (or with an audio book).

2. Look for the kinds of information we listed earlier (biographical, historical, etc).

3. Record what you have found.

II. Step Two: Interpretation

A. This step seeks to understand the original intent of the author for the original

audience.

1. We must be on guard not to download what terms mean to us on to the biblical text.

2. The only way to avoid this is by careful attention to the context of the passage.

B. Context.

1. Literary context.

a. How does the text fit into the section of the book?

b. How does the text fit into the entire book?

c. How does the text fit other books by the same author?

d. How does the text fit the rest of the Bible story?

2. Historical context.

a. How does this text fit into the historical situation of the author?

b. How does this text fit into the historical situation of the recipients?

C. How to do this step.

1. We need to have a careful reading of the literary context.

2. We need to have a careful reading of the historical context.

a. We need to make use of background resources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlas – look back at Lesson 4 - “Tools of Bible Study” for further information).

b. We need to make use of commentaries.

III. Step Three – Application

A. Bible study ought to be more than an academic exercise.

1. The Bible is meant to be (properly) applied and transformational (James 1:22-

25).

2. The failure to apply Scripture properly is the gateway to hypocrisy (Matthew 23:3).

B. How to do this step of application:

1. Ask, “In what ways does the original context differ from our own context?”

2. Then ask, “In what ways is the original context similar to our own?”

3. Finally, given the similarities in the original context and our own, ask, “What would

the biblical author want us to take away as the message?”

PRACTICE: Genesis 12:9-20

I. Step One – Observation

1. We need to look for biographical information: “What people are mentioned, and what details are given about them?”

a. We want to know the inspired human author of the book. [The book of Genesis is part of the five-book set known as the Pentateuch or the Law. In the Old Testament, there is a reference often to the Law of Moses (Joshua 8:31)].

b. We want to know who are the recipients of the book. [The original recipients would have been the Israelites (Exodus 24:1-8).]

2. We need to look for historical information: “What events are mentioned, and what details are given about them?” [famine in the land, going down to Egypt, a meeting with Pharaoh – the king of Egypt, plagues come upon Egypt (does that sound familiar?)]

3. We need to look for chronological information: “What time frames are mentioned, and what details are given about them?” [must consult other sources to find out the historical time frame in which Abram and Sarai lived; which Pharaoh is being discussed? Other sources must be consulted that might help us identify the exact Pharaoh that Abram had spoken; When did this event take place? After Abram was called of God in Ur (Genesis 11:27 - 12:1-3)]

4. We need to look for geographical information: “What places are mentioned, and what details are given about them?” [traveled to Ur, traveled to Haran, traveled to Egypt because of a famine]

5. We need to look for ideological information: “What ideas or themes are mentioned, and what details are given about them?”

(1) deception – Abram lies about Sarai

(2) fear – Abram fears for his life if Pharaoh finds out who she is

(3) test of faith – Will Abram pass the test by overcoming his fear? Does he not remember that God promised through him that through his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed? How could God do that IF Abram dies? (Genesis 12:1-3);

(4) being a blessing – God is going to bless those who bless Abram (unfortunately, though Pharaoh's house becomes cursed)

(5) God works through men's failures – (1) Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15), Noah (getting drunk – Genesis 9:20-27), and now Abram

II. Step Two: Interpretation

A. This step seeks to understand the original intent of the author for the original

audience.

1. We must be on guard not to impose what terms mean to us onto the biblical text.

2. The only way to avoid this is by careful attention to the contexts of the passage.

B. Context.

1. Literary context.

a. How does the text fit into the section of the book?

Since Moses is writing to the original recipients, the Israelites, he wants them to know about Abram, their forefather and what he experienced in Egypt. God tells Abram that he is going to either be a blessing or a cursing to those with whom he comes in contact. In this case, Abram becomes a curse to Egypt.

b. How does the text fit into the entire book?

Since Moses is writing to the original recipients, the Israelites, they find out that later on Abram's grandson, Jacob, and his family go down into Egypt because of a famine. There, Joseph becomes a blessing to the Egyptians as he prevents their starvation because they followed what God told Joseph to do.

c. How does the text fit other books by the same author?

Since Moses also wrote Exodus, it continues the account of Genesis by showing that there arose a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph and made the Israelites into slaves. God called out to Moses to deliver His people from bondage. Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let Israel go and therefore the Israelites became a curse to him and his country because God released miraculous plagues that destroyed Egypt. 

d. How does the text fit the rest of the Bible story?

It ought to have boosted the faith and morale of Israel, the original recipients. They learned that their forefather, Abram, came out of Egypt, and God promised him that He was going to give him the promised land of Canaan, which would be for Abram's descendants. Since Israel had already come out of Egypt by God's deliverance, they should have been encouraged to keep going on their way to the promise land.

2. Historical context.

a. How does this text fit into the historical situation of the author?

Both Moses and the original recipients were traveling through the wilderness to the promised land.

b. How does this text fit into the historical situation of the recipients?

Both Moses and the original recipients were traveling through the wilderness to the promised land.

III. Step Three – Application

1. Ask, “In what ways does the original context differ from our own context?”

It differs in the sense that we do not live in an Ancient Near Eastern setting thousands of years ago.

2. Then ask, “In what ways is the original context similar to our own?”

It is similar to us because we are the new Israel, the church of Christ (Galatians 6:16). We are traveling through the wilderness of this world (1 Peter 2:11,12; 1 John 2:15-17). We are on our way to the promised land of the eternal new creation (2 Peter 3:10-13; Hebrews 11:13-16). 

(1) deception – Will we follow in the footsteps of the father of all liars? (John 8:44)

(2) fear – Will we allow fear to crowd out our faith? (Matthew 10:28)

(3) test of faith – Will we pass through the tests that strengthen our faith? (1 Peter 1:6-9)

(4) being a blessing – Will we be a blessing to the world – peacemakers of God? (Matthew 5:1-13)

(5) God works through men's failures – Will we allow God to work through us even though we may sometimes fail Him?

3. Finally, given the similarities in the original context and our own, ask, “What would

the biblical author wants us to take away as the message for us?”

We must have the faith of Abram (instead of his fear) and press on toward the goal of heaven itself. We must be a blessing to the others around us since we are “in Christ” where all spiritual blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3).

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