Understanding
your Bible.

Let's use John 3:1-3;6 as an example:

John (Book) 3: (Chapter) 1-3 (Verses 1 through 3) ;6 (verse 6)

Figure 2

Who Wrote The Bible?

The simplest way to explain this subject is that the Bible was dually authored. This means that it was authored by God and man. More specifically, it was written by humans but inspired and directed by God.

How Much Authority Should I Give The Bible In My Life?

As Christians, we believe the word of God is inspired by God Himself, which gives ultimate authority and direction to the believer in his or her pursuit of a Christ-centered life. We should hold the Bible with the highest regard in our lives and learn to understand and apply it in our lives, giving us direction in our understanding of God's will for our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Types Of Study Methods.

There are many suggestions on how to read your Bible, but here are some of the most helpful as you begin. Please understand there are many Bible study methods; these are just a few of many ways.

• S.O.A.P.

  1. 1.Scripture - Read & write out the verse or passage you're studying.
  2. 2.Observation - What does the text say? Note the facts, context, and what stands out without interpretation yet.
  3. 3.Application - What does this mean for your life? How does it apply to where you are right now?
  4. 4.Prayer - Respond to God based on what you read and what He showed you.

• OICA+(M) Methodology of Bible Study

  1. 1.Observation - What is being said?
  2. 2.Interpretation - What does this mean?
  3. 3.Correlation - How does this connect to the Bible overall?
  4. 4.Application - How do I apply this to my life?
  5. 5.Meditation - Reflection on what you read.

Helpful Tips.

1) Pray. Before you read, allow your mind and spirit to get focused on what you are about to read, and ask for help from God, who is a good God, who wants you to understand His word deeper to help form and shape you more into His likeness.

2) Historical Context. It's important to take into consideration that the Bible was not written today; it was written several thousand years ago, and it's important to remember which audience the text was speaking to. Also, it's key to understand the historical references or people that the scripture is speaking about. Even though some verses might be talking about historical events, we can see God in the midst of how He has worked in the past and be able to pull lessons, wisdom, and greater understanding from scripture.

3) Metaphoric and/or Exaggerated Language. For example, Matthew 5:29 says, "If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." This verse is not literal in the sense of plucking your eye out, but a command to remove things in your life that cause you to stumble in your faith.

4) Translation Type. What Bible should I choose? There are many versions of the Bible to choose from, especially in the English language. If you walk into a Christian bookstore, you might be a little overwhelmed.

There is also a consensus on how translations are categorized, which includes 3 types. Please note this visual is just to help you to understand how translations are roughly categorized.

Take some time to start looking into which Bible would be best for you specifically.

Helpful Tips:

1) Take one verse, for example, like Matthew 11:28, and read it in several different translations. Try using www.biblegateway.com to explore different translations of the Bible and see what best suits your specific preference.

2) Not only are there many versions/translations, but there are different themes. For example, some themes you might see are men's, women's, devotional, sports, theological, archeological, etc. It is encouraged to get some type of "study bible" (regardless of the theme) because it will help you to understand deeper theological insights in your reading.