Bible Study
Sunday
School Lesson—April 3, 2005
www.bibleone.net
Why Study the Bible?
- God directs it—2 Timothy 2:15;
Colossians 3:16.
- It’s 100% dependable—1 Kings 8:56;
Psalm 111:7; Ezekiel 12:25; Luke 21:33.
- It is holy (pure), just, and good—Romans
7:12; Psalm 12:6; 18:30; 19:8; 119:140; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah
45:19.
- To avoid doctrinal errors—Matthew 22:29.
- It is necessary for personal
sanctification (spiritual growth)—John 17:17; 1 Peter 2:2.
- To gain wisdom—Psalm 19:7.
- It instructs in righteousness/good works—2
Timothy 3:16, 17.
- To know the truth about yourself—Hebrews
4:12.
- To renew your mind—Romans 12:1-3;
Proverbs 23:7; 1 Corinthians 2:16.
- To know the mind of God and Christ—Isaiah
55:7-9; Ephesians 4:13.
- To please God—2 John 4; 3 John 4.
- It promotes spiritual cleansing—Psalm
119:9; John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26, 27.
- To prevent sin in your life—Psalm
119:11; Philippians 2:14-16; Psalm 119:105, 130; 1 Corinthians
10:11.
- To avoid destruction (judgment from God)
in this life—Hosea 4:6.
- To increase your joy—Jeremiah 15:16.
- To strengthen your hope (confident
expectation)—Romans 15:4; 1 John 5:13.
- To defend against Satan—Ephesians 6:17.
- To discern and defend against false
doctrine—Hebrews 5:12-14; Ephesians 4:14; Titus 1:9.
- For prosperity and success—Joshua 1:8.
- It is necessary for witnessing—Mark
4:14-20.
Who is responsible for Bible study?
The individual believer alone is
responsible for studying and assimilating God’s Word—Acts 17:11.
How should Bible study be conducted?
- Only one Teacher—John 16:13; 1
Corinthians 2:10.
- Interpretation is necessary—2 Timothy
2:15.
- Faith is the foundation—John 6:35.
- Proven Rules of Bible study
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Take time (commitment)—Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2;
119:148.
ü
Study, don’t just read—2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:25.
ü
Don’t add or subtract—Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32.
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Exclude personal taboos.
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Bible helps are okay—Ephesians 4:11-14.
ü
Context (passage, book, Bible) is critical—the set of
circumstances and facts that surround a particular event or
situation (what precedes and follows it).
Why is context important?
Context is important primarily because words,
phrases, and ideas can have different meanings depending on their
context. There are many Hebrew/Greek words that have more than one
meaning, e.g., inheritance, salvation, eternal life, soul, death,
etc. Assuming that a word always means the same thing will lead to
confusion and doubts in Bible interpretation. Consider the word
“save” (Gk. sozo) in James 1:21; 2:14; 5:20.
What Bible helps are beneficial?
- Various commentaries, e.g., Believer’s
Bible Commentary by William MacDonald, and others by various
authors (Chuck Missler; Hal Lindsey; Robert Thieme; Jack Van
Impe; John F. Woolvoord; Clarence Larkin; etc.)
- Various theological works, e.g.,
Systematic Theology (8 volume set) by Lewis Sperry Chafer,
etc.
- Wycliffe Bible Dictionary
- Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
- The Complete Word Study Dictionary
(General Editor: Spiros Zodhiates)
- The Interlinear Bible by J. P.
Green, Sr.
- Various study Bibles, e.g., Scofield
Reference, Ryrie; Thompson Chain Reference; The Quest; The King
James, Key Word, etc. The Evidence Bible compiled by Ray
Comfort.
- Word Studies in the Greek New Testament
by Kenneth S. Wuest.
- Various other theme-books by a host of
authors (much can be obtained over the Internet); e.g., The
Reign of the Servant Kings by Joseph C. Dillow; The New
Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
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