Helping ordinary people learn to study the Bible
In his excellent (and free!) ebook on Bible study, Denis Haack lists six reasons why many people never learn how to study the Bible:
Please don’t let these reasons become excuses for you to miss out on receiving God’s Knowable Word!
“The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.” – C.S. Lewis
“Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable.” – Mark Twain
“I don’t think marriage is a civil right, but I think that being able to transfer property is a civil right.” – Barack Obama
The quotes above, regardless of whether you agree with them or not, have this in common: they are all statements of contrast. (We’ve written about other examples of contrasts in an earlier post.) Contrasts are very helpful at emphasizing the difference between two things. That is, each side of a contrast can contain some observation that is useful, but when compared against one another, their differences are highlighted. This is very useful in determining the main point of the speaker/author.
We use contrasts all the time in our daily speech and the Scriptures are chock full of them. One sure-fire way to spot a contrast is to look for the word, “but”. That’s not the only way to find contrasts, but it’s a good starting point. (Did you notice that contrast right there?)
Consider these texts and how the contrasts emphasize the statements:
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” (Proverbs 31:28-29 ESV, emphasis mine)
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. (Romans 4:13-16 ESV, emphasis mine)
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18 ESV, emphasis mine)
The three examples above are from Proverbs, Romans and the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). All three of those sections of Scripture make frequent use of contrasts. Why not go through a chapter or two of those sections to see how many contrasts you can pick out, and what it tells us about God, men, sin and salvation? It will be well worth your time!
A few days ago, I outlined the OIA method of Bible study that we follow. In short, it stands for Observation, Interpreation, and Application.
I’ve already made one audacious claim: that everyone has a Bible study method. Today I’d like to make another: that OIA is the best method one can use to study the Bible. Let me support this claim with three reasons.
It can be taught to PhDs and other “professionals” and get quite complex and profound. It can be taught to 3 year olds just learning to talk. Anyone in between can use this method to great profit, understanding the main ideas of what God has communicated and becoming more like Christ as a result.
OIA is nothing new or innovative. It is simply an attempt to outline the steps by which any human being communicates with another human being (observing what was communicated, interpreting the meaning, and responding appropriately). God made communication to work this way, so of course the Bible works the same way.
Let me illustrate. If I met you on the street, you might observe me walk up to you, smile, and stick out my hand. You would interpret that I mean you no harm and simply want to greet you. You would apply the gesture by reaching out your own hand, taking my hand with yours, and saying “hello” or some similar sentiment. Communication has now taken place.
Let’s say I ask you a question. You might observe the raised inflection at the end of my sentence (the question mark), a resultant silence, and raised eyebrows on my face. You would interpret these signs to mean that I want you to answer the question. You would apply the interaction by answering the question, frowning in thought, holding up a finger to request more time, or running away in terror.
We simply cannot escape OIA. We do it all the time. We should employ it when we study God’s Knowable Word.
Jesus is the Lord (Phil 2:11) and the author of Scripture (1 Peter 1:11). We should learn from him how to read Scripture.
Look at Matthew 21:42-44 as an example. Notice how Jesus observes the Old Testament text in verse 42, interprets it in verse 44, and applies it in verse 43 (implying that his listeners should believe the truth and make some changes in their lives).
Jesus often references Scripture, giving us a window into his understanding of it, but he rarely is as clear as in Matt 21:42-44. Usually, he assumes or implies the Interpretation, and states the Observation and Application explicitly (for example, see Matt 13:10-17 or Mark 12:35-37). One place where he Observes and Interprets but doesn’t explicitly Apply is Luke 4:17-21.
In suggesting that OIA is the best method to use, I’m not saying that there’s an easy one-size-fits-all way of plugging every text through an equation. I’m merely saying that we have a valuable and clear way by which we can understand what God is communicating in his Word. Our study of the Bible is not arbitrary.
Ryk Neethling (2011), Creative Commons
I’ve argued that everyone has a Bible study method, whether conscious or unconscious. So here’s mine.
The acronym OIA summarizes the method:
You can restate these three steps as what? why? and so what? Or again, as what did the original author say? What did that mean to the original audience? And what does it mean in our context?
Knowable Word did not invent this method. It’s an old, old method. Seminaries call it the “historical-grammatical method of Bible interpretation,” but that title can be big and scary to most people. Some more popular treatments call it the “inductive Bible study method,” but I think that’s an unfortunate misuse of the wonderful term “inductive” from the realm of logic. So I prefer to call it simply “OIA.”
The wonder of the OIA method is that it allows the text to speak to us, rather than reading our own meaning into the text. The beauty of the OIA method is that it can be taught at seminary and get very, very deep, or it can be taught to the youngest children, enabling them as well to know the Lord in his Word.
I’ve explained the method in more detail in other posts, but for this summary, note what happens if we miss any part of it.
If we neglect good observation of what the text says, we have no true foundation upon which to know Christ. We have great intentions, but in all the wrong directions. We’re the people who failed to observe which weekend was the daylight savings time switch, and we show up to church an hour off from everyone else. An example of poor observation of Scripture is found in Luke 24:25-27.
If we neglect good interpretation of what the text means, we might not know whether what we believe or do is biblical or not. We might be honoring the Lord, or we might not be. We won’t be certain until we meet him face to face. A good example of poor interpretation of Scripture is found in Mark 12:24.
If we neglect good application of how we ought to change, we are like foolish builders founding a home upon sand. We are to be pitied. We give lip service to Christ, but our hearts are far from him (Matthew 15:8-9). God wants to make us more like Jesus (Rom 8:29), and he won’t rest until his Word accomplishes that purpose (Isaiah 55:10-11).
For much more detail on the OIA method see my How to Study the Bible series of posts.
This week marked a significant milestone for me: the first time since 1994 that I’ve gotten to follow the Olympic games with any regularity.
I love the drama. Ryan Lochte wins gold in the Men’s 400 meter individual medley, but Michael Phelps fails to medal in the event. Phelps goes on, however, to win more medals and become the most decorated Olympian in history. The USA women’s gymnastics team wins gold, but reigning world champion Jordyn Wieber fails to advance to the all-around competition. Four badminton teams are thrown out of the games for throwing their games. A Korean archer with poor eyesight helps his team win bronze. 22-year-old Kayla Harrison overcomes a history of sexual abuse by a previous coach and wins the first ever US gold medal in judo.
The drama is inspiring, but also challenging. Why isn’t our study of God’s Knowable Word equally inspiring?
Why is it that we’d often rather do anything other than read God’s Word? When we do read it, why does it feel like such a chore? When we get together in groups to discuss the unbreakable Scripture, why can’t we think of anything to talk about? Why can church seem routine and lifeless? Where is the drama that inspired a generation to turn the world upside-down (Acts 17:6)?
God has revealed his Son to us through the Bible written by his Spirit. In the Bible He lets us in on what he’s thinking. He tells us what to expect about the future. He fills in the back story to our existence. He advises us about how life works best. His Word is the most influential book in history. How can we recapture the drama?
Here are some ideas:
The Olympics are exciting, and I can’t wait to see what will happen over the next week. But the glory of men will wither; does anyone even remember the medalists from 1994 anymore? God’s Knowable Word will remain forever (1 Peter 1:24-25).
On Monday and Tuesday, we examined Solomon’s third purpose for writing the book of Proverbs and sought to apply it. How did I get to those specific applications?
Whenever we study a passage of the Bible, I find it helpful to think in the three categories of Head, Hands, and Heart. Each of these categories represents a way in which I can respond to a text.
Head applications identify ways I need to believe what is true. They help me to identify false beliefs so I can repent of them and choose to adopt God’s perspective. Examples are “God is more powerful than my enemies,” “Jesus is God and became a man to die for my sins,” or “God wants his people to be part of a church.”
Hands applications identify ways I can act upon what is true. They help me to identify ungodly behaviors so I can repent of them and live in obedience to God’s will. Examples are “I shouldn’t gossip about or attack my enemies,” “I can take steps to get to know my neighbors better and reach out to them,” or “I should join a good church and get involved in the community there.”
Heart application identify ways I must become more like Jesus. They help me to identify wicked or foolish desires so I can repent of them and develop more Christ-like character. Examples are “I must love my enemies as Christ did for me,” “I can trust other people because Jesus knows what it’s like to be misunderstood,” or “I must stop trusting in myself and instead find ways to serve others.”
The first three purposes of Proverbs correspond to these three areas. Solomon wants us to know wisdom (head), do it (hands), and always improve at both knowing and doing (heart).
When you read and study the Bible, are you growing in all three areas?
Don’t fall into the trap of overly theological (head), ethical (hands), or pietistic (heart) reading of Scripture. Keep a good balance of all three, and see how much God will do in your life through his Knowable Word!
And don’t feel like you have rely on yourself alone to grow as a Christian. Join a Bible study, or get more involved at your church! Others can help you in all three areas in ways you never expected.
I’ve been blogging for a few months now, talking a lot about different principles of Bible study. Look out for this, pay attention to that, consider these things, etc. Today I’d like to show my cards a bit by revealing a shocking truth: I follow a Bible study method.
A method? Yes, a method. How do you respond to that word?
Does it make you nervous or is it a relief? Does it make you feel like a piece of cookie dough jammed onto the tray or does it give you hope?
Whatever your reaction toward the idea of a method, I’m writing to propose that, like it or not, everyone has a method for Bible study.
Some methods are unintentional and informal. For example:
Other methods, however, are quite intentional and formal. For example:
My point is this: everyone who reads the Bible has a method for studying the Bible. What is your usual method? Are you even conscious of how you study the Bible?
My secondary point is this: not every method is a good method. In other words, many methods do not result in correct interpretation. If, as we believe, the Bible is God’s Word to us, shouldn’t we make sure we understand it?
In future posts, I’ll lay out my method more explicitly.
Not long ago, I posted a number of reasons for why we study the Bible. They came down basically to the fact that understanding the Bible accurately enables us to know Christ better and find life in him.
Desiring God just posted a short video interview with D. A. Carson, where he covers similar ground.
You read it here. Now go listen to the man who’s been doing it faithfully for many decades. Learn from his example and draw near to God as you study his knowable word.
Recently, I came across this funny skit from a church out in Oregon. While definitely a caricature, it does well to make a good point: Translation is both difficult and important.
When it comes to the Bible, most of us rely on one of the many English translations available. While many Christians describe themselves as “bible believing,” in my experience few Christians have considered whether what they are reading is a true representation of what was originally said.
The following are two less comical examples of the theological implications that can result from translation errors:
Exinde coepit Iesus praedicare et dicere paenitentiam agite adpropinquavit enim regnum caelorum.
A literal English translation of this would be “Then Jesus began to preach and say: ‘do penance (paenitentiam agite) for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.’”
It would be reasonable for a skilled bible study leader to assume that Jesus preaches penance. Perhaps Christianity is about responding to God’s kingdom by making use of the penitential system of the church? (Your church has one, right?) The most accurate translation of the Greek text of Matthew’s gospel however would likely be “repent”, not “do penance.”
et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit ave gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus
In English, a fair translation would be: “And the angel went in and said to her, “Hail, one that is full of grace (ave gratia plena) the Lord is with you, blessed are you.”
Even the very best OIA leads one to understand that Mary was a vessel who was full of God’s grace. Perhaps grace is a substance, and one can get access to God’s grace through Mary? These ideas actually became popular in the Medieval church, until scholars established that a faithful translation of the Greek refers to Mary as “One who has found favor.”
Your bible translation matters very practically.
The ideas we talk about here at Knowable Word—interpretation, context, the author’s main point—underlie all forms of communication. They don’t often bubble to the surface in our culture’s mass media, however.
This morning, they did. On NPR’s Morning Edition program, a story by Ari Shapiro called Does Truth Matter? began with the common observation that politicians tend to quote their opponents out of context. More interestingly, Shapiro went on to explore whether there’s any use in talking about what the misquoted politician actually meant.
The story provides a secular perspective on some of the key ideas we talk about here, so you might want to check it out.
