I have met many fishermen in Guyana. These hardy men who old methods of fishing and lack any of the modern techniques we see on the boats that ply the waters of the Gulf. It is common to see scars in their hands where they have quickly reached into the water and snagged their finger on a large hook. One or two have scars from where they were bitten by the piranha that inhabit the waters. These men learn early that caution is required when fishing.

Likewise, caution is required when handling the word of God. The Bible is “sharper than any two edged sword” and is able to pierce deeply into the very soul of man (Hebrews 4:12; Acts 2:37). The word of God is also described as the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). This powerful sword is described as a weapon of God’s wrath (Revelation 2:16; 19:15. 21). The word of God is a powerful weapon. Therefore, we must handle it with the utmost care.

It is sad to hear “experts” pontificate on the supposed shortcomings of Scripture. They offer such unlearned, shallow arguments that it is a waste of time to listen to their ravings. They handle the word in a cavalier fashion and do great harm to many people. It is with these thoughts that we offer points of caution for your Bible study.

No One Knows Everything About the Bible

It is a paradox that the more I study, the less I seem to know. God’s word is extraordinarily deep. As a man looking at a pool of still water, he has no idea of how deep it is until he dives in. I am certain that this seeming paradox applies to all students of Scripture. [bctt tweet=”The more I study, the less I seem to know”]

You will never reach a point where you declare, “I am finished! I know it all!” The humility that comes from constant exposure to the word will prevent such arrogance. Therefore, we caution the student to always temper his enthusiasm with a strong dose of a humble heart. You do not and will not know it all. Job thought he knew far more than he really did. God taught him otherwise (Job 42:1-6).

Search the Whole Bible for Answers

Be cautioned against reaching conclusions based on an incomplete study of the Bible. A wise man once said that no study is complete until every passage on the topic has been read and researched. That is a massive undertaking.

Always study the Old Testament. I know that we live under the guidance and direction of the New Testament. The old things were nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14) but we must still search out the Old Testament too. It is undeniable that the New Testament cannot be fully understood or appreciated apart from the Old Testament. No one can plumb the depths of Hebrews with a knowledge of the old law. Search the whole Bible for your answers. [bctt tweet=”…the New Testament cannot be fully understood or appreciated apart from the Old Testament.”]

Trust No Man With Your Bible Studies

There are many helpful authors who produce excellent study materials. We try to do that here. But you must never entrust your soul to a man. It is far too precious. Ezekiel chapters 13 & 14 contain harsh rebukes to the prophets and leaders of ancient Israel. Jesus rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23.

Today, many false teachers abound. They are driven by an insatiable desire for money, power and influence. Use extreme caution when studying beyond the Bible itself. You do not need a preacher/minister/priest/reverend/rabbi to interpret the word for you. Do it yourself!

Be Prepared to be Wrong

No one wants to be wrong. But as a serious student of the Bible you must always entertain the idea that you are mistaken. Otherwise, you close your mind and grow into the arrogant person we mentioned before.

Abraham was wrong and tried to help God along by conceiving Ishmael as his son (Genesis 16:1ff) Job was wrong (Job 42:1-6). Saul was wrong (Acts 9:3-9); Peter was wrong (Galatians 2:11-14). You can be wrong too.

Do not confuse confidence and arrogance. Truth can be known (John 8:32). Live confidently in the truth of God’s word but always be prepared to be corrected. [bctt tweet=”Live confidently in the truth of God’s word but always be prepared to be corrected.”]

God’s word is rich. I sometimes tell my students at Faulkner University that their Bible classes are far more important than any science or math class. God’s word is the only truth that matters in eternity. Study and you will reap the rewards!

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @J_Bryant_Evans.

Let’s get down to work. Let’s take your Bible study topic and dig into a study of the word of God.

There are five questions that you should ask of every Bible text. Once you have the answers you are well on your way to a productive understanding of the Bible. There are more than five questions to ask but these provide a good starting point.

Who is speaking?

Are the words coming from an authoritative person? Not all Bible speakers are to be heeded. The best example comes from Job. Three friends and a fourth young man come to visit the beset Job. In turn, each offers advice to Job which has the ring of truth, yet they are rebuked by God near the end of the book (Job 42:7-9).

Job’s wife famously says, “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9). There is a great difference when we understand the words come from her and not Job himself. Indeed, had Job spoken these words the entire focus of the book would be different.

Once you have determined the speaker, jot it down in your notebook; it will help you understand what is being said.

To whom is he speaking?

It is important to know the person being addressed too. Consider the strong words of Jesus directed against the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. Compare those words to John 8 and the woman taken in adultery. Knowing the recipient of Jesus’ words helps us understand better.

In the prophets, one should always observe whether the prophet speaks to the northern kingdom, the southern kingdom or a non-Israelite kingdom. The words were tailored by God for each. The student must appreciate who the recipient is and the particulars of his situation.

What is the context of the passage?

You cannot understand a text unless you know and respect the context. The context is the purpose of the text. What is the writer talking about? Many stumble here. We find a passage that seems to say something supporting our thoughts and we latch on to it. But what if the passage is not talking about the same thing? [bctt tweet=”You cannot understand a text unless you know and respect the context.”]

A fine example is found in Matthew 24 as Jesus speaks of terrible future events. Many people have linked these events to his second coming and the end of time. Yet, Matthew 24:34 makes clear that he is not talking about the end of time but of events that will happen in the lives of the people listening to him. The context changes everything!

It is vital to know the context of Scripture as you study it.

What is the covenant or dispensation of the text?

The Bible can be broadly divided into dispensations or covenants under which God dealt with men. Today, we live under the Law of Christ. We live in the Christian era. God deals with us differently that he dealt with the Jews under the Law of Moses. Believers must “rightly divide” the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15).

Consider Leviticus 23 and the feasts ordered by God. These commands were given under the Law of Moses and were never intended for us today. Paul speaks strongly of the Mosaic law which he says was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Here we see that there a difference between laws for those under Moses and for us today.

What are the commands or imperatives?

Not every passage contains commands. Some are more descriptive in nature and some aim to encourage rather than instruct. But, we must always watch for commands that God has given the Christian.

If the Lord says to do something, we comply. As our study progresses we learn to seek out his commands and obey them (John 14:15). In time, as we mature in the faith, we seek principles which guide us in areas where there is no specific command.

These few thoughts should help get you started. You will discover more study ideas as you spend time in the word.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @J_Bryant_Evans.

You have created a workspace for study. You have your notebook at hand. The Bible lies before you. You have set your mind and heart to know God’s word. Now, where do you start? An instructor once told the class of preaching students that the hardest part of sermon preparation was figuring out what to preach on. It is the same for study. The Bible is so broad and covers so many topics that choosing a place to begin is a challenge. The good news, is that once you get started new topics seem to arise naturally from your studies. We will offer a few suggestions to help you begin.

Bible Study that Focuses on Your Own Needs

What is the current challenge in your life? Are you facing troubles at work? Is there an overbearing boss? Are there problems at home? Are children proving to be a challenge? Are conflicts with a spouse more frequent? Is there an illness or impending death that is pressing down on you? All of these, and more, are excellent starting points for study.

Using your concordance, you might begin by searching for words that describe your problem. For example, search on the word “child” or “children.” My concordance shows 511 instances of the word “children.” Review them and start to dig in.

Bible Study of Characters

The Bible presents a variety of people and shows both good and bad conduct. We can learn from the greats of faith but we also can learn from the villains in the Bible. The most important Bible character is Jesus. It would be useful to narrow down such a study to one aspect of His life. You might study Jesus in prophecy; you could study the miracles of Jesus. Of course, his personal teachings found in the gospels would be very valuable.

It could be that you hear a Bible person mentioned and you realize you know almost nothing about him. What a great place to start. Again, go to your concordance and search on the name. From there, examine the person’s life and take note of things they did that were both pleasing and angering to God. What did they do that brought blessings? Are there things you can do to imitate the good in their lives (1 Corinthians 11:1)? Almost as important is identifying their failures. Ask probing questions of the Bible text. Why did they fail? What led up to their sin? How could that sin have been prevented? You will find a near unending series of studies as you look at Bible characters.

Bible Study of Topics

Studies of particular topics in the Bible is rewarding. When you hear someone say that events in the Middle East are signs of the coming of Christ, go and study what the Bible actually says about His return and the so-called Rapture. What about politics? Should Christians involve themselves in partisan in-fighting? Should we support candidates? Which candidates? The Bible is your source for instruction and teaching.

The most important topic is salvation. In Acts 16:30 the jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved” (Acts 16:30). It is a question we must all ask of God.

There is one warning for topical studies. Many people, including me, have written on many Bible topics. It might be useful to consult our studies. But, let the Bible speak. No preacher, teacher or scholar is worthy of entrusting your soul to them. You are responsible. Do you own study!

Bible Studies of Specific Books

In some ways it might be easier to simply pick a book and begin studying from chapter 1, verse 1. Such studies will cause you to study subjects you might not have thought of. You could begin with the Gospel of John and work all the way through to the end. Along the way stop and study unfamiliar words. If two translations differ on a word, pause and ask why. Translation differences offer a fine “hook” for further study.

Some books are more difficult than others. Apocalyptic books like Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation are very challenging. Romans is perhaps Paul’s most theological book. It is not impossible to study but it will require considerable devotion. Hebrews really necessitates some understanding of the Old Testament and the Levitical priesthood. I do not suggest you avoid these books. Just know that they are challenging.

This little article does not claim to be complete. You will find new and different venues for your study. The important thought here is to study something! Be in the word so that the word will be in you.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @J_Bryant_Evans.