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PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY -
PBS
1. PBS - Definition:
Studying involves hard
work and deep understanding of the text. Studying is the discipline and
purposeful application of the mind to acquire and retain knowledge. Bible study
is finding out the meaning of a particular Biblical passage, understanding the
text as its author explains it for personal application.
2. Five ways of knowing
Bible:
-
Hearing
(Retaining Power 30%)
-
Reading
( Retaining Power 40%)
-
Meditation ( Retaining Power 50%)
-
Studying
(Retaining Power about 80%)
-
Memorising (Retaining Power about 90%)
3. Purpose of PBS
-
To grow
in spiritual life
-
To grow
in the knowledge of God and His will
-
To
understand the Biblical truths in a proper way
-
To meet
the spiritual needs of others
-
To
overcome false teaching and cults
4. Preparation for PBS:
4.1 Qualification
(Essential)
-
A new heart -
I Cor
2:14
-
A Hungry heart - I
Peter 2:3
-
An obedient heart -
Psalms 119: 98-100
-
A Teachable heart -
Isa 50:4
4.2
Tools for PBS
-
Bible in mother
tongue
-
Different versions of
the Bible (Viz., KJV (1611); NKJV; NASB; TEV; NEB; LB; Parapharse; NIV; J.B.
Philips; Catholic versions etc., - I John 3: 6,9
-
Language Dictionary
-
Note Book or file
-
Bible Dictionary
-
Bible Handbook, Atlas
etc.,
-
Bible concordance
5.0 Three
steps of Inductive Bible Study:
OBSERVATION:
Noting down what is said in the text, not form our memory or sentiment or
fantasy. It means act of recognising and noting down facts. It is to find out
“WHAT DOES THE PASSAGE REALLY SAY?”
INTERPRETATION:
Determining the meaning of the observed facts to see what the author wanted his
then readers to understand. It is to understand “WHAT
DOES THE PASSAGE REALLY MEAN TO THE PEOPLE THEN?”
APPLICATION:
Personally accepting and actively responding now to the truth learned. It is to
know “WHAT DOES THE PASSAGE REALLY MEAN TODAY TO ME?”
6.0 OBSERVATION:
6.1 Points to ponder in
Observation:
-
The Literary
form (Narrative, discourse, poetry,
Apocalyptic)
-
Repeated words &
phrases (Mt. 28:18-20; Lk.12:16-21; Rom. 7:7-25; law, sin, death, good)
-
Time words
(after, then, immediately, the next day)
-
Place words
(sea of Galilee Mk. 1:1-20, Judea)
-
Comparisons /
Contrasts (I Jn. 3:10; Eph. 4:9; Eph. 5:8-16; 2:1-2)
-
Related
entitles (Mt. 10:8)
-
Unknown words and
phrases (Lk. 15:1-7; Pharisee, parable)
-
Connectives
and linking words (so, then, but, for,
therefore, now, since, because, as )
-
Figurative
expressions (Mk. 1:17, Fishers, 7 sandals; Mk. 2:17, doctor, sickman, v19 -
Bridegroom, lion, bearing fruit; I Cor.3:16 Temple of God; I Peter 2:2, New
born babies, metaphor; similie
-
Grammatical
elements (Noun, Verbs, Adverbs)
-
Mood: Praise,
despair, hope, warning, encouragement.
6.2
Seven Fact Finding Questions:
-
What ?
Event, incident and argument
-
Who?
People
-
When?
Time
-
Where?
Place
-
Why?
Reason or purpose
-
How?
Method and manner
-
So?
Result
7.0 INTERPRETATION
The main purpose of
interpretation is to know what God / the author has in his mind; What did those
facts mean to those people who were living then is the objective of this step.
PRINCIPLES OF
INTERPRETATION:
-
Interpret according
to context. con-with text - passage; What comes after the passage and what has
gone before.
-
Interpret according
to the right meaning of the word
-
Interpret according
to the plan and purpose of the author
-
Interpret according
to the historical, Geographical, cultural, social and religious background.
The first and primary meaning of the passage is what it meant in its
historical and cultural context, i.e., what people living then ought to have
understood.
-
Interpret according
to the whole purpose of the Bible. Compare Scripture with Scripture.
-
Interpret according
to the grammar Tense, verbs, nouns, etc.
8.0 APPLICATION:
Real goal of Bible
Study is to live a life which would glorify God. Bible learning is not for human
knowledge. Our response can be expressed in different ways.
-
By obeying God’s
commands and prohibitions; some thing we ought to do and something we are not
to do in O.T; some are historical for that time and some are timeless.
-
By claiming His
promises and avoiding His threats (conditional and Unconditional promises)
-
By learning from good
and bad Bible Characters.
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