Do you ever feel stuck in your Bible study? In our previous lesson, we explored how to begin studying your Bible. But maybe you’ve begun well, and you’ve read the Bible on a surface level for a while, and you now want to dig deeper. Perhaps you’re frustrated with hearing the same things about the Bible over and over and want to learn more in God’s word. Here are six tips to help take your Bible study deeper.
1. Accept that Bible Study Is Work
God wants you to spend time with His word in multiple ways; reading Scripture is good (1 Timothy 4:13), and meditating on Scripture is valuable (Psalm 1:2). But like the difference between reading a fiction novel and studying a textbook for a test, the amount of effort and work sets Bible study apart. Studying the Bible often challenges us, and the habit can’t always be romanticized. The Bereans in Acts 17:11 searched the Scriptures daily, meaning they engaged in an ongoing, careful study to learn the truth. Paul told Timothy:
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
Paul also said that understanding God’s will requires us to make the most of our time (Ephesians 5:15–17). Studying God’s word deserves our time, focus, care, and diligence. If I want to take my study deeper, I must accept the task of working to understand Scripture at that level.
2. Develop the Qualities of a Seeker
We study the Bible to seek God’s truth. Five qualities fit the character of a seeker.
- Develop curiosity. A seeker wants to learn more and finds new details interesting and relevant.
- Develop accountability. A seeker willingly listens to other people’s ideas—both humbly and critically.
- Develop integrity. A seeker cares about coming to the right conclusions. Truth matters more than what fits where they are or what fits where they want to go.
- Develop adaptability. A seeker stays open-minded, being willing to change their mind if they discover new information.
- Develop certainty. When a seeker finds solid truth, they believe it wholeheartedly and hold fast to it—not forever questioning, but always learning.
Develop the qualities of a seeker in your Bible study.
3. Ask Helpful Questions
If you simplify it, studying the Bible really just means asking questions and knowing how to discover the answers. Deeper Bible study requires asking deeper questions. Some may be difficult to answer, and different questions will force you to think in different ways. That’s helpful! Use questions that challenge you and propel your learning. Here are several questions to ask when you study.
- Who was the human author of this book?
- Who was the intended original audience?
- What is the main idea or central argument of this book? What themes support that idea throughout the book?
- How does this passage relate to the book as a whole?
- How would the original audience have understood this passage? (Importantly, I must ask this before I ask what the passage means to me.)
- What assumptions or preconceived notions am I bringing to this passage which I should lay aside?
- What difficulties or uncertainties in the passage do I need to figure out?
- What is the author’s main idea or central argument in this passage?
- Why did the author include this passage in the book?
- How does this passage relate to the immediate context around it?
- How does each paragraph, sentence, and phrase support the author’s point?
- What are the most significant words in this passage? Which words require definition, clarification, or deeper examination?
- What are all the possibilities for this passage’s interpretation?
- What do I still not know about this passage that I need to find out?
- How does this passage relate to the rest of Scripture?
This may seem like a lot, but asking all of these questions will take your study to the next level.
4. Be Ready To Research
The Bible was not written in a vacuum. That is, the biblical writers acknowledged and interacted with the world and cultures around them. Additionally, we are now far removed from the times and situations in which God’s word was written. What does this mean? Sometimes, we need additional information adjacent to Scripture in order to fully understand what the Bible means in its context. The Bible teaches us everything we need to know about God and His will (see 2 Timothy 3:16–17), but thorough study of the Bible often involves doing research using additional resources.
Research the texts and translations of the Bible. The Bible was originally written in three ancient languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Over the past few millennia, God’s word has been incredibly preserved, copied, and translated. Yet while men have done extensive work to help us access Scripture in modern times, those processes of copying and translating naturally include some human error. The Bible maintains amazing accuracy and consistency by any honest standard, but textual variants do exist among biblical manuscripts, and even trustworthy translations don’t claim perfection. While not everyone has the time or resources to become an expert in textual criticism or master biblical languages, simple research can help you deal with most basic issues as they arise. And how thankful we should be for the ability to know God’s word confidently in modern times and languages!
Research the historical and cultural backgrounds of the Bible. In Scripture, you will find numerous historical figures—like multiple Pharaohs in Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Tiberius Caesar, and many more. Researching basic history will help you understand who they are and how they relate to the biblical text. Also, every book and letter of the Bible interacts with the culture around it to some degree. Paul quotes two Greek poets in Acts 17; he also references aspects of Greco-Roman society in 1 Corinthians and his other letters. Both Peter and Jude reference extrabiblical Jewish literature. John addresses the developing ideas of Gnosticism (an early Christian heresy) in his writings. You can learn much by reading the Bible on its own, but like we mentioned earlier, studying requires greater effort and research.
5. Analyze From Multiple Angles
A wealth of meaning exists in the biblical text for us to dig out, and approaching the text in multiple ways allows us to discover more. Here are five methods of analysis to consider when studying a biblical passage.
Do a literary analysis of the passage. The Bible contains different kinds of literature: narrative, poetry, prophecy, letters, and more specific categories. Consider the literary features of the passage in your study. In a narrative, examine the plot type, story arc, characters, conflict, and storytelling devices. In poetry, consider how the biblical author uses figurative language—like metaphors or hyperboles—to paint a vivid picture, or how they express emotions, especially in the Psalms. In prophecy, consider the societal issues which the prophet addresses, and notice how they call for a response to God. In letters (also known as epistles), examine the situation and purpose of writing, and don’t skip over the greetings, prayers, and personal notes. Various biblical books also employ epic, legal, dramatic, biographical, or apocalyptic literature.
Do a linguistic analysis of the passage. Study the wording used. According to Proverbs 30:5–6, every word of God is pure, sacred, and important. What do the words mean, and why does the author use those words? If synonyms exist, ask why the author chose (or the Holy Spirit inspired) that particular word instead of the other options. Look for patterns in the language of a biblical book, like repetition, word chains, or word clusters. How does the author use a given word throughout his writings? How do other biblical writers use that language? And what do you learn from the similarities and differences in the use of language? Also, consider how the grammar of a passage affects its meaning. For example, Jesus examined verb tenses in His Bible study (see Matthew 22:31–32), and Paul examined whether nouns were singular or plural (see Galatians 3:16).
Do a thematic analysis of the passage. Compare related words and ideas, looking for patterns and connections. When you identify themes in the text, consider what those themes mean and why the author emphasized them. You also want to find the main idea of the passage you’re studying. While a text may contain many themes, look for the predominant one that governs the whole. Finding the author’s primary purpose and thought in a passage will help you interpret each part of the text appropriately.
Do a rhetorical analysis of the passage. What central argument is the author making? What audience is the author addressing—who is he trying to convince? What points does the author make to support his argument logically and persuasively? Is the order of ideas important? How does the author develop his argument throughout the text? Also, consider any rhetorical devices the author uses, such as rhetorical questions, hypothetical situations, repetition, foreshadowing, or irony.
Do a theological analysis of the passage. Examine what the text communicates about God: who He is, what He is like, and what He wants. How should the text impact your relationship with God? Does it communicate how God treats you, or how you know and treat God? Do you learn anything specifically about Jesus or the Holy Spirit in the passage you’re studying? Then, connect the text to theological concepts. Consider how it relates to salvation, covenant, or the church. Think about how the text impacts your general framework for understanding God, Scripture, the world, and your life.
6. See the Bigger Picture
If you follow our steps to this point, you will collect many details regarding the biblical text you’re studying—it might even cause an information overload. But to really help your Bible study go deeper and make a difference in your life, avoid getting lost in the details. Conclude your study by bringing it all together into a bigger picture. All your analysis in Bible study should lead to synthesis at the end.
Think of studying the Bible as doing a puzzle. Just reading the Bible is like taking the pieces out of the box. To put the puzzle together, you need to analyze each piece on its own and examine how it fits those around it. But the real joy and prize comes when you see the whole picture at the end. By studying the Bible, we can put together an accurate picture of who God is and a complete picture of His will for us. And the real benefit comes when your life reflects that picture from day to day.
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25
An easy way to help with organization and application of Bible study is to pray what you’ve learned back to God. Any attributes you learned of God, praise Him for them in prayer. Any application the text requires, ask God to help you put it into practice. Any truths that stand out from your study, pray for boldness to teach them to others. Express to God your desire to keep studying, your heart to accept His truth, and your willingness to put forth the effort. And always thank God for the opportunity to study His word!