What does it mean to 'study the Bible'?

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CharismaticLady

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Thanks, I'll start a list:

  • Reading the Bible

Let the Spirit teach what? What kind of things does the Spirit teach? How does the Spirit teach? Just by us reading?

When you read and get so familiar with what the Bible says, you can pick out preacher's false teachings. Also, there are verses that seem to contradict other verses. There can't be. The Spirit will make it clear why that is. The answers can be astounding.
 

post

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When you read and get so familiar with what the Bible says, you can pick out preacher's false teachings. Also, there are verses that seem to contradict other verses. There can't be. The Spirit will make it clear why that is. The answers can be astounding.

okay let me add it to the list this way:

  • Reading the scripture
  • Believing it
  • Praying for understanding of it
  • Delighting in it
  • Meditating on it
  • Finding Christ in the OT
  • Internalizing it
  • being taught by the Spirit through it


i want to be careful to point out how that clearly people read the Bible and are led by 'a spirit' to draw very strange, even blasphemous conclusions from it. don't you agree? false teachers and heretics don't generally just pull their heresies out of thin air, but justify them by distorting and perverting scripture.

how do we know that it is the Holy Spirit that is teaching a person something in scripture, rather than an evil one?
 
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post

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I had in mind comparing the Bereans searching the OT to confirm the Gospel they were hearing, with respondents online searching the Scriptures of both Testaments to confirm whether the material in forum threads is consistent with them.

ok; i understand -- i'm leaving 'find Christ in the OT' in the list tho, because that is literally what the Bereans were doing. also because, John 5:39, Luke 24:27 etc. the Hebrew scripture is testimony of Him.
but what you put is a good contribution, thanks! i will add it like this:


  • Reading the scripture
  • Believing it
  • Praying for understanding of it
  • Delighting in it
  • Meditating on it
  • Finding Christ in the OT
  • Internalizing it
  • being taught by the Holy Spirit through it
  • testing doctrine by it


is that good?
 

CharismaticLady

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okay let me add it to the list this way:

  • Reading the scripture
  • Believing it
  • Praying for understanding of it
  • Delighting in it
  • Meditating on it
  • Finding Christ in the OT
  • Internalizing it
  • being led by the Spirit in it


i want to be careful to point out how that clearly people read the Bible and are led by 'a spirit' to draw very strange, even blasphemous conclusions from it. don't you agree? false teachers and heretics don't generally just pull their heresies out of thin air, but justify them by distorting and perverting scripture.


how do we know that it is the Holy Spirit that is teaching a person something in scripture, rather than an evil one?

Scripture will interpret Scripture.
Always read in context. When I read the Bible, I read the whole book in one sitting. Like all of Romans, or all of Galatians, etc.
 
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post

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Literally it means to take in knowledge from it sir. The Bible states that it is alive and exerts power (Heb 4:12), I find this to be very true. Everyone who studies it will be affected by it's teachings, spurning most to make changes in their lives. For some of us drastic changes.

thanks -- i think what you've put, taking knowledge from it, is kind of already represented in the current list, "believe it"
as far as the latter part of your comment, i would consider 'applying the Bible to your life' to be kind of a separate category from 'studying the Bible'

i'm looking for, what does it mean to 'study the Bible' ?
when you 'study the Bible' what does that look like?

you know? like if i say, 'i was feeding the poor today' that isn't equivalent to 'i was studying the Bible today'
 

post

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Scripture will interpret Scripture.
Always read in context. When I read the Bible, I read the whole book in one sitting.

ok, thanks for the comment!
but i don't see anything here i can add to the list. tips for more efficient study aren't really the same as 'definition of study'

as an aside, yes, studying one verse or two isolated from context can be a mistak for sure. i find i need to read a whole lot more than one book at a time. the Bible is incredibly interconnected; no one book stands on its own separate from the rest of scripture - which is as you say, scripture interprets scripture. you can't just look at Revelation without having a good understanding of all the 65 books before it, for example =]
 

post

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Study to show yourself approved to God.....2 Timonthy 2 :15.

Study - use speed; to make an effort; be prompt or earnest.

Sounds like don't waste time, get on with it.

um, you're not saying 'to study the Bible' = speed-reading, are you??

lol

clearly putting in little or no effort doesn't qualify as 'study'
but describe the effort: what are the things a person does that legitimately count as 'studying the scripture' ?
 

GRACE ambassador

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ok; i understand -- i'm leaving 'find Christ in the OT' in the list tho, because that is literally what the Bereans were doing. also because, John 5:39, Luke 24:27 etc. the Hebrew scripture is testimony of Him.
but what you put is a good contribution, thanks! i will add it like this:


  • Reading the scripture
  • Believing it
  • Praying for understanding of it
  • Delighting in it
  • Meditating on it
  • Finding Christ in the OT
  • Internalizing it
  • being taught by the Holy Spirit through it
  • testing doctrine by it


is that good?
Precious friend, you have hit upon a Very Excellent Idea! Make a "study"
list first!! Then, Proceed!! Sure beats the hit and miss/haphazard ways!!!

Some of These are repeats, but this is my own "study" list, made
years after I first started:

Bible "study" Rules


(1) “Let ALL things be done Decently and In Order!”
(
1_Corinthians_14:40 KJB!)

(2) Study ALL Scripture Rightly Divided! :

Study to shew thyself Approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth!”
(
2_Timothy_2:15 KJB!)

(3) Never Ever add to, Or take away From, God’s PURE And Holy Word!
{ Including "God's Contexts!,"
[Prophecy] Rightly Divided from [MYSTERY!] }
(
Deuteronomy_4:2, 12:32; Proverbs_30:5-6; Revelation_22:18,19 KJB!)

(4) Be noble students :

These (in Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in
that they received The Word with all readiness of mind, and
searched The Scriptures daily, Whether Those Things Were So!”
(
Acts_17:11 KJB!)

(5) Build Sound Doctrine, God’s Way! :

(5a) “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept;
line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little!”
(
Isaiah 28:10 KJB!)

(5b) Find ALL Related Scriptures For A Specific doctrine! :

ALL Scripture Is Given By Inspiration Of God, And Is
Profitable For Doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness : that the man of God may
be perfect, throughly furnished unto ALL good works!”
(
2_Timothy_3:16-17 KJB!)

(5c) Compare ALL Related Scriptures to learn and know a
Specific doctrine! :

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s
wisdom teacheth, but Which The Holy Ghost Teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual!”
(
1_Corinthians_2:13 KJB!)
{Comparing Scripture With Scripture!}


Simplicity” in CHRIST! (2_Corinthians_11:3 KJB!) Amen?

(6) The Best "Interpretive" Commentary On The Bible Is :
The BIBLE Itself!


NEVER ever interpret The Many Plain Scriptures
by the "few" difficult verses, But, ALWAYS Always
Interpret
the few Obscure/Difficult/Dubious verses
By ALL Of The MANY Plain and Clear Passages Of
God’s Pure And Holy Word!
+
ONE Final Excellent Rule for Knowledgeable Bible study! :


(7) In order to Honor The Father And The SON (John_5:22-23 KJB!),
in Preparation For Judgment, Always keep {Uppermost} in mind:

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do,
do ALL to The Glory Of God!” (
1_Corinthians_10:31 KJB!)
-------------------------------
And then we ALL, who are "Called Into Fellowship With
God's SON, The LORD JESUS CHRIST" (
1_Corinthians_1:9 KJB!),
And,


"Endeavouring For The Unity Of God's Spirit In The Bond Of
PEACE!..." (
Ephesians_4:3 KJB!), can obey God's Exhortations! :

...speak...the things which become Sound Doctrine!”
(
Titus_2:1 cp "SAME mind And judgment!" 1_Corinthians_1:10 KJB!)
Amen?

Would the Results of following All of God’s Rules Above Be:

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in
love, and unto all Riches of the Full Assurance Of Understanding,
to the acknowledgement of The Mystery Of God
, and of the Father,
and of CHRIST!” (
Colossians_2:2 KJB!)?
---------------------

Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, and Edified!
God's Simple Will!
 
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CharismaticLady

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ok, thanks for the comment!
but i don't see anything here i can add to the list. tips for more efficient study aren't really the same as 'definition of study'

as an aside, yes, studying one verse or two isolated from context can be a mistak for sure. i find i need to read a whole lot more than one book at a time. the Bible is incredibly interconnected; no one book stands on its own separate from the rest of scripture - which is as you say, scripture interprets scripture. you can't just look at Revelation without having a good understanding of all the 65 books before it, for example =]

For instance, Paul's teaching on the difference between Law vs. Grace, meaning the power of the Spirit, not a cover-up of sin, is the first 8 chapters of Romans. I find many base a whole teaching on one of the middle chapters, like chapter 4, without taking into consideration the conclusion - chapter 8. And others take Romans 7:14-23 and believe that is about the Christian life! NO! It is someone under the Old Law, before Christ. That's how errors in doctrine get started.
 
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CharismaticLady

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Devil's put me through the wringer for the first part of the year. I tend to go underground when that happens. Sorry. I missed you, too.

Did you have Covid?

When I get depressed I stay home, but I tend to spend more time on here then.
 

post

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Submit to it.

If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God, or I am speaking from Myself. (John 7:17)

thanks!

Jesus here says that if anyone desires to do the will of God, they will know whether Jesus is speaking the truth or whether He's just giving human-originated opinions. so i think this is covered already in the list; "believe it" -- if we believe scripture, we know Christ is God, so we know what He teaches is the teaching of God.

as i said before 'doing the things taught in it' is not the same as 'studying it'
so while obviously there is no disagreement that the things taught in scripture should be followed, it's not something to add to the list..?

reposting the list of 'what does 'study the Bible' mean??' in its current form:


  • Reading the scripture
  • Believing it
  • Praying for understanding of it
  • Delighting in it
  • Meditating on it
  • Finding Christ in the OT
  • Internalizing it
  • being taught by the Holy Spirit through it
  • testing doctrine by it
 
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post

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Precious friend, you have hit upon a Very Excellent Idea! Make a "study"
list first!! Then, Proceed!! Sure beats the hit and miss/haphazard ways!!!

Some of These are repeats, but this is my own "study" list, made
years after I first started:

Bible "study" Rules


(1) “Let ALL things be done Decently and In Order!”
(
1_Corinthians_14:40 KJB!)

(2) Study ALL Scripture Rightly Divided! :

Study to shew thyself Approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth!”
(
2_Timothy_2:15 KJB!)

(3) Never Ever add to, Or take away From, God’s PURE And Holy Word!
{ Including "God's Contexts!,"
[Prophecy] Rightly Divided from [MYSTERY!] }
(
Deuteronomy_4:2, 12:32; Proverbs_30:5-6; Revelation_22:18,19 KJB!)

(4) Be noble students :

These (in Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in
that they received The Word with all readiness of mind, and
searched The Scriptures daily, Whether Those Things Were So!”
(
Acts_17:11 KJB!)

(5) Build Sound Doctrine, God’s Way! :

(5a) Find ALL Related Scriptures For A Specific doctrine! :

ALL Scripture Is Given By Inspiration Of God, And Is
Profitable For Doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness : that the man of God may
be perfect, throughly furnished unto ALL good works!”
(
2_Timothy_3:16-17 KJB!)

(5b) Compare ALL Related Scriptures to learn and know a
Specific doctrine! :

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s
wisdom teacheth, but Which The Holy Ghost Teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual!”
(
1_Corinthians_2:13 KJB!)
{Comparing Scripture With Scripture!}


Simplicity” in CHRIST! (2_Corinthians_11:3 KJB!) Amen?

(6) The Best "Interpretive" Commentary On The Bible Is :
The BIBLE Itself!


NEVER ever interpret The Many Plain Scriptures
by the "few" difficult verses, But, ALWAYS Always
Interpret
the few Obscure/Difficult/Dubious verses
By ALL Of The MANY Plain and Clear Passages Of
God’s Pure And Holy Word!
+
ONE Final Excellent Rule for Knowledgeable Bible study! :


(7) In order to Honor The Father And The SON (John_5:22-23 KJB!),
in Preparation For Judgment, Always keep {Uppermost} in mind:

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do,
do ALL to The Glory Of God!” (
1_Corinthians_10:31 KJB!)
-------------------------------
And then we ALL, who are "Called Into Fellowship With
God's SON, The LORD JESUS CHRIST" (
1_Corinthians_1:9 KJB!),
And,


"Endeavouring For The Unity Of God's Spirit In The Bond Of
PEACE!..." (
Ephesians_4:3 KJB!), can obey God's Exhortations! :

...speak...the things which become Sound Doctrine!”
(
Titus_2:1 cp "SAME mind And judgment!" 1_Corinthians_1:10 KJB!)
Amen?

Would the Results of following All of God’s Rules Above Be:

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in
love, and unto all Riches of the Full Assurance Of Understanding,
to the acknowledgement of The Mystery Of God
, and of the Father,
and of CHRIST!” (
Colossians_2:2 KJB!)?
---------------------

Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, and Edified!
God's Simple Will!
For instance, Paul's teaching on the difference between Law vs. Grace, meaning the power of the Spirit, not a cover-up of sin, is the first 8 chapters of Romans. I find many base a whole teaching on one of the middle chapters, like chapter 4, without taking into consideration the conclusion - chapter 8. And others take Romans 7:14-23 and believe that is about the Christian life! NO! It is someone under the Old Law, before Christ. That's how errors in doctrine get started.

thanks --

OK the two of you both communicated an idea that's not yet on the list, so i'm adding it:


  • Reading the scripture
  • Believing it
  • Praying for understanding of it
  • Delighting in it
  • Meditating on it
  • Finding Christ testified of in it
  • Internalizing it
  • being taught by the Holy Spirit through it
  • testing doctrine by it
  • taking all of it into consideration
 

BarneyFife

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thanks!

Jesus here says that if anyone desires to do the will of God, they will know whether Jesus is speaking the truth or whether He's just giving human-originated opinions. so i think this is covered already in the list; "believe it" -- if we believe scripture, we know Christ is God, so we know what He teaches is the teaching of God.

reposting the list of 'what does 'study the Bible' mean??' in its current form:


  • Reading the scripture
  • Believing it
  • Praying for understanding of it
  • Delighting in it
  • Meditating on it
  • Finding Christ in the OT
  • Internalizing it
  • being taught by the Holy Spirit through it
  • testing doctrine by it
I guess I just figured there was a difference between mental assent and submission. :)
 
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post

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I guess I just figured there was a difference between mental assent and submission. :)

well, there is, but as far as 'studying the Bible' for example i wouldn't think 'going two miles when someone compels you to go one' is 'Bible study' -- it's something different; it's carrying out what we learn from Bible study. just like having a class in college is different from going to work and applying what you learned in that class.

since it's the 'Bible study' forum, being the mathematician that i am i figured, hey, we need to define 'Bible study' =]
((us mathematicians are big on precise definitions and language))
 
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