How to Study the Bible

Before we decide what the Bible teaches, we first need to learn how to read it correctly. Every reader brings assumptions to the text, but our goal is to let the biblical authors speak for themselves.

These studies are designed to help you understand Scripture in its context before drawing conclusions. We'll examine the author's purpose, different kinds of biblical literature, and the principles that allow the Bible to explain itself.

By the time you finish this section, you'll have a solid foundation for studying every other topic on this website.

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Studies in This Series

  1. Why Does the Way We Read the Bible Matter?

  2. What Is Context?

  3. What Did the Author Intend?

  4. How Does the Bible Interpret Itself?

  5. How Do We Recognize Different Kinds of Bible Literature?

  6. How Do We Build Sound Doctrine?

  7. Putting It All Together

Holding myself accountable

Can Satan Quote Scripture

  1. Bible Numbers 1

  2. Bible Numbers 2

  3. Bible Numbers 3

  4. Bible Numbers 4

From “the Way” to the whole world

HOW EARLY CAN TRADITION BE—AND STILL BE WRONG?

ARE ISRAEL'S SEVEN FEASTS A PROPHETIC TIMETABLE?

  1. ARE ISRAEL'S SEVEN FEASTS A PROPHETIC TIMETABLE?

  2. “NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR THE HOUR”‍ ‍

  3. WHAT DID PAUL MEAN BY THE LAST TRUMPET?

  4. WHEN WAS JESUS CROWNED KING?

  5. WERE ISRAEL’S FEASTS SHADOWS OR FUTURE PROPHECIES

WHEN BIBLE STUDY BECOMES FINDING WHAT YOU WANT TO FIND

THE BIBLE AND LOGIC

DOES THAT CONCLUSION REALLY FOLLOW? Learning to Think Logically When Studying the Bible

  1. Can Two True Statements Prove Something False? Premises, conclusions, valid and invalid reasoning.

  2. What Makes an Argument Sound? The difference between valid reasoning and true premises.

  3. When Does a Conclusion Go Too Far? Claims that exceed what Scripture establishes.

  4. Does the Same Word Always Mean the Same Thing? Equivocation, word meanings, and context.

  5. Does One Thing Really Cause Another? False causes and mistaken connections.

  6. Who Said It—or Can You Prove It? Authorities, scholars, tradition, and evidence.

  7. Are We Assuming What We're Trying to Prove? Circular reasoning and begging the question.

  8. Does the Bible's Silence Prove Anything? Arguments from silence and the limits of evidence.

  9. Is It Necessary—or Just Sufficient? Conditions, commands, and what actually follows.

  10. How Can We Test a Bible Teacher's Conclusion? A practical checklist applying all nine lessons

CAN A BIBLE ARGUMENT SOUND RIGHT—AND STILL BE WRONG?

CAN A WORD'S ORIGINAL MEANING LEAD US TO A WRONG CONCLUSION?

CAN BIBLE NUMBERS BE USED TO PREDICT THE FUTURE?

These studies are designed to help you understand Scripture in its context before drawing conclusions. We'll examine the author's purpose, different kinds of biblical literature, and the principles that allow the Bible to explain itself. Along the way, we'll put these principles to work on actual Bible passages and see what can happen when they are ignored.