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    Discover the Bible for Yourself: *Helpful introductions to every book *Practical approaches for study *Applications for everyday life
    Discover the Bible for Yourself: *Helpful introductions to every book *Practical approaches for study *Applications for everyday life
    Discover the Bible for Yourself: *Helpful introductions to every book *Practical approaches for study *Applications for everyday life
    Ebook615 pages6 hours

    Discover the Bible for Yourself: *Helpful introductions to every book *Practical approaches for study *Applications for everyday life

    By Kay Arthur

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    About this ebook

    Speaker, author, and internationally-renowned Bible teacher Kay Arthur gathers together her inductive study tools in one volume that can be used with any Bible translation. Now those who are ready for a personal and passionate exploration of Scripture will find at their fingertips:

    • Proven methods to read, mark, and study God's Word
    • Introductions to set the stage for each book of the Bible
    • Maps and charts to add historic and geographic dimension
    • Word studies for NASB and NIV translations
    • Definitions and explanations to simplify interpretation
    • "Things to Think About" for personal application

    This resource will inspire and guide anyone interested in creating a personal study of God's Word.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarvest House Publishers
    Release dateJul 1, 2005
    ISBN9780736931403
    Discover the Bible for Yourself: *Helpful introductions to every book *Practical approaches for study *Applications for everyday life
    Author

    Kay Arthur

    Kay Arthur is a four-time Gold Medallion award-winning author, member of NRB Hall of Fame, and beloved international Bible teacher. She and her husband, Jack, cofounded Precept Ministries International to teach people how to discover truth through inductive study. Precept provides teaching and training through study books, TV and radio programs, the Internet, and conferences in over 180 countries and 70 languages.

    Read more from Kay Arthur

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      Book preview

      Discover the Bible for Yourself - Kay Arthur

      DISCOVER

      the Bible

      for YOURSELF

      KAY ARTHUR

      HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

      EUGENE, OREGON

      All Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

      Cover by Koechel Peterson & Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota

      DISCOVER THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF

      Copyright © 2000 by Precept Ministries International

      Published by Harvest House Publishers

      Eugene, Oregon 97402

      www.harvesthousepublishers.com

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Arthur, Kay, 1933-

      Discover the Bible for yourself / Kay Arthur.

          p. cm.

      ISBN-13: 978-0-7369-1068-2

      ISBN-10: 0-7369-1068-9 (pbk.)

        1. Bible—Study and teaching. 2. Bible—Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. Title.

      BS600.3.A78 2005

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

      Printed in the United States of America

      05  06  07  08  09  10  11  12    /  ML-MS  /  10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1

      CONTENTS

      Welcome to the Adventure of Inductive Bible Study!

      How to Study the Bible Inductively

      Observation

      Interpretation

      Application

      Getting Started

      Timeline—The History of Israel

      The Books of the Old Testament

      Genesis

      Exodus

      Leviticus

      Numbers

      Deuteronomy

      Joshua

      Judges

      Ruth

      1 Samuel

      2 Samuel

      1 Kings

      2 Kings

      1 Chronicles

      2 Chronicles

      Ezra

      Nehemiah

      Esther

      Job

      Psalms

      Proverbs

      Ecclesiates

      Song of Solomon

      Isaiah

      Jeremiah

      Lamentations

      Ezekiel

      Daniel

      Hosea

      Joel

      Amos

      Obadiah

      Jonah

      Micah

      Nahum

      Habakkuk

      Zephaniah

      Haggai

      Zechariah

      Malachi

      The Books of the New Testament

      Matthew

      Mark

      Luke

      John

      Acts

      Romans

      1 Corinthians

      2 Corinthians

      Galatians

      Ephesians

      Philippians

      Colossians

      1 Thessalonians

      2 Thessalonians

      1 Timothy

      2 Timothy

      Titus

      Philemon

      Hebrews

      James

      1 Peter

      2 Peter

      1 John

      2 John

      3 John

      Jude

      Revelation

      Appendix 1: Understanding the Value of God’s Word

      Appendix 2: Major Events in Israel’s History

      Appendix 3: Historical and Grammatical Helps

      The Ark of the Covenant

      Understanding Gnosticism

      Guidelines for Interpreting Predictive Prophecy

      Figures of Speech

      Laws of Composition

      Tense, Voice, and Mood of Greek Verbs

      Appendix 4: Read Through the Bible in One Year

      Appendix 5: Three-Year Bible Study Plan

      Appendix 6: A Harmony of the Gospels

      Appendix 7: Key Words in the New International Version and the King James Version

      BOOKS IN THE NEW INDUCTIVE STUDY SERIES

      HARVEST HOUSE BOOKS BY KAY ARTHUR

      About the Author

      WELCOME TO THE ADVENTURE

      OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY!

      Do you long to know God? Do you yearn for a deep and abiding relationship with Him? Do you want to live the Christian life faithfully—and to know what He requires of you? Do you long to know how to understand God’s Word?

      God reveals Himself through His Word. Through it, He shows us how to live. Jesus made it clear: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). And where do we find this divine bread? In the Scriptures.

      As you study your Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit, and live out the truths that God reveals to you, you will discover new stability, strength, and confidence. You will be able to say with the prophet Jeremiah: Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart (Jeremiah 15:16).

      Today, many people are convinced they cannot know truth for themselves. A babble of voices surrounds us claiming to know and interpret God’s truth for us. Which voices are right? Which are wrong? How can we discern the true from the counterfeit unless we spend time with God and His Word?

      Most Christians have been encouraged to study the Word of God, yet many have never been shown how. Others even feel inadequate to do so because they are not ministers or seminary students or scholars. Nothing could be further from the truth.

      The most effective way to do this is through the inductive approach. The inductive approach means that you begin with the Word of God itself. In fact, if you want to satisfy your hunger and thirst to know God and His Word in a deeper way, you must do more than merely read Scripture and study what someone else has said about it. Just as no one else can eat and digest your food for you, so no one else can feed on God’s Word for you. You must interact with the text yourself, absorbing its truths and letting God engrave His truth on your heart and mind and life.

      That is the very heart of inductive study: seeing truth for yourself, discerning what it means, and applying that truth to your life. In His inspired Word, God has given us everything we need to know about life and godliness. But He doesn’t stop there. He gives every believer a resident teacher—the Holy Spirit—who guides us into His truth.

      The Bible is unlike any other book. It is supernatural. It is complete in itself. The Bible needs no other books or truths to supplement it. In inductive study the Bible becomes its own commentary, and any believer can see and understand what God has given us in His Word and how it applies to us today.

      As you use this book you’ll need a Bible, preferably one with margins to write in, a notebook to record your insights, and a good collection of maps. Enjoy your adventure in understanding God’s Word!

      HOW TO STUDY THE

      BIBLE INDUCTIVELY

      If you know there is more to the Word of God than you have discovered so far…

       If you sense there must be concrete answers to the complexities of life…

       If you want a bedrock faith that keeps you from being tossed around by conflicting philosophies in the world and the church…

       If you want to be able to face the uncertainties of the future without fear…

      …then inductive Bible study is designed for you.

      God’s eternal, infallible Word is your guidebook for all of life, and inductive study gives you the key to understanding that guide.

      Inductive study, a method that brings you directly to the Word of God apart from another’s understanding or interpretation of the text, involves three skills: observation, interpretation, and application.

       Observation teaches you to see precisely what the passage says. It is the basis for accurate interpretation and correct application. Observation answers the question: What does the passage say?

       Interpretation answers the question: What does the passage mean?

       Application answers the question: What does it mean to me personally? What truths can I put into practice? What changes should I make in my life?

      When you know what God says, what He means, and how to put His truths into practice, you will be equipped for every circumstance of life. Ultimately, the goal of personal Bible study is a transformed life and a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

      The following ten steps provide the basis for inductive study. As you take these steps, observation, interpretation, and application will sometimes happen simultaneously. God can give you insight at any point in your study, so be sensitive to His leading. When words or passages make an impression on you, stop for a moment and meditate on what God has shown you. Record your personal notes and insights in the margin of your Bible so that you can remember what you’ve learned.

      As you study the Bible chapter by chapter and book by book, you will grow in your ability to comprehend the whole counsel of God. In the future, you will be able to refer to your notes again and again as you study portions of Scripture and grow in your knowledge of Him.

      BEGIN WITH PRAYER

      Prayer is often the missing element in Bible study. You are about to learn the single most effective method of Bible study. Yet apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, that’s all it will be—a method. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth, who takes the things of God and reveals them to us. Always ask God to teach you as you open the Scriptures.

      ASK THE 5 W’S AND AN H

      As you study any passage of Scripture, any book of the Bible, train yourself to constantly ask: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? These questions are the building blocks of precise observation, which is essential for accurate interpretation. Many times Scripture is misinterpreted because the context isn’t carefully observed. Asking these questions will help you to stay in the context of the passage.

      When we rush into interpretation without laying the vital foundation of observation, our understanding becomes colored by our presuppositions—what we think, what we feel, or what other people have said. We must be careful not to distort the Scriptures to our own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).

      Accurate answers to the following questions will help assure correct interpretation.

      Who is speaking? Who is this about? Who are the main characters? For example, look at the sample passage from 1 Peter 5 (see page 11). In this chapter, I is speaking. Verse 1 tells us that I is a fellow elder, a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory to follow. From reading this and previous chapters (the context), you recognize that the I is Peter, the author of this epistle. You’ll want to mark the author in a special color (such as blue) to help you with your study.

      And to whom is he speaking? Verse 1 refers to the elders, verse 5 to you younger men, and verse 6 to yourselves (the recipients of the epistle). You’ll find it helpful to mark the recipients in another color.

      What is the subject or event covered in the chapter? What do you learn about the people, the event, or the teaching from the text? What instructions are given? In 1 Peter 5:2, Peter instructs the elders to shepherd the flock and exercise oversight.

      When do or will the events occur? When did or will something happen to a particular person, people, or nation? When is .

      Where did or will this happen? Where was it said? In 1 Peter 5, the only reference to a place is in verse 13, where there is a greeting from she who is in Babylon. Mark geographical locations by double-underlining them in green.

      Why is something being said or mentioned? Why would or will this happen? Why at this time? Why this person? First Peter 5:12 explains why and how Peter wrote this epistle, establishing the book’s purpose: to exhort and testify that this is the true grace of God, that they may stand firm in it.

      How will it happen? How is it to be done? How is it illustrated? In 1 Peter 5:2, note how the elders are to exercise oversight: voluntarily and eagerly, according to the will of God.

      Every time you study a passage of the Bible, you should keep the 5 W’s and an H in mind. Don’t be concerned if you can’t find the answer to each question every time. Remember, there are many types of literature in the Bible and not all the questions will apply. As you ask who, what, when, where, why, and how, make notes in the margin of your Bible. Meditate on the truths God reveals to you. Think how they apply to you. This will keep your study from becoming an intellectual pursuit of knowledge for its own sake.

      MARK KEY WORDS

      AND PHRASES

      A key word is one that is essential to the text. It might be a noun, a descriptive word, or an action that plays a part in conveying the author’s message. A key word or phrase is one which, when removed, leaves the passage devoid of meaning. Often key words and phrases are repeated in order to convey the author’s point or purpose for writing. They may be repeated throughout a chapter, a segment of a book, or the book as a whole. For example, notice that some form of the word suffering is used three times in 1 Peter 5.

      The key words we have suggested are taken from the New American Standard Bible. If you are using the New International Version or King James Version, look at appendix seven at the back of this book. It lists many of the New American Standard Bible’s key words and the words the New International Version and King James Version use.

      As you mark key words, ask the same who, what, when, where, why, and how questions of them as you did of the passage as a whole. For example, Who suffers? What caused the suffering? etc.

      Key words can be marked in several ways:

      Through the use of colors. Colored pencils or Micron pens work best.

      Through symbols or a combination of colors and symbols.

      Always mark each key word the same way every time you observe it. Then, in future study, the visual impact of your marks will help you track key subjects and quickly identify significant truths throughout Scripture. To be sure that you are consistent, list key words, symbols, and color codes on an index card and use it as a bookmark in your Bible.

      Be sure to mark pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they, and so on), synonyms (words that have the same meaning in the context), and other closely related words the same way you mark the words to which they refer. For example, a synonym for the devil in 1 Peter 5:8 is adversary. The pronoun him in verse 9 also refers to the devil. Notice how marking the synonym adversary for the devil gives additional insight into his nature.

      LOOK FOR LISTS

      Making lists can be one of the most enlightening things you do as you study a section of Scripture. Lists reveal truths and highlight important concepts. The best way to discover lists in the text is to observe how a key word is described, note what is said about someone or something, or group related thoughts or instructions together. (Develop lists on a separate piece of paper or in a notebook.)

      1 Peter 5:2-3, for example, contains a simple list instructing the elders how to shepherd their flock. You can number simple lists within the text for easy reference.

      Topical lists capture a truth, quality, or characteristic of a specific subject throughout a passage. One way to discover a topical list is to follow a key word through a chapter and note what the text says about the word each time it is used. (You may want to develop your lists on a work-sheet.) See sample A for how a list could be made for the key word suffering.

      As you write your observations on suffering, you will begin to have a better and broader understanding of God’s thoughts on this subject. You will learn that:

      Christ suffered

      the brethren in the world are suffering

      the recipients of the letter may also endure suffering

      You will also discover that God does several things in the lives of those who suffer:

      perfects

      strengthens

      confirms

      establishes

      The application value of lists such as these is immeasurable. The next time you endure suffering, you will be able to recall these truths more quickly:

      Christ suffered

      others are suffering

      ultimately God will use suffering to strengthen your own life

      Discovering truths that apply to your daily life is what makes lists such an important part of the inductive method.

      WATCH FOR CONTRASTS

      AND COMPARISONS

      Contrasts and comparisons use highly descriptive language to drive home significant truths and vital lessons. The word pictures they paint make it easier to remember what you’ve learned.

      A contrast shows how things are different or opposite, such as light/darkness or proud/humble. The word but often signifies a contrast is being made. You may want to note contrasts in the text or the margin of your Bible.

      A comparison points out similarities and is often indicated by the use of words such as like, as, and as it were. For example, Peter says in 1 Peter 5:8: "Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion." You may want to highlight comparisons in a distinctive way so you will recognize them quickly when you return to the passage in the future.

      NOTE EXPRESSIONS OF TIME

      in a specific color, such as green.

      Time is also indicated by words such as until, then, when, and after. These words show the relationship of one statement or event to another. Marking them will help you see the sequence of events and lead to accurate interpretation of Scripture.

      IDENTIFY TERMS

      OF CONCLUSION

      Terms of conclusion usually follow an important sequence of thought and include words such as wherefore, therefore, for this reason, and finally. As the saying goes, when you see a therefore (or any term of conclusion), note what it is there for. You should be able to look through the preceding verses and summarize the message. For example, 1 Peter 5:6 says, "Therefore humble yourselves.… If you will look, you will discover that you should humble yourself under the hand of God because God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

      DEVELOP CHAPTER THEMES

      The theme of a chapter will center on the main person, event, teaching, or subject of that section of Scripture. Themes are often revealed by reviewing the key words and lists you developed. Try to express the theme as briefly as possible, using words found in the text.

      For example, possible themes for 1 Peter 5 might be Exhortations to Elders, Younger Men, and the Suffering, or God Gives Grace to the Humble. The point of observation is to answer the question: What does the passage say? The theme summarizes the answer. Although many Bibles give chapter or paragraph themes, you may want to record the chapter theme as you understand it near the beginning of the chapter. (The NISB has a line for this at the beginning of each chapter.) If needed, record the themes in pencil so you can adjust them as your study deepens.

      DISCOVER LESSONS FOR LIFE

      In the process of observing the text and seeing how God instructed people and dealt with various individuals, the Holy Spirit will bring to your attention truths that God wants you to be aware of and live by in your own life. These Lessons for Life can be noted in the margin under the abbreviation LFL, or you may wish to create a distinctive symbol to mark your Lessons for Life throughout your Bible.

      Recording these will add a devotional element to your Bible and serve as a good reminder (or legacy) of what God has spoken to your heart when you or others read it.

      COMPLETE THE

      AT A GLANCE CHART

      The AT A GLANCE charts provide a compact visual summary of each book. See a sample AT A GLANCE chart on the following page.

      Record the author of the book. If the author is not mentioned by name, leave this space blank.

      Record the date the book was written if the date of writing is known.

      Record the key words. If the key words are not already listed on the AT A GLANCE chart, you will find them listed in the THINGS TO DO section at the beginning of each book. As we mentioned earlier, the key words we have suggested are taken from the New American Standard Bible. If you are using the New International Version or King James Version, look at appendix seven at the back of this book. It lists many of the New American Standard Bible’s key words and the words the New International Version and King James Version use.

      In order to notice subjects that run throughout the entire Bible, there are some key words or phrases you will want to consistently mark in a distinctive manner. Write these on a card, color-code them in the way you intend to mark them throughout your Bible, and use the card as a bookmark.

      A sample list of key words to mark (already colored) appears on page 19.

      Copy the chapter themes that you recorded at the beginning of each chapter. Because chapter divisions were added much later than the Bible was originally written, they do not always fall naturally in the text. Occasionally you will find a chapter with more than one theme. If this is true, record both themes.

      Look for and record segment divisions. See if any of the chapters can be grouped under a common theme or a common event. This is called a segment division. Segment divisions help you see the framework of a book.

      The number and types of segment divisions will vary. A book might be divided according to dates, geographical locations, reigns of kings, major characters or events, topics, or doctrines.

      When you gain a broad view of a book through its segment divisions, it is easier to understand its content and purpose. The AT A GLANCE chart for the Gospel of John (sample D) shows a number of ways this book could be divided. For example, on the last line under Segment Divisions, you will notice Structure of Book. This shows you how John presents his material to achieve his purpose for writing this Gospel.

      Record the purpose of the book. Discerning the author’s purpose for writing and then keeping this purpose in mind while you study the text will help you handle the Word of God accurately. Unless the author specifically states his purpose for writing, as in 1 Peter 5:12 and John 20:31, you will have to discover it by other means:

      1. Look for the main subjects covered in the book. These can often be recognized as you study the key repeated words.

      2. Watch for any problems that are addressed. It may be that the author’s purpose in writing was to deal with these problems.

      3. Note exhortations and warnings that are given. These may be the reason for the book.

      4. Observe what the author did not cover in his writing. When you know what the author covered and what was left unsaid, you are better able to narrow down the real purpose of the book.

      Record the main theme of the book. Once you have listed the theme for each chapter, evaluated the author’s purpose for writing, and observed the content of the book chapter by chapter and segment by segment, you will be prepared to determine the theme of the book. What one statement best describes the book as a whole?

      Once you have completed the ten steps of observation, you are ready to move into interpretation and application.

      A SYSTEM FOR MARKING KEY WORDS

      INCLUDING SYNONYMS AND PRONOUNS

      THROUGHOUT YOUR BIBLE

      Color-coding key words with various color combinations is very helpful, as using too many symbols can clutter the text.

      In an epistle, color the author in one color (e.g. blue) and the recipient(s) another (e.g. orange).

      As you mark, choose certain colors to represent various things. For example, blue could be your color for Israel, and anything connected with Israel would always have blue in the color combination. Yellow could be your color for God, anything connected with redemption could be red, and so on.

      When you mark a key word such as circumcised, mark the negative variation, uncircumcised,

      While observation leads to an accurate understanding of what the Word of God says , interpretation goes a step further and helps you understand what it means . When you accurately interpret the Word of God, you will be able to confidently put its truths into practice in your daily life.

      Like many other people, you may have been taught a system of beliefs before you ever studied God’s Word for yourself. Or you may have formed opinions of what the Bible teaches before you carefully examined the Scriptures. As you learn to handle God’s Word accurately, you will be able to discern if what you believe is in agreement with Scripture. If this is your desire and you come to the Word of God with a teachable spirit, God will lead you and guide you into all truth.

      As you seek to interpret the Bible accurately, the following guidelines will be helpful.

      1. Remember that context rules.

      The word context means that which goes with the text. To understand the context you must be familiar with the Word of God. If you lay the solid foundation of observation, you will be prepared to consider each verse in the light of:

      the surrounding verses

      the book in which it is found

      the entire Word of God

      As you study, ask yourself: Is my interpretation of a particular section of Scripture consistent with the theme, purpose, and structure of the book in which it is found? Is it consistent with other Scripture about the same subject, or is there a glaring difference? Am I considering the historic and cultural context of what is being said? Never take a Scripture out of its context to make it say what you want it to say. Discover what the author is saying; don’t add to his meaning.

      2. Always seek the full counsel of the Word of God.

      When you know God’s Word thoroughly, you will not accept a teaching simply because someone has used one or two isolated verses to support it. Those verses may have been taken out of context, or other important passages might have been overlooked or ignored that would have led to a different understanding. As you read the Bible regularly and

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