How Can a Regular Person Study the Bible?

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

In Parts One and Two of this Bible Study Basics series, I covered why we should all study the Bible, some basics of the structure of the Bible, and some important things to know about the Bible. If you haven’t read or listened to those, I hope you’ll do that now! Those are key elements of the foundation for how we study it.

With that groundwork laid, let’s move on to the practical! Below are some pointers on how to study the Bible well and some scaffolding to help support you as you go. (There is a summary pdf available for you to download and print at the end, if you’d like to have some reminders to tuck into your Bible or keep on your desk.)

And if this feels like a lot of new information, don’t let that worry you! This is meant to be helpful, not burdensome. It’s okay to take time to process; you don’t have to implement everything at once. As with Bible study itself, God doesn’t expect you to know more than you know, and He doesn’t expect you to immediately learn everything. Our good teacher meets us where we are, and He graciously helps us as we learn and grow. It’s not always easy, of course, but it’s always beneficial! 

Practical Tips for When You Read and Study the Bible

Prayer: Before, During, & After!

Before you start, while you read, and when you’re finished, ask God to help you understand and learn from His Word, and to help you apply it to your life rightly. Ask Him to keep you from any wrong understanding. Submit yourself to the Lord and to His Word. Humble yourself before Him, and be ready to be corrected wherever you need it. Pause and ask Him whenever you need help understanding. Choose to trust Him with what you don’t understand yet.

Be Aware of the Battle

It’s worth saying again: there is nothing more worthy of our time, effort, and attention than studying God’s Word – but that doesn’t mean it will feel easy to put that time and effort in or to pay attention! Be ready for it to be hard. We have an enemy and a natural tendency toward selfishness, and neither of them want us to study or yield to God’s Word. It’s very likely that we will encounter internal pushback when we sit down to read and study. In fact, I think it would be unusual not to! So we need to brace ourselves, be prepared for that struggle, and make our choice ahead of time: we will spend time in God’s Word, because He tells us to, and we obey Him because we love Him (1 John 5:3), because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)!

Here are some thoughts and feelings that I frequently fight: “I’m too tired to do this right now.” “I won’t be able to pay attention anyway.” “This part isn’t all that interesting and doesn’t really apply to me; what’s the point?” “This is confusing and everyone fights about this anyway; why bother trying to understand it?” “There’s too much I don’t know, I’ll never catch up.” “I have too much else to do, I don’t have time for this right now.” “I can’t do this study justice in the time I have; this won’t be worth it.” And all too frequently, “I just don’t wanna.” But while there is truth in some of those – I am often tired or having trouble concentrating; I often have other responsibilities I have to take care of; I rarely have as much time as I’d like to spend; and yeah, I consistently just plain don’t feel like it – what’s more important is that it is always, always worth spending time in God’s Word, whether it feels like it or not. Our feelings are not meant to be in charge of us. So, knowing that, we make right choices even when our feelings fight us.

Spiritual warfare is real. Our enemy is out to convince us that lies are true. And he’s good at it! We need to stand firm in the Word of God as our source of Truth, testing everything against Scripture – and to do that, we need to learn what it says. Bit by bit, day by day, we make progress. We don’t have to know it all right now; we just need to keep pressing on, keep on learning. 

Make the choice now that you’ll study God’s Word on a regular basis and make it a priority in your life. It doesn’t have to be a legalistic “[x] minutes every day;” it just needs to be an important, regular part of your life.

Context, Context, Context!

As Greg Koukl says, “Never read a Bible verse.” Of course, what he means (in context) is never read JUST a Bible verse! Always read AT LEAST a paragraph, preferably more. Read some before and some after the verse you’re looking up. (Please do read and/or listen to Greg on this!)

If we actually want to learn what God means by something in His Word, we must consider the context. We start with the immediate context of the paragraph where the verse is found, and we also consider the context of the chapter, the book, and ultimately the whole Bible. God gave us His WHOLE Word, and He means for us to use it all. We can’t understand bits and pieces correctly if we take them on their own out of the context of the rest of it. Taking each part in the context of the whole protects us from understanding it wrongly.

Let’s consider an example. Here’s a commonly quoted verse: Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” What do people often take this verse to mean? Many people think this verse means that God will enable us to do all kinds of amazing things – succeed in our work, meet that deadline, accomplish our goals – all the important things we plan and hope to do.

Now let’s check the context. In this case, we only need a few extra verses to see the issue. Take into account that Paul was writing this letter to the church at Philippi under house arrest for preaching about Jesus, and add just two additional verses from that paragraph:

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:11-13. 

So what does verse 13 actually mean? Far from claiming God’s power to do whatever he wants and be successful in achieving his goals, Paul is saying God will strengthen him to be content in any circumstance – he knows that whether he’s hungry and in need (and in prison!) or things are going great, God will enable him to endure it, to go through it in a way that honors Him. It’s not about accomplishments. It’s about contentment in the Lord. That’s very different! And very important for our application.

For another great example of a verse commonly taken out of context, see “A Serious Study of the Best “Name-It-and-Claim-It Verse Ever: The Mark Series pt 43 (11:22-25).”

I mentioned the context of the whole Bible above. I know that can feel overwhelming, but take heart! You don’t have to memorize the whole thing in order to consider the full context. The Lord has provided lots of great tools for when we need to dig deeper and look wider! Many are freely available online and in many printed Bibles, including introductions, backgrounds, and summaries of books and genres, as well as cross-references and concordances. Utilize those, and ask others who also study God’s Word – as well as asking God Himself for help! When we truly want to rightly understand, He will provide the help we need (even if it’s not in our preferred time frame, and even if we don’t get all the answers we want). In the meantime, hold loosely to what you aren’t sure of, and trust God with the answers you don’t have.

About Words, Definitions, and Translations

As I mentioned in Part One, God created language, and He used language when He inspired the Bible. Language, of course, is made up of words. Words have meaning, and language has rules – and translation, while possible, is not an easy science. Anyone who has learned a second language knows that many words, phrases, and patterns of speech do not have specific one-to-one, exact translations. Thankfully, many of our English translations are reliable and trustworthy, so we don’t all have to go out and learn Hebrew and Greek (and a little bit of Aramaic) in order to be able to understand God’s original meaning! 

For some general information on translations (and links to more detailed information), see my post entitled, “A Little About Bible Translations and Quotes.” 

Since language translation is not a word-for-word kind of process, it is a good idea to read a passage you’re studying in several different reliable translations. Different translations were produced by different teams of scholars who (if trustworthy) had valid reasons for choosing alternate words. So, reading several translations of one passage can help you see nuances and facets of the original words that are hard to convey in a readable translation.

Thankfully, many reliable and trustworthy translations are available! Some of my go-to’s are: ESV, NKJV, NASB, NIV, CSB, and the NET (this one includes many translation notes, as well!). All of these and more are accessible for free online.

Sadly, we need to be aware that there are also translations that are not trustworthy. Some of those include The Passion Translation, The Mirror Bible, the New World Translation, and the Joseph Smith Translation. If you’d like to dive into why these are to be avoided, here are some good starting places: What Are the 7 Bad Bible Translations? (Sean McDowell & Mark Ward); Exposing the Passion Translation (Mike Winger); Literally the WORST Bible Translation I’ve Ever Seen (Mike Winger).  

Ask Questions!

As you read and study, ask lots of questions. Be curious – don’t just take it in as a dry textbook. Think about what you’re reading. The history in the Bible is real history, with real people who lived real lives, and God tells us about these things for a reason. The letters were written from one actual person or group to another, for a reason, under the precise direction of the Holy Spirit. Everything that’s there is there on purpose, authored by the God who created you and loves you, in order to teach you. It takes effort to remember and think about these things while we’re reading, but it’s so, so worth it!

If you’re like me, you might need a little help learning to do that. Below are some lists of questions you might find helpful to get you started.

Important Questions for ANYTHING you read in the Bible:

Who wrote this?
When was it written? What year? What testament? What’s the general historical context?
Who was it written to/about?
Why did they write it?
What is the literary genre? History, law, poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, narrative, letters?
Is this prescriptive or descriptive?
What is the tone? Warning? Encouragement? Teaching? Praise? 

Helpful Question “Kits”

Here are some good options for ways to approach studying a passage. You can pick one group or use them all, it’s up to you! 

5 W’s & and an H: 
Who is involved? 
What is happening?
When was it written; when did this happen?
Where was it written; where did this happen?
Why was it written? Why should this be done?
How is this to be carried out? How was it received?

Whats and Hows:
What is God saying in this passage? 
What is He teaching; what does He mean by it?
How did this apply to the original audience? How does this apply to me?
How should this impact my life?
How will I implement that?

What does this teach:
What does this teach me about God?
What does this teach me about Jesus (or in the OT, how does it point to Jesus)?
What does this teach me about mankind?
How should I apply this to my life?

Other good questions to ask:
What is happening in this passage? What’s the big picture? Make observations.
What actions or reactions are different from what you might expect in that situation? (For example, in Numbers 22, it seems like Balaam replied to his donkey as if it were perfectly normal for donkeys to talk!) 
Do I already have an assumption about what this means? If so, what is it? What is that based on?
What do I want it to mean? 
What presuppositions am I bringing to this?
Am I willing to change my mind, if Scripture shows me I should?
What does this seem to mean? What do I think it really means?
Could it mean something else? 
What other Scriptures talk about this? Does my conclusion fit with those Scriptures?
Why is it written/said this way? 
What misconceptions about God does this correct in my own understanding?
How might something in this passage be misunderstood, misused, or twisted? How can I know that’s incorrect?
What on earth is the author talking about here?? Lord, please help!! 

Questions NOT to Ask

I talked about this in Part 2, but I’ll put a reminder here: we do NOT want to ask, “What does this mean TO ME?” The meaning is determined by God, and simply discovered by us.

Tips & Suggestions for Bible Study

• Slow down. Don’t be in a hurry. It’s usually better to study a few verses deeply than to rush through 3 chapters without them sinking in. (Use wisdom, though; sometimes skimming is helpful!)
• Read the passage in a variety of translations.
• Read it out loud, with expression, as if explaining it to someone. 
• Pay attention to pronouns, antecedents, connecting words, etc. These are words like, “he,” “they,” “we,” and the people those words refer to, as well as “therefore,” “because,” “so,” etc. In some places, it’s easy to get confused about – or just not even stop to consider – who the “him” is or what the “therefore” is there for. It can be very helpful to slow down to identify those, and you might want to mark them to help keep track.
• Mark key words and phrases, as well as any that are repeated.
• Create an outline of the text. This can help you see the structure and big picture of the passage.
• Make a list of everything a passage says about a particular person or topic.
• Check cross-references. 
• Use a concordance to find related passages.
• Follow the bunny trails! If something piques your interest, study it more.
• Utilize the notes in a study Bible.
• Read commentaries – but only AFTER you have done your own investigating. It’s a good idea to read several, because they often support differing viewpoints, and sometimes even disagree. Keep in mind that commentaries are not inspired or infallible; they can be helpful, but they aren’t always correct.
• Hold meanings loosely if you aren’t sure.
• If you don’t understand something, don’t stress. Ask the Lord to help you, and in the meantime, be okay with not knowing. 

Some Free Online Resources for Studying Scripture

If you’d like more support in studying the Bible, check out these resources that helped me:
J. Warner Wallace: Tips for Studying the Bible (article); Tips for Studying the Bible (video)
Mike Winger: How You Can Get Better Bible Study: The Mark Series Pt 19 (6:7-13) (video)

And here are several great sites that offer the text of Scripture along with study helps, notes, commentaries, concordances, search features, and more!
www.BibleHub.com
www.BlueLetterBible.com
www.BibleGateway.com
www.BibleStudyTools.com
www.Logos.com (free version)

And it’s always important to end our Bible study where we began: 

Prayer: Before, During, & After!

Ask God again to help you rightly understand and learn from His Word, and to help you apply it to your life in a way that pleases and honors Him. Ask Him to keep you from any wrong understanding. Trust Him with what you don’t understand, and hold to what you do understand. Submit yourself to the Lord and to His Word. Thank Him for the beautiful gift of His written revelation to us, and for using it to make you more like Jesus.

But Where Do I Even Start?

Great question! If you don’t already have a verse, passage, or topic you want to start with, here are a few suggestions.

The Gospel of John. This is the fourth book in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, then John). John wrote this to explain who Jesus is and how we can have eternal life. It’s a great place to start if you want to know more about Jesus and Christianity.

Romans. Paul wrote the “book” of Romans, which is actually a letter to the Christians who lived in Rome. This book is full of detailed teaching about doctrine – the truths of Christianity, humanity, God Himself, what Jesus did for us, and how we should live in light of those truths.

Chronological reading plan. I have LOVED reading through the Bible chronologically! As I mentioned in Part 2, the books of the Bible are not compiled in chronological order, but reading them in chronological order sheds light on so much of God’s redemptive plan, better reveals His grace and mercy and patience even in the Old Testament, and, for me, just helps everything make much more sense. I highly recommend! 

Finally: Remember the Heart of Bible Study!

I just mentioned a Bible reading plan, and I do think those are really great. There are tons of options – chronological or not, one-year plans and three-year plans and three-month plans, printed plans and apps for your phone, group plans and solo; you can listen to the Bible (the Daily Audio Bible is a great option) in a plan or at your own pace; you can even buy a large-print study Bible that’s ordered chronologically, with dates or without. TONS of options.

Whether you choose a plan or not, keep this in mind: “Bible study” is not a box to check off in order to earn God’s love or salvation. Reading a certain number of chapters every day or studying a passage deeply doesn’t make you more valued by God – and reading fewer (or none) doesn’t make you less valued. Bible study doesn’t make you more important or more worthy or more precious in His sight. It’s not about that at all. We have value because of the God who created us, not because of any characteristic or merit of our own; we have salvation because we placed our trust in Jesus who died for us, not because of anything we’ve done.

So rather than holding yourself to an inflexible standard of chapters read or time spent for your study, remember: the important thing is that being in God’s Word is a priority in your life. It’s true that there is nothing more worthy of our time, effort, and attention, but at the same time, God knows our capacity and has compassion for us (Psalm 103:13-14). When life is crazy, remember that God knows what you’re dealing with, and He has grace for you. We can all walk in that grace when we need to and still hold ourselves to truly prioritizing God’s Word over our own selfish desires – and we can (and should) ask Him to help us tell the difference.

The Bible is a beautiful, life-giving gift from our good Father and Creator – and spending time in it is always and only a blessing! Let that be an exciting, joyful part of your perspective when you approach Bible study. We read and study the Bible because that’s how God, who loves us, speaks to us. That’s where He’s revealed what we need to know. That’s where He’s told us who He is and all the good He has planned, what He’s done and how He’s saved us, how He loves us and how we should live. It is to our infinite benefit to study that! 

And, whatever study or reading plan you choose, keep your perspective on that truth. It’s not about how fast you go; it’s about learning what our good God says and living that out. It’s not about how much you read in a day; it’s about humbling yourself before the Lord and loving Him by giving your attention to what He’s said and obeying Him from your heart. 

Don’t let any Bible study plan be your master, not even a study you’re doing with a group or just a personal plan to “read every day.” God is your gracious Master. If you miss a day, or a week, or a month – or if you find yourself at a place where you haven’t picked up your Bible in 5 years or 50 years – just pick it right back up and start reading. Start studying. Start submitting yourself to the Truth of it. These are the words of life, the very words of God Himself – and He is gracious and kind to us, He strengthens us in our weakness, He calls us to look to Him no matter where we are or where we’ve been or what we’ve done. 

The words He’s given to us in Scripture and the work He calls us to in studying it is, again, to our own infinite benefit. Let’s take joy in it, and praise God for it!

Want a summary of Bible Study Basics to take with you?
Feel free to download the pdf below!

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