Bible Study is Good. Bible Application is Better.

 

Inside Tips for Spirit-Lifting Bible Study

Willie Sutton was known in the 1940s and 50s for his cleverness in executing robberies. He was clever at escaping prison, too; he managed to do it six times during his criminal career.

We only remember Sutton today because of how he answered a reporter’s question. When asked why he robbed banks, Sutton replied, “Because that’s where the money is.”

Today, we are not accustomed to such sensible, uncomplicated answers. Now, people seem to have a million complex reasons for their behavior. It would be wonderful if people were as transparent today and had practical, unadorned reasons for their actions.

Let me play reporter and ask you: “Why do you study the Bible?” Do you have a million reasons, or can you say, “Because that’s where the hope is.”

Why the Bible Deserves Our Attention

The Bible is an ancient book composed of 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. It is a potpourri of history, biography, law, letters, poetry, and prophecy. Bible-believing people believe God inspires it like no other writing, which makes it sacred to us. It is the primary means by which we understand our Creator and the meaning of life.

That’s why we read and study the Bible. We seek insight into how to please God because we know our lives will be more content and productive when we align with his will.

The Main Message of the Bible

The Bible tells us that life on earth is transitory, and we can live eternally. Naturally, we want to study and understand the Bible to determine the requirements for that. Contrary to popular opinion, the requirement is not “being a good person,” “doing good deeds, “going to church,” or “loving everyone.” Those are man-made concepts; in God’s mind, as revealed in the Bible, they are the offramps to perdition.

The Bible is very clear that it is a muddle to those outside the faith. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The Bible is Spiritual and Practical

Does this mean the Bible is full of arcane, esoteric knowledge? Not at all. The teaching is plain, but, like any specialized document, you need a frame of reference.

Years ago, a friend gave me a book on petroleum engineering. The closest I ever got to petroleum was a gallon of gas and a can of oil, so all the charts, grafts, and pressure mathematics were lost on me. I would have understood if I had been a petroleum engineer like my friend. Likewise, you must be a Christian to understand the Bible. It becomes clear when you repent of your sins and place your trust in Jesus Christ.

What Translation Should You Use?

I recently had an exchange with a friend about the best translation to use. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Testament was written in a dialect called Koine Greek, so over the years, it has been translated into the contemporary idioms of the people in the many languages we have on the planet.

The King James Version (KJV) was the standard in Britain, the US and other English-speaking countries. Sadly, many Christians believe it is the only “true” translation. That is a complete falsehood.

My friend said how much he loved the KJV’s beauty and grew up reading it.

I said, “Me too! Almost all the Scripture I memorized is KJV. I acquired a Scofield Reference Bible (1909 edition) soon after becoming a Christian. I still have it.”

Why I Abandoned the KJV

However, as I matured as a Christian, I abandoned the KJV.

• First, because Jesus said he was sending the Holy Spirit, not a book, to guide and comfort us.
• Second, I want clarity, not beauty, regarding spiritual matters. I never thought the KJV was easy to understand. It has odd diction and a convoluted syntax. You need a list of 1600-era words to understand the English meaning, much less the original Hebrew/Greek meaning.

That exercise is not Bible study; it is cutting through the dross to get the gold, otherwise easily mined in translations like the New International Version (NIV) or the English Standard Version (ESV).

• Third, to me, is the matter of reference notes. The old Fundamentalists hated the “Higher Critics” of German Rationalism (which they mislabeled as “Liberals”) for many reasons, including for concepts like “redaction.” Notions of a “Deuteronomic Redactor” were abhorrent to them.

Redaction Defined

Redaction, of course, is adding to or subtracting from (editing) Scripture.

Yet, redaction was perpetuated on a grand scale by our Fundamentalist fathers with editions like the Scofield Reference Bible. The KJV was too convoluted to understand, so Scofield and others since him short-circuited the Holy Spirit by offering their theologically biased insight rather than letting the Bible speak for itself.

Sadly, people immediately read the reference notes rather than let the Holy Spirit inform their understanding. The interpretation in the notes becomes more important than the Scripture itself, regardless of the translation. That’s modern redaction in action!

The KJV Copyright

The fact is, the KJV is popular not because of the “thee and thou” construct but because it was cheap to print. Copyright came into existence in Britain in 1710 (Queen Anne’s Statute), and the law was copied by the US Congress in 1790 for our Constitution.

Also, this period saw the rise of the Industrial Revolution and literacy for ordinary people. Cha-ching! The perfect money-making machine.

Anyone could print the copyright-free KJV text on those fast new printing presses, thus the KJV’s rise. These factors gave the KJV an underserved permeance in Western culture. After all, it wasn’t a very good translation for several reasons, including its time in history (earlier, better Hebrew and Greek manuscripts were discovered later) and the theological and political meddling of King James I.

Since there were perhaps tens of thousands of editions of the KJV starting in the Industrial Age, they were so common that the only way printers could make money was in the binding (Deluxe Calfskin!) until the modern introduction of reference notes.

You could not copyright the KJV text, but you could legally copyright the notes in them. It was a cash cow! Copyright for the 1909 Scofield Bible ran out, for example, so the New Scofield Bible was published in 1967 to keep the cash rolling in.

The Changing Nature of Language

Am I being overly harsh about all this? I hope not. As a lifelong Christian communicator (writing, speaking),it is my duty to focus on my great-great-great grandchildren, not the sentimentality of my great-great-great grandmother. Thus, my interest has constantly been communicating the Gospel effectively, not perpetuating a KJV cult.

The original Hebrews and Greek meaning of the Bible will not change, but human languages are in a constant state of flux. New translations of the Hebrew and Greek into current idioms speak to new generations.

If I were alive in 425 years, I would not be perpetuating an NIV or ESV cult either. As we know from Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is living (γὰρ ὁ), not stagnating, and new translations of the old, old story will speak to new generations.

You Can Unlock the Meaning of the Bible for Yourself

Bible study is simple. Here are the main points anyone can follow. I suggest you study the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts before you explore other parts of the Bible. Just study one chapter per day.

Identify the Central Theme. Ask yourself, “What is this passage’s core message or primary theme?” Consider the historical and cultural context of the passage to understand its message better. Having a notebook just for Bible study and writing down ideas that pop out at you is a great idea.

Break Down the Passage into Key Components. Identify the central ideas or topics covered in the passage. Look for repeated phrases, ideas, or concepts that might indicate key themes.

Analyze the Connections Between the Components. How do the different parts of the passage relate to the central theme? You may wish to draw a diagram in your Bible study notebook. Are there any contrasting ideas or themes that provide depth to the main message? Most Bibles have cross-references to related themes, and it is good to check them out as you study a passage.

Evaluate the Consequences or Implications. What are the practical or spiritual implications of the central theme and its related topics? How do these teachings apply to the life of a believer today? How do they apply to the world at large?

Reflect on Personal Application. Consider how the passage speaks to your own life and circumstances. Identify any actions or changes in perspective that the passage encourages. Don’t skip over this part; it is why you study the Bible.

Seek Supplementary Insights. Only at this point should you consult commentaries, sermons, or other theological resources for additional understanding. Don’t let Bible notes or commentaries become a crutch. You don’t care what John Calvin or ChatGPT says. Be open to God’s Spirit.

Summarize and Organize Your Findings. Create a concise summary that captures the essence of the passage in your Bible study notebook. Organize the key components and their connections in a logical, easy-to-follow manner.

Let the Holy Spirit guide your Bible study. Set aside a time each day to pray and study. God will change your life when you do,

Sources cited:
Unless otherwise noted, Bible quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV).