How would you teach people to study the Bible?

One item that has consistently remained on my “To Do” list is the development of a Bible study guide to send out to listeners of the radio program I do (which is entitled “Read The Bible”). There are lots of guides out there, so what I have in mind is probably out there. But so far, everything I’ve seen leaves me dissatisfied.

These courses are typically offered as a guide to studying the Bible, but most of the ones I’ve seen are merely designed to present a certain doctrine. I want to develop a Bible study course that tries to teach people the basic principles of biblical interpretation.

If what I believe is based on the Bible, I shouldn’t be afraid to allow people to study and reach conclusions on their own. If it’s not based on the Bible, I have no business teaching it.

If you were putting together such a course, what would you want to see in it? What do you think people need to know as they begin to study the Bible?

Right now, I’m envisioning the following:

  • Description of basic attitudes necessary for effective study
  • Guidelines for personal devotional reading, personal Bible study and group Bible study
  • An overview of each book of the Bible
  • Some basics of biblical history and geography, along with discussion of importance of context
  • Study of biblical genres
  • Overview of biblical themes (basic theology)

As you can see, that’s already quite a lot. But I’m sure there’s plenty more that could be there. What suggestions do you have? Have you seen a basic course that covers these sorts of topics?

8 thoughts on “How would you teach people to study the Bible?

  1. Wes

    Tim,

    The idea sounds great!

    Remember the line used to promote some international educational program on TV. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for one day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

    We have been giving out spiritual fish instead of teaching people to “troll” the scriptures for a lifetime of spiritual food.

  2. K. Rex Butts

    Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen, “The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story,” Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004.

    It goes without saying that nothing can replace actually reading the Bible but as far as secondary guides/literature go, this is the best book I have read that provides an introductory guide to the Bible. The authors, one a professor of New Testament and the other a professor of Bible, wrote the book to be read for an undergraduate introductory class on the Bible that is composed of non-theology students (many of whom have very little knowledge of the Bible). Despite it’s publication by “Baker Academic”, the book is very easy to read and when the authors do use a more theological term, they take great strides to explain it clearly. Their approach is to show how the Bible is telling a story from creation to redemption and at the same time is presenting a biblical world view that Christians are called to embraced. They are concerned as many of us are that too many Christians have a world-view other than the biblical world view. As they do so, they do a great job of not trying to put forth any one particular view point on historically divided issues among Christians.

    I not only think the book would be worth your time to read but also worth the time of the college students you teach. Several members at my church read this book as part of a group study and then they bought me a copy…it would rank in the top 5 of the books on my shelf.

    Grace and Peace,

    Rex

  3. nick gill

    How to Read The Bible For All It’s Worth by Fee and Stuart- for all the reasons Rex mentioned in a nearly-pocket-sized volume with even fewer theological terms. I also like the sequel, How to Read the Bible Book-by-Book, but the original is a classic for me.

  4. Don Middleton

    We just completed a series in our Sunday adult class concerning the Bible and interpretation. We spent a significant amount of time related to your point one — the mindset of the interpreter…as it seems that this is often one of the more significant issues. Our presuppositions and convictions can keep us from learning and growing…humility is necessary. I agree with Wes’ perspective…in relationship to Bible study, it is important to learn from the journey and not always be looking for a destination. Blessings, Don

  5. Keith Brenton

    I’d recommend preparing to study the Bible by considering some different hermeneutics. Of course my favorites right now are the Nike Hermeneutic (“Just do it”) and the Jesus Hermeneutic (looking for Christ foreshadowed, portrayed, lived out, anticipated). But they’re my favorites because I’m still developing them.

    Last year when I read through the Bible with my church family, I was keeping an eye out for instances when the Holy Spirit was present. Surprisingly, it was a pretty frequent occurrence!

    But probably the most useful on a first full read-through is an Open Hermeneutic (being willing to let scripture take you through the story of God and us without imposing any other hermeneutic which might close doors to its divine potential).

  6. heavenbound

    The path that I have been on from church as a child to graduation from a Mennonite university, to attending baptist and COC churches, I have been indoctrinated pretty much by the same approach. By putting myself in the midst of bible truth only to be constantly confused. It wasn’t until I was introduced to dispensational study of the bible was I able to make this wonderful book crystal clear. I know that I have been at odds with a few gentlemen here over perceptions that I have. I would have to say that this would be the way I would instruct someone to start with reading the bible.
    Beginning with Romans and understanding that is where a novice should begin.

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