Intoduction to Inductive Bible Study

We Need the Word

A recent poll of American Christians revealed that to a great extend Christians are becoming Biblically illiterate. We’ve become “Word-starved” Christians. Our hearts and minds are living in wastelands of entertainment, relativity, and meaningless pursuits.

A recent George Barna poll asked church goers the question; “Who was Noah’s wife?” Many said Joan of arc!! They were asked where the book of Genesis was located in the Bible. Few could come up with the answer. It’s true that knowing Biblical facts does not lead to spiritual life, but there is indication that American Christians are becoming “Bibleless” Christians; and that has tremendous implications for spiritual growth.

The Bible says we are absolutely dependent on the word of the Lord for life. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” The root of mankind’s problem, one of the most fundamental temptations that can come to any person, is the temptation to think his/her life is not dependent on God’s word. This happened in the Garden of Eden when God’s word was doubted, when his word was no longer obeyed as the path to life and wisdom, a day when the voice of another (the Evil One) tempted him to yield to it, to follow it, to try another way, as if God is withholding something good from us by commanding us to live under his Word. It was a day of great tragedy for mankind.

When man no longer listens to God’s word, he corrupts his way. He deceives himself in justifications and rationalizations that lead to rebellious, corrupt ways. He infects and leads others astray. The infection spreads and easily reaches a point at which God has no other recourse but to withdraw his word from being heard any longer among his people. They live in a word-starved condition as discipline, to turn them from their ways. There is a famine of God’s word in the land today. It happened in the time of Elijah.

Restoration then only comes when people cry out to God in the recognition of their word-starved condition, turn from their wicked ways, and listen and obey once again the word of the Lord. Human beings were made to live under God’s word. “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.” (Deut 32:45,46) “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Mt 4:4) Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn 8:31,32)

This is a Fundamental Discipleship Issue and Battle for Mankind’s Freedom

Jesus grounded his disciples in the Scriptures. Galilean, unschooled, ordinary men became students of the Scriptures. The opening pages of the book of Acts describe the witness and testimony that began to spread through the streets of Jerusalem. It reveals men whose hearts were full of the Scriptures. One of the last things Jesus did with his disciples was “open their minds to the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45). He believed it was absolutely fundamental for their life and witness.

Paul’s final word to his disciple Timothy was, “Preach the word, …in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Tim 4:1-4) This is a word shockingly relevant for our time.

Jesus’ final word to Peter was “feed my sheep”. (Jn 21:15-17)

Jesus’ final word to his group of disciples was “…make disciples of all nations, … teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you…” (Mt 28:16-20) Our discipleship in the word needs to be obedient oriented.

The World is pressing us into its mold

Jesus said the desires of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, will crowd in and hinder the word of the Lord from taking root and bearing fruit in our lives. (Mk 4:1-20).

Americans are becoming entertainment mad! It’s the next movie, the next game, the next party, the next vacation, the next RV, the next… that keeps us going. A man is already lining up on the streets of Seattle for a four-month stay in order to be the first to buy a ticket to the new Star Wars movie. Does this guy have anything more meaningful to live for?

When the purpose of God for us and His way of life described for us in his word is no longer the wisdom of the ages, no longer shaping our purpose and life goals, no longer taking primary place in our hearts and minds, no longer sought after for life and health, not be believed and obeyed in our lives, we end up easily following other endless, meaningless pursuits.

We need Disciples who are Servants of the Word

Jesus disciples were eyewitnesses and servants of the word (Lk 1:2). But growing in our understanding of the Bible and hearing its message isn’t something that comes quickly or easily. Our culture (world) teaches us to expect life transforming messages to come quick and easy, like 30 second sensational, refreshing, romantic video and TV commercials would lead you to believe. As newborn creations in Christ we inherently hunger for the Word of God like new born babes hunger for milk. But we need time and parenting to adequately drink it in, especially at the beginning. Have you ever handed someone the Bible and asked them to read it and seen them actually complete it?

We need to be taught how to digest the word in bit size portions. The Bible was written in vastly different cultural contexts from our own. It’s a cross-cultural communication challenge to understand it. It was written over a 2,000 years time period. God inspired men to record what He was saying and doing in various historical time periods. It takes work and time to understand all that God has given us in it. We need mentors and servants of the word to guide us in how to take it all in. What might begin as a ten minute devotion, over time will easily become insufficient food for those growing and maturing in Christ.

It’s easy to become stuck in the familiar and overlook the more difficult in our study of the Word. More culturally distant parts of Scripture we tend to neglect. We turn from the prophets who say things we don’t like to hear to something more comforting and encouraging. We end up eating meals of dessert rather than well-balanced nutritional meals! We grow weak and feeble.

This course will give us skills and insights in how to grow deeper in the word. It will equip us for a more careful, thorough, comprehensive study of the Scripture. In working through these inductive Bible study skills you should consistently find the Lord speaking to you on a much deeper level, planting truths in your inner most parts, enabling you to know God and his ways more deeply. You should become a person more alert to what God is doing, more hungry for the things of God, more interested in things that really matter in life. This is fruit that is lasting and blesses others around you.

The Current State of Discipleship in America

To get a sense of the current state of discipleship within the American Church, George Barna (director of a well known marketing research group) conducted extensive research recently regarding the spiritual lives of adults and teenagers who have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ and who expect eternal salvation because of their confession of sins and acceptance of Christ as their savior - a group that Barna refers to as "born again Christians." Several large-scale national surveys among random samples of these people revealed that the faith commitment of most born again believers is not very deep. Among the many examples of the shallowness of believer's faith that are cited in the book are the following:

· When Christian adults were asked to identify their most important goal for their life, not a single person said it was to be a committed follower of Jesus Christ, or to make disciples of Christ.

· Less than one out of every five born again adults had any specific and measurable goals related to their personal spiritual development.

· Less than 1% of all believers perceived a connection between their efforts to worship God and their development as a disciple of Jesus.

· The most widely-known Bible verse among adult and teen believers is "God helps those who help themselves" - which is not actually in the Bible, and actually conflicts with the basic message of Scripture.

· A minority of adult and teen believers contends that absolute moral truth exists.

· Less than one out of every ten believers possesses a biblical worldview as the basis for his/her decision-making or behavior.

· When given thirteen basic teachings from the Bible, only 1% of adult believers firmly embraced all 13 as being biblical perspectives.

· Research revealed specific and significant problems related to core spiritual practices such as worship, evangelism, stewardship, community service, and lifestyles.

( http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/Home.asp)

A New Way of Approaching the Scripture for Many

If you wish to be devoted to the scriptures yourself (as the early believers were—Ac 2:42, no longer content merely to read or hear what others tell you about them, then you must develop a careful approach to studying the scriptures.

What is an “approach”? The word means to “draw closer to” or “to take preliminary steps toward.” This can be illustrated from its use in the game of golf. To hit a golf ball toward or onto the green in order to get as near as possible to the cup is called “an approach shot.” An approach is the way of getting near to something in space or time--or in understanding. So our earnest desire is to approach Scripture in such a way as to understand both what it says and what it means (as it did to the originally hearers), and then to obey it in our own cultural context today.

There are only two possible approaches in doing this: an inductive approach and a deductive approach.

When we approach the Bible inductively, we begin with the Bible as it is written and study it on its own terms. That may sound quite obvious and simplistic. Most people, however, do not take this approach--even trained pastors, teachers, missionaries and church workers. They too frequently approach the Bible deductively.

The Deductive Approach

Many pastors and Bible teachers prepare their messages by first choosing some topic or theme. Then, they think of various verses that appear to treat some aspect of that topic, utilizing the cross-references in their Bibles or a concordance. In effect, they begin by setting forth their own ideas or opinions, and then look for verses of Scripture that appear to support them.

The result is that they continuously present teachings based on reading the Bible in the very dim light of their previously held views or assumptions. They thus tend to read into the Holy Scriptures their own preconceived, theological beliefs or biases, rather than allowing the Bible to shape their thinking and their teaching by correcting their presuppositions. With this approach, they can rarely hear what the Holy Spirit intends to communicate through a specific passage of Scripture.

They may read one or more commentaries. When they do so, they have put on another person’s eyeglasses. They see what someone else has seen. Subsequently, they are only able to present a collage of human opinions to whoever may listen.

This is “the deductive approach.” Deduction is the logic of proof. A “deductive approach” to the Scriptures accepts some hypothesis or thought, then searches for the verses that seem to support it and life-situations that appear to illustrate it. From a previously accepted premise, conclusions are drawn as to what must necessarily follow. But the premise may be wrong! Practically anything can be--and has been--”proved” by quoting verses of Scripture out of context.

· The statement: “There is no God,” is found in Psalm 10:4b, 14:1 and 53:1. That is three witnesses! But of course the context makes it clear that it is the “wicked” and the “fools” who make such an assertion.

· “All is vanity!” or Meaningless (Eccl. 1:2) is certainly a statement that needs to be carefully qualified in the whole context of the book of Ecclesiastes.

· There is the oft-quoted, amusing string of proof-texts: “He [Judas] went and hanged himself” (Matt. 27:5); “Go and do likewise” (Lk. 10:37); “Do quickly what you are going to do”! (John 13:27)

· How many readers are aware that the unqualified statement: “All things are lawful” (I Cor. 10:23), was made by some members of the church in Corinth, and was being corrected by the apostle Paul instructions in referencing the statement?

In other words, selected verses or statements may mean something completely different when understood in their full context--the book in which they occur, or the Bible as a whole—quite different from what they might appear to mean by well meaning people studying the scripture.

Moreover, although every statement in the Bible is a true record, not every statement is true. Some obvious examples are the words spoken by Satan, the false prophets, the friends of Job, and the opponents of Jesus. Only what the Bible affirms is true! We must observe carefully not only what is said, but also by whom, to whom and under what circumstances. A corrective in coming to wrong conclusions is found in an inductive approach to the scriptures.

The Inductive Approach

Induction is the opposite of deduction. By the process of examining particulars, induction seeks to establish a general principle. It is a procedure that begins with the individual or the part, and then reasons to the universal or the whole. Induction is the logic of discovery. It draws a general conclusion only after carefully observing as many facts as are available. In our study of Scripture, we must make every effort to examine all the evidence, not to be content with only some of it.

To be sure, both the inductive and deductive approaches can complement one another in our search for truth and in our growth in understanding. The inductive approach, however, must be given priority. A thorough inductive study of the books of the Bible should always precede the deductive studies of themes or topics. Why? Too many of us get our exercise by “jumping to conclusions”! We think and act without adequate information or experience. We readily accept what is untrue, and settle down into the ruts of our traditions. We do not wish to be disturbed or dislodged. But there can be no spiritual nor intellectual growth until we willingly and vigorously cross-examine our prejudgments and presuppositions, rather than to defend them.

How Do We Begin?

How do we begin to study the Bible inductively? How would we begin an inductive study of flowers or trees or birds or cats or dogs? Look at them! Do not first of all read about them. How would we begin an inductive study of Augustine or Luther or Calvin or Shakespeare or Milton? Read their writings. Do not read about them. Where do we look in order to discover the message of a particular book in the Bible? Read the book itself. Do not read about the book.

This has some significant implications:

· We must go directly to the source -- the Bible.

· We must not depend upon the interpretations of other people.

· We must allow the Word to speak personally to us.

· When we do so, we will make some exciting, and even surprising, discoveries. There is a strange new world to be explored within the Bible.

Some preliminary issues must be faced and decided.

The Necessity of Prayer

Every time we approach the Bible, whether to study it or to read it devotionally, we must come in the attitude of prayer. If, as we affirm, all Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit, then we are dependent upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead us into “all the truth” (See John 16:13). It has been said that to attempt to read the Bible without the illumination of the Holy Spirit would be like trying to read a sundial by moonlight. “Open my eyes, Lord, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your Word” (See Psalm 119:18).

Read the Bible as Written

Read the Bible book by book, not by chapters and verses. The chapter and verse divisions were not inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Our present chapter divisions, inserted about A.D. 1228, are probably the work of an archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton. He first made these divisions in the Latin Vulgate; subsequently they were transferred to the printed Greek New Testament, and so found their way into our English versions.

Our present verse divisions date from A.D. 1551 and are attributed to Robert Estienne.

The famous Parisian printer and publisher, Robert Estienne, latinized as Stephanus (1503-59), issued four editions of the Greek Testament, three at Paris (1546, 1549, and 1550) and the last at Geneva (1551), where he spent his final years as a professed Protestant . . . . Stephanus’ third edition became for many persons, especially in England, the received standard text of the Greek manuscript. Stephanus’ fourth edition (1551), which contained two Latin versions (the Vulgate and that of Erasmus) printed on either side of the Greek text, is noteworthy because in it for the first time the text was divided into numbered verses. It has often been stated that Stephanus marked the verse divisions while journeying ‘on horseback,’ and that some of the infelicitous divisions arose from the jogging of the horse that bumped his pen in the wrong places. Stephanus’ son does indeed assert that his father did the work while on a journey . . .from Paris to Lyons, but the most natural inference is that the task was accomplished while resting at the inns along the road.”

To be totally inductive in studying the Bible as it was written, we would have to learn and read the original languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Properly motivated, most of us could do this. Realistically, many of us have neither the time nor the inclination for such arduous studies; but with some time and effort we can learn enough to be helpful. We also can learn how to utilize profitably an Interlinear Greek-English New Testament and an Interlinear Hebrew-English Old Testament.

The Misuse and Proper Use of Commentaries and Study Bible Notes

If we are to make an inductive approach, we must put aside all commentaries, and steadfastly determine not to read any of the notes in the multitude of so-called Study Bibles, including the suggested outlines and editorial subtitles, until after we have studied thoroughly a given book of the Bible for ourselves. Why? The commentaries and notes are written by persons of widely varying ability, competence, theological perspectives and spiritual maturity. Unless we have some first-hand personal experience with the Bible as a whole, as well as with the specific books within it, we have no basis for a proper evaluation of the quality of the vast number of commentaries and Study Bibles available.

What are we to do when the commentaries disagree? Are we to accept the opinion that happens to be the most congenial to our previous way of thinking? This is certainly not the way to hear what the Holy Spirit desires to say to us.

To be sure, it is much easier to read what someone else considers to be an outline of a book and the explanations of the meaning of various passages. But when someone else’s explanation seems “to make sense,” as it often appears to do, then we have put on their spectacles, see what they have seen, and shut the door on any possibility of fresh personal discoveries. Moreover, we frequently fail to perceive a commentator’s unstated presuppositions, which always need to be examined and questioned.

Bible Study Skills

In order to search the Scriptures accurately, we must learn certain skills. A skill is a developed ability to do something competently and proficiently. Skills need to be defined, illustrated and demonstrated. Since we learn best by the repetition of steps, such skills need to be reduced to manageable functions which are practiced until they become nearly automatic -- mental “muscle memory.” This process of developing skills by mastering manageable functions or steps can be illustrated by numerous life experiences.

· When we were first learning how to bake bread or a cake, we not only had to follow meticulously a recipe, but were probably closely supervised by Mom. If we thought we were free to vary the order of the process or substitute other ingredients, we no doubt experienced disastrous results, known as “flops.”

· When we were learning to ride a bicycle, it was quite difficult at first to coordinate pumping the pedals and steering with the handlebars while maintaining our balance. We needed Dad standing alongside to steady us or a set of training wheels.

· If we took piano lessons, we not only had to learn the scales, associating the musical notations with specific keys to be sounded by specific fingers; but then we had to practice finger exercises. We learned the simplest musical composition by first practicing the notes to be struck by the right hand and then the left, sometimes to be coordinated with the foot pedals, before we could eventually “put it all together.” After hours of rehearsing, we might be able to play a simple song while glancing at the musical score.

· Many of us have vivid memories of our first attempts to drive an automobile -- with a standard shift! We had to deliberately follow certain steps: (1) place the key in the ignition; (2) place the left foot on the clutch; (3) be certain the gear shift is in neutral; (4) turn on the ignition; (5) step on the accelerator with the right foot; (6) release the hand brake; (7) shift the gear into first; (8) turn the steering wheel in the right direction; (9) look in every direction to see if anyone is coming or is in the way; (10) give any necessary signal; (11) gradually release the clutch and depress the accelerator; (12) don’t stall the engine! Do you recall the horror of having to stop your auto on a steep upward incline, and to accelerate again without stalling out and drifting back? How long did it take to master the skill of releasing the clutch and depressing the accelerator, keeping just the right balance? These manageable steps very quickly became muscle memory. Now, we actually go through all of them -- in the correct order -- with little or no conscious thought.

To learn any new skill, we must be properly motivated and willingly self-disciplined. Skills that enable us to search the Scriptures efficiently and effectively must be defined, illustrated, practiced, thoroughly learned, then utilized. To enable aspiring students of the written Word of God to master these skills is the purpose of this course.

Learn to live by the Word!

We must become devoted students of the scriptures – like private investigators. How do private investigators solve a yet-to-be-solved mystery”. They seek to get the facts. They observe carefully the clues, interrogate the witnesses, ask the right questions in the right way at the right time, then they think! --drawing valid conclusions, interpreting the facts. Gradually or suddenly, they gain an “insight” and begin to perceive what they had not seen before. They solve the mystery and act on the insight. We are invited to share in the thrilling adventure of becoming biblical detectives.

The Four Basic Steps of the Inductive Approach

There are four basic steps in the inductive approach to the Bible:

· Observation: What does the text specifically say?

· Interpretation: What does the text mean?

· Application: How does the text apply to the student’s personal life, relationships and society?

· Proclamation: How is the truth of this passage to be shared in personal conversation, in teaching or preaching?

We must clarify the essential distinctions between observation, interpretation and application. Too many are eager to tell us what a passage “means” [application] when they have never made the effort to careful observe and then understand its meaning first.

Observation

We are engaged in observation when we ask the question: What does this passage specifically say? We shall learn how to employ appropriate methods to enable us to answer this question. Biblical scholars call this “exegesis.” Exegesis is derived from two Greek words which literally mean “to lead out;” hence, the term is used to describe the process of “reading out” what the text says. This stands in sharp contrast to “Eisegesis,” which describes “reading into” the text one’s own ideas.

Interpretation

Only after we have determined what a passage says, do we have the right to interpret what it means. We are engaged in interpretation when we ask the question: What did this passage originally mean? We shall learn certain principles that will enable us to correctly interpret, avoiding misinterpretations. Biblical scholars call this “hermeneutics.”

In Greek mythology, Hermes was the messenger of the gods. In the New Testament, the Greek word hermeneia is translated “interpretation” (See I Cor. 12:10) which in turn has come into English from the Latin interpres meaning “go-between.”

Application

After we have observed carefully and interpreted correctly, we can safely ask the question: How does this passage apply?

Proclamation

Only after we have observed carefully, interpreted correctly, and applied the spiritual truth and principles to our own lives do we have the right to ask the question: How is the truth of this passage to be shared? That right includes a responsibility to communicate to others the discovered biblical truth by personal sharing, teaching or expository preaching.

Summary

In an inductive approach to the study of the Scriptures, we have delineated four basic steps that must be taken in proper order:

Observation: What does the passage say?

Interpretation: What did the passage mean?

Application: How does it apply?

Proclamation: What can I share?

The significance of these distinctions is fourfold:

· We have no right to interpret any passage until we have observed carefully what it says.

· There can be no debate among sincere students of the Bible as to what a passage is observed to say.

· A passage can never mean today what it never meant, i.e., as the biblical writers intended the text to be understood.

· There can be only one correct interpretation of any passage of Scripture, while there can be any number of different, quite valid, applications of the spiritual truths or principles contained in the passage.

To be sure, we may not always agree as to what that one correct interpretation--what the passage meant -- is, but we must strive diligently to attain that goal. When we disagree, let us do so agreeably. Let us always apply the principle attributed to Augustine: “In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity [agape-love].” The rub, of course, comes when we cannot agree on what is essential and nonessential! It is then that we need

(Eph. 4:1) . . . to lead a life worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called, (2) with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love (agape), (3) making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Learning How to Study

The Bible

Inductively

Understanding the process and skill (a skill level course)

Introduction