There are three basic tools for a thorough and understandable study of the Bible: the study Bible, concordance, and dictionary. There are more advanced sources, but these three are more than adequate for most of us (unless you can read Hebrew and Aramaic for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament).
     A good Bible will be essential for learning the original meaning of the Biblical text. You want a Bible that is a direct and clear translation of the original languages rather than a paraphrase. Paraphrases of the Bible are helpful for easy reading but are not from the original texts. They add clarification but are not for serious study.
     Translations from the original manuscripts (including the most current discoveries of original manuscripts) that are appropriate for Bible study are: New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New King James Version and New Living Translation. These are translated from original manuscripts recently found as well as established manuscripts. The King James Version commissioned by King James was translated from Latin and printed in 1611 and even then printings were not identical.
     A study Bible contains notes from Bible teachers and commentators about the meaning and interpretations of the texts. Usually they have also included applications of the texts to contemporary life. A good study Bible includes cross-references to various words or thoughts contained in the verses. The notes and comments given in a study Bible are helpful to read, but remember they are not the inspired text. Make your own discoveries and then read these notes for additional thoughts.
     A concordance is an alphabetical listing of words used in the Bible along with the verses where those words can be found throughout the Bible. For study purposes an exhaustive concordance will be most helpful. In its main section all the English words used in the Bible will be found. It will also have a corresponding Greek and Hebrew section where you will find the original language word, its various meanings and how it was used in the original writing. There will be a numbering system for ease in finding these original language words. Whenever one language is translated into another, some of the original meaning can be lost. Looking at the original language words will enhance your understanding of Scripture.
     An expository dictionary of biblical words gives you more extended definitions of the original word and its meanings at the time of the writing of the biblical passage. It also explains various Bible subjects, places, and doctrines. We have examples of all these study tools in our media center that you are welcome to check out.
     Remember every passage in the Bible is surrounded by other verses. Combined these verses give the passage its full meaning. To fully understand the meaning and purpose of a passage, you must put it context. Ask yourself: Who is involved in this setting? Who is the passage addressed to? What is being said? Why is it being said? What is the occasion? How does it apply to my life?
    The most important tool in Bible study is the Holy Spirit. These written tools will help. Reading God’s Word with an open mind and heart to hear what God is saying to you will produce the best discoveries for you.

      The purpose of studying a word in a Bible passage is to clearly understand what the author was saying and intending. There were multiple meanings for words in the original languages just like in modern English. The translators had to determine which meaning would be most suitable for clear understanding of the passage. Three basic elements – key words, grammar and context – help us to determine the author’s original meaning.
      The context of a word is its most important guide to interpretation. No word can give meaning by itself. Words in different cultures and different times often have different meanings. Discovering the original use of the word in the full context of a Bible passage will give a complete understanding of the word and the context.
      When you first read a passage, look for the key words, words that you think are important to the passage. Notice what part of speech each word is. Is it a noun or a verb? Look up the work in an English dictionary for the scope of its English meaning. Look up the word in a Bible dictionary for its scope in Bible times. Study the context of the word in the passage. Read the paragraph before and after it. A paragraph may be one or more verses. Look up the word in a concordance. Find your text reference. Look up the corresponding number in the Greek or Hebrew section of your concordance. Discover the various original meanings. Look up two or three other references where the author has used this word. What do you think was the author’s original meaning? How can this meaning enhance the impact of this passage in your life?
      Who has time to do all this? I sure don’t! Wait. Wonder if I cut my television time an hour each day. How about cutting or reducing my favorite pastime of computer games? How about that time I waste wandering through the house and yard thinking about what I need to do next? Really, how many trips to the kitchen do I have to make? How about that time I use talking, gossiping, and complaining with my friends? Wonder if I focus on one key word instead of ten words. Maybe I could find the time to understand God’s Word better and apply this understanding to my life. One hour of computer games for an understanding of the person I plan to spend eternity. I better get my priorities in order.

     Each author of Scripture addresses certain themes and issues concerning the church of his time. Usually each chapter of the Bible has at least one theme and each book will have several themes. Often an author will emphasize a particular them throughout his book by repeating it in more than one passage. A major theme in the book of John is the divinity of Jesus. Stop here for a spell and go read John 1.
     Welcome back. Biblical authors can be identified by the themes in their books. Although many wrote about the same stories and similar instructions, they each painted a unique picture from their point of view. They each had particularly favorite issues they wanted their readers to understand. There are several ways to do theme studies when studying the Bible. One way is to study one theme as it is found throughout the Bible. Another way is to study the themes of one book in the Bible. Still another way is to study a theme as it is discussed by one author in the various books he wrote. We will study the theme of Jesus’ deity, the fact that Jesus is God as it is emphasized throughout the Gospel of John.
     Underlining or highlighting the theme each time you come across in a passage is helpful. Using your writing utensil mark each passage where you find something that points to Jesus’ divinity. John makes direct and indirect statements about Jesus being God. What verses reveal the deity of Jesus? What statements does John make in chapter 1 to reveal Jesus’ deity? Jesus’ humanity?
     By studying a biblical theme as it is discussed throughout Scripture, we get God’s big picture of the entire subject. When we study a theme in only one book, we get God’s picture through the eyes of one author in his historical time and culture. This smaller picture is just as correct as the big picture, studying a theme throughout Scripture gives us a more complete understanding of God’s mind on a subject.
   Just as the context of a word is the guide for interpretation, the context of theme is a necessity to accurate interpretation. No theme by itself in any one place in Scripture can be interpreted as a doctrine. The big picture of a theme as it is found in other passages also helps to enhance its full meaning. Discovering the themes of an author and the themes of the Bible will give a more complete understanding of God, his identity, his view of us and his involvement in our lives.

     Studying the characters in a Bible story gives us insight into what God wants us to be or not to be. The people of the Bible are God’s examples of how his truths affect human lives then and now. In their characters and their circumstances we see the results of obedience and disobedience to God’s principles. The windows of their lives reveal the realities of God’s Word. Read John 4:1-42 and pay close attention to what the woman, the disciples, the townspeople and Jesus show us about God’s principles.
     The Bible is filled with stories of people who have known tremendous joy and of those who have known tremendous sorrow, real people who have faced life with courage and fear, people who have followed God and people who have turned from God. People just like you and me.
     According to 1 Corinthians 10:11, the stories of the people in the Bible were written as examples for us. We can learn from each person in the Bible what God considers important for us to emulate. We learn how real people lived through the centuries in all the situations of life we face. They faced difficult situations and decisions. They were abused and persecuted. They experienced the joys and pains of raising families that pleased them and also those that did not follow their teachings. They were people of integrity and people of evil hearts. Each story was included in the Bible so that we learn how to live our lives that follow God in all circumstances.
     When God created the world, he was pleased and said it was good. God loves his creation and takes pleasure in it. The most important aspect of his creation is people. Studying the people of the Bible reveals how people are to relate to God and how God relates to us. Hebrews 11 is an excellent example of how God teaches us through the lives of others.
     When you begin a Bible character study, you want to find out all you can about the person. I think of it as similar to when I meet someone – Who are you? What are you? Who is your mama? Where are you from? What do you think? Why are you important? When we study a character in the Bible, we also learn about God’s character in how he dealt with people. We will learn about his holiness and his love. We will learn more about his sovereignty and his patience. We will gain a greater perspective on his desires for our personal lives and our relationship with him.
     I wonder if I was a character in a story what others would see in me. How would God use my personality and circumstances to impact others? Would they see a person of integrity or a person of deception? I want them to see Jesus in me. How about you? What’s in your life?

     When we make major decisions in our lives we search out the details. We want to make a wise choice so we take the time to find out everything we can about the college, the house, the job, or the person. When we study the Bible, it is important to take the time to observe all the details of the stories, themes, doctrines, and principles. Each chapter of the Bible has many details. In the very same story, one author may include certain details which another author leaves out. The authors had reasons for including the various details they give and for placing stories and themes where they are in the book. Context and details were important to the writers of the Bible.
     When the authors of the various books in the Bible wrote their stories, letters, poetry or history, they did not have chapter and verse separations. These designations were put into the Bible by early translators and publishers to make the Bible a little easier to read. They also added the paragraph titles at the beginning of a chapter and throughout the book, indicating the subject of each paragraph. They identified chapters based on themes and subject matter. Although the original authors intended for their books to be understood as a whole, it is helpful to grasp the contents of each chapter.
     By looking at the chapter details we begin to discover what was important to the author, his perspectives and God’s truths concerning the subjects of that book. The more Bible books we read and study in detail, the more we understand God’s full picture of each subject in the Bible, his revelation of himself and his purposes for our lives.
     As you study the chapters of the Bible for details, consider the chapter title, people involved, what/where/when, major themes, key words, key verses, Trinity information, contrasts/comparisons, personal thoughts, and a personal application plan. Not all chapters will have all these details. But all chapters of the Bible reflect the truth of God and have an application in our lives.
     Each of us has different learning styles. Each of us enjoys a certain study method more than others. Whichever way you like to learn, use it to gain understanding of what God wants for you in life. May His face shine upon you and show you His ways.

Based on Willowcreek's Bible 101 study sessions, other sources