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Answer
Knowing how to study the Bible is important because determining the meaning of Scripture is one of the most crucial tasks a believer has in this life. God does not instruct us to merely read the Bible; we are required to study it and handle it correctly, as stated in «Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. », (2 Timothy 2:15). Studying the Scriptures is hard work, and a superficial or quick scan of Scripture can sometimes lead to incorrect conclusions. Therefore, it is essential to grasp several principles for determining the accurate meaning of Scripture.
First, those who study the Bible must pray and ask the Holy Spirit to grant understanding, as it is one of His roles. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come” «Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. », (John 16:13). Just as the Holy Spirit guided the apostles in writing the New Testament, He also guides us in understanding Scripture. The Bible is God’s book, and we need to seek His interpretation. If you are a Christian, the author of Scripture—the Holy Spirit—dwells within you, desiring you to comprehend His message.
Secondly, to study the Bible properly, we must notTo pull a verse out of the verses that surround it and try to determine the meaning of the verse outside of the context is not advisable. We should always read the surrounding verses and chapters to discern the context. While all of Scripture comes from God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), God used men to write it down. These men had a theme in mind, a purpose for writing, and a specific issue they were addressing. To study the Bible, we should understand the background of the book we are studying: it’s helpful to know who wrote the book, to whom it was written, when it was written, and why it was written. Also, we should take care to let the text speak for itself. Sometimes people will assign their own meanings to words in order to get the interpretation they desire.
Third, to study the Bible properly, we should not think of ourselves as totally independent in our analysis of the text. It is arrogant to think that we cannot gain understanding through the lifelong work of others who have studied Scripture. Some people, in error, approach the Bible with the idea that they will depend on the Holy Spirit alone and they will discover all the hidden truths of Scripture. Christ, in the giving of the Holy Spirit, has given people with spiritual gifts to the body of Christ. One of these spiritual gifts is that of teaching (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 12:28). These teachers are given by the Lord to help us to correctly understand and obey Scripture. It is always wise to study the Bible with other believers, assisting each other in understanding and applying the truth of God’s Word.
So, in summary, the proper way to study the Bible is to prayerfully and humbly rely on the Holy Spirit to give us understanding; study verses in their context, recognizing that the Bible explains itself; and respect the efforts of other Christians.
It is important to respect those in the past and present who have also endeavored to study the Bible correctly. Remember, God is the author of the Bible, and He desires us to comprehend it.
