Aloha to a new year of life in the tropics of Branson, MO. The Kanakuk Institute class of 2012 is here for the next 8 months studying the word of God and growing together! After a couple of exciting and eventful weeks we are all now getting used to our schedules and seeing what life will look like on the island surrounded by plastic palm trees.
We’ve gotten to listen to some awesome speakers so far on topics like conflict/resolution, repentance, and the importance of accountability. Early this week David Lawson from Precept Ministries came to speak to the Institute class about inductive bible study. He shared with us some hilarious stories and cracked a few dry jokes, but what stood out to me most about him was how passionate and excited he is about this type of study. His life has absolutely been transformed by studying the bible this way.
Before this week I was somewhat familiar with inductive bible study but never grasped the importance or effectiveness of the technique. David Lawson of Precept Ministries International walked us through the book of Titus, which I had never read before, using the inductive method and I really liked it and learned a lot in the three class periods he spent with us.
Inductive Bible study is a way to study the bible on your own and allows you to come up with your own conclusions based on what the bible says instead of learning based on what scholars or authors have to say about the scripture. It involves a lot of careful reading, marking single words and searching out the meaning of different words and phrases by looking at context and flipping to other parts of the Bible for better understanding.
There are three major areas in inductive study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application.
Observation: During the observation phase of the study you want to read through the text searching for obvious people, places and events. You’re also trying to grasp what the Bible says by looking for the 5 W’s and H:
Who wrote the letter? To whom? Others mentioned?
What is the letter about?
When?
Where was the author? Recipients?
Why did the author write the letter?
How?
Also mark repeated words or phrases and make a list of what the text says about them. After reading through the text a few times the key words and phrases will start to appear. These are the words and phrases that will uncover the meaning of the text. Without them the text wouldn’t make sense. Everything in the Bible has meaning and purpose. Something mentioned just once is still important, but if something is mentioned multiple times it’s probably super important to pay attention to and study.
Interpretation: The important thing to remember here is that context rules. Context leads to proper interpretation. For example, I might ask you to help me with a project I’m working on by running out and taking a picture of a trunk. You could come back with a picture of the back of a car and I’d say that’s wrong. Or a large box of clothes and you’re wrong again. Or a base of a tree and you’re still wrong. When I say I’m doing a project on zoo animals and need a picture of the nose of an elephant, then you will be able to help in the right way. Context is so important. Titus 2:13 says, “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,” Is Paul referring to God and Savior as separate beings of the trinity- God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior? Or is he referring to Christ Jesus as God and Savior being one? Based on the next verse, Titus 2:14 I think Paul is referring to God and Savior as both being Christ Jesus. This example taken out of context wouldn’t really change much, but other examples could really affect how the text is interpreted especially when looking at cultural context.
A few steps to take during the interpretation phase of study are cross-referencing and word studies. The great thing about study bibles is that they have some references in the margin to guide you!
Application: This is the part where you take what you just learned and apply it to your own life. Your belief system will determine your behavior. Depending on the part of the Bible being studied there might seem to be a lot of application or maybe a little. Either way it’s a great time to better grasp God’s character, understand salvation, and observe how believers live and how to put it into practice.
Inductive Bible study is something that takes time and discipline. You might read the text 15 times and catch something new every time. We probably read through Titus 10 times in class and after going through the steps of observation, interpretation, and application I felt like I had learned so much, but also felt like we had just touched the surface. The knowledge to be gained from the Bible is endless! Inductive Bible study will remind you of that! It’s overwhelming… in a good way! This week I was reminded that the Bible is the most exciting and intriguing book ever written! There is SO much to be learned. Who could ever get bored of it? The more you read and study the more you realized how little you know. This year we as a class are doing a few inductive studies starting with the life of Abraham. I’m looking forward to the knowledge to be gained here on the island.
Aloha!
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