3 Things To Look For As You Study the Bible

Are you hungry to know God in a deeper way? We come to know God through His Word – literally, through His words. We believe that the very words of Scripture are given by God and that every word is essential (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“Every word of God is pure…” (Proverbs 30:5) The Lord Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). He also promised, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

Pay attention to every word of the Word! Here are 3 things I try to look for as I study God’s very words…

• Repetition. When God repeats Himself it is always for emphasis. It is not because He forgot He said it the first time! Rather, it reveals that there is something there He doesn’t want us to forget. The Lord reserved some words to be used sparingly. Others He used repeatedly. In both instances He seeks to draw our attention to some definite emphasis in the passage. Pay attention to repetition.

• Definition. Do not assume you know what every word means. Very frequently we breeze over great words in Scripture without studying what they mean. Learn to use Bible tools such as a Strong’s Concordance or a good Bible dictionary. Even Websters 1828 dictionary can be of some help. Words have meaning. It is vital to discover what the original meaning would have been in the day that the human penman used them. Pay attention to definition.

• Location. Our God is a God of order. The Scriptures are a progressive revelation of truth, presented in a logical way. See how each portion of Scripture fits into the overall theme of Scripture. I enjoy looking up the chronology of the Bible to uncover where a text fits. Read the Scriptures leading up to your passage and the ones that come after. You will be amazed at how the Word of God opens up when you see how the parts fit into the whole. Pay attention to location.

Gather your tools. Roll up your sleeves. Climb into the gold mine of God’s Word and begin to dig! Pay attention to every word and you will be amazed at the rich truth you uncover.

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand…For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 1:3; 22:18-19).