Many people want to study their Bible, but they just simply cannot figure out how to do it, so they end up not studying.

Bible study is important for it is through a study of God’s word that one can learn how to be pleasing to God, and how to obey Him.

One suggestion is to find a systematic way of studying.

Paul wrote, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). To “rightly divide” one has to continue in the true doctrine of Christ, finding our necessities and using what the scriptures teach on that subject to live our lives.

A person can study characters such as Adam, Noah, Abraham or David. Learning about their lives and how they followed God and the results they found when doing so.

Or one might choose to study subjects such as the love of God for man; the love mankind is to have for his fellowman, or a study of salvation. You might choose to study about places in the Bible, their names and what they mean, or how those places stood out in history.

Whatever we decide to study, we need to study the subject thoroughly. For instance, if we choose to study salvation, we need to know all God says on the matter. Some have stopped short of studying all God has to say and they have come to conclusions that are foreign to the scriptures. It even happened in the days of Jesus. “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thoumightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:1 – 9). When we read and study the scriptures, we need to heed what it says. The word of God is sure where man’s teaching may be faulty.

As we study the Bible we need to distinguish a few things. First, who is speaking, second to whom they are speaking, and when were they speaking. If someone were to read the account of Noah in the book of Genesis, they might get the impression that a flood was coming to destroy the earth, and that an ark was needed. By realizing that God was speaking to Noah in his day and that the flood talked about was a universal flood and that it has already occurred one sees that distinguishing these facts is important.

When studying the Bible we need to make sure we have a reliable translation of God’s word.

Just because a “Bible” is easy to read does not mean it is reliable. The King James Version and the American Standard Version of 1901 are believed to be among the most accurate of current translations. Some think them to difficult to read, however the King James Version is written on a fifth grade level. The reason the translation is important is that some have left vital information out of the scriptures while others have written in things that do not belong.

Having a good reference section and concordance in your Bible is also helpful. The references will help you to see where the subject about which your reading is spoken of elsewhere in the scriptures. The concordance will also be of benefit as then a word is used you can look up to see how it is used in other places. Also helpful is a good Bible dictionary and Atlas. A Bible dictionary is necessary because the etymology of words changes over the years. Words used in the Bible may have meant something totally different when they were originally used. We all need to know how to study our bibles and it is hoped that these suggestions will help us all to better be able to be a student of God’s word.