Methods of Bible Study

By R. A. Torrey (1856-1928)

Introduction

First of all make up your mind that you will put some time every day into the study of the
Word of God. That is an easy resolution to make, and not a very difficult one to keep; if the one
who makes it is in earnest. It is one of the most fruitful resolutions that any Christian ever made.
The forming of that resolution and the holding faithfully to it, has been the turning point in many
a life. Many a life that has been barren and unsatisfactory has become rich and useful through the
introduction into it of regular, persevering, daily study of the Bible. This study may not be very
interesting at first, the results may not be very encouraging; but, if one will keep pegging away, it
will soon begin to count as nothing else has ever counted in the development of character, and in
the enrichment of the whole life. Nothing short of absolute physical inability should be allowed
to interfere with this daily study.

It is impossible to make a rule that will apply to everyone as to the amount of time that
shall be given each day to the study of the Word. I know many busy people, including not a few
labouring men and women, who give an hour a day to Bible study, but if one cannot give more
than fifteen minutes a great deal can be accomplished. Wherever it is possible the time set apart
for the work should be in the daylight hours. The very best time is in the early morning hours. If
possible lock yourself in with God alone.

Study the Bible

Make up your mind to study the Bible. It is astounding how much heedless reading of the
Bible is done. Men seem to think that there is some magic power in the book, and that, if they
will but open its pages and skim over its words, they will get good out of it. The Bible is good
only because of the truth that is in it, and to see this truth demands close attention. A verse must
often-times be read and re-read and read again before the wondrous message of love and power
that God has put into it begins to appear. Words must be turned over and over in the mind before
their full force and beauty takes possession of us. One must look a long time at the great
masterpieces of art to appreciate their beauty and understand their meaning, and so one must
look a long time at the great verses of the Bible to appreciate their beauty and understand their
meaning.

When you read a verse in the Bible ask yourself, What does this verse mean? Then ask:
What does it mean for me? When that is answered ask yourself again: Is that all it means? and do
not leave it until you are quite sure that is all it means for the present. You may come back at
some future time and find it means yet a great deal more. If there are any important words in the
verse weigh them, look up other passages where they are used, and try to get their full
significance. God pronounces that man blessed who "meditates" on the Word of God "day and
night." Psalm 1:2,3. An indolent skimming over a few verses or many chapters in the Bible is not
meditation, and there is not much blessing in it. Jeremiah said: "Thy words were found and I did
eat them." (Jeremiah 15:16).

Nothing is more important in eating than chewing. If one does not properly chew his
food, he is quite as likely to get dyspepsia as nourishment. Don't let anyone chew your spiritual
food for you. Insist on doing it for yourself. Any one can be a student who makes up his mind to.
It is hard at first but it soon becomes easy. I have seen very dull minds become keen by holding
them right down to the grindstone.

Study the Bible Topically

Study the Bible topically. Take up the various subjects treated in the Bible, one by one,
and go through the Bible and find what it has to say on these subjects. It may be important to
know what the great men have to say on important subjects; it is far more important to know
what God has to say on these subjects. It is important also to know all that God has to say. A
great many people know a part of what God has to say--and usually a very small part--and so
their ideas are very imperfect and one-sided. If they only knew all God had to say on the subject,
it would be far better for them and for their friends. The only way to know all God has to say on
any subject is to go through the Bible on that subject.

To do this it is not necessary to read every verse in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
It would be slow work, if we had to do that on every subject we took up. This would be
necessary were it not for Textbooks and Concordances. But in these we have the results of the
hard work of many minds. Here we have the various passages that bear on any subject brought
together and classified for use, so that now we can do in a few hours what would otherwise take
months or years. The topical method of Bible study is simplest, most fascinating and yields the
largest immediate results. It is not the only method of Bible study, and the one who pursues it
exclusively will miss much of the blessing God has for him in the Bible. But it is a very
interesting and fruitful method of study. It was Mr. Moody's favorite method. It fills one's mind
very full on any subject studied. Mr. Moody once gave several days to the study of "Grace."
When he had finished he was so full of the subject that he rushed out on the street and going up
to the first man he met he said: "Do you know anything about Grace?" "Grace who," the man
asked. "The Grace of God that bringeth salvation." And then Mr. Moody poured out upon that
man the rich treasures he had dug out of the Word of God. That is the way to master any subject
and get full of it. Go through the Bible and see what it has to say on this subject. This is easily
done. Take your Textbook and turn to the subject. Suppose the subject you desire to study is
"Prayer."

There will be found a long list of the various passages of Scripture that bear on this
subject. Look them up one after another and study them carefully and see just what their teaching
is. When you have gone through them you will know far more about prayer than you ever knew
before, and far more than you could learn by reading any books that men have written about
prayer, profitable as many of these books are. Sometimes it will be necessary to look up other
subjects that are closely related to the one in hand. For example, you wish to study what the
teaching of God's Word is regarding the atonement. In this case you will not only look under the
head "Atonement", but also under the head "Blood", and under the head "Death of Christ." To do
this work a concordance is not necessary but it is often very helpful. For example, if you are
studying the subject "Prayer" you can look up from the concordance the passages that contain the
words "pray," "prayer," "cry," "ask," "call," "supplication," "intercession," etc. But the Textbook
will give most of the passages on any subject regardless of what the words used in the passage
may be. Other passages will be found in the section on Bible Doctrines under their proper
headings.

There are four important suggestions to make regarding Topical Study of the Bible.

First:

Be systematic. Do not take up subjects for study at random. Have a carefully prepared list of the
subjects you wish to know about, and need to know about, and take them up one by one, in
order. If you do not do this, the probability is that you will have a few pet topics and will be
studying these over and over until you get to be a crank about them, and possibly a nuisance.
You will know much about these subjects, but about many other subjects equally important you
will know nothing. You will be a one-sided Christian.

Second:

Be thorough. When you take up a subject do not be content to study a few passages on this
subject, but find just as far as possible every passage in the Bible on this subject. If you find the
Textbook incomplete make additions of your own to it.

Third:

Be exact. Find the exact meaning of every passage given in the Textbook on any subject. The
way to do this is simple. In the first place note the exact words used. In the next place get the
exact meaning of the words used. This is done by finding how the word is used in the Bible. The
Bible usage of the word is not always the common use of today. For example, the Bible use of
the words "sanctification" and "justification" is not the same as the common use. Then notice
what goes before and what comes after the verse. This will oftentimes settle the meaning of a
verse when it appears doubtful. Finally see if there are any parallel passages. The meaning of
many of the most difficult passages in the Bible is made perfectly plain by some other passages
that throws light upon them. Then parallel passages are given in the margin of a good reference
Bible and still more fully in "The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge," a volume worthy of a place
in the library of every Bible student.

Fourth:

Arrange the results of your topical study in an orderly way and write them down. One should
constantly use pen and paper in Bible study. When one has gone through the Textbook on any
subject, he will have a large amount of material, but he will want to get it into usable shape. The
various passages given on any topic in the Textbook are classified, but the classification is not
always just the one best adapted to our individual use. Take for example the subject "Prayer."
The classification of texts in the topic is very suggestive, but a better one for some purposes
would be:

 Who Can Pray so that God Will Hear?

 To Whom to Pray.
 For Whom to Pray.
 When to Pray.
 Where to Pray.
 For what to Pray.
 How to Pray.
 Hindrances to Prayer.
 The Results of Prayer.
The passages given in the Textbook would come under these heads. It is well to make a
trial division of the subject before taking up the individual passages given and to arrange each
passage as we take it up under the appropriate head. We may have to add to the divisions with
which we began as we find new passages. The best classification of passages for any individual
is the one he makes for himself, although he will get helpful suggestions from others.

There are some subjects that every Christian should study and study as soon as possible.
We give a list of these:

 Sin
 The Atonement (of the Blood of Christ)
 Justification
 The New Birth
 Adoption
 Sanctification
 Holiness
 Assurance
 The Flesh
 Cleansing
 Faith
 Repentance
 Prayer
 Thanksgiving
 Praise
 Love:
 To God
 To Jesus Christ
 To Christians
 To all men
 The Future Destiny of Believers
 The Future Destiny of the Wicked:
 Punishment of the Wicked
 Death of the Wicked
 The Character of Christ
  The Resurrection of Christ
 The Ascension of Christ
 The Second Coming of Christ:
 The fact, the manner, the purpose, the results, the time
 The Reign of Christ
 The Holy Spirit
 Who and
 What He is;
 His Work
 God.
 His Attributes
 and Work
 Grace
 Messianic Prophecies
 The Church
 The Jews
 Joy
 The Judgment
 Life
 Peace
 Perfection
 Persecution

Study the Bible by chapters.

This method of Bible study is not beyond any person of average intelligence who has
fifteen minutes or more a day to put into Bible Study. It will take, however, more than one day to
the study a chapter if only fifteen minutes a day are set apart for the work.

First: Select the chapters you wish to study. It is well to take a whole book and study the
chapters in their order. The Acts of the Apostles (or the Gospel of John) is a good book to begin
with. In time one may take up every chapter in the Bible, but it would not be wise to begin with
Genesis.

Second: Read the chapter for today's study five times. It is well to read it aloud at least once.
The writer sees many things when he reads the Bible aloud that he does not see when he reads
silently. Each new reading will bring out some new point.

Third: Divide the chapters into their natural divisions and find headings for them that describe
in the most striking way their contents. For example, suppose the chapter studied is 1 John 5.
You might divide in this way:

 The Believer's Noble Parentage (vs 1-3)

 The Believer's Glorious Victory (vs 4,5)
 The Believer's Sure Ground of Faith (vs 6-10)
 The Believer's Priceless Possession (vs 11,12)
  The Believer's Blessed Assurance (v 13)
 The Believer's Unquestioning Confidence (vs 14,15)
 The Believer's Great Power and Responsibility (vs 16,17)
 The Believer's Perfect Security (vs 18,19)
 The Believer's Precious Knowledge (v 20)
 The Believer's Constant Duty (v 21)
 In many cases the natural divisions will be longer than in this chapter.
Fourth: Note the important differences between the Authorized Version and the Revised and
write them in the margin of your Bible.

Fifth: Write down the leading facts of the chapter in their proper order.

Sixth: Make a note of the persons mentioned in the chapter and of any light thrown upon their
character. For example, your chapter is Acts 16. The persons mentioned are:

 Timothy
 Timothy's mother
 Timothy's father
 The brethren at Lystra and Iconium
 Paul
 The Jews of Lystra and Iconium
 The apostles and elders at Jerusalem
 A man of Macedonia
 Luke
 Some women of Philippi
 Lydia
 The household of Lydia
 A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination
 The masters of this damsel
 Silas
 The praetors of Philippi
 The Philippian mob
 The jailor of Philippi
 The prisoners in the Philippian jail
 The household of the jailor
 The lictors of Philippi
 The brethren in Philippi
 What light does the chapter throw upon the character of each?
Seventh: Note the principal lessons of the chapter. It would be well to classify these: e.g.,
lessons about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, etc., etc.

Eighth: The Central Truth of the chapter.

Ninth: The key verse of the chapter if there is one.

Tenth: The best verse in the chapter. Opinions will differ widely here. But the question is,
which is the best verse to you at this present reading? Mark it and memorize it.

Eleventh: Note the verses that are usable as texts for sermons or talks or Bible readings. If you
have time make an analysis of the thought of these verses and write it in the margin, or on the
opposite leaf if you have an interleaved Bible.

Twelfth: Name the chapter. For example, Acts 1 might be called The Ascension Chapter; Acts
2, The Day of Pentecost Chapter; Acts 3, The Lame Man's Chapter; etc. Give your own names to
the chapters. Give the name that sets forth the most important and characteristic feature of the
chapter.

Thirteenth: Note subjects for further study. For example, you are studying Acts 1. Subjects
suggested for further study are, The Baptism with the Holy Spirit; The Ascension; The Second
Coming of Christ.

Fourteenth: Words and phrases for further study. For example you are studying John 3, you
should look up words and expressions such as, "Eternal life," "Born again," "Water," "Believer,"
"The Kingdom of God."

Fifteenth: Write down what new truth you have learned from the chapter. If you have learned
none, you had better go over it again.

Sixteenth: What truth already known has come to you with new power?

Seventeenth: What definite thing have you resolved to do as a result of studying this chapter?
A permanent record should be kept of the results of the study of each chapter. It is well to have
an interleaved Bible and keep the most important results in this.

Study the Bible as the Word of God.

The Bible is the Word of God, and we get the most good out of any book by studying it
as what it really is. It is often said that we should study the Bible just as we study any other book.
That principle contains a truth, but it also contains a great error. The Bible, it is true, is a book as
other books are books, the same laws of grammatical and literary construction and interpretation
hold here as hold in other books. But the Bible is an entirely unique book. It is what no other
book is--The Word of God. This can be easily proven to any candid man. The Bible ought then
to be studied as no other book is. It should be studied as the Word of God. (1 Thessalonians
2:13).

This involves five things.

First: A greater eagerness and more careful and candid study to find out just what it teaches than
is bestowed upon any other book or upon all other books. We must know the mind of God; here
it is revealed.
Second: A prompt and unquestioning acceptance of and submission to its teachings when
definitely ascertained, even when these teachings appear to us unreasonable or impossible. If this
book is the Word of God how foolish to submit its teachings to the criticism of our finite reason.
The little boy who discredits his wise father's statements because to his infant mind they appear
unreasonable, is not a philosopher but a fool. When we are once satisfied that the Bible is the
Word of God, its clear teachings must be the end of all controversy and discussion.

Third: Absolute reliance upon all its promises in all their length and breadth and depth and
height. The one who studies the Bible as the Word of God will say of every promise no matter
how vast and beyond belief it appears, "God who cannot lie has promised this, so I claim it for
myself." Mark the promises you thus claim. Look each day for some new promise from your
infinite Father. He has put "His riches in glory" at your disposal. (Philippians 4:19).

Fourth: Obedience--prompt, exact, unquestioning, joyous obedience--to every command that is

evident from the context applies to you. Be on the lookout for new orders from the King.
Blessing lies in the direction of obedience to them. God's commands are but signboards that
mark the road to present success and blessedness and to eternal glory.

Fifth: Studying the Bible as the Word of God, involves studying it as His own voice speaking
directly to you. When you open the Bible to study it realize that you have come into the very
presence of God and that now He is going to speak to you. Every hour thus spent in Bible study
will be an hour's walk and talk with God.

Sixth: Study the Bible prayerfully. The author of the book is willing to act as interpreter of it. He
does so when we ask Him to. The one who prays with earnestness and faith, the Psalmist's
prayer, "Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law," will get his
eyes opened to see beauties and wonders in the Word that he never dreamed of before. Be very
definite about this. Each time you open the Bible to study it for a few minutes or many, ask God
to give you the open and discerning eye, and expect Him to do it. Every time you come to a
difficulty lay it before God and ask an explanation and expect it. How often we think as we
puzzle over hard passages, "Oh if I only had so and so here to explain this." God is always
present. Take it to Him.

Seventh: Look for "the things concerning Christ" "in all the Scriptures." Christ is everywhere in
the Bible (Luke 24:27). Be on the lookout for Him and mark His presence when you find it.

Eighth: Improve spare moments in Bible study. In almost every man's life many minutes each
day are lost; while waiting for meals or trains, while riding in the car, etc. Carry a pocket Bible
or Testament with you and save these golden minutes by putting them to the very best use
listening to the voice of God. The Textbook can easily be carried in the pocket as a help in your
work.

Ninth: Store away the Scripture in your mind and heart. It will keep you from sin (Psalm 119:11
RSV), from false doctrine (Acts 20:29,30,32; 2 Timothy 3:13-15), it will fill you heart with joy
(Jeremiah 15:16), and peace (Psalm 85:8), it will give you the victory over the Evil One (1 John
2:14), it will give you power in prayer (John 15:7), it will make you wiser than the aged and your
enemies (Psalm 119:100,98,130) it will make you "complete, furnished completely unto every
good work." (2 Timothy 3:16,17 RSV). Try it. Do not memorize at random but memorize
Scripture in a connected way. Memorize texts bearing on various subjects in proper order.
Memorize by chapter and verse that you may know where to put your finger upon the text if
anyone disputes it.

A full description and illustration of various profitable methods of Bible study will be found in
Torrey's book on "How to Study the Bible for Greatest Profit."

http://www.amazon.com/How-Study-Bible/dp/0883681641/sr=1-1/
qid=1156877556/ref=sr_1_1/104-1913664-9692700?ie=UTF8&s=books

Presented by Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org

Related Articles • More Articles

What is the Into Thy Word Method?

It is a simple how to guide to help you dig into God's Word, the Bible.

Into Thy Word is geared toward challenging you to learn how to better study the Bible! We seek
to teach people to use logic induction, reasoning and good inductive and deductive principles by
examining the particulars, facts and essence of a text first before making any conclusions. Thus,
to lead a mature, meaningful, fruitful, character driven life for Christ's glory!
Profitable Bible Study
There are many profitable methods of Bible Study. There is something, however, in Bible study
more important than the best methods, that is, the fundamental conditions of profitable study.
Understanding Apocalyptic Literature
Apocalyptic, as a term in the common vernacular or dictionary definition, means something that
is written in an ominous, threatening way. It is scary, thwarting, and about boding evil. The
dictionary tells us it is presaging people of imminent disaster, exaggerated predictions, or
allusions of the Last Days. However, this is not what it meant in the original Greek or Hebrew or
in the time this term was penned. What did it mean? It means...