Studying with Purpose: How to Read the Bible with Prayer, Insight, and Context

Studying with Purpose: How to Read the Bible with Prayer, Insight, and Context

(This Bible Study Tips was written by one of our incarcerated students, sharing their faith and study of God’s Word.)

With all Bible studies, always start with prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide you, Christ to intercede for you, and thanking God for His word. Learning more about God’s word for ourselves helps us grow into a deeper relationship with Him and His Son, and it is also a way of guarding yourself against false teachings.

The first is an OIA; observation, interpretation, and application. Simply put, when reading a particular passage, the first question in observation is, “What do I see?” (new, unusual, or unique). The next is your interpretation, keeping close to what you know about God and Jesus. The question asked is, “What does this passage mean to me?” Finally, applying this to your life is important. “How does this fit into the questions I have?” such as my salvation, sanctification, or relationship with Christ.

The next is a HiCup (hiccup). This requires study tools such as biblical dictionaries, encyclopedias, and word study guides. Three things to remember in this study; 1) While the word is timeless, the writers of the New Testament were writing to 1st century believers in the 1st century. 2) It was written in the world of the Middle East, and 3) Read what comes before and after to get a context to the passage.

The H stands for the historical aspect (when). What was happening then historically? The C stands for cultural (why). Culture is crucial in understanding the stories told by Jesus, as the culture in the Middle East was drastically different than today. Jesus was Jewish, speaking to Jews. Finally, P stands for physical (where). Knowing the geography and surrounding regions that Jesus walked, and how it played a part in him preaching and teaching, is significant.

-Richard M.