Paradise Café Discussions A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

Points For Bible Reading
I. Background of the passage
A. Main theme of the whole book?
B. Author’s purposes?
C. Author’s background?
D. Historical setting? Where Is author where is he from, where is readers where are they from what was culture like people like problems luxuries.
E. What kind of literature is this? Parable, poetry, prophesy, teaching?
F. Reader’s Understanding/Context - To Whom Written?
G. Usage of Other Scriptural Concepts - Quotations? Does he quote other passages..
II. Immediate Context
A. Read passage in at least three different translations.
B. What immediately precedes and follows the passage?
C. Are any definitions provided by the immediate context?
D. What is the main subject/point of the entire chapter?
E. What is the main point of the passage itself?
F. What is the consistent understanding of the passage in this context?
III. Broad Context
A. Does my understanding make this passage contradictory with
1. the author himself?
2. other Biblical passages?
3. common sense?
B. What other passages in Scripture bear directly on the issues raised in this passage?
If further understanding is needed
I. Identification of Key Terms
A. List the “key” words in the passage.
B. Are their meanings clear? How do the translations differ at this point?
C. Check a concordance for the meaning of the words in the original languages.
D. Examine the usage of the word (in original language) by the author, then in other books.
E. If in the Greek scriptures , see how terms were used in Hebrew. If Hebrew, see and compare how concept is picked up by Greek.
F. See if the phrase is an idiom of the language.
II. Word Studies/Syntactical Studies
A. Check a dictionary on usage of term .
B. Examine the meaning of the word each time it is used in scripture for a fuller picture
C. Examine the way the word is used in the context grammatically, and understand the relationship of the word in regard to the words surrounding it.
III. Textual Studies
A. Consult an interlinear of the passage in the original languages.
B. Examine any textual variants that effect understanding.
C. Determine possible fuller picture presented of understanding of various readings.
Six Things to Look For
1. Things that are emphasized
2. Things that are repeated
3. Things that are related.
4. Things that are alike, & Unlike
5. Things that are true to life, what you’ve experienced and can relate to.
6. Things that are figurative.
Now apply what you’ve learned to your own life

A book i would advise to get is living by the book, its a great great bible study teaching book, (sad i had to buy that huh) the where was he when he wrote this who was he writing to and what were the cultures like is important too, cause for small points like when Pau writes rejoice again i say rejoice, think about where he was in a smelly dirty prison cell about to be executed,how was he able to amintain such an attitue in such condition, look at the context,see this is necisary stuff we as witnesses didnt learn, we were taughtto be dependant on people not necisarily God. We were given a fish, not taught how to fish. And im sure for fear we would start our own fishing company (figuratively speaking) and some would yea,but those ones arent the ones you need anyway, you can control even an evil person by fear and only to a degree, once they get a chance they will stab you in the back, but love, that attracts the good.

thats a good point tho, i think we all should contribute to this improve mine and improve yours,yours is realy encouraging to me and im going to use it thank you bro, because i was a bit discouraged on how i can study with people.