BIB-101
Hermeneutics: How to Study Scripture
Sound principles for interpreting the Bible in context, instead of proof-texting.
Topics: Interpretation, Context, Word study
Suggested resource: Free Strong's Concordance and interlinear tools on Blue Letter Bible.
Week 1: Context Is King
Reading: Anchor texts: 2 Timothy 2:15; Nehemiah 8:8
The single most common cause of bad Bible teaching is pulling a verse out of its context — its sentence, paragraph, book, and historical setting — and making it say something the original writer never intended. Paul's charge to Timothy sets the standard: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) — the phrase “rightly dividing” pictures a workman cutting a straight, accurate line, not carelessly hacking a text apart to make it say whatever is convenient. Before asking “what does this mean to me,” always ask three questions first: who wrote this, to whom, and why? What comes immediately before and after this verse? And what did these words mean to the original audience, in their own time and culture? Only after answering those can you responsibly ask what a passage means for you today.
Key terms: Context, Authorial intent, Historical-grammatical method
Discussion Questions
- Think of a verse you've heard misused because it was taken out of context. What was the actual context, and how did that change its meaning?
Challenge: Pick any verse you've memorized and read the entire chapter it comes from. Write down anything that surprised you.
Week 2: Let Scripture Interpret Scripture
Reading: Isaiah 28:9–10; Acts 17:11
Scripture is its own best commentary — a difficult or ambiguous passage is almost always clarified somewhere else in the Bible, and clear passages should govern how you read unclear ones, not the other way around. Cross-referencing, using a concordance, and comparing how the same word or phrase is used elsewhere are basic tools every serious student needs. This is also where Bible study can go wrong in the other direction — assembling a chain of loosely related verses to build a doctrine none of them actually teach on their own. The Bereans in Acts 17:11 are your model: they didn't just accept Paul's teaching, and they didn't reject it either — they searched the Scriptures to verify it.
Key terms: Cross-reference, Concordance, Proof-texting, The Berean pattern
Discussion Questions
- What's the difference between genuinely letting Scripture interpret Scripture and stringing together verses to support a conclusion you already reached?
Challenge: Pick one doctrine you hold strongly and find at least five separate passages, in different books, that support it independently.
Week 3: From Ancient Text to Present Application
Reading: 2 Timothy 3:16–17
Not every command in Scripture applies the same way today — some were tied to a specific covenant, culture, or occasion, while moral commands rooted in God's own character remain constant. Sound application asks: what was the timeless principle behind this command, and how does that principle apply in my own setting? This is also where humility matters: sincere believers can study the very same text and land in different places on secondary issues. Hold your convictions firmly where Scripture is clear, and hold your conclusions humbly where honest people disagree.
Key terms: Principle vs. command, Cultural vs. moral, Application
Discussion Questions
- Where have you seen someone apply a biblical principle poorly — either too rigidly or too loosely?
Challenge: Take one Old Testament law and write out the timeless principle behind it, separate from its ancient cultural form.
Course Exam
Five questions for review or self-testing.
Q: What are the three context questions to ask before interpreting a verse?
Reveal Answer
Who wrote it, to whom, and why; what comes before and after it; and what it meant to the original audience.
Q: What does 'proof-texting' mean, and why is it a problem?
Reveal Answer
Stringing together verses out of context to support a conclusion already reached, rather than letting Scripture's actual meaning drive the conclusion.
Q: Who models the right approach to checking teaching against Scripture, and where?
Reveal Answer
The Bereans in Acts 17:11, who searched the Scriptures to verify Paul's teaching.
Q: What is the difference between a timeless principle and a culturally bound command?
Reveal Answer
A principle reflects God's unchanging character and still applies; a culturally bound command was tied to a specific covenant, culture, or occasion.
Q: Why does sound hermeneutics matter for teaching others?
Reveal Answer
Because misreading a passage out of context leads to teaching error, however sincere the intent.