Tips and Tricks for serious Bible Study

As a student of the Bible for many years, I’ve picked up, by trial and error, some unusual tips and tricks that have helped me immensely. Perhaps you’ll find some helpful, too.

My favorite approach with a new Bible is to underline in a logical, helpful fashion, using various colors. Here’s a suggestion:

1. Begin fresh with a new (or, unmarked Bible).

2. Assign various colors to certain subjects: Here are my favorite ones:

·                     Red = identifying the Lord Jesus Christ

·                     Green = identifying specific passages / verses on the “end times”.

·                     Yellow = identifying the Holy Spirit.

·                     Blue = identifying God the Father

·                     Brown = identifying Old Testament passages located in the New Testament.

·                     Purple = identifying phrases, verses that clearly indicate God is speaking or commanding (“Thus says the Lord”, “the Lord came to …, saying…”, etc.)

Be sure to use either a colored pencil or a ball-point (preferably “fine”) pen. Don’t use gel pens and the like; they will bleed through. Don’t use hi-liters for the same reason. I found a colored pencil type called “Twistables” by Crayola; they’re great, and do not require sharpening. For pens, one of my favorites the BP Zebra F-301, but they’re hard to find in many colors. A simple Bic stick pen works fine, and is very economical. However, they tend to be “medium”, which is not so fine (no pun intended).

Get a small, transparent, flexible ruler to use with your pens or pencils for underlining. I use the markers that come with DayTimer products. Find a plastic pencil box to hold all your instruments.

Now, pick a simple, short book or epistle and begin. Go through it chapter by chapter. Begin by underlining in Red any direct labeling of the Lord Jesus Christ – Jesus, Lord Jesus, Christ Jesus the Lord, etc.

Then, do the same thing for the Holy Spirit; then, for God (Father). Continue through your colors for that chapter until you have underlined anything that fits your categories.

What has happened? Well, you’ve quickly and carefully read that chapter 5 or more times. Isn’t it amazing how much you’ve seen and remembered about it, while seeking these specific items?

Do this for the next chapter, and on through the entire little book or epistle. I would recommend you start with James, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, and Galatians. Why? Because these are the first epistles available to the early church, in that order. I’ve found it quite interesting and helpful to go through the New Testament in order of their writing.

So, if you do so, here is the rest of the order, as I see them: 1 Cor., Romans, 2 Cor., Philemon, Matthew, Ephesians, Luke, Acts, Philippians, Mark, Colossians, 1 Timothy, Titus, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 2 Timothy, Hebrews, Jude, Gospel of John, 1,2, 3 John, and Revelation.

When  you’ve finished that, you can try the Old Testament in similar fashion. In a future blog, I’ll suggest a chronological order for this, too.

You’re not on a time schedule, so go at whatever pace you like. Multiple readings of a few books, using this underlining technique, will give you a better grasp of what they really say. So, just start, and move along as you can. You’ll find it’s stimulating, informative, and sometimes exciting; and, you’ll definitely improve your understanding of what the Bible really says.

Another time, I’ll share another technique that has helped me; I call it “headlining”, or writing heads to chapters, as an aid to thinking your way through a book. Look for it.  Bill.