Book Bible Studies

By Pastor Ron Jones, D.D., © 2010, The Titus Institute

Bible Book Studies are focused on using Bible study resources to study a particular book of the Bible to grow in your knowledge of Jesus Christ and his will for your life.

There are two simple methods you can use:

1. The Commentary Method

2. The Audio Method

1. The Commentary Method

A commentary is a book written by a OT or NT scholar explaining a Bible book verse by verse.

To use this approach to study a particular book of the Bible, you can choose a commentary on the book you want to study. (See below for some suggestions)

1. Pray and ask the Lord to help you understand and apply his Word to your life as you study. Confess any known sin in your life that you might study with a pure heart.

2. Read through a few verses or a small section of the book at a time.

Commentaries usually divide up their discussion of the gospel text by paragraphs. The best way is to go one section at time. Rushing through is not the goal. We need to take time and do small sections so they sink into our minds.

3. Open up the commentary to the proper section to see which verses the section covers. Then open up your Bible and read the verses that are to be explained in the commentary in that section.

Then read a few paragraphs above and after to get an idea of the context of the passage. The gospels tend to be divided up in sections by the editors of your translation. Read the section in which the passage occurs. Then go to step 3.

4. Read through the commentary, taking your time to understand what is being said. Try to understand what the main point of the passage is that the commentator is explaining. Let him use his gift to teach you God’s truths in this passage.

5. Ask the following questions (some of the questions may not apply to a particular passage so answer only the ones that do):

1) What does this passage mean by what it says?

The commentator will help you understand what the Scriptures mean.

2) What is God my Father telling me (his son/daughter) about himself, his Son or His Spirit in this passage?

3) What is God my Father telling me about our relationship in this passage?

4) What is God my Father telling me about what he desires for me in this passage? What is he telling me about my thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, words, or actions?

5) Do I need to make a change in my life as I result of what I have learned in this passage?

It could be changing a belief or attitude I possess or changing a word or action I am prone to doing.

6. Praise and thank the Lord for what you have learned. Confess any sin that you have become aware of as a result of studying this passage.

7. Think about this passage and these truths (your answers to the above questions) you learned during the day. We call this meditating on the word.

Bible Book Commentary Resources free online

 

Bible Book Commentary Resources you can purchase

John MacArthur Commentaries

2. The Audio Approach

This is a great way for Christians to grow in Christ as you commute to work each day. The only thing you will not be able to do is read the Bible while you are driving.

Use the same method as above, but listen to audio tapes of sermons or Christian books.

Bible Book Audio Sermons Links