Learning to Study the Bible is an eight-week study for
adults, exploring the biblical history and methods of
interpretations using the classic questions: Who? What? When?
Where? Why? and How? This study explores geography, archeology,
biblical genre, context, and interpretation. Participants will also
learn how to use important biblical resources such as Bible
dictionaries, commentaries, concordances, and more.
The goal of Learning To Study the Bible is to equip
participants to read and study the Bible for themselves. It seeks
to deepens one's understanding of the biblical stories and to help
participants grow in their biblical faith. Tween version of this
resource is also available.
Session Outline and Learning
Goals:
- Who? Author and Audience
- Learn about the authors and original audiences
of the Bible
- Use a Bible dictionary
- Sharpen deductive reasoning skills in biblical
interpretation
- What? Genre
- Introduce and explore biblical
genres
- Learn to use Bible commentaries and apps to
identify possible genres of texts
- Explore the significance of genre for biblical
interpretation
- When? Context
- Investigate the connection between context and
meaning
- Spark curiosity about biblical and modern
cultural contexts
- Use Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and
handbooks to research biblical context
- Where? Geography
- Spark curiosity about the biblical
landscape
- Prompt reflection on the relationship between
land and daily life
- Use biblical maps and archaeological research
to explore biblical geography
- Why? Interpretation
- Create awareness of interpretive lenses and
layers
- Spark curiosity about our own and others’
interpretive lenses
- Use a concordance and various translations to
compare meanings
- How? Read Closely
- Cultivate appreciation for the way our
ancestors preserved the biblical text
- Practice reading carefully and paying
attention
- Discover the four meanings of Scripture and
practice interpreting them
- How? Reread
- Create awareness of our own role in making
meaning
- Prompt reflection on the nature of Scripture
as the “living word of God”
- Practice the ancient tradition of divine
reading
- How? Read Together
- Create awareness of the diversity of voices
within the canon
- Inspire students to enter into the
centuries-long biblical conversation
- Practice reading the Bible
inter-canonically