How to study the Bible and understand its teachings

The Bible is the text that God left us to know his message. Know how to study the bible? Enter this post, and learn what the books, chapters and verses mean, so you can look for any biblical quote

how to study the bible

Many people seek God and read the Bible trying to get what message he has for us. But if you don't know how to study the bible or how to read it you will not be able to decipher his Word. To do this, we recommend that you learn to identify the Parts of the Bible.

The Bible is a text that is made up of different books, but it should not be read chronologically. This means that you should not read from Genesis to Revelation, which is the last primer found in the Bible.

The Word of the Lord is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. For people who want to start unraveling the mysteries of the Bible they should start reading the Word in the New Testament. Which begins with the Gospel according to Saint John.

The Bible

Now what is the Bible? The Bible or the Holy Scriptures is a compendium of sixty-six (66) books which were written over a period of approximately 1.500 years. As authors it has forty people and most of each of them did not know each other at any time. Its name comes from the Latin word biblos which means Book of books.

The wonderful thing about the Bible is that although its authors did not know each other and their books were written at different times. These maintain a consistent timeline that has been verified over time. It is the oldest text that exists in humanity of which there are archaeological and philosophical records.

The Bible is the one that contains the revelation of God's thought for us, it also reveals to us where we come from? Who are we? Where are we going? There is no text in the world that makes the affirmations that the Holy Scriptures make. . Those who claim to have the truths to these questions only have different theories, which is defined according to the Royal Spanish Academy as:

"Speculative knowledge considered independently of any application.

How to study the Bible and where its Inspiration comes from

The Holy Scriptures is a text that was not written by human inspiration or imagination. When we read the Bible we find that the theme is based on what would be God's plan for Salvation through his Son.

For this reason the Bible cannot have an individual interpretation since we can make the mistake of specifying some texts incorrectly. This clarification is made by the apostle Peter when he tells us the following:

2 Peter 1: 19-21

¹⁹ We also have the safest prophetic word, to which you do well to be attentive as to a torch that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

²⁰ understanding this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation,

This verse refers in the first place that the Bible is the only light within so many darknesses, philosophies and sects that exist. That is why as Christians we must take refuge in the Holy Scriptures until Jesus comes the second time.

Second, the apostle makes it clear that the interpretation of the Word of God cannot be private or interpreted by human beings. Since the Bible was written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we need God in our lives in order to understand the message that he has for us.

revelation of the bible

The Bible, being the inspiration of God, is a text that is revealed, not interpreted. This means that due to our human condition we have limitations in our mind, which makes us reach a point of understanding but not of wisdom.

The wisdom we need to know how to study the Bible, is given to us only by Christ through the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Truth, as a consequence of us accepting that He is our God, our Savior, living under His commands and maintaining a connection constant with Jesus through prayer and Bible study.

1 Corintios 2: 10

¹⁰ But God revealed them to us by the Spirit; because the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

To understand how to study the Bible we must ask God to give us the wisdom to understand its message. Since the sixty-six books interpenetrate each other, therefore they must be searched and studied word by word. All the things that the Jews did not understand in the Old Testament the Lord reveals in the New. And in the New Testament we find prophecies that would be fulfilled in these books.

2 Timoteo 3: 16

¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God, and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, training in righteousness,

The Holy Scriptures for us Christians is the perfect manual to establish our way of living. In the previous verse God shows us that with her we can learn about how to be in his presence. The Bible teaches us which is the path that Jesus wants us to travel. The Holy Scriptures likewise teach us how we can return to the Lord Jesus if we stray from his path. And lastly, he gives us the keys on how to stay by Christ's side to walk the path that will lead us to eternal life.

the power of the bible

As we have already learned, the Bible is a wonderful text which has unique characteristics. However, the Holy Scriptures not only show us or teach us the things of God. The Bible, thanks to the anointing it has through the Holy Spirit, transforms our lives.

We as Christians and human beings, know that while we are on Earth we will be presented with different turbulences that move us. However, we know that we have the Lord Jesus Christ on our side who will support us like a rock so as not to fall or faint. Our concerns of whatever nature, can be addressed by different verses or passages of the Bible. As you sleeve yourself with the strength that only God can give us through the Holy Spirit, rest assured that God's message will transform your life.

The Holy Spirit gives various names to the Bible because it would not be enough to give this sacred text this title. Within the Holy Scriptures we can read the other names that God grants him such as the Law, the Commandments, the Fear and the Judgments of Jehovah. All of these descriptions are part of the power of the Word to change our lives.

Bible Basics

Before beginning to study the Bible as Christians, we must take into consideration three fundamental bases on which we must rely to achieve the task of understanding the Word of God. These fundamentals are:

The Bible is a sealed book:

This refers to the fact that in order to understand the Holy Scriptures, the person must recognize the Lord Jesus Christ and live in his commandments and teachings, so that the Holy Spirit dwells in him, who will give the wisdom of God to remove the seals of the Word. This is because our capacity for understanding is finite, and to understand each of the wonders that the Lord has for us, we must let God act in our lives to be touched by the Holy Spirit and understand the Holy Scriptures.

If a person who does not have these characteristics reads the Bible, he will understand it in a superficial way, as if he were reading any story, but he will not understand the message of Salvation that God has for each one of the chosen ones since before the foundation.

Matthew 11: 25

²⁵ At that time, Jesus answered and said: I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you hid these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to babes.

It is important that we understand that when we want to learn how to study the Bible we must do so with a humble attitude. The Lord asks us that when we seek his voice we do it like children, this means that we do it as if we did not know anything so as not to find ourselves with previous prejudices which can prevent us from understanding or rejecting the Word of God the Father.

The Bible can only be revealed by the Holy Spirit

Jesus knew that at the time of his death the apostles would feel an emptiness and their spirits would be grieved by all the things they would see. For this reason, before being betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Christ promised them that He would intercede with the Father so that the Spirit would be sent to fill his place while preparing for his second coming.

The Holy Spirit is the one who teaches us and reminds us of all the things that Jesus taught us while he was on Earth. Christ promised us that we would not be alone and he fulfilled it, since every day as Christians we have the Spirit of Truth with us, with the only condition of staying on the path of God the Father.

Humility and Meekness to study the Bible

Humility is one of the things that we have to have when looking for how to study the Bible, since we are human beings who have limitations. On the other hand, the Lord shows us in his Word that it is necessary that we also have meekness, which is defined as docility, which is not being arrogant, to receive each one of the teachings that the Holy Spirit has kept for us.

Need to study the Bible

We Christians want to get closer to God every day and when we see how to study the Bible we realize that it is necessary for several facets, which are:

spiritual growth

One of the main reasons why we should study the Word of God every day is because in this way we grow strong spiritually speaking. It is necessary for us to read God's message so as not to weaken our spirits. When we turn away and stop reading the Holy Scriptures, regardless of the reason, we are moving away from God day by day, that makes us vulnerable to Satan's attacks.

When we separate ourselves from the Lord several things happen, one of them is that we let go of our Savior's hand and return to the world, when that happens Jesus can only wait for us on the path that He has marked out for us. Second, we become vulnerable to temptations and attacks from the enemy. On the other hand, we know that when we are away from the presence of the Lord we feel alone and useless, so our Faith begins to falter.

As Christians we must feed our spirit in the same way we eat, we must have a daily communion with the Lord, read his Word, pray, bless him and exalt him, so that we are always with him.

Pedro 1 2: 2

² Desire, like newborn children, the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow to salvation,

we overcome sin

Jesus when he was on the Cross of Calvary paid for each of our sins. If Christ had not died, none of us would have had any opportunity to enjoy eternal life with the Father. Eternal life is only achieved if we are free from sin, that is why the sacrifice that God made with his Son is so important. This is an act of love that has no comparison. God has so much love for each of us that he died to save us. He only expects us to believe that his sacrifice was real, that we confess it and live in his commandments to have his presence in us.

On the other hand, when we receive Christ into our lives, we as disciples have the power to overcome sin. In the Holy Scriptures it shows us that the Lord knows our condition as human beings but when they come to the Cross we must recognize that we are sinners with humility and meekness. We see this in the following passage from the Bible

Romans 6: 6

⁶ knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, so that the body of sin might be destroyed, so that we no longer serve sin.

The Holy Scriptures tell us that the wages of sin is death, the only way by which we can be saved is by dying with Christ on the Cross of Calvary, so when we arrive, let us bow our heads and praise the good works that Jesus has done. for us and we are grateful for their sacrifice. Those of us who are with Christ are new creatures and the past is over.

It is important to understand that this sacrifice means that Jesus took the blame for our sins, but God left us the sin nature so that as Christians we have the power to overcome sin, we just have to stop obeying the sinful wills that we have within us.

structure of the bible

The Bible is made up of sixty-six (66) books that are classified into the Old Testament and New Testament. The Old Testament is made up of thirty-nine (39) books, its authors were thirty-two (32). These belonged to different social strata which ranged from shepherds to priests. While the New Testament is made up of twenty-seven (27) books that contain the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the letters and the Apocalypse.

how to study the bible

As we read at the beginning of this article, the Bible is a text that should not be read as it is bound, we must start with the New Testament. It is important that when you want to learn how to study the Bible, you go into prayer and ask the Lord to fill you with Wisdom so that you can understand the things hidden within these writings.

New Testament

To start studying the Bible you must start with the New Testament, it contains all the promises that Jehovah made in the Old Testament. The New Testament is also known as the New Covenant.

As Christians we must know that covenants have always existed since the creation of the world. This happens because God knows that as human beings we are fragile and that the only way we can be victorious is with Him. The pacts are the clear example that Christ loves us in a way that He always looks for a way to keep us protected in the spiritual world.

When we begin to read the New Testament, the first thing we find are the Gospels and it is from this point that we must begin. Here is a guide on how to study the Bible

Gospel of John

It is advisable to start reading this Gospel since it is a book that the Holy Spirit focused on the reflection of what Jesus of Nazareth means. Among the most outstanding characteristics of this Gospel we have that a considerable number of symbolisms that define the ministry of Jesus on Earth are represented in this book.

The Gospel of John is a book that dates back to the year 90 AD and is made up of twelve (12) chapters and eight hundred and seventy-nine (879) verses, which are classified into three parts as follows:

• Part One:

This part is made up of chapters one (1) to twelve (12) and is known as the Books of Signs, it also has another distinction that is "the time has not yet come". When we carefully read the first twelve (12) chapters, we find different signs that Jesus did while being among us, such as the conversion of water to wine at the wedding in Canaan, the healing of the sick, the multiplication of fish and the bread and the raising of Lazarus.

• Part Two

The Gospel of John between chapters thirteen (13) and twenty (20) are known as the Book of the Passion or as "the hour has come". In these chapters we are told what were the last moments of Jesus on Earth and the great pain he suffered because of the mistreatment before, during and after his death. This second part ends with the resurrection of the Son of God announcing his ascent to the Father.

• Third part:

It only consists of the last chapter on twenty-one (21) but it expresses the moment where Jesus shows himself to his apostles, ending by announcing that only some things were written in this Gospel since the world could not sustain all the things that Christ did while on Earth. .

Juan 21: 19

¹⁹ This he said, implying with what death he was to glorify God. And having said this, he added: Follow me.

1st Letter of John

The first letter of John you get in the New Testament is the second book we will read if we want to know how to study the Bible. It is a Book that is composed of five (5) chapters and one hundred and five (105) verses which are dedicated to the Christian peoples of Asia Minor.

In this first epistle of John we can see how he declares with fervor and joy that God is love, justice, truth and mercy. In this letter, John speaks clearly to us of the fidelity and love of Jesus for each one of us.

1 Juan 3: 20

²⁰ for if our heart rebukes us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows all things.

• Gospel of Saint Mark

It is a Gospel that dates back to the 70s AD and is made up of sixteen (16) chapters and six hundred and seventy-eight (678) verses. Which focus on the life of subjection that Jesus Christ had to God the Father.

It is the shortest of the four Gospels of the Bible, but for this reason it is still important since it showed us how we must submit to the will of God. The Gospel of Mark tells us about the events that occurred from the life of Jesus to his resurrection.

Mark 10: 25

²⁵ It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

• Colossians

This epistemology was written by the apostle Paul to the people of Colossae who lived in the southwest of Asia Less. This letter consists of four (4) chapters and ninety-five (95) verses that focus

The reason for this letter focuses on the spiritual knowledge that Christians should have, the book warns of how darkness, principalities and powers can enter our lives if we are not maintaining a closeness with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Col. 2: 20

²⁰ For if you have died with Christ as to the rudiments of the world, why, as if you lived in the world, do you submit to precepts

1 Thessalonians

It is a letter that has Paul as its author, it consists of five (5) chapters and eighty-nine (89) verses. From which follows moral instructions that Paul makes to the Church that is located in Thessaloniki.

Which will prepare the Church of God the Father for the second coming of Christ. For what makes us a call to live with Faith and under the mandates established by God the Father.

1 thessalonians 4:1

4  For the rest, brothers, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that in the way that you learned from us how it is convenient for you to conduct yourselves and please God, so you may abound more and more.

2 Thessalonians

This book is the 2nd letter that Paul sends to the Church of Thessalonica and is made up of three (3) chapters and forty-seven (47) verses. The 2nd epistle that is delivered to this Church refers to what is going to happen after we meet with the Lord Jesus after the rapture of the Church. This moment is known as the Great Tribulation.

Paul urges us not to believe in false prophets, not to allow our spirit to be stained with false words, that is why it is of the utmost importance to grow spiritually within the Word of God day by day.

2 thessalonians 2:2

² that you be not easily moved from your way of thinking, nor be disturbed, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as if it were ours, in the sense that the day of the Lord is near.

1 Timothy

It is another of the letters written by Paul and is made up of six (6) chapters and one hundred and thirteen (113) verses. This epistle that focuses on the ethics that rulers should have within the Church. It is a call to composure and good customs dictated by Christ.

2nd Timothy

It is a book that contains four (4) chapters and eighty-three (83) verses. This letter has a great emotional charge since Paul would be executed for his Faith, In this epistle he declares that he will be executed but that in his heart there is no fear or cowardice since his Faith is placed in the Lord Jesus .

Galatians

This letter, authored by Pablo, is addressed to each of the Christians who lived in the province of Galicia in Asia Minor. It is a book that is made up of six (6) chapters and one hundred and forty-nine (149) verses. Which have as their central theme the call for attention by Paul to this community since they began to lose orientation and returned to the Mosaic Law found in the Old Testament.

Ephesians

The Epistle to the Ephesians is another of Paul's letters while he was in prison. It contains six (6) chapters and one hundred fifty-five (155) verses, which shows us in a very passionate way the meaning of the glory of our salvation, the importance of the Church as the body of Christ and how each one of us Christians are soldiers in the battle against Satan.

Philippians

It is a letter that Paul wrote to the Philippians thanking them for the offering they sent him to prison. It also focuses on the union, humility, love and joy that the Christian life should represent. It is a book of the Bible consisting of four (4) and one hundred and four (104) verses.

Tito

It is an epistle written by Paul of Tarsus to Titus where he instructs him in three fundamental aspects for the church which are: the character and responsibility of each one of the leaders of the churches, maintaining the true doctrine of the gospels and finally the importance of the behavior of each of the Christians within the world. It is a book consisting of three (3) chapters and forty-six (46) verses.

Philemon

It is a book of the Bible that contains a single chapter and twenty-five (25) verses, it is a letter that Paul wrote while he was in prison with Timothy and is addressed to Philemon who was a leader in one of the many churches in Colossae. It is an epistle that focuses on forgiveness and reconciliation between Christians.

Gospel of Luke

It is the third Gospel found in the New Testament. It is written by the apostle Luke and is the longest of the four containing twenty-four (24) chapters and one thousand one hundred and fifty-one (1.151) verses. The main objective of the Gospel of Luke is that people who do not have faith in Jesus understand the importance of his life, death and resurrection to understand salvation.

Acts of the Apostles

This New Testament book takes place between the ascension of Christ with his Father and Paul's imprisonment in Rome. Its author is Luke and this book is identified as the continuation of the Gospel of Luke and focuses on how the rise of Jesus to heaven with his Father marks the acceptance of the Holy Spirit among Christians and summons the foundation of Faith in Christ Jesus with the purpose of guiding us towards the glory of the new people of God.

Letter to the Romans

The Letter to the Romans or Romans as it is popularly known, consists of sixteen (16) books and four hundred and forty-three (433) verses. This book of the Bible carries as its central message the power of God for salvation to all those who believe in Him.

The letter to the Romans written by Paul begins by indicating that each of us needs the salvation that Jesus gives us through the Cross of the Clavary. Later Paul teaches us that hope is what God gave us and not what we as human beings believe we have.

Gospel of Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew is one of the four (4) Gospels that make up the Bible, it is a text written by the apostle Matthew and contains twenty-eight (28) chapters and a total of one thousand seventy-one (1.071) verses. It was a Gospel that was written to the Jewish community to show them that the Messiah promised to them in the Old Testament is Jesus of Nazareth.

Universal Epistles

In this part of how to study the Bible you will read and understand the Book of James, 1st and 2nd Peter, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd letters of John and finally you will enter the book of Jude. These letters focus on the dogmatic aspects that the people of God must have.

How to Study the Bible in the Old Testament

At this point in the Bible study you have already read practically the entire New Testament, you have seen, understood and accepted the grace, mercy and goodness of Jesus' sacrifice for each one of us Christians in heart, mind and soul.

You will realize that the only book that we need to read is the Apocalypse, we will leave that last since you need to read them with two chapters that are within the Old Testament. Now, you are going to read this part of the Bible chronologically except for the Books of Daniel and Ezekiel, which we will read at the end.

Structure of the Old Testament

The Old Testament is characterized by having four specific foundations to learn how to study the Bible, these are:

• Universal Cosmic Foundation

It is based on how God created the Universe in seven days. We read these explanations in Genesis chapter one (1) where Jehovah shows us the power of creation.

• Historical Foundation

In these pentateuchs the creation of man and woman is observed and how their descendants were growing and populating the Earth.

• Religious Foundation

From the beginning of the Word the Lord defines his character, his love and his mercy with us from original sin.

• Prophetic Foundation

From the beginning of creation, Jehovah gave us prophecies that he would send a Messiah, his Son Jesus, for the salvation of each one of those he chose before the foundation.

Now, the books that make up the Old Testament are classified into four large groups, which are:

The Pentateuch

This group is made up of the first five chapters of the Bible which are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They are known by the books called “the Law of Jehovah” or “The Book of Moses”.

Historical Bible Books

This set of books is what we will examine when we learn how to study the Bible from the entrance of the Promised Land to the Jews under the leadership of Joshua and ends in the partial return after experiencing slavery in Babylon.

This classification of books is made up of the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and ends with Esther.

These books show us how the nation chosen by God the Father had movements within all the Jews. In the same way, in these texts, several characters are found who prophesied the Word of Jehovah.

Poetic and wisdom books

In the context of the books within the Bible, they are the ones that overflow the praises and prayers that the Jews gave to God the Father. Today in any brokenness we as Christians are advised to go to Proverbs or the Psalms and we will find relief.

Prophetic books

In this category of Old Testament books we will see how God used men. Those men who were under his grace were known as prophets and Jehovah used them to inform of the coming of the Messiah. In this classification we find the prophets who are called the "major prophets" who are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

These men were chosen by God the Father in historical moments of the Israeli people, through dreams or the voice of Jehovah. It showed things that would happen in the New Testament.

book of apocalypse

Finally, when we decide to know how to study the Bible, we must simultaneously understand three texts: the Book of Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation. The first thing we must take into consideration is that we have to enter into prayer to understand these texts. On the other hand, we cannot allow ourselves to be afraid of the things that are explained here. We must remember that the children of God will go with Him before the Great Tribulation arrives.

These texts reveal to us what the second coming of Jesus Christ will be like. The importance that we Christians, his Church, be prepared for each of the events that confront us. That is why God asks us throughout the Holy Scriptures to live under his mantle and be free from sin.

Final structures of how to study the Bible

As we have already read, the Bible tells us of the immense love and mercy that God has for each one of us. As Christians we must prepare ourselves spiritually to remain under the pleasure of God and fulfill each one of his mandates. Let us thank in prayer the sacrifice that God made on the Cross of Calvary for each one of us. Make up your mind to study the Word for an hour a day and commune with God. Do not see it as an obligation but as something necessary to feed your spirit daily. And as a last recommendation when you decide how to study the Bible, pray and ask Jehovah for wisdom and understanding. So that it is He who guides your steps through this study. And may the Holy Spirit reveal to you the hidden promises that the Lord has for each of us.

Now we invite you to read the following link so that you continue with the communion of the Lord Jesus Holy Gospel Supper

We also leave you this video so you have more techniques when you decide how to study the Bible.