This document provides guidance on how to carefully observe and study a book of the Bible. It recommends reading the entire book at once without stopping to get an overall sense. When re-reading, the document instructs to look for key book words, section words, conclusion/connector words, and key verses/phrases. Noting these recurring terms helps uncover themes and relationships between different parts of the book to aid deeper interpretation. Careful observation of word patterns and emphases lays the foundation for sound biblical interpretation and application.
2. Observation
The Bible is meant to be bread for daily
use, not cake for special occasions.
That means we need to roll up our
sleeves and do the hard work of Bible
Study.
3. Observation
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
You can see a lot just by looking.
Yogi Berra
4. Observation
In Observation we excavate. In Interpretation we erect.
And buildings are always determined by their foundations.
The more substantial the foundation, the more substantial
the superstructure...In the same way, the quality of your
interpretation will always depend on the quality of your
observation.
Therefore, to observe well is to interpret well.
Observation is never an end in itself but always a means
to an end.
5. Observation
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present
yourself approved to God as a workman who
does not need to be ashamed, accurately
handling the word of truth.
11. 1. KEY BOOK words. (yellow /blue highlighter)
a. What are the 2-3 major words, most repeated?
b. Are they scattered throughout the book?
c. Really “Highlight” these words--- (yellow, blue)
d. Joy (rejoice) & Gospel…
e. These serve as “book title” words. (Joy in the gospel)
12. 2. KEY SECTION words. (red bold words)
a. Do you see a theme in a section?
b. Look for the phrases and words most repeated?
c. Prayer, participation/partaker, longing, in my heart
d. These serve as “section title” words.
a. Section One- joy in long-term partnership
b. Section Five- joy in serving (4-5 times in this section)
Note: “serve” appears only in this section of Philippians
c. Section Six- joy in Jesus (not me) Do you see the contrast
between joy/confidence in Jesus not our efforts?
13. 3. KEY CONCLUSION/CONNECTOR words. (boxed)
a. Conclusion words… (boxed and bolded)
a. “So that” “because” “in order” “therefore”
b. Section One (vv.9-10) Why did Paul pray the way He did?
b. Connector words… (boxed not bolded)
a. “but” “rather” “either, or” “neither, nor”
b. Section Two: (vv. 17-18) How can you proclaim Christ?
14. 4. KEY VERSES OR PHRASES. (BOLD AND BLACK)
a. What phrase or verse best summarizes that
section?
b. I’d like you to do some on your own…
c. Section Eight (v.8) “dwell on these things”
a. Here we have two ladies at odds with each other.
What’s the solution to the problem?
