Study The Bible

Study The Bible By Chapter By Chapter

Download PDF Download Word Recommend Printing the PDF and keeping a copy in your Bible.

1. Select the Chapters You wish to Study.

The chapter method of Bible Study is to take a whole book and study the chapters in their order. If you are new to the Bible or a new Christian, we highly recommend starting at the Book of John in the New Testament. We have two study guides on the Gospel of John to go along with the Chapter Study.

Plan 1 - With the 21 days Bible Reading 5 minutes a day challenge, you'll walk with Jesus through the Gospel of John and engage God's Word on a daily basis. It's as easy as reading a chapter a day here.

SEE THE PLAN DOWNLOAD PDF Print the PDF and keep a copy in your Bible.

Plan 2 Sent Daily By Email for 21 days - This Bible Reading Plan is 15 minutes a day challenge for new Christians and for those searching and people on the go. Start your day by talking to God, reading the Bible and reflecting on your day. We have created a unique series of study guides to go along with your daily reading on Gospel of John sent once a day by email for 21 days on the Gospel of John here.

2. Read the chapter for to-day's study five times.

It is well to read it aloud at least once. The writer sees many things when he reads the Bible aloud that he does not see when he reads silently. Each new reading will bring out some new point.

3. Divide the chapters into their natural divisions

And find headings for them that describe most strikingly their contents. For example, suppose the chapter studied is 1 John 5. 
You might divide in this way: 1st Division verses 1-3. 
The Believer's Noble Parentage. 2nd Division verses 4, 5. 
The Believer's Glorious Victory. 3rd Division verses 6-10. 
The Believer's Sure Ground of Faith. 4th Division verses 11, 12. 
The Believer's Priceless Possession. 5th Division verse 13. 
The Believer's Blessed Assurance. 6th Division verses 14, 15. 
The Believer's Unquestioning Confidence. 7th Division verses 16, 17. 
The Believer's Great Power and Responsibility. 8th Division, verses 18, 19. 
The Believer's Perfect Security. 9th Division verse 20. 
The Believer's Precious Knowledge. 10th Division verse 21. 

The Believer's Constant Duty. In many cases, the natural divisions will be longer than in this chapter.

4. Note the crucial differences between different translations.

Read the chapter from different Bible Translations. Example a New International Version (NIV) and English Standard Version (ESV) and write them in the margin of your Bible or on a notebook. If you do not have different translations, you can look up the chapter at Bible Gateway and look through the different translations here on a given chapter.

5. Write down the leading facts of the chapter in their proper order.

6. Make a note of the persons mentioned in the chapter and of any light thrown upon their character.

For example, your chapter is Acts 16. The persons mentioned are: Timothy, Timothy's mother, Timothy's father, the brethren at Lystra and Iconium, Paul, the Jews of Lystra and Iconium, the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, a man of Macedonia, Luke, some women of Philippi, Lydia, the household of Lydia, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination, the masters of this damsel, Silas, the praetors of Philippi, the Philippian mob, the jailor of Philippi, the prisoners in the Philippian jail, the household of the jailor, the lectors of Philippi, the brethren in Philippi. What light does the chapter throw upon the character of each?

7. Note the principal lessons of the chapter.

It would be well to classify these: examples of lessons about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, etc.

8. The Central Truth of the chapter.

9. The key verse of the chapter if there is one.

10. The best verse in the chapter.

Opinions will differ widely here. But the question is which is the best verse for you at this present time?
Mark it and memorize it.

11. Note the verses that are usable as texts for sermons or talks or Bible readings.
If you have time analyze of the thought of these verses and write it in the margin, or in a notebook.

12. Name the chapter.
For example:
Acts 1 might be called The Ascension Chapter;
Acts 2, The Day of Pentecost Chapter;
Acts 3, The Lame Man's Chapter; etc.
Give your names to the chapters. Give the name that sets forth the most important and characteristic feature of the chapter.

13. Note subjects for further study.
For example, you are studying Acts 1.
Subjects suggested for further study are The Baptism with the Holy Ghost; The Ascension; The Second Coming of Christ.

This is easily done, using a Topical textbook like Torrey's New Topical Textbook read online here. You may want to download Torrey's New Topical Textbook zip file to your device here. (Instructions on opening zip files here.)

14. Words and phrases for further study.
For example, you are studying John 3. You should look up words and expressions such as, "Eternal life," "Born again," "Water," "Believer," "The Kingdom of God."

15. Write down what new truth you have learned from the chapter.
If you have learned none, you had better go over it again.

16. What truth already known has come to you with new power?

17. What definite thing have you resolved to do as a result of studying this chapter?
A permanent record should be kept of the results of the study of each chapter. It is well to have an interleaved Bible (blank pages) or a notebook and save the most important results in it.

Consider the following options, but remember to choose one. Regular reading in God's Word is not optional. It's a necessity!

Bible Reading and Studying Methods are for learning how to expound, guide and interpret the Bible for all its worth. We do this through learning the tools and skills to help us observe the text, dig out the meaning, and then apply it to our everyday living with this approach.

Download PDF Download Word or Print this Page Here and keep a copy in your Bible.

Check out our Free Bible Resource Tools complete with Concordances, Commentaries, Bible Dictionaries & Encyclopedias, Maps, and Archaeology/Bible Lands, Topical Bibles, Devotional & Study Bibles, and Bible programs and software here.

More On Bible Study Methods
Study the Bible by Topical Study Methods here.
Study God's Word here.
Bible Study Methods here.
10 Creative Bible Reading Methods here.
Overview of the Books of the Bible here.
Themes of the Bible Books here.

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