17 Ways to Make the Most of Your Bible Study

Here are some general guidelines on how to maximize your reading of God’s Word.

1. Read repeatedly

The Bible assumes that one is going to read it over and over again. In fact, there are some passages that share events that happen later with the assumption that subsequent readings will give more context to the earlier story when we get around to rereading the passage. In hermeneutics, this process of repeated readings is called the “hermeneutical spiral,” [1] whereby the process of “interpretation entails a ‘spiral’ from text to context, from its original meaning to its contextualization or significance for the church today.”[2] It is not a circle where one just simply goes around and around, but rather, upon each subsequent reading, the reader spirals closer and closer to the text’s intended meaning. With each reading, we can engage it on a different level because of previous exposure to the material.

2. Read whole books in one sitting

Many people who read the Bible only do so in small chunks. They may be following a daily devotional or even an organized Bible reading plan, and both of those methods have their place, but there is nothing more valuable than reading an entire book of the Bible in one sitting, because then you are more likely to pick up on themes that are much harder to detect when only reading a paragraph or a chapter at a time. The goal of this reading is not to focus on minute details of the text but to let large passages of the text enter your mind to capture the flow of events and see things from the big picture.

The beauty of God’s Word is that it speaks to a variety of circumstances.

3. Read in multiple versions

Reading the Bible in different translations can prompt new insights for the reader. It is good to read versions with different translation philosophies. Some Bibles are more formal and follow the underlying original language more closely (like the New American Standard Bible). Others are more functional and try to capture the sense of the original text in readable English (like the New International Version). English Bible readers have the luxury of benefiting from various translations available, so taking advantage of those versions can lead to great personal profit.

4. Listen orally

Before the advent of the printing press, most people’s intake of God’s Word was through the ear and not the eye. While it is beneficial to read the words of the text with your own eyes, there is much to be gained by also listening to it. Your ear may do a better job of picking up repeated words or clauses. It can be a very profitable method of intake because it might stimulate new observations about the text.

5. Read “actively,” not “passively”

Do not be a passive reader that just focuses on the facts and data (people, places, and events) presented in the text. Instead, have a healthy degree of internal dialogue with the author, contemplating why some details are inserted and others are left out. Ponder why accounts are next to others and if there might be a thread (theme) that the author is weaving into the overall flow of the text. We should certainly avoid having a critical spirit and approach the text with humility, recognizing that it is God’s eternal Word, but we should also not be afraid to ask tough, engaging questions.

6. Read with expectation

Approach the biblical text with a trembling heart (Isa. 66:2), expecting that you will learn as you interact with God’s revealed revelation. Even though the Bible can be approached like any other book and studied on purely an academic basis, it is a far better strategy as a believer to come to the written revealed Word of God with the stance that the Spirit of God zealously wants you to engage the text with your heart wide open to receive truth from its eternal pages.

7. Read without focusing on chapter breaks or verse divisions

Chapter divisions were introduced by Stephen Langton and have only been around since the thirteenth century, and Robert Estienne added verse numbers in the sixteenth century.[3] So both systems were developed long after the biblical authors composed the individual books. These numerical divisions make it more challenging for the reader to follow the author’s thought process because they inject an arbitrary structure onto the content at times. Readers can miss certain connections simply because an ensuing chapter break is inserted.

Thankfully there are now several reader’s versions of the Bible that have removed the chapter numbers and verse breaks that make such a reading an easier process (for instance, the ESV Reader’s Bible).

8. Read first and then study deeper

Many Bible readers attempt to do a deep study of the Bible as soon as they begin to read the text. They immediately embark on in-depth analysis of individual words and cross-references. It  will most likely be more profitable if you read the entire content of the text in repeated continuous readings before embarking on a detailed analysis of a smaller text. This way, you have more of the author’s train of thought in mind so that when you come back around to do a more detailed analysis, you are less likely to pursue theological or thematic rabbit trails that may have nothing to do with what the author is intending for readers to ponder. Allow the author to shape what you pursue in a more thorough way rather than taking a disorganized approach that lacks focus.

9. Consider reading the biblical books using different arrangements of their ordering

Most readers today are guided in the way they read by the traditional order found in most Protestant Bibles. Many are surprised to learn that Galatians would most likely be the first epistle you would read if Paul’s writings were arranged chronologically. So, if you want to see the theological progression of Paul’s books based on the order in which he wrote them, you would have to read them in a different order than which they are currently placed.

In Hebrew Bibles, which follow a different ordering tradition called TaNaK—an acronym for Torah (the Law), Nevi’im (the Prophets), and Ketuvim (the Writings)—there is a different order of books, which can provide for meaningful observations. For instance, in some Hebrew Bibles the book of Ruth follows the book of Proverbs (in the “writings” section), which allows one to see the connection between the Proverbs 31 virtuous women (ishit hayil, v. 10) with a clear example of what that looks like in the person of Ruth, as Boaz uses that same phrase to refer to her (Ruth 3:11).

10. Familiarize yourself with key terminology

Labeling (and naming) is helpful for categorizing and making sense of the world. The same is true in approaching our study of God’s Word. The more vocabulary you have to describe what you are reading and observing in the text is just a part of exercising dominion.

Every occupation has a unique set of terms that one must know and navigate if they are to demonstrate mastery of their discipline. Since the Bible is a literary text, it is beneficial to know the names and definitions of literary devices and the functions they have in different genres.

11. Be comfortable with degrees of certainty and uncertainty

Readers often want straightforward answers to questions they have when they read the Bible. They seek a definitive black-and-white response to issues they are interested in. Remember, sometimes the Bible contains directives that are easily discernible, such as Paul’s direct command to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22: “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.” Other times (especially in narrative texts), the author’s intention as to why a passage is included in the Bible is more subtle.

God’s Word is worth the effort.

12. Live with the tension in the text

Sometimes Scriptures seem at odds with one another. In an effort to reduce such conflict, some feel compelled to soften that tension and “flatten” the seemingly contradictory statements to “help” the Bible out. The beauty of God’s Word is that it speaks to a variety of circumstances, and while one passage may be pertinent in one setting, it may not be as helpful in another scenario. The Bible assumes that readers of the text will have enough situational awareness and spiritual sensitivity to know when to apply different passages of Scripture that, on the surface, seem at tension with each other. This requires that we pay close attention to the context.

13. Verbal priority

A good rule of thumb to observe while you are reading is to focus on verbs. Verbs are the main weight-bearing part of speech in any language, so more focus should be given to them as they are action-oriented. It is not that other parts of speech are not important. It is just that authors use verbs as the melody line of every text, and they must be attended to first if one wants to track along with the author. Verbs set the time frame of an action (past, present, and future). Verbs frame whether an action is a truth claim or whether it is a command.

14. Foregrounding/Backgrounding

Think of the biblical text as a 3D topographical map. When one first looks at such a map, there are certain features that tend to stand out, such as major mountains or bodies of water. In addition, there are numerous small valleys and hills that fill out the frame dominated by the main topographical features. So it is with the biblical text. There are some features that are foregrounded and are core components of the passage as well as smaller details that are part of the discourse, but it would not be productive to focus on those details unless the main components lead you to do so.

15. Big picture versus detailed picture

Many Bible readers seek to make observations on every word in a passage. While that can lead to some valuable insights, it can also distract from following the author’s main line of thought if the reader is focusing on a subpoint rather than a main point. Those detailed analytical skills are critical, but it is better to get the broader picture first and then, after isolating the main themes or ideas, drill down with more detailed analysis and focus on other details in the text. The goal is to get the lay of the land first before you begin pulling out a microscope to study details.

16. Learn to pose better text-centered questions as you read

Many Bible readers are accustomed to raise questions as they read, which is a good technique to stay engaged. However, often times questions posed are more curiosity questions that stem from the modern world and are not necessarily questions that the original readers would have pondered. Instead, we  should first seek to understand what the text is aiming to address. 

17. Persevere!

Some texts provide clear insights and use obvious literary devices that stand out. Other texts are much more elusive and seemingly need to be coaxed a bit to divulge what they are about. Some texts require that they simmer and stew in your mind for a while rather than a quick microwave approach with instant results. Hang in there! God’s Word is worth the effort and you will be rewarded over and over again with fresh discoveries.

[1] Grant R. Osborne, The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, 2nd ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006).

[2] Ibid., 22.

[3] Christopher R. Smith, The Beauty Behind the Mask: Rediscovering the Books of the Bible (Toronto: Clements Publishing, 2007), 14–15.