This document provides guidance on effective Bible study. It outlines the structure of the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments. It emphasizes that Bible study requires filling historical, cultural, and language gaps to properly understand the context. Key questions are identified to help with interpretation, such as who wrote it, when, why, and to whom. The importance of prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit in interpretation is stressed. The goal of study is spiritual growth and bearing good fruits. Effective Bible study leads to accurate, practical, and relevant interpretation of Scripture.

1. Effective Bible Study
Jerome Council
Based on Textbook”
How To Read The Bible For All It’s Worth

2. God’s Imperative For The Bible
In Our Lives
• Deut 6:1-9
• Deut. 31:11-13
• II Timothy 2:15-16
• Matt. 28:16-20; Acts 2:41-42
• The Bible: God’s Plan For US, Not Our
Plan For Ourselves!!

3. STRUCTURE OF BIBLE
• 66 BOOKS: 39 O.T. + 27 N.T.
• FIRST “5” BOOK (MOSES AUTHOR)
KNOWN AS “PENTATEUCH”
• HISTORY (OF CHOSEN PEOPLE)
BOOKS
• WISDOM & LITERATURE (POETRY)
BOOKS

4. STRUCTURE OF BIBLE
• THE PROPHETS (MAJOR & MINOR)
• “MINOR” IS NOT REFERRING TO
“SOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN
OTHERS” BUT MESSAGE LENGTH
“For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” I TIM. 4:5

5. NEW TESTAMENT
• WHAT DOES “NEW TESTAMENT” MEAN?
• FOUR GOSPELS
• WHICH GOSPELS KNOWN AS THE
“SYNOPTIC GOSPELS? WHY?
• BOOK OF ACTS
• 21 EPISTLES (WHAT IS AN “EPISTLE?”)
• THE “APOCALYPTIC” BOOK OF
REVELATION

6. EFFECTIVE BIBLE STUDY
REQUIRES FILLING THE
“GAPS”
• MUST FILL “HISTORICAL” GAPS
• MUST FILL “CULTURAL” GAPS
• MUST FILL “LANGUAGE” GAPS

7. KEY QUESTIONS THAT
MUST BE ANSWERED
• WHO WROTE THE SCRIPTURE?
• WHEN DID HE WRITE IT?
• WHY DID HE WRITE IT?
• WHOM DID HE WRITE IT TO?
• WHAT DID YOU OBSERVE?
• HOW WILL YOU INTERPRET IT?
• HOW DOES IT APPLY TO NOW & HERE?

8. IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER &
HOLY SPIRIT
• To Understand What God Is Telling Us, We Need
To Prepare For His Word And Allow Our Helper
He Gave Us To Impart His Word In Our Hearts
• Therefore, It Is Extremely Important To “Pray”
Before Study Then Let the “Holy Spirit” Enable
Us To “Rightly Divide” Bible Scripture
• Psalms 55:1; John 14:26; John 17; I John 5:15

9. GOAL OF STUDY:
• SPIRITUAL GROWTH
• BEAR GOOD FRUITS!
• GAL. 5:22-26; II PET. 3:18
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” LUKE 8:11

10. OUTCOMES OF EFFECTIVE
BIBLE STUDY
• ACCURATELY INTERPRETED
• PRACTICALLY INTERPRETED
• RELEVANTLY INTERPRETED