This document provides guidance on how to study the Bible, including managing expectations for teachers and students, why studying the Bible is important, how to approach different books and authors of the Bible, and answering questions about specific Bible passages. It emphasizes using Scripture to teach Scripture, engaging students, and growing in knowledge and obedience to God through studying his word.

1. How to study the Bible Answers

2. Managing Expectations Teachers / Facilitators: Teach the truth from God’s word. Engage the class. Provide answers to notes and questions from participants. “Flesh out” answers i.e. add to notes. Come back to questions that cannot be answered immediately. Grow in knowledge

3. Managing Expectations Attendees: Bring your Bibles and use them. Review notes and questions as much as possible before the class. Ask questions. Engage one another. Make notes. Grow in knowledge

4. Why must we study the Bible? Heb 5: 11 – Heb 6: 1-3 We should be able to teach. Not the same as being a teacher (Js 3:1) Move beyond elementary truths. Get to know teaching on righteousness (what make us right in God’s eyes) Distinguish good from evil.

5. Why do we teach? Rom 2: 21 - 24 When we teach others we teach ourselves. You become more of aware of actually “practicing what you preach”

6. Is Teaching taken lightly? James 3:1 Teachers will be judged be more strictly. KJV: “master” instead of teacher Definition a teacher in the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man one who is fitted to teach, or thinks himself so the teachers of the Jewish religion of those who by their great power as teachers draw crowds

7. Is Teaching taken lightly? Luke 2: 21 - 24 False teachers, those that are in it for the pomp and ceremony, will be judged severely. Mt 23: 1 – 33 Jesus deals out a severe rebuking to the Pharisees for their hypocrisy

8. How to study the Bible IA1. The 1st covenant was replaced by a better covenant (Heb 8: 6 - 8). IA2. New Testament. IB1. God has revealed what He has prepared through His word and given us His Holy Spirit to understand. IB2. God’s words through the Holy Spirit. IB3. The Holy Spirit (Add Jn 14: 16 -19).

9. How to study the Bible IB4. Old Testament prophets. (Add2ndPt 1: 20 – 21, Hb 1: 1-2) The same Holy Spirit who guided them, also guided the apostles. There is continuity through the ages. Some old testament prophets: Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah

10. How to study the Bible IB5. Letters where written to the churches and then passed on. IB6. So that we come to know Him and love eternal life. IB7. Once. No latter-day revelations. (Add Gal 1: 8 & 2 Th 11 - 12). IIA1. Makes you wise. IIA2. Teaching, rebuking, correcting & training. IIA3. So that we do not sin against God. IIA4. To come to know and obey the truth and then love your brother.

11. How to study the Bible IIA5. To know the truth and to be set free. IIA6. To get rid of immoral filth & evil and to humbly accept the truth, and salvation. IIA7. To know what condemns me so as to avoid it. IIA8. (Add 2nd Pt 1: 5-9) Knowledge is the 3rd step of 7 to achieve ‘love’, which is spiritual maturity. All the aspects we require to make productive use of the knowledge we have gained. IIB1. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles to reveal ALL the truth.

12. How to study the Bible IIB2. He has given us everything we need for Godliness. IIB3. Paul proclaims the WHOLE will of God. IIC1. You will worship Him in vain, because God’s word has been replaced by the teachings of men. IIC2. You will be eternally condemned. IIC3. You will be punished by God. IIC4. You will be rebuked and proved to be a liar. IID1. Not enough time (too busy). IID2. It’s complicated.

13. How to study the Bible IIE. No. If you don’t study the Bible you will not come to know Christ and thus not be able to fully accept Him. If you don’t accept Him you will still be judged by Him. IIF. Reverence, love, pride… It’s like a treasure. God’s own words spoken. IIG. ??? IIIB1b. Apostle John. IIIB1c. c.AD 85 – 95 IIIB1d. Early evidence suggests Ephesus, AD 70 - 100

14. How to study the Bible IIIB1e. To commend Gaius and warn Diotrephes IIIB1f. Gaius Add: Cross Book Study Is the following statement true: “The 1st letter to the Corinthians about Spiritual Gifts (ch13) only applies to that congregation. They [miraculous gifts]still exist today.” Read the opening paragraphs of the Pauline Epistles. Note: To whom are the various letters addressed i.e. to the local congregation and/or all those in Christ?

15. How to study the Bible Romans: Ro 1: 7 – 8 1st Corinthians: Ch 1:2. Ch 4:17 2nd Corinthians: Ch1:1 Galatians: Ch1:2 Ephesians: Ch 1:1 Philippians: Ch 1:1 Colossians: Ch 1:2 1 Thessalonians: Ch 1:1 2 Thessalonians: Ch 1:1 1 Timothy: Ch1:2 2 Timothy: Ch1:2 Titus: Ch 1:4

16. How to study the Bible Q:What does the cross-study of the Pauline Epistles reveal about Paul’s statement about spiritual gifts? A: Paul’s writings on the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit apply to all Christians everywhere for all time & not just to the congregation he wrote to.

17. How to study the Bible IIIB2b. Who: Luke, When: c.AD 65, Where: Rome, Why: For the establishment of the church. To whom: Written to his patron Theophilus IIIB2c. Acts 2: 22. North of Jerusalem, close to the sea of Galilee.

18. How to study the Bible IIIB3b. Peter (Simon-Peter). IIIB3c. To all the Jews who were in Jerusalem for Pentecost. IIIB3d. The crowd asked what they should do when they realized they had killed Christ. IIIB3e. Repent and be baptized, each and every one of you. IIIB4a. Emersion. IIIB4b1. To be made holy, to be set apart for a special purpose.

19. How to study the Bible IIIB4b2. Remorse for a past act, to turn away from sin, to change your life to remove sin. IIIB4b3. 1 Sam 9: 9 aka ‘seer’. Someone who speaks by divine inspiration, someone who is an interpreter of the will of God. IIIB4b4. One who is sent forth. The apostles where all disciples, but not all disciples are apostles (the 12). IIIB5a. A former slave of Philemon, who lived in Colossi. IIIB5b. Colossi. He was in prison with Paul in Rome.

20. How to study the Bible IIIB5c. He had run away from his owner after stealing from him. Paul had converted him. IIIB5d. 1st Century AD. c.AD 60. IIIB5e. Philemon, the slave’s owner in Colossi. IIIB6a. Communication from us to God. IIIB6b. To praise and honour God & to ask for help and guidance. IIIB6c. Those who belong to Christ.

21. How to study the Bible IIIB6d. God the Father, through Jesus Christ (His authority, not His name) (Add: John 16: 23 - 26, John 17: 1, Matt 6: 9). IIIB6e. John (good examples). He deals a lot with prayer because he was very close to Jesus and so prayer is our inherit relationship with God.