HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

by Carolyn Tow

First of all, choose a book to study and read the whole book through. Know the events that happen in that particular book, then read and study each chapter and note the events in that chapter. Next you study each verse.

The book best to start with is the book of John. John tells who Jesus is and where He came from. All Scripture is based on the fact that Jesus is the Divine Son of God and that He came from heaven. He is a member of the Godhead who created the heavens and the earth. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The next book to study is the book of Acts. Acts is a bridge between the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and Paul's letters. The first eight chapters has Peter as the spokesmen. Chapters 9-28 has Paul as the spokesman. The reason for this is Peter is the Apostle for the Jews and Paul is the Apostle for the Gentiles. Peter's message is for the Jews and Paul's message is for the Gentiles. A Gentile is someone who is not a Jew.

The next book to study is the book of Romans. Romans is the first book of 14 books written by the Apostle Paul. It is the hub of the gospel. Romans has the foundation truths. It is written to us as individuals. A personal message to us from God. It shows our Personal Salvation. The theme is the Gospel of God. It corresponds with the book of Exodus. Romans is the Exodus of the Sons of God. Out of an old creation into a new creation.

Romans has 5 divisions:

1. Declaration of the Gospel Ch. 1:1-17

2. The need of the Gospel Ch. 1:18-3:20

3. Unfolding of the Gospel Ch. 3:21-5:21

4. Results of the Gospel Ch. 6:1-11:26

5. Practical side of the Gospel Ch. 12:1-16:27

The next book to study is the book of I Corinthians. It contains the Divine order of the Church. It tells us how we are to conduct ourselves in his house. It corresponds with the book of Numbers.

II Corinthians - The priesthood of Paul. The Priestly Ministry. It corresponds with the book of Leviticus.

Galatians - Liberty of the Sons of God. The theme is Grace. We have been delivered from the law of Moses. Galatians means Milky, which speaks of being babes in Christ.

Ephesians - Exaltation of the Sons of God. This book admonishes us to run to win Christ. The deepest message was revealed to Paul first in the books of Romans, Ephesians, and Hebrews. Ephesians means, City of the moon.

Philippians - Racecourse of the Sons of God. Philippians means lover of the horse.

Colossians - Correction of the Sons of God.

I Thessalonians - Victory over the tossing of the law.

II Thessalonians - 2nd rank Christians - there are ranks (rewards) in heaven.

I Timothy - Admonition to a Son of God - Timothy means Honored of God.

"So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa. 55:11

II Timothy - Admonition to a Son of God - "My son, be not afraid of sudden fear. With-hold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. The wise shall inherit glory."

Titus - One of the Church Apostles - Sound Doctrine is mentioned 6 times.

Philemon - A picture of redemption - Philemon means one who kisses. He is a type of God.

Hebrews - Shadows to Substance - Shows better things. Hebrews was written to the Jewish believers.

Studying Paul's letters is important to us today because he was given the message for this age (Grace). Paul's letters are personal letters, to the believers of this age, from God. We are going to be judged by the message Paul gave us when we stand before Jesus. Anyone who teaches any other message or adds or takes away anything from Paul's teachings has a curse pronounced upon them The following scriptures show who Paul is and how we are to receive him.

Acts 9:13-15, "Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:"

Romans 11:13, "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office." Romans 15:16, "That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost."

I Corinthians 3:10, "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon." Romans 2:16, "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."Galatians 1:6-9, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, Let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

Galatians 2:7, "But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter."

Ephesians 3:2, "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward." Colossians 1:25, "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God." I Timothy 1:11, "According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust." I Timothy 2:7, "Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not:) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity."

I Thessalonians 4:13-18, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

The hope of this age is to be in heaven forever with Jesus. Not on this earth. Earthdwellers are those who survive the tribulation.