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The first step in understanding Scripture is “observation” (Malmin 24). It is important to know what to look
for when first opening up the Bible to study.
It can be easy to read the Bible like any other book, and then walk away and not have a clear
understanding of what it was actually saying. For example, Paul in his epistles to the various churches
used long, run-on sentences that can each be up to a paragraph long! After reading a passage like that, it
can be hard to try and pick out the gist of what he was saying.
The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God, and because of this, there is no other book like the Bible.
However, when it comes to analyzing the text of Scripture, it is important to remember that the Bible is to
be read like any other book; it is essential to look for the basic literary patterns (Sproul 63). Nothing will
change the need to read the Bible like literature. The Holy Spirit is the One who reveals the meaning of
Scripture, but to understand what is being said in the various sentences, certain techniques can be used.
What are the things to look for when one reads the Bible? Listed below are nine things to look for when
reading the Bible and gathering information. This list is not exhaustive, as there are other things that can
be mentioned. However, this is a great place to start!
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Repetition
Occasionally, an author will repeat a word or phrase in a particular passage. This is his way of drawing
attention to an important point being made. When an author repeats something, it is usually for the sake
of emphasis. He or she wants to highlight something they are saying so their listeners truly recognize the
point of the passage. It is important to note the repeated words, because they often are the main point of
a given passage:
“The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who
know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s
Son, in truth and love.” (English Standard Version, II John 1:1-3) (emphasis mine)
It is evident in this passage from Second John that truth is a key element, and it will continue to be
throughout the rest of this short letter. By identifying the repeated words, we are able to get an idea of the
theme in a given passage and get a glimpse of the author’s message.
Verbs
Verbs indicate the ACTION of a passage. They describe what is happening. Verbs also let the reader in
on what the author is commanding, instructing, or encouraging the audience to do. When observing verbs
in a passage, one should take note if the verbs are active or passive, describing activity, or state of being.
Pronouns
In Scripture, there will be many pronouns, especially when reading history or narrative. Some common
pronouns are “her, their, his, I, you, we, them, us, she, he, me,” etc. These are incredibly important
because they indicate who is doing or has done what in a passage. Pronouns also help identify who is
being addressed and who is speaking. Is it a group that’s being instructed? Who is giving the commands?
It is also critical to tie the pronoun back to the name of the person or group that is performing an action,
and identifying that person specifically. Pronouns are only as useful as the people or things to whom they
are tied!
Adjectives
Adjectives can be seen as the flavor in a passage. Adjectives are descriptive. They describe the action
which is being performed, the nature of something being described, or even the type of person who is the
main character of a particular passage. Without adjectives, the color of a passage would be nonexistent,