Inductive Bible study is a method of reading and studying the Bible that takes the time to examine what the Biblical authors said and what it meant when it was originally written before considering how it relates to our own contemporary lives.
Studying the Bible this way ensures that we understand the intended purpose of the various letters and writings included in the Bible. The truth is that Bible was written by many different people reflecting different cultures, geographical locations and customs that are often unfamiliar to the contemporary reader. We are also thousands of years removed from the situations and circumstances described in the Bible. So, it is not surprising that it takes a bit of work to understand.
Translators have done a wonderful job of studying the original Greek and Hebrew texts in order to translate the writings into English (and other languages) so that we can read and understand the Bible for ourselves. This is a wonderful gift that we shouldn’t take for granted. Throughout the last 2000 years individuals have sacrificed time, finances, personal resources and even their own lives in order to preserve and translate the Bible. They sacrificed all so that future generations could have access to God’s Word and discover for themselves the amazing love and compassion that our Creator God has for us despite our brokenness and rebellion. We discover God’s love and compassion as we read and understand the gospel story told across the pages of the Bible from “In the beginning”, the first line of Genesis, to the last “Amen” in Revelation. So don’t take this gift for granted! It is worth digging into.
“The Bible, as we personify it, beckons us to hear its message on its own terms; it wishes to speak a new word to us, challenging our presuppositions over against conforming to them.”
Inductive Bible study seeks to hear the message of scripture by examining the evidence in and around the text. In this way the meaning of a passage is determined by its own historical and literary context rather than by presuppositions that we might bring to the text. Let’s be honest though. We all have presuppositions that we bring to the Bible. We are often blind to our own presuppositions or if we are aware of them it can be very hard to put them aside. Even so, if we approach the Bible with humility and if we are willing to let scripture teach us and challenge us then slowly those presuppositions, whether right or wrong, can be addressed.
So the first question I need to answer is “Am I willing to sacrifice a bit of my time and energy in order to open the gift others have sacrificed to give me?” The second question is “Am I willing to sit humbly before the Word of God and let it lead me to a deeper understanding of the gospel and a deeper relationship with God?” If I’m willing then Inductive Bible study is the tool to help me do that.