So you want to do Inductive Bible study, eh? Well, the good news is that there are only three primary steps to Inductive Bible study. So, it shouldn’t be too difficult to learn how and you can start putting it into practice relatively quickly. The not-so-good news is that it takes practice to master these steps so it will take some time and some fumbling around for a bit to gain the skill. But the great news is that you can practice on the Bible itself so even while practicing you will be learning a ton about God, yourself, salvation, the church, the world and so much more. The practice is never wasted!
Here are the three steps to Inductive Bible study:
Observation
The first step of Inductive Bible study is observation. In this step you want to take the time to notice the things that the author says and how he says it. This is where you notice things like references to people, repeated words or ideas, word pictures, connecting words, flow of thought, and so much more. When the author wrote he wrote with intention and purpose so it is important to notice and pay attention to what he says and how he says it. You can examine the things you notice closer by asking questions about what you’ve noticed. For example, if you noticed that Paul mentions a person named Onesimus you could ask “What does he say about Onesimus?” and use the surrounding context to answer that question. In this step it is important to always stay close to the text.
Keep it simple and don’t try to interpret what he says. That’s the next step. In the beginning make a very clear distinction between each step so that you continue to develop the unique skills associated with each step.
Interpretation
The second step of Inductive Bible study is interpretation. In this step you want to step into the shoes of the original author or the shoes of the people it was first written to. This is where you step back in time in order to consider the original intention and purpose for which something was written. A helpful question to ask at this point is “Why?” Why was the author concerned about this? Why did the author use this word picture to illustrate his point? Why do the original readers need to know this?
This step can feel a little uncomfortable because as you try to answer these questions you are looking beyond what is actually written to identify the motives and thoughts behind it. If you have done a thorough job of the first step – Observation – and use that information to inform your answers, you can be confident that your answers are based on evidence and not just a product of wild imagination. You will use your imagination in this step but it is imagination that is informed by the text. It is also helpful to become familiar with ancient cultures and history. This can also inform your answers and help you step into the shoes of the ancient author and readers.
Just a warning – it can be tempting to jump quickly into thinking about how it relates to your life. Resist the urge just a little longer in order to make sure you understand the original intention and meaning. Then when it comes time to consider the contemporary relevance you will be better equipped to find meaningful and relevant principles of application.
Application
The third step of Inductive Study is application. In this step you want to take into consideration all that you’ve discovered in the previous two steps and identify timeless principles and truths that you can then apply to your own life circumstances. When you identify timeless principles one thing to consider is whether the principle you identified is true for anyone in any culture anywhere at any time. If it is true for anyone in any culture anywhere at any time then you’ve identified a timeless principle that you can confidently apply in your own life. An example would be Jesus’ command to love one another. This is a principle that is true for anyone in any culture anywhere and at any time. Then the question becomes how does it apply in my own life? It is important to get specific and ask the tough questions such as “How can I love family members that I don’t get along with?” or “How can I love the person who offended me yesterday?” This is where transformation happens. We begin to let God’s Word change and challenge us and in the process we recognize our need for His help and are driven to our knees before Him. This is where our relationship with Him deepens.
“Three Questions
Observation: What do I see?
Interpretation: What does it mean?
Application: How does it work?
- Howard Hendricks”
Application is a key step in Inductive Bible study. Without it we can gain a bunch of head knowledge that makes us feel good but it really doesn’t transform us. Application is essential because transformation is the goal!
So there you have it! The ABCs of Inductive Bible study. Give it a try. I’d love to hear how it goes for you. What did you discover? Which of the three steps did you find the easiest? Hardest?