Bible Study Basics: What I Would Do

[@PaulMooneyOutdoors]

Thank you for posting this. I was raised a Christian and always knew Jesus was the only way, but even still, wandered down a worldly path during my college years and post college years. In recent years, I have made it a priority to read and learn the Bible not only for my own knowledge but to help lead my family and young children through this world. These videos really help. Keep up the great work. -Paul

[@JohnMiles117]

@@PaulMooneyOutdoors Amen Paul! Keep it up! My story is very similar to yours. Thanks for the encouragement!

[@reformedaussie]

I love that you use the NASB2020. Blessings from Australia.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@reformedaussie that's awesome! God bless you brother!

[@dougbaker2755]

Good advice all the way around. When I teach people how to study Scripture, I DO show them how to do word studies. But I strongly caution them that a lexicon does not tell you everything you ought to know about a word, because words have the meaning that the writer gives it. The kernel of what a word means or can mean is given by a good lexicon. But they need to study the context, especially the immediate context, to determine what that Biblical word means in that particular text. That means, of course, that I have to teach them how to understand the context. In-depth Bible study is always more complex than what it appears on the surface. But I tell them that this mining for truth or understanding rewards us with the most beautiful gems!

[@JohnMiles117]

Well said!

[@philtheo]

Excellent video, John! 😊 For what it's worth, if anything, here's what I do (mostly using free resources): 1. Start with a good modern English translation that you enjoy reading (e.g. NKJV, NASB, ESV, CSB). Read through it. a. For some people, not all, it might help to use a Bible reading plan. There are so many good ones. For example, each year the Gospel Coalition and Ligonier collate different Bible reading plans and publish them all as a single post for ease of reference. Personally, I think the Navigator's Book at a Time Bible Reading Plan is a solid choice for beginners. It takes you through one OT and one NT book at a time, more or less, so it's not as overwhelming as reading through, say, 4 different places at the same time like many other Bible reading plans. However, my personal favorite is just using the Bible Reading Chart, which isn't a plan, per se; rather it's just a visual checklist that you can check off what you've read at your own leisure. b. I'd personally recommend using a reader's Bible to read through the Bible. Reader's Bibles are specifically designed to enhance the reading experience so that reading the Bible is as enjoyable to read as possible. There are single volume reader's Bibles in multiple translations as well as multi-volume reader's Bibles in multiple translations. Knowable Word has good reviews of various reading Bibles in different translations. Big publishers like Crossway and Holman have aesthetically attractive reader's Bibles, but my favorite is the NIV Sola Scriptura Bible Project since it is very innovative, not merely taking out the chapters and verses as most reader's Bibles do, but also removing the traditional chapter breaks and inserting new breaks where they believe the text makes more sense (e.g. removing the chapters of Genesis 1 and 2, then inserting a break at Genesis 2:4 since "This is the account of..." or "generations of" or similar is well known to have served as something like our modern chapter breaks in the original Hebrew of Genesis). Not to mention the NIV Sola Scriptura Bible Project also rearranges the traditional canonical order of the books (e.g. Luke-Acts are placed together, followed by the Pauline epistles, since Luke was part of the Pauline circle; the Gospel of John and the Johannine letters are collected and placed together; same goes with Mark and Peter's letters since they're part of the same Petrine circle; and Matthew and the "Judaica" like Jude and James and Hebrews too). 2. Compare multiple modern English translations through free online resources (e.g. Bible Hub, Parallel Plus, STEP Bible, Bible Gateway, BibleWebApp, TIPs Bible, etc.). I try to pick at least 3 different translations: a formal equivalence translation (aka word-for-word aka literal) like the ESV, LEB, LSB, NASB; a mediating translation like the CSB or the NIV; and a functional equivalence translation (aka thought-for-thought aka dynamic) like the NLT. 3. If you can read another language, compare with other modern language translations (e.g. French, Spanish, Chinese). 4. Use the NET Bible's notes. Honestly I don't care much for the NET as a translation, but the notes are outstanding and really help you see how translators and other scholars think. It's the best window into the translation process that I know of without knowing the biblical languages. 5. Download and use the free version of Logos Bible and use their free tools. For example, the Lexham Bible Dictionary and the Bible Word Study Guide are excellent. A benefit of using Logos is that it is available offline so you don't need an internet connection. (Same with some other Bible apps, though not all Bible apps. Like Accordance. Or STEP Bible, which is also awesome but limited, and which was originally developed for pastors and other Christians in developing nations or places with unreliable internet connections due to infrastructure, authoritarian government censorship, or the like.) 6. Read the article "How to Use Strong's Concordance and What to Use Instead" by Mark Ward. This is a free article on Logos.com. It's helpful and will get you super far. 7. Read commentaries and biblical theologies (this section is not free): a. Single volume (e.g. New Bible Commentary, Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary) b. Multiple volumes (e.g. Bible Speaks Today, Pillar NT Commentary, New International Commentary on the Old Testament, New International Commentary on the New Testament). Although I'd say it's best to pick one or two good commentaries on a specific book of the Bible regardless of what series they belong to. A good place to get a good idea of what commentaries are good is Best Commentaries.

[@philtheo]

c. Biblical theology: i. Some examples that are good for beginners: the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible; The God Who Is There by Don Carson; The Dawning of Redmeption by Ian Viallancourt; Short of Glory by Mitchell Chase; Hope for All the Earth by Mitchell Chase; God's Big Picture by Vaughn Roberts; The Unfolding Mystery by Ed Clowney; God Dwells Among Us by Greg Beale; What Is Biblical Theology? by Jim Hamilton; Exodus Old and New by Michael Morales; From Eden to the New Jerusalem by Desi Alexander; 40 Questions about Biblical Theology by Andy Naselli et al. ii. Some examples that are good for intermediate levels: The King in His Beauty by Thomas Schreiner; According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy; God's Glory in Salvation According to Judgment by Jim Hamilton; The Mission of God by Chris Wright; Biblical Theology by Geerhardus Vos. iii. Some examples that are good for advanced levels: Dominion and Dynasty by Stephen Dempster; Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? by Michael Morales; The Temple and the Church's Mission by Greg Beale; New Testament Biblical Theology by Greg Beale; New Testament Theology by Tom Schreiner; Old Testament Theology by Bruce Waltke; New Dictionary of Biblical Theology by Brian Rosner et al (eds.).

[@JohnMiles117]

@@philtheo brother you never disappoint! Ps. I totally agree with you about the NET Bible. I love the notes, but I'm not the biggest fan of the translation itself

[@mikemcauliffe4786]

I love this! Your Dad explained this to me years ago. I could hear his voice as you were explaining!

[@JohnMiles117]

@@mikemcauliffe4786 that's awesome Mike! Same here I can't escape the man's influence 😂

[@user56233]

I use something called the Grant Horner Bible Plan. I’d HIGHLY recommend it!!! It’s requires reading 10 chapters a day but I love it

[@JohnMiles117]

@@user56233 I used that one for a year! It was great! It jumbled me up a bit too much lol 😂 honestly tho, it was really fun.

[@micahwatz1148]

Took me 3 years to get through it. But i bounced around along the way.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@micahwatz1148 as long as you keep going. That's all that matters

[@MidWestWaters345]

Having trouble sleeping and listening to this video. I need the encouragement this year to get closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you and God bless.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@MidWestWaters345 I'll pray for you!

[@Watamelon-yx1mj]

these videos are so good. Appreciate it man!

[@JohnMiles117]

@@Watamelon-yx1mj thanks!

[@saintdonoghue]

This was fascinating, as always! I hadn't thought of it before, but now I think you're entirely right: word-studies when somebody doesn't know the original language is inherently trouble

[@JohnMiles117]

@@saintdonoghuethank Steve! yeah, I burned myself a few times if you know what I mean. 😂

[@gmcenroe]

Good advice. If I am studying I like to read sections of my ESV Study Bible. I also use my Olive Tree Bible online (maybe not the best online one) because I can just click on footnotes to go directly to other references, and also easily switch between different translations for comparison. I am not as good at going to references in my printed bibles without losing my place.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@gmcenroe that's awesome! You can't beat the functionality of digital Bible apps.

[@mikelilley]

I read through the Bible every year using various translations - ESV, NASB95, RSV, NIV, LSB, and the CSB. I started the M'Cheyne reading plan on Jan 1 and last year I did a chronological. I'm really enjoying the M'Cheyne, allows time for deep dives like you presented in your video. I saw another comment about the Grant Horner - Whew! 10 chapters a day is alot, difficult to keep a flow, IMO. Love your channel, recent subscriber. Also, enjoy the background stuff with your Father, very cool.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@mikelilley that's awesome dude! Thanks for the comments! Yeah the ten chapters a day was a lot lol 😂 good but a lot!

[@richiejourney1840]

@@JohnMiles117where do I find a chronological reading schedule?

[@guymontag349]

Another good video, John. For many years, I would read an Old Testament book, then a New Testament book and go back and forth until I read the entire Bible. I did this with the KJV, NKJV, and NIV. Quite frankly, I didn't get much out of that reading method, and unfortunately, that's what most Bible plans consist of - back and forth between the testaments. So then I decided to read the Bible starting at Genesis 1 and continue right through to Revelation 22. While this method isn't really chronological, I found it to be a very satisfying experience. And since then I have read through the NASB95, NLT, ESV, NKJV, and currently the CSB. The NRSVue is next on my Bible reading plan. I do agree with you that a chronological read-through would be most rewarding, and I shall add that to my list of to-do's. BTW... just a helpful hint, John. It's never a good idea to personalize the front cover of your Bible in case you ever have to enter the Witness Protection Program (anonymity is paramount here!).

[@JohnMiles117]

@@guymontag349 I totally agree dude! I usually prefer to read it straightforward. Last year I kind of shook it up but typically I'm the same way front to back. Lol, it's too late for me my face is all over the Internet dude 😂

[@jeremywendelin]

Great channel John! Learning lots!

[@JohnMiles117]

@@jeremywendelin thanks so much!

[@rorywilson912]

One of my favorite videos of yours. Great job!

[@JohnMiles117]

@@rorywilson912 thank you so much!

[@rorywilson912]

@@JohnMiles117 when you mentioned word studies not being recommended do you mean more etymological type studies? I find usage studies helpful.

[@JohnMiles117]

@rorywilson912 good question. I definitely could have been clearer. I was referring to people that look up original words and then choose whatever definition they want out of a lexicon. That's the kind of word studies I was disparaging. There's nothing wrong with doing etymological studies, or seeing how other translations choose to render those words.

[@rorywilson912]

@@JohnMiles117 got it! Yes, I'm tracking with you now. Yeah, it's a major risk to make a word fit your theology based on the laundry list of options given.... Just look at our poor friend metanoeo (repentance)...

[@okjonty]

Have been waiting for a video from you like this, awesome info! Would be interested in hearing your thoughts on applying the Word to every day living. Thanks, as always, for your output, love this channel.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@okjonty you're welcome! I'd love to make a video about that

[@thedrumssayyes]

Great video! Thanks for the information!

[@JohnMiles117]

@@thedrumssayyes glad I could help

[@ajpalazuelos3831]

Hey John, I would love you to comment on the use of physical vs digital bibles (logos) for your study and devotions? Great video!

[@JohnMiles117]

@@ajpalazuelos3831 for the most part I use physical stuff, except if I'm going to be doing a lot of "deep diving". In that case it is much easier to use digital apps. I haven't really used Logos a lot, not because I don't like it but simply because I'm too cheap 😂. Although their free version I've heard is pretty good. I mainly use the scripture direct app, or Bible hub or Bible gateway and Blue letter Bible.

[@JC-sj2pd]

@@ajpalazuelos3831 fwiw I use the logos mobile app with something called the treasury of scripture knowledge which is cross ref on steroids while I study my physical Bible. The reason is just time saving for me. It takes me very little turning to look at all the cross references.

[@mikedahuman]

I'm not Religious, I don't Believe in a God or an Afterlife, but for some reason I find your videos about bibles interesting.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@mikedahuman hey that's fine by me! 😂😂 I'm glad you enjoy them!

[@Legowiebe]

John, good video. Would you be able to better clarify what kind of "bad theology" can be found by doing "word study". Also, what do you mean by "word study"? To me, it seems like a powerful tool to better understand a word if you look at its definition and see how its used in other contexts. Is that not how we learned our first language as children? We absorbed words in context and pieced together our understanding of the semantic range from there. (Of course, hopefully we also were subsequently taught the formal rules of grammar and composition in grade school.)

[@JohnMiles117]

@@Legowiebe excellent question. I mean that bad theology can come from doing word studies when someone looks up a word in the original language using a lexicon, and then chooses whatever definition they like from the Lexicon. The reason that bad theology can come from this is that many times words are highly context-based. This means that the context often defines the word and can significantly alter the meaning. It is not a bad thing to look into the original word per say, it is only bad when someone who doesn't know how to use a lexicon properly does it. That's why I said it should be avoided.

[@Legowiebe]

@@JohnMiles117 I appreciate the clarification. I would ask you to consider how your phrase that warning. I gather from your video that you got started in the study of Greek doing word studies. I certainly did. I imagine dipping the toes into the study of the language rather than doing a multi-hour course is a lower barrier to entry. Why should we steer people away from it entirely instead of warning them of the pitfalls? As I said in my original comment, we learned our first language by a form of word study and then only subsequently refined our knowledge of the language with formal schooling. I'll add that what you describe is more akin to cherry picking, which is a common pitfall of even an English reading of Scripture. So just like there's a right way to read Scripture (in context) and a wrong way (out of context), the same applies to a word study.

[@JohnMiles117]

@Legowiebe I appreciate your comment, I think so as a whole even with the warnings people can still get out of control with word studies. But I really appreciate the sentiment behind your comment. Very fair in level-headed thank you for the critique. I'll be more careful how I word things in the future. Thanks.

[@CaribouDataScience]

First, you must find a copy of John Wesely's Notes on the Old and New Testaments.....

[@jakobi1796]

Hello John. Just found your channel and have stated watching some of your previous videos. Have been interested in dispensation also and was wondering if you could share some of your thoughts on this topic? My problem is that I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@jakobi1796 thanks so much! Is there any particular books you'd be interested in or is it something specifically about dispensationalism you're curious about. I'd love to point you in the right direction, just trying to figure out which direction that would be 😂

[@jakobi1796]

Mostly just wanted to get your thoughts on the subject and where you stand. Sometimes I think many people (myself included ) get so caught up that they put more emphasis on doctrine than Christ.

[@JohnMiles117]

@jakobi1796 sad but true. I have fallen into that trap before myself. That's why I try to not be so dogmatic about secondary theology. I think it's valuable to study and discuss but not to the extent that it divides the body.

[@genewood9062]

Hi John: Have you considered asking different, varied people to record how long it takes them to read the Bible, and report back? I would estimate 60 hours for some, but possibly 90 hours for others. This info would help folk plan how many minutes to read per day, and how many days per week. E.g. For a 1200-page Bible, 60 hours = 20 pages per hour. 90 hours = 13.3 pages per hour.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@genewood9062 I would love too. I'll let you know what I find out

[@mikelilley]

Pastor John Barnett estimated a complete read through at 72 hours. How did he come up with that number? The timestamps on an audio bible. Very Clever.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@mikelilley smart! Thank you! I

[@edmeister9884]

Great video John! What NASB bible is that? I’m always looking for NASBs with cross references.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@edmeister9884 it's a Holman personal size. I'll find the link and put it in the description.

[@JohnMiles117]

The Bible I'm Using In This Video (kinda, this one is brown. Couldnt find a black one. ISBN 978-1-0877-5628-8) amzn.to/40h1mvv

[@valeriehallmark6467]

I like that Bible you’re using in this video but your link is not this exact Bible. Is the one you’re using no longer available and this link is a comparable one? The link takes me to a single column black text. I appreciate your suggestions on how to do a more in depth study versus just randomly reading, which I am guilty of! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 😊

[@JohnMiles117]

@@valeriehallmark6467 thank you so much for pointing that out! As soon as I can I'll fix that link. Sorry that I sent you the wrong one.

[@michaelparsons9063]

Give me a Bible w/ wide margins-so I can jot down notes-and a Hebrew/Greek dictionary. Then, sit back and watch the HS go to work.🕊

[@ishiftfocus1769]

Start with salvation. Start with Romans.

[@stclairjones815]

Why don't you read Hebrews back to back 10 times have your Bible app read it to you another five times then you'll have something to work with reading through the whole Bible or the whole new testament in a year year year not going to remember much of anything but if you read one book over and over have a Bible app read it to you you read it do it no less than 10 times so that you can recite it then you'll have something to work with

[@JohnMiles117]

@@stclairjones815 thats a pretty good idea.

[@HollywoodBigBoss]

But does it have the Deuterocannon?

[@JC-sj2pd]

Did you just look that up 😂

[@HollywoodBigBoss]

@@JC-sj2pd No. Genuinely asking.

[@JC-sj2pd]

@@HollywoodBigBoss ok well they are not inspired yet the Catholic Church and some other EO churches chose to use them even though in many places they contradict inspired scripture. So this gentleman clearly isn’t using them being Protestant.

[@HollywoodBigBoss]

@@JC-sj2pd I used the Deuterocannon as Sacred Scripture for over 10 years as a Protestant. You actually have a problem as every Apostlic Church, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Coptic Church & Assyrian Church of the East all accept these books as Sacred Scripture. Even the Anglican Church reads these books during their church services. If you look at the writings of Ignatius of Antioch, Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Irenaeus who were trained by Peter, Paul & John they all accepted these books as scripture and quoted them, thus said the LORD. The modern Rabbinic Canon didn't exist until after 130 AD by Rabbi Akiva and is documented in the Babylonian Talmud removing Books (naming Sirach) from their Tanakh. It wasn't until Martin Lucifer and Lucifer Calvin that these books would be relegated to lower than Scripture and removed by the British Bible Society's in the 1800s. Bibles lacking these books are legally incomplete bibles as recognized by the British Government.

[@JC-sj2pd]

@@HollywoodBigBoss I see what you did there. No bias though 🙄. Catholic Church gets the core tenet of salvation wrong so all other things are wrong too.

[@wisconsinwoodsman1987]

Just kicked off a 90 day plan. Also doing a deep dive into Romans.

[@JohnMiles117]

@@wisconsinwoodsman1987 fantastic!

[@wisconsinwoodsman1987]

@ Would love to hear your take on preterist eschatology. I’m still working out my personal theology on this matter. Have been dispensational for quite some time, but the more I look at the scriptures, preterism sure makes me re-think a few things. No worries if this is too controversial. I do enjoy your channel.

[@JohnMiles117]

@wisconsinwoodsman1987 not at all. To be honest they do have some good points, but in my opinion (this is just my opinion) in order for it to work, they have to spiritualize too much. For example, unless I'm mistaken, when they read revelation they interpret most of it as having already taken place through history. I think that it's too much of an allegory for my taste. Again, it's not to say they don't have some good points, but I think that it's not for me. I might do a video series on this subject someday, but it might be awhile. Great question!

[@wisconsinwoodsman1987]

@@JohnMiles117 Sounds good. The book Wars and Rumors of Wars is where a fair amount of people get their information on the matter. I think they argue Revelation was written earlier than scholars have noted. I wish I didn't have to wrestle with things like this, but I do 🙂

[@JohnMiles117]

@@wisconsinwoodsman1987 same here! I've listened to the arguments for early dating revelation and I just don't see it. But I could be wrong

[@JohnMiles117]

Several people have asked me about this Bible that I'm using in this video. This is the same one except this one is brown. Couldn't find a black one. Here's the ISBN for the black one 978-1-0877-5628-8) amzn.to/40h1mvv