Inductive Bible Study
What is Inductive Bible Study?
It’s the process of
observing Scripture,
accurately interpreting what it means, and
applying what we’ve discovered from it to grow as Christians.
Observation
The first step in inductive study involves reading the passage carefully, noticing details about how the author told the story, what specific data he emphasized, and the settings and circumstances he recorded.
Interpretation
The second step involves consulting a handful of biblical and extrabiblical resources in pursuit of the following goals for understanding what you’ve discovered:
First: Mind the entire message;
Second: Pursue the author’s and
his audience’s perspective
Third: See how
Scripture interprets Scripture;
and
Fourth: Compare your conclusions
to trusted commentary.
This perspective is imperative! We miss so much when we interpret Scripture using only our contemporary point of view.
Application
The last inductive study step is using our discoveries: if we’ve accurately observed and correctly interpreted our study passage, we will be moved to act upon it.
We accomplish this by reviewing what we’ve learned and how we were convicted and corrected through the study, then letting the Spirit guide us to growth from it.
See 2 Timothy 3:16-17.