We examined the impact of Bible study on women in Part One of this series (Part I link) Now, let’s look at the procedures for creating an inductive Bible study in Part Two. At the end of this post, we will provide a link to a sample Bible study that exemplifies the thought process behind its composition.
By definition, in an inductive Bible study, you study a passage of Scripture to be able to understand what the author intended to say to his original audience so you can find an application for you today, whereas, in a deductive Bible study, you begin with a premise that you try to prove by looking for Scriptures which confirm your premise. When preparing to write an inductive study, we must first choose a biblical passage to study. As Phyllis Bennett says in her book, Developing Life-Changing Bible Study Curriculum, writing down questions as we read the passage allows us to glean observations, reinforce our understanding, and apply what “God speaks to YOU!” A deductive Bible study, in contrast, starts with an extrabiblical premise that one attempts to support by locating biblical evidence with the result that “God speaks to others who speak to you”.[1]
We remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we see or hear, 50% of what we see and hear, but 80% of what we do. Asking questions as we read the Bible engages us, organizes what we learn, and creates a connection between our observations and correct interpretation.[2] In contrast to a coed audience made up of 50% thinkers and 50% feelers, a female audience typically has 40% thinkers and 60% feelers. The types of questions posed will satisfy the needs of thinkers (Bible knowledge) or feelers (personal reflection).[3]
Before beginning a Bible study, ensure that your primary biblical text is relevant to women. For comparison and clarification, read the passage in various Bible versions. Glean meaning and application from the passage by posing questions. Create a title and summary statement for the passage. Assess the group’s willingness to complete homework and the presence of new Christians. Vary the length and depth of the homework, and the questions’ difficulty. Use an icebreaker, three observational questions, two interpretive questions, four correlation questions (one scriptural, one cultural, and two reflective), and one application question.[4]
Four basic steps in writing inductive Bible studies are observation, interpretation, correlation, and application.[5]
Observation provides understanding of what the text is communicating by asking who, what, where, when, why, and how questions.
- Who wrote it, heard it, or voiced it? Who are the main characters and what are their primary characteristics?
- What is the main issue, challenge, event, or key concept? What are the characters doing or how are discipline, correction, or praise being given?
- Where was it written, stated, or found on the map?
- When was it written or stated? When did it or will it happen? Immediately, now, then, after, when, and until are sample keywords.
- Why was it written, or the action taken?
- How is it done or how will it happen? How did the key characters interact? How did the passage conclude, or how was the outcome shaped?[6]
Ask only if Scripture explains the reason. Avoid speculating! Look for keywords, contrasts (but, yet, however, although; Eph. 2:1, 4), comparisons (like, as, just as, also, so, and, likewise, the same as), conclusions or cause-and-effect statements (wherefore, for this reason, so that, therefore, consequently, finally, then, so then, if, if then), from general to specific, or vice versa (See Gal. 5:19-21; Heb. 11:39-40), progression (2 Peter 1:5), and simple lists (Rom 8:35-36; 1 Tim. 3:2-7) or topical lists (Luke 15’s lost items; John 10’s Good Shepherd description). Give a title to each paragraph, chapter, and book as you review keywords, contrasts, comparisons, conclusions, and lists; create a summary statement; use a phrase two to four words long; and record titles.[7]
Interpretation answers what the text means. To avoid everyone offering their own interpretation when only one is accurate to the text as the author intended for his audience, interpret what the author meant without adding your own interpretation.
1) Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help.
2) Consider the text’s setting (its context, literary form, historical setting, and cultural background).
3) “Context rules in interpretation.” To prevent making a mistaken reading, consider what comes before and after the text as well as the culture, society, and time when the passage was written.
4) Before considering the author’s intended meaning for us today, ascertain the author’s intended meaning for his listeners.
5) Unless you are aware a word or phrase is figurative or allegorical, take it literally.11 Examples of figurative language are a metaphor or simile (Psalm 1:3 and 5). One example of allegory is a parable which holds deeper meaning beyond the story it tells. Another example of allegory is found in verses like Ephesians 5:31-32 where marriage is allegorical for Christ’s relationship with the church.
6) Study the definitions of keywords or repeated words. If needed, look up definitions of words in a standard or biblical dictionary.
7) Examine grammar.
8) Cross reference keywords or phrases to locate biblical support, clarification, or more explanation of the Bible passage. Remember not to take verses out of context while relating texts. Search for further Bible references using a concordance. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is a good online resource.
9) Consider teaching passages when interpreting historical passages and recognize that not all historical events happened as they should or could have been.
10) Remember God’s progressive revelation when interpreting the Old Testament in the context of the New Testament, and vice versa.
11) Use clear Bible texts to interpret ambiguous ones.
12) While church tradition and history are significant, God’s Word has final authority on matters of faith and practice.
13) Consider fundamental inquiries made of each passage: Why did God create and include this passage? What are the enduring truths or timeless concepts found in this passage? What does this passage convey concerning God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and people in general, concerning sin and evil, regarding right and wrong attitudes, about positive and negative attitudes, or truth and error?
14) Though a passage may contain secondary or supplementary ideas, search for the text’s main idea, central truth, main theme or point – the big idea!
15) Write down any questions that come to mind without answering them immediately.
16) Consult commentaries only if you cannot resolve an issue in the passage or you need further background information.[8] The idea of an inductive study is not to put forth the thoughts of commentary writers, but to share the findings of your in-depth Bible study.
There are eight types of interpretive questions:
- a) Meaning: What does this word or phrase mean?
- b) Significance: What is the significance of this?
- c) Relationship: How are these related to each other?
- d) Identification: Who is this or did this?
- e) Temporal: When did, is, or will this happen?
- f) Locale: Where did this happen?
- g) Implication: What does this imply? (Application-oriented question)
- h) Rationale: Why is it here?[9]
Correlation connects the primary text with other biblical passages, or with good or bad Bible characters. Determine whether the text reflects culture economically, physically, politically, recreationally, socially, sexually, ideologically, or psychologically. How does this truth reflect or relate to our relationships and experiences in the past or present with our spouse, children, friends, neighbours, city, nation, or the world?[10]
As we rely on the Spirit to bring about change in our lives, application is a personal, active, dependent response to what God’s Word means to me, as we trust the Spirit to affect change in our lives. The purpose of Bible study is to help change us into people who delight God and enable us to assist others by transforming their lives, too. Answer “so what?” How does the passage apply to the Church today, to Christians in our country, to Christians, seekers, and unbelievers in our town/city, and in our lives now?[11]
To write your own inductive Bible studies, I highly recommend Phyllis Bennett’s manual, Developing Life-Changing Bible Study Curriculum. Better yet, take her course![12]
Click here for a sample inductive Bible study:
Writing_an_Inductive_Bible_Study_by_Cheryl_Anne_Paquette (2)
Bibliography
Bennett, Phyllis. Developing Life-Changing Bible Study Curriculum. Self-published: Printed by author, 2018.
[1] Phyllis Bennett, Developing Life-Changing Bible Study Curriculum (self-pub., printed by author, 2018), 13.
[2] 13.
[3] 54.
[4] 67.
[5] 14
[6] 15.
[7] 14-16.
[8] 18-19.
[9] 20.
[10] 27.
[11] 30.
[12] Phyllis Bennett is an adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. She taught this course at Heritage Seminary in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.