By Doug Ingram – Elder
My favorite Bible verse when it comes to studying the Scriptures is found in Acts 17:11: “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.”
The Bereans were seeking the truth about Jesus and therefore studied the Old Testament to see whether the things which the apostles preached, concerning Him as the Messiah, His incarnation, obedience, sufferings, death, and resurrection from the dead were in agreement with the Scriptures, or not (see John 5:39).
Today, we have the New Testament in addition to the Old Testament to determine how both Testaments are aligned with each other concerning Jesus Christ throughout the books of the Bible (Luke 24:27)! These are my personal steps I take in order to be a wannabe Berean.
Step One – Pray for illumination of the Scriptures because the Holy Spirit is the author of God’s word, not man (II Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit will use the study of God’s word to change my heart with the truth concerning the Scriptures.
Step Two – Next, I would read up on the particular book of the Bible I was studying. Most Bibles now have an introduction before each book but, usually I want to go a little deeper with the historical context, so I grab my Bible Dictionary or a Survey of the Bible to get more familiar with historical context in relation to the customs and culture of each context of the book (Luke 1:1-4). Another reference item that helps is an atlas that will focus on the country or area in which I am studying.
Step Three – In connection to the previous step, I would then get a feel for the author in terms of why he is writing. In other words, what is the particular problem or what is the reason/purpose for which the author is writing. Reading over the passage I am studying a few times will help me get a sense of how the subject flows.
Step Four – Now I look for God’s solution to the particular problem. Sometimes what helps me here is to focus on key words (i.e., words that are repeated over and over again for emphasis). I believe God repeats words in Scripture, so we stay focused on the main thing and do not get sidetracked by a different interpretation of the text. In addition, I look at identifying relational words that show cause and effect, effect and cause, purpose/results, condition/results, comparisons, and contrasts. I do not have the space here to go into the details of all of these word relationships, but the main objective is to try and get inside the writer’s logic in order to think the writer’s thoughts.
Here is an example of an if/then – conditional/result relationship in the NIV where the cause is conditional, if . . . the effect is the result, if the condition comes to pass when reading II Corinthians 5:17:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
The event of being “in Christ” shall bring about a result or change and purpose for one’s life. This regeneration of a being a new creature, a person now views Christ not from a worldly perspective but from a heavenly and spiritual one.
Now, as a Berean wannabe, I am curious and challenged to go a little deeper. So, I go to a Bible concordance website and I am interested in the words “new creation” because I want to see God’s exact meaning to these words. The word “new” in the Greek means: new in quality, fresh in development or opportunity; “not found exactly like this before.” The word “creation” in the Greek means “creation out of nothing.”
Putting these two amazing thoughts together, I surmise that even though I look the same in regard to my outward physical appearance, I am born all over again from the inside (i.e., from the spirit of God)! I am purposed by God to be completely new (the old is gone).So, this means that for any changes in godly behavior (new has come) to occur, I must look at my spiritual heart. What a great encouragement it is from God to inspire me to put off my old behavior and have my new life be directed toward godly pursuits (i.e., be more like Christ).
Step 5 – Lastly, I must be willing to be never satisfied with what I learn along the way in regard to personal Bible study. There are many biblical scholars and theologians (past and present) that have searched the Scriptures and I definitively want to tap into their studies and knowledge of seeking Christ as well. Thus, using Bible commentaries is a great resource for growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ (II Peter 3:18).
Going back to II Corinthians 5:17 as my example for the meaning of a new creation, this is what the commentary from Vincent’s word studies states: “A created thing or creature, as Romans 8:39. ‘The Rabbins used the word of a man converted from idolatry.’”
Knowing how rampant idolatry was in the Old Testament, this is certainly a conversion of a person at the deepest and most inner parts. Each Christian has received a gift of a new heart by God. As stated earlier, the challenge of doing Bible studies as a wannabe Berean and a disciple of Christ; my quest for growing does not end because God still speaks: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols” (I John 5:21).