Inductive Bible Study

The Basic methods of an inductive study are Observation, Interpretation, and Application; and in this course we will learn how to use these tools to learn what the Bible actually says, and we can also use to remove incorrect ideas or thought we may have had about what the Bible says.

What is an inductive Bible Study?

An inductive Bible study pull sout facts that we red in the Bible as opposed to Deductive studies which start with a premise to deduce an answer, or springboard studies which shares opinions about the scripture.

Observation

Interpretation

Application

What does the Bible Say?

What does the text Mean?

How Should I Respond?

Further Guide to Interpretation

In order to understand the Word of God properly, it is necessary to follow certain guidelines.
Observing these guidelines will not always guarantee correct conclusions, but ignoring them
frequently leads to error.

INTERPRET YOUR EXPERIENCE BY THE SCRIPTURES: DO NOT INTERPRET THE SCRIPTURES BY YOUR EXPERIENCE.

When people interpret the Scriptures by their experience, their experience becomes the
standard authority. God’s Word is the standard and our lives are under the Scriptures’ authority.
Whenever a Christian universally applies a method to others that has worked for him, he is in
danger of transgressing the principle, even though the method itself may be a good application
of biblical commandment. A good example of this is the man who had difficulty with deficit
spending and who abolished all forms of buying on credit. He was so successful in overcoming
his problem that he insisted that anyone owning a credit card or buying on time was violating
the scriptural injunction, “Owe no man anything…”
(Romans 13:8). In this situation the individual had interpreted the Scripture in the light of his
experience, making his experience normative rather than the biblical principle.

DO NOT BE DOGMATIC WHERE THE SCRIPTURES ARE NOT.

There are many areas in which the Bible is not conclusive. Be careful not to say more than the
Bible does. In many issues such as personal experience, style of dress, standard of living or
church government, a person needs to arrive at his own conclusions, even though the Scriptures
are not conclusive. In these situations a stand may be taken, but do not be critical of those who
accept a differing view. We still must love those who view things differently.

DETERMINE WHEN A PASSAGE IS FIGURATIVE RATHER THAN LITERAL.

You should consider a passage figurative when the Bible says the passage is figurative. Many

times the Bible indicates in the text that a particular passage is to be taken figuratively.

Occasionally the events, situations or places may be literal as well as figurative. Galatians 4

states that Mt. Sinai is a symbol of bondage and Jerusalem is a symbol of grace. These are

literal geographic locations which are also symbols of spiritual truth.

You should also consider a passage figurative when the statement is out of character with the

thing described. For example, a statement may be considered figurative whenever an

inanimate object is used to describe a person or animate being. In the Gospel of John, Jesus

is referred to as “the Door,” “Bread,” “Water,” etc. These words are all used in a figurative

sense.

In Philippians 3:2, Paul warns, “Look out for the dogs.” He is describing a group of heretics

teaching the necessity of circumcision for salvation. Thus, “dogs” is to be taken figuratively.

Jesus says in Luke 13:32, “Go and tell that fox…” when He is referring to Herod. Thus it can be

assumed to be figurative.

There are times when the same word is used figuratively, but has different meanings in different

places in the Bible. For example, “lion” in 1 Peter 5:8 refers to Satan, but “lion” in Revelation

5:5 refers to Jesus Christ. Generally, the correct meaning of the figure can be determined by

the context.

A word will not have a figurative and literal meaning at the same time. When a word in a

sentence is given a figurative meaning, it supersedes the literal meaning. If the literal

interpretation fits, it should be used unless the context makes it impossible.

DO NOT RATIONALIZE THE SCRIPTURES.

Do not attempt to interpret biblical statements by current philosophies and contemporary
scientific theories. These thoughts often change with the passage of time. The Bible, however,
is eternal and never changes. For many years secular historians discredited the Bible’s accuracy
because there was no archeological evidence for the existence of the Hittite nation referred to
in Scripture. Then in 1907, archeologists discovered tablets in Turkey which confirmed the
existence and location of the Hittites.
It is never necessary to apologize for the biblical statements that science cannot confirm or to
reinterpret Scripture in the face of current scientific evidence. Because the Bible is God’s Word
and literally true, every miracle and every statement must also be considered true.

DO NOT SPIRITUALIZE THE SCRIPTURES.

In an attempt to find so-called “spiritual truths” in every verse, many people “read into” a
passage a true conclusion that is determined by an invalid process. When a person uses a
wrong method to arrive at a true conclusion, he opens himself to being deceived by that same
method on other occasions.
For example, Acts 28 related how Paul was miraculously healed after being bitten by a
poisonous viper. Someone spiritualizing this account might say, “The serpent, who is the devil,
always attacks righteous men, but is always defeated.”
This conclusion may be true and may be taught elsewhere in Scripture, but Acts 28 does not
teach this conclusion. This is an erroneous handling of God’s Word.
Adapted from Search the Scriptures