How to Do a Word Study, via Olive Tree

There is danger in asking, “what does this passage mean to you” when reading the Scriptures.

There is much value in “digging deeper” into a Biblical text. Too often, we tend to skim the surface of Scripture and insert ourselves into the narrative. I’ve been guilty of saying (and have heard others say), “what does this passage mean to you/me.” There is danger is asking that question when reading the Word of God.

While there may be a number of applications to draw out from a Biblical Text, there is only one meaning.

A more accurate question would be, “what does this text mean.” While there may be a number of applications to draw out from a Biblical Text, there is only one meaning. Asking the latter forces us to dig until we know for certain what God meant when He inspired the Biblical writers to write as they were moved on by the Holy Spirit.

There’s good news, the Bible (God’s Word) is sufficient.

There are many excuses for a lack of diligent study. I believe, for the most part, many individuals skim the surface is not because they lack reverence for the Word but they are ignorant (uneducated) in how to study a text. Therefore, we never really dig into what God meant because we don’t know how to look into what we read. There’s good news, the Bible (God’s Word) is sufficient. You don’t have to be a Biblical Scholar to understand and know what it means. You simply need the right tools and you need to know how to use those tools. The very words we read have meaning. Therefore, it’s important to have a basic understanding how to study those words.

It is my prayer that as a student of Scripture, the attached link will help you in your pursuit to study the very Words of God. How To Do A Word Study (via Olive Tree Blog.)