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Creative Bible Study
General Study Books Chapters Paragraphs Verses Words Specific Study Word Study |
THE METHOD EXPLAINED
STEP ONE: SELECT THE WORD
During the studies of chapters, paragraphs, and verses, we introduced the concept of key words. A key word is one that is basic to the meaning of a verse. It is an important word. Sometimes it is a word that is repeated for special emphasis or a word that is difficult to understand.
Care must be taken in selecting a word to study. For example, words such as "to, and, if," are not key words. They are connective words and add meaning, but they are not good words to use for word study. Be sure the word you select for study is a key word.
STEP TWO: STUDY THE WORD WITHIN ITS CONTEXT
Study the word within the context of the chapter. Is the word repeated elsewhere in the chapter? If so, what is revealed about its meaning? Is there another verse in the chapter that explains the meaning of the word? Next, study the word within the context of the paragraph. What is the subject of the paragraph? How does this key word relate to the subject?
Then study the word within the context of the verse. How does it relate to the verse? What part of speech is the word: Is it a noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, or adjective?
If you select a word to study and have not previously analyzed the context in which it appears, you must always take time to do this. Chapters, paragraphs, verses, and words all fit together to provide complete understanding of God's Word. It is important that a word or verse is not taken out of context because you might interpret it incorrectly.