10 Mistakes to Avoid in Bible Study

Recently, I got a list of 10 mistakes to to avoid in Bible study, in my email. The list came to me via the folks at Logos. They are good reminders and cautions. And, just like any modern person studying the Bible I need to be reminded of these from time to time.


Here they are:

   - From: One flawed, modern student of the Bible.
             - To: You

10.  Starting without prayer: We have access to God through prayer, so we should be looking to him for guidance as we seek to understand his Scriptures. It doesn’t matter what incredible resources and study tools we use if we do not first go to God.
9. Studying by yourself: Scripture was intended to be read and studied in community. It’s not wrong to do personal study—there is definitely a time and place for that. But if we study on our own in exclusion to studying with others, we’ll miss out on the rich insights the community of God has to offer.
8. Bringing preconceptions to the text: It is tempting to read the Bible selectively, trying to prove an idea we already believe to be true. Yet we should open the Bible with humility, knowing that some of our beliefs are wrong and ought to be changed.
7. Reading from only one perspective: It is tempting to only use study resources we already agree with. But I’ve found that those whose perspectives differ from my own often have the most to teach me. When Logos selected contributors to write the notes and articles in the Faithlife Study Bible, we reached out to a wide range of different theologians. They all share a love for God, but their differing perspectives bring unique insights to the Scriptures.
6. Using only one translation: Different Bible versions follow different translation philosophies. The basic categories include formal equivalence (seeking word-for-word accuracy), dynamic equivalence (seeking thought-for-thought accuracy), and paraphrases (rephrasing the overall message). Furthermore, the Greek and Hebrew texts have many nuances that can’t be captured by a single translation. If you don’t read Greek or Hebrew, comparing multiple translations can help you see the various nuances each passage has to offer.  

5. Missing the historical setting: Each book of the Bible was written by a specific person, to a specific group of people, in a specific culture, at a specific time, for a specific purpose. If we miss these details, we’re likely to misunderstand much of what we’re reading.
4. Assuming modern definitions of biblical words: Very few Greek or Hebrew words have an exact English equivalent; we have to remember that the English words in a translation may not mean exactly the same thing as the original Greek or Hebrew. One way to get around this obstacle is to use a tool such as Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, which contains almost every major word in the Bible.
3. Failing to understand the genre: The Bible includes epistles and narratives, poems and parables, instances of wisdom literature and apocalyptic literature, and a host of other specific styles. Keeping them all straight can be confusing, but it’s a vital part of understanding what we read. Thankfully, there are resources like How to Read the Bible Book by Book, which provides an overview—including genre—for each book of the Bible, along with a number of other important details.
2. Ignoring biblical context: All too often, we read the Bible as if it were a collection of unconnected verses. Taken by itself, a single verse can appear to mean something totally contrary to the author’s intent. One good example is Jeremiah 29:11, which is frequently claimed as a promise for God’s specific blessing on an individual. But in context, we see that God was talking to the Israelites, whom he had sent into exile for their sins. Only after they were in exile for 70 years would God bring them back to prosperity—those are “the plans I have for you” according to Jeremiah’s full context.
1. Studying for the wrong reasons: It’s easy to view Bible study as an intellectual exercise. But acquiring information about the Bible is not a proper end in itself. Paul described the purpose of Scripture: “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). As we read the Bible, our goal must ultimately be to apply it in our lives. 

PS. These would be good to share with your teen, twenty-something, or best friend.