15 Factors That Focus Bible Study Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by GregFinzer

There is no unders­tanding of the Bible without a proper unders­tanding of context. Each verse must be understood in the context of the chapter, the book of the Bible, and within the context of the entire Bible.

There is no correct unders­tanding of the Bible without unders­tanding that the Bible is written to three types of people - Jew, Gentile, and the Church of God. All the Bible is written for you but not all the Bible is written to you.

The bible has proper divisions, and you must understand these divisions properly in order to understand the message. For example, even though Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are in the New Testament section of the bible; each books writings are happening under the Old Testament Law. New Testament was not in effect until the "­Tes­tat­or" Jesus Christ died.

All Scripture has three basic applic­ations - histor­ical, doctrinal, and inspir­ati­onal.

God has chosen every event and every individual word in the Bible for a specific purpose. See Psalm 12:6-7, Proverbs 30:5-6

The invisible things of God are understood by the creation which He has made.

The Bible is of no private interp­ret­ation. We understand His Word by comparing Scripture with Scripture. The Bible defines itself. 1st Corint­hians 2:13

The Bible must be understood in light of God's consis­tency.

Always take a passage literally until it is impossible to do so, or if we have the clear instru­ction of Scripture that we are dealing with symbolism.

Always be prepared to change whatever you have been taught or you have believed when it goes contrary to the Bible. Never make the Bible line up with what you believe. Always line yourself up with what the Bible clearly says.

Never violate a clear passage when trying to understand an obscure passage and don't twist a passage to make it fit. 2nd Peter 3:16

Never base a doctrine on a question. Questions are designed to amplify or help explain something.

Never base a doctrine on a single verse or passage.

When coming upon a passage that you do not unders­tand, you must never violate the principles of Bible study. If you still can't understand it, either God does not choose to reveal it, or you're simply not ready for it yet. John 16:12

Always give the Bible the benefit of the doubt. There are no contra­dic­tions in God's word, only apparent contra­dic­tions. God makes no mistakes. Proverbs 30:5-6