Essential Basics of Bible Study

Bible study can seem overwhelming when you first start. But paying attention to these essential basics of Bible study will help you get started (or keep going) with confidence.

The basics covered in this article deal more with WHAT to do instead of HOW to do Bible study. However, I have several article on how to do various types of Bible studies. If you’re a Bible study beginner, start with the SOAP Bible Study Method. If you’re ready for deeper study, try Topical Studies or Biographical (Character) Studies.

For even more help on any of these, check out the workbooks in my Etsy Shop for Topical Studies, Biographical Studies, or a wide variety of other study guides.

These essential basics of Bible study are arranged around the journalistic questions known as the “5 Ws & 1 H.” In other words, who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure notice here.

Who should study the Bible?

The short answer to this question, of course, is “everyone.” Everyone can benefit from doing Bible study so, of course, everyone should study the Bible. This will look different for different people in different seasons of life and with different levels of understanding about the Bible, but everyone starts somewhere. In other words, YOU should be studying the Bible

The answer to “who” can go further. Anyone who wants to know the thoughts of God about life, sin, salvation, relationships, speaking, anger, and a host of other issues should study the Bible. Perhaps even more importantly, anyone who wants to know the Author of those thoughts personally and intimately should study the Bible. God has graciously given us His Word, the Bible, so we can know Him personally. No human can know God completely, because God is infinite and we are finite. The only way to know even Him even in part is through His Word.

Another question that goes with the “Who” is, “With whom should you study the Bible?”

The short answer is “very similar the our first answer: anyone.”anyone.” Anyone who is willing to study Scripture with you, who is committed to learning the truth about God’s Word and His thoughts, and who would be encouraging and supportive of your study would make a great Bible study companion,

More specifically, there are two types of people with whom you should study the Word. First, study with those who know more than you. These people will challenge you to dig in and get more out of the Word personally as well as to live out what you learn. Secondly, study with those who know less than you. This group of people will benefit from your encouragement and support as they study. No matter how much – or how little – you know about God and His Word, you can help someone else. Even if that is by saying, “Join me and we’ll learn together” if you’re both beginners.

When is a good time to study the Bible?

The short answer, of course, is “anytime.” Any time you spend in God’s Word is time well spent. That means if you’re studying at midnight or 9:00 in the morning, it doesn’t matter. It is always a great time to study the Bible.

However, while that might be true in an ideal world, in the real world you live in, “anytime” isn’t usually practical. A few basic guidelines will help you find the best time for you to study God’s Word. Here are a few questions to consider.

• How much time do you want to spend studying God’s Word? For many people, 30 minutes is a good target. For those in busy seasons of life, 10 or 15 minutes might be a better goal.
• When is your schedule most flexible? In other words, when do you have the most free time? If you have to get three young children ready for school in the morning, perhaps morning is not the right time for you. Or if your spouse works evenings, maybe 8:00 at night is great for you. Look at your schedule to find your best time.
• When do you have the most mental and physical energy for studying? In an ideal world, this will match perfectly with when you have the most flexibility. But we all know life isn’t usually “ideal.” If you are naturally a morning person, but you also have three young children to get ready for school, you may find that getting up at 4:30 or 5:00 to study is best for both your energy level and their needs.
• Do you have the flexibility to spend 30 minutes or more studying the Bible every day? Be honest, not idealistic. If you can realistically only carve out 30 minutes three days a week, take those three days and do your best. Don’t stress over what you can’t do. Instead, do what you can. On the other four days of the week, take 5 minutes to read through a psalm and sing a hymn of worship.

As you consider these questions, the list below may help you think of when to find time in your life to study God’s Word.

• Get up an hour before the kids and spend 30 minutes studying the Bible.
• As soon as the kids are all in bed, turn off your phone notifications, your TV, all your screens, and start studying. You can always catch up on the news, sports, or your favorite show another time. Only the Bible gives eternal rewards.
• Instead of eating lunch with your coworkers, grab a light lunch while you fill up on God’s Word.
• When you’re waiting up until 10:00 Friday night for your teen to get home, spend the waiting time in the Word.
• If you’re doing laundry alone one day, grab the time from starting the washer to putting into the dryer for your Bible time.
• Install a timekeeper app on your phone and/or tablet, so once you’ve hit your limit on social media, you’re locked out for the day. Then turn the page of your Bible and dive in.
• Grab your calendar – whether paper or digital – and make an appointment with God’s Word that you keep just as seriously as you keep your appointments with a doctor, lawyer, or your child’s teacher.
• Follow this motto: Go biblical before you go digital.

One more thing to keep in mind, no matter how much time you have at one study session. Take notes and keep a bookmark handy so you can jump right back in quickly whenever the next chance comes.

Where is the best place to study the Bible?

Where you study the Bible matters as much as where you did your homework when you were in school. The key here is to keep the distractions to a minimum. Avoiding distractions is critical, but that is not the only thing that matters when you decide where to set up your study spot.

Here are some other considerations for you to ponder:

• Where will you be least likely to be interrupted?
• Where will you have access to your study tools, whether physical or digital?
• Where can you safely store your Bible and notebook or journal so that little fingers won’t move it or “decorate” it?
• Where will you be physically comfortable, but not so comfortable that you’ll fall asleep?
• Where will it be quietest, without screens, no music playing, and no questions from other people? Background noise may be helpful, so you might want to open a window or have a noise machine.

As with the question on “when,” think through your options. The list below may help you.

• Your bedroom, with the door shut while your husband bathes the children
• The kitchen table after all the kids are tucked in. Make sure the kitchen is clean if the mess will distract you (it would distract me!)
• Your favorite chair in the living room with a tote of study materials nearby
• The back porch, greeting the dawn, and digging into the Word
• At your work desk during lunch, using only digital tools
• At your favorite breakfast restaurant before work, with your study tools in your backpack.

Once you’ve picked your favorite study spot, try to go there regularly. But also have some backup options for when life doesn’t line up with your plans perfectly.

What should you study in the Bible?

The short answer is that anything in God’s Word is worth studying. With that said, however, you need an actual plan for studying. As you think about what to study, consider these questions:

• Are you a beginner at Bible study or more experienced? If you’re a beginner, you should study a few New Testament books before heading to the Old Testament.
• Are you comfortable studying on your own or are you more confident with a guide or workbook? Either one is fine, as long as you are doing most of the work instead of just reading what someone else has written.
• Are there certain struggles you’re currently facing for which you need wisdom and guidance? If so, you might want to do a topical Bible study.
• Are you entering a new season of life soon, such as having your first child or becoming an empty-nester? Maybe you could study Proverbs for wisdom about parenting or the Ephesians for learning about your place in God’s Church.

Once you’ve considered these and other questions, make a plan. Remember, once you’ve made your plan, that you can always change. Several ideas are listed below.

• Study a short epistle (letter) such as Philippians (4 chapters), 1 John (5 chapters), or 2 Timothy (3 chapters).
• Study a gospel. Instead of doing 1 chapter at a time, follow the paragraph divisions in your Bible. For example, in John 1 there are 5 paragraph divisions (verses 1-18, 19-28, 29-34, 35-42, 43-51). That is much more doable than handling all 51 verses at one time!
• Work through a book study. I love the Bible studies published by Well-Watered Women or this series by NavPress.
• Study one psalm, going through as many or as few verses at a time as you desire. A few great choices are Psalms 1, 19, 23, 51, 91, or 100.
• Study through the book of Proverbs, looking only for verses on one topic, such as parenting, controlling your speech, or foolishness.
• Read through a nonfiction book 1 chapter at a time (break it up if you need to) and look up every reference quoted. Take notes. This book would be a great one to start with.

If you’re wondering just how to “study” through a book of the Bible, this is a super-simple way to start:

• Read one chapter (or paragraph) a day.
• Write down anything that “jumps out” at you. Thoughts. Questions. Ideas. Confusion. Anything.
• Answer this question in writing: “Based on what I’ve read, what one thing will I do today to align my life with God’s Word?”
• If you skip a day or two, don’t stress. Just pick up with the next chapter or section. I do that all the time. It’s also a great reason to take notes on what you read – to refresh your memory!
• When you finish, pray about what to do next. See the list above for ideas if you need help. And just keep going.

If you want more information about doing a book study, read this article.

The more you do this, the better you’ll get at it. Having some basic tools will help, but God’s Holy Spirit will illuminate God’s Word to you if you are humble and seeking.

One caution: don’t expect to understand everything. People who have spent decades studying God’s Word will tell you that you’ll never learn it all. Ask me how I know!

What Bible study tools will help?

A few basic Bible study tools will help you learn more. Below are my top recommendations.

• A concordance – for finding the same word in multiple places. Strong’s concordance in the “gold standard.” It gives you basic meanings of the original Hebrew or Greek words.
• Bible maps – so you know where all the things you read about happened.
• An English dictionary – because sometimes you might need help with challenging words.
• Multiple versions of the Bible. Reading the same passage in various translations helps with understanding. This is where online Bible study websites such as blueletterbible.org (my favorite) or biblegateway.com really shine!

To learn more, read this article about online Bible study tools and this one about the best resources to purchase.

Why should you study the Bible?

The Bible is the only way to know the Creator God of the universe, the One who loves you more than you can even imagine. It is a love letter to humanity that reveals the heart and mind of the Only True God and Jesus Christ, His Son and our Savior. Study the Bible to know Him.

You’ll get other benefits from studying the Bible, of course. You’ll gain wisdom, grow your faith, and understand the sweep of history as well as the current state of the world better. You find peace, joy, confidence, and calm in the midst of storms inside the pages of the Bible. You’ll learn how to be more patient, more gracious, kinder, gentler, and to speak the truth in love by studying God’s Word.

These are all great reasons to study God’s Word. And there are so many more! But first and foremost, you should study God’s Word because you want to know the God of the Word. Study the written Word so you can know the Living Word.

How should you study the Bible?

The answer to this question is way too long to write here. Instead, follow the links below for more information.

• Learn how to do a topical study or use this workbook to guide you through doing topical studies.
• Learn how to do a biographical study or use this workbook as a guide.
• Use a handbook to help you understand the basics.
• Learn to do a verse analysis or use a simple 4-step study method.

What questions do you have about studying the Word? I hope this has answered some of them for you. Now, grab your favorite Bible and dig in!