Coming off the recent “Hero” series, I thought it may be useful to share some information on what Rick Warren refers to as the Biographical Method of Bible Study in his book, Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word.
The Bible is first and foremost a story, and like any great story, it is filled with many interesting characters. The Bible tells the story of God’s pursuit of individuals and their responses to and relationships with Him. We can learn from these men and women (both what to do and what to avoid) by using what Warren terms the Biographical Method of Bible Study.
“With the Biographical Method of Bible Study you select a biblical person and research the Scriptures to study his or her life and character. You try to become thoroughly acquainted with that person’s inner life and find out what made it a spiritual success or failure. Ask God to help you think and feel with him or her so that your study becomes a life-changing experience.”
Tips for a Good Biographical Study
1. Start with a person on whom you can do a simple study (i.e., begin with one about whom there are a small number of references, such as Andrew, Barnabas, or Mary of Bethany). Save Jesus, Abraham and Moses until you are ready to stretch!
2. Live with that person during the study – walk in his/her sandals. Use your sanctified imagination to get inside his/her mind and see how he/she thinks, feels, and responds to circumstances.
3. Be careful not to confuse different people who have the same name when you look up references about them.
4. Remember that various names may apply to just one person (e.g., the apostle Peter is known as Peter, Simon, Simeon and Cephas).
5. Stay away from books/commentaries written about biblical figures until you have exhausted every Bible reference about that person and drawn your own insights from Scripture.
Steps of the Biographical Method of Bible Study
1. Select the Bible character you want to study. Warren recommends choosing a person whose life will give you some valuable insights into how you can conform more to God’s standard for living.
2. Make a list of all the references about that person. These verses may include insights such as biographical data (birth, death, parents), as well as major life events, accomplishments, what others had to say about him/her, etc.
3. Write down first impressions (first reading). Read through the references and make some notes concerning your initial impressions of this person. You should also jot down any basic observations you make about him/her, as well as list any problems, questions or difficulties you wonder about as you read the references.
4. Make a chronological outline (second reading). For a major biblical figure, reread all of the references and make a chronological outline of the person’s life. This is important for gaining a good perspective and for seeing how different events of his/her life relate to one another. Warren recommends trying to read all the references in one sitting and in a modern translation.
5. Get some insights into the person (third reading). Ask several questions about the individual and see what you can glean about him/her.
6. Identify some character qualities (fourth reading). How would you describe this person? Jot down each quality, positive and negative, that shows up in the person’s life.
7. Show how other Bible truths are illustrated in the person’s life. Examine the individual’s life to see how it illustrates other truths/principles taught in the Bible.
8. Summarize the main lesson(s). In a few sentences, write out what you think is the main lesson that is taught or illustrated in this person’s life. Could you summarize the life in one word or phrase? What was his/her outstanding characteristic?
9. Write out a personal application. Warren suggests asking a series of questions:
• Did I see anything of myself in this person’s life?
• Did he/she show me of my weaknesses or reveal some of my strengths?
• What impressed me most about this individual?
• Where do I fall short in this area? What do I intend to do about it?
10. Make your study transferable. Condense what you have learned into a simple outline that you could use to share your insights with others.
**Material adopted from pages 97-101 of Warren’s book**
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