Bible Study Best Practices
Read the bible literally. God is not playing word or mind games to confuse you. He means what he says and says what he means.
The scriptures are written to certain people, groups, and individuals. You need to understand the context of each book/chapter/verse to know who God is writing too.
When studying the scriptures, understand God is using progressive revelation to reveal what and how he is dealing with man, this is called dispensational study.
When studying scriptures, you need to compare scripture with scripture. The Bible is self-interpreting, and no portion of scripture is unrelated to the whole.
Don’t inject man made doctrine and religious tradition into the scripture.
Always utilize the complete and clear text to interpret the incomplete or unclear text.
Always note who is speaking to whom and in what setting. This will expedite dispensational understanding and the proper application of versus.
Be careful to distinguish the three applications every verse exhibits - historical, spiritual, and doctrinal.
Allow the bible to be its own dictionary in most instances.
MORE BEST PRACTICES
Teach biblical literalism at all times. Never allegorize unless the text makes it clear that you should. John 6:53 on the merit of John 6:63
Teach the text within its context. Miles Coverdale said this.
Never be impressed or intimidated by scholarship.
Never spiritualize the verse - spiritualizing allows one to deny the literal meaning of the verse.
Don't play language games -where you find some random greek/hebrew word that allows you to re-interpret the verse to fit your understanding.
You do not have to know all the passages. Not everything can be understood in the bible. That is ok.
Avoid speculation and guesswork.
Read over and over many times until you comprehend
Do not invent or hold to dogma. Dogma is beliefs you hold too without question.
Don't be certain until you have studied enough doctrine in context.
Be willing to be wrong and open to correction and rebuke!