Undoubtedly, there are many ways to study the Bible.  But I would like to focus on one way in particular – inductive study.

Over the years a number of people have chimed in with their two cents in regards to this method of study (Click here to read what other people are saying).

A principle primer for this type of study is the book, Methodical Bible Study (1952) by Robert A. Traina which has then been fully developed over the past 60 years and placed within the technical, academic book, Inductive Bible Study (2010) by David R. Bauer and Robert A. Traina. In the preface of the book, Eugene Peterson writes,

“It only took three or four weeks in Professor Traina’s classroom for me to become aware of a seismic change beginning to take place within me regarding the Bible. . . . When I entered Professor Traina’s classroom, I had a Ptolemaic understanding of the Bible: I was the center (my will, my questions, my needs) around which the Bible turned. After three years in that classroom, I was a thorough going Copernican: the Bible was the center (God’s will, Christ’s questions, the Spirit’s gifts) around which I turned. . . . My sense is that this way of reading the Bible–and living the Bible–has been transformative for thousands; probably by now the number must run into the millions.”

There are three books that I have read or scanned which promote inductive Bible study in an easy-to-understand way:

• Living By the Book (1991) by Howard and William Hendricks
• How to Study Your Bible (1994) by Kay Arthur
• How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It (2002) by Skip Heitzig

Precept Ministries produced a very helpful study Bible in 1992:  The International Inductive Study Bible.

The Answers-in-Genesis Sunday School Curriculum, utilized by Berean Baptist Church in Idaho Falls is based on the inductive Bible study method of (1) observation, (2) interpretation, and (3) application.

So here we go . . . Robertson McQuilkin defines “Induction” as – “A reasoning process that begins with specific, individual items and puts them together to form a general principle or conclusion.”

Are you ready for inductive Bible study?