studying the bible

5 Top Tips for reading the Bible for all its worth: 1. PRAY! Pray that the Holy Spirit will teach you and give you understanding 2. Source different versions of the Bible 3. Study large blocks of text instead of individual verses 4. Ignore headings (IE: chapters, subheadings and verses) and try not to start with joining words (EG: but, therefore, likewise, etc.).  Instead, determine where the topic begins and start from there. 5. Use a tool like S. O. S. (details below)

This article builds on the basic S.O.S. Bible study approach introduced in Part 1 and introduces a deeper method for interpreting Scripture by considering it through multiple contextual “levels” of meaning. It explains the hermeneutical concept of Sitz im Leben (“settings in life”) — reading the Bible not only from our own perspective but also from the perspectives of the original speakers and the human authors of the biblical text. The page outlines three study levels: Original Setting – What did the text mean to the original people involved? Author’s Setting – Why did the human author include this text, and how does its placement shape meaning? Present Application – How does the passage speak into modern life today? Using the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman (John 4:1–42) as an example, it walks through each level with questions to guide study, focusing on Say, Obey, and Share at each stage. The goal is to help readers move beyond surface reading, appreciate literary genre, deepen insight into familiar passages, and develop a richer, Spirit-led understanding of Scripture.

This is for serious deep dives or formal study.