MODULE:
COURSE:
INTRODUCTION
The New Testament Prophet John the Baptist was known as a "voice crying in the wilderness" as
he proclaimed the Word of God. His message was fresh, powerful, and relevant to the spiritual
needs of his time.
Many people today have become echoes of spiritual truths they hear from those around them.
They are not a voice through which God can reveal His message, but are only an echo of what
they hear from others. They are like the prophets of whom God said, "steal my words every one
from his neighbor" (Jeremiah 23:30).
In order to speak God's words you must first know what God has said. The purpose of this course
is to equip you to understand God's Word. You will need only this manual, a Bible, and the
guidance of the Holy Spirit to learn these "Creative Bible Study Methods."
A method is an organized way to accomplish something. It is an orderly plan. Bible study
methods are an organized plan to study God's written Word. The word "creative" means "having
the ability to produce that which is new." This course teaches you how to study God's Word for
yourself. You will not have to rely on the research of others because you will be able to create
your own Bible studies based on your study of God's written Word.
By learning proper Bible study methods you will become a voice through which God can speak
His truths to a spiritually hungry world. You will no longer only be an echo of what you hear
from others.
"Creative Bible Study Methods" introduces the Bible as the written Word of the one true God. It
explains divisions of the Bible, versions, translations, and paraphrases. First, the course guides
you to discover what the Bible teaches about itself, then creative methods are explained and you
are given the opportunity to use each method discussed.
The course also explains how to outline, make study notes, mark your Bible for easy reference,
and reduce lengthy passages to simple charts. The course guides you to proper interpretation and
application of God's Word. It directs attention to the greatest Teacher of all, the Holy Spirit. If
you follow the guidelines presented, you will experience a new, creative spiritual life flowing
within you.
5
,No method of Bible study can replace the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is the spiritual
force that endues a method with creative power. He whispers into the human spirit the truths of
God's Word which create a new spiritual life flow.
The study of methods is not an end in itself. It is not the final goal. The methods are only a
means to accomplish the objective of studying God's Word. It is not enough to learn these
methods. You must use what you learn to study God’s Word and apply its truths to your life and
ministry.
Although you may complete the lessons in this manual, in reality you will never really complete
this course. Your study of God's Word will never be finished because its rich spiritual truths can
never be exhausted.
_________
Note: This course teaches Bible study methods, not Bible content. Harvestime International Institute offers another
course entitled "Basic Bible Survey" which presents the general background of the Bible, an outline of each book, its
author, time of writing, to whom it was written, purpose, key verse, important characters, maps, dates, and charts
summarizing general Bible content. Because of the need for a general introduction to the Bible in both Bible study
and Bible survey, the first three chapters of these courses are identical while the remaining content differs.
6
, COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
Explain how the Bible originated.
Describe the organization of the Bible into testaments, major divisions, and books.
Summarize basic history and chronology of the Bible.
Explain the unity and diversity of the Bible.
Explain how different Bible versions developed.
Apply rules for proper interpretation of the Bible.
Summarize what the Bible teaches about itself.
Identify prerequisites for Bible study.
Create outlines, charts, summaries, and text markings to help you retain content.
Apply creative methods to your study of God's Word.
Use Bible study tools.
7
, PART ONE: THE SUBJECT OF STUDY
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCING THE BIBLE
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
Write the Key Verse from memory.
Define the word "Bible."
Define the word "Scripture."
Explain the origin of the Bible.
Identify the major purposes of the Bible.
Identify the Old and New Testaments as the two major divisions of the Bible.
Name the four divisions of Old Testament books.
Name the four divisions of New Testament books.
Explain what is meant by the "unity and diversity" of the Bible.
Identify the person upon whom the revelation of both testaments center.
KEY VERSES:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
INTRODUCTION
This chapter introduces the Bible which is the written Word of the one true God. The word
"Bible" means "the books." The Bible is one volume which consists of 66 separate books.
The word "Scripture" is also used to refer to God's Word. This word comes from a Latin word
which means "writing." When the word "Scripture" is used with a capital "S" it means the sacred
writings of the one true God. The word "Bible" is not used in the Bible. It is a word used by
men as a title for all of God's Words.
8
COURSE:
INTRODUCTION
The New Testament Prophet John the Baptist was known as a "voice crying in the wilderness" as
he proclaimed the Word of God. His message was fresh, powerful, and relevant to the spiritual
needs of his time.
Many people today have become echoes of spiritual truths they hear from those around them.
They are not a voice through which God can reveal His message, but are only an echo of what
they hear from others. They are like the prophets of whom God said, "steal my words every one
from his neighbor" (Jeremiah 23:30).
In order to speak God's words you must first know what God has said. The purpose of this course
is to equip you to understand God's Word. You will need only this manual, a Bible, and the
guidance of the Holy Spirit to learn these "Creative Bible Study Methods."
A method is an organized way to accomplish something. It is an orderly plan. Bible study
methods are an organized plan to study God's written Word. The word "creative" means "having
the ability to produce that which is new." This course teaches you how to study God's Word for
yourself. You will not have to rely on the research of others because you will be able to create
your own Bible studies based on your study of God's written Word.
By learning proper Bible study methods you will become a voice through which God can speak
His truths to a spiritually hungry world. You will no longer only be an echo of what you hear
from others.
"Creative Bible Study Methods" introduces the Bible as the written Word of the one true God. It
explains divisions of the Bible, versions, translations, and paraphrases. First, the course guides
you to discover what the Bible teaches about itself, then creative methods are explained and you
are given the opportunity to use each method discussed.
The course also explains how to outline, make study notes, mark your Bible for easy reference,
and reduce lengthy passages to simple charts. The course guides you to proper interpretation and
application of God's Word. It directs attention to the greatest Teacher of all, the Holy Spirit. If
you follow the guidelines presented, you will experience a new, creative spiritual life flowing
within you.
5
,No method of Bible study can replace the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is the spiritual
force that endues a method with creative power. He whispers into the human spirit the truths of
God's Word which create a new spiritual life flow.
The study of methods is not an end in itself. It is not the final goal. The methods are only a
means to accomplish the objective of studying God's Word. It is not enough to learn these
methods. You must use what you learn to study God’s Word and apply its truths to your life and
ministry.
Although you may complete the lessons in this manual, in reality you will never really complete
this course. Your study of God's Word will never be finished because its rich spiritual truths can
never be exhausted.
_________
Note: This course teaches Bible study methods, not Bible content. Harvestime International Institute offers another
course entitled "Basic Bible Survey" which presents the general background of the Bible, an outline of each book, its
author, time of writing, to whom it was written, purpose, key verse, important characters, maps, dates, and charts
summarizing general Bible content. Because of the need for a general introduction to the Bible in both Bible study
and Bible survey, the first three chapters of these courses are identical while the remaining content differs.
6
, COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
Explain how the Bible originated.
Describe the organization of the Bible into testaments, major divisions, and books.
Summarize basic history and chronology of the Bible.
Explain the unity and diversity of the Bible.
Explain how different Bible versions developed.
Apply rules for proper interpretation of the Bible.
Summarize what the Bible teaches about itself.
Identify prerequisites for Bible study.
Create outlines, charts, summaries, and text markings to help you retain content.
Apply creative methods to your study of God's Word.
Use Bible study tools.
7
, PART ONE: THE SUBJECT OF STUDY
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCING THE BIBLE
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
Write the Key Verse from memory.
Define the word "Bible."
Define the word "Scripture."
Explain the origin of the Bible.
Identify the major purposes of the Bible.
Identify the Old and New Testaments as the two major divisions of the Bible.
Name the four divisions of Old Testament books.
Name the four divisions of New Testament books.
Explain what is meant by the "unity and diversity" of the Bible.
Identify the person upon whom the revelation of both testaments center.
KEY VERSES:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
INTRODUCTION
This chapter introduces the Bible which is the written Word of the one true God. The word
"Bible" means "the books." The Bible is one volume which consists of 66 separate books.
The word "Scripture" is also used to refer to God's Word. This word comes from a Latin word
which means "writing." When the word "Scripture" is used with a capital "S" it means the sacred
writings of the one true God. The word "Bible" is not used in the Bible. It is a word used by
men as a title for all of God's Words.
8
