Direct Bible Discovery

DIRECT BIBLE DISCOVERY:
A Sound and Rewarding Approach to Personal Bible Study
Second Edition
May 18, 2001
By Ronald W. Leigh, Ph.D.
Copyright © 1982, Broadman Press; Copyright © 1997, 2001, Ronald W. Leigh

“No student of the Scriptures should be satisfied to traffic only in the results of the study of other men. The field is inexhaustible and its treasures ever new. No worthy astronomer limits his attention to the findings of other men, but is himself ever gazing into the heavens both to verify and to discover; and no worthy theologian will be satisfied alone with the results of the research of other theologians, but will himself be ever searching the Scriptures. However, a full-rounded introduction is needed and a method of study must be established if either the astronomer or the theologian expects to continue with ever increasing efficiency.”
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(Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, Dallas Seminary Press, 1947, p. vi.)

---------CONTENTS---------
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 - How the Holy Spirit Helps
Chapter 3 - The Importance of Procedure
Chapter 4 - The Direct Procedure
Chapter 5 - The Discovery Procedure
Chapter 6 - The Order of the Elements
Chapter 7 - Observation
Chapter 8 - Sample Observations
Chapter 9 - Pitfalls and Perseverance in Observation
Chapter 10 - Interpretation
Chapter 11 - Literary Interpretation
Chapter 12 - Contextual Interpretation
Chapter 13 - Proper Reasoning
Chapter 14 - Application
Chapter 15 - Where to Start
Chapter 16 - Other Practical Matters
Chapter 17 - The Procedure for Studying Books
Chapter 18 - The Procedure for Studying Topics
Chapter 19 - Summary: Thirty Key Principles of Bible Study

Appendix A1 - Sample Results - Book Study - Philippians
Appendix A2 - Sample Results - Book Study - Colossians
Appendix B1 - Sample Results - Topic Study - The Gospel Message
Appendix B2 - Sample Results - Topic Study - Spiritual Gifts
Appendix C - Sample Respaced Texts
Appendix D - Diagrams and Examples of Types of Relationships
Appendix E - A Note to Pastors and Teachers
Annotated Bibliography

Selected Charts, Diagrams, Lists
The indirect (dependent) approach
The direct (independent) approach
Bible study aids, noninterpretive and interpretive
Induction
Deduction
The extending-assumptions (deductive) approach
The discovery (inductive) approach
The order of the elements
Observation vs. Interpretation
Figures of speech
Application in our situation
Bible books by categories
Model of a Bible book chart
Observation-interpretation-application form
Types of relationships
Servant, diakonos, and related words

Scripture quotations are from the NASB and the NIV

Appreciation is expressed to my parents, Stanley and Dorothy Leigh, to Clark Reynolds, and to many students for their suggestions. My special thanks go to Dr. Mary LeBar for guidance through my first extended experience in inductive Bible study, and to my wife, Karen, for her contributions in every aspect of this work.