Question: Please expound upon how you all study the Bible—like step by step. I’ve never been ...

Question: Please expound upon how you all study the Bible—like step by step. I’ve never been taught how to study the Bible. I know I should pray while I read, but I want to know how you all come to the conclusion that a verse means something without someone else telling you that’s what it means. Do I need another book to look up meanings of words?

Response: First of all, the Lord Jesus gave the promise of a “comforter,” that is, the Holy Spirit. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John:16:13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
See All...; see also John:14:26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
See All...).

With this promise, we recognize that the Holy Spirit must be the primary teacher. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men [and women] liberally, and upbraideth [reproaches] not; and it shall be given him” (James:1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
See All...).

As you point out, we do need to begin with prayer. And, it may be profitable to have a dictionary, some basic commentary, or other study tools. We must, however, recognize that the writer of a commentary doesn’t have the authority of the Holy Spirit, and too often he may only give his best guess. He may even be very wrong on some passages due to bias or preconceived ideas.

A Bible with marginal notes can also be helpful, particularly when pointing out parallel texts in the Scriptures, such as Old Testament verses cited in the New Testament.

Further, we must understand that our learning will at times seem very slow, but we need to realize that the Lord is thorough and establishes foundations on which other things may be added. In 2 Peter:3:16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
See All..., Peter (speaking of Paul’s epistles) says that in them, “...are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (i.e., twist), as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”