The Bible claims to be the "Word of God". 

Since the Bible also claims that God is perfect, this also implies that the Word of God is "infallible", "authoritative", and "final".

Statements like these strongly suggest that we would be well advised not only to possess a Bible, but also to study it for its application to our lives. I believe you will discover that when the Bible is studied in the proper way, the result will be effective and sufficient to bring about a fulfilled life.

Fundamentally, the Bible is written to be understood by people who have gained spiritual insight through a right relationship with God. It may be read by everyone, but not everyone can understand it, because it must be spiritually discerned.

Bible study will also be greatly benefited by the use of certain Bible study aids. I believe some form of computerized Bible study program is highly desirable for the serious Bible student in this day and age. Numerous such computer programs are available, possessing the following kinds of Bible study tools.

Study tools available from computer programs:

• Several approved translations of the Bible
  You can compare different translations for readability, perspective, and consistency.

• A good Bible concordance preferably allowing both words and phrases
  You can quickly find specific Scriptures, related Scriptures, and can also use it to assist in defining the meaning of words by studying their use in various Scriptural contexts.

• A Bible lexicon for both Hebrew and Greek
  Websters dictionary is okay for English composition, but it does not always convey the correct meaning of words in the Bible. For example, Websters definition for "love" connotes the idea of feeling toward another person, whereas there are three Greek words for "love", one of them defining "love" as more of a decision than a feeling.

• A Hebrew and Greek interlinear Bible
  This tool is not essential but useful in inspecting the way in which English translations have dealt with individual words and their definitions in the original languages. 

• A Bible encyclopedia
  An encyclopedia will add in-depth information about the subject covered, often providing important historic and cultural knowledge.

• Commentaries and word study guides
  Some of these are better than others, but at least will offer different ways in which specific Scriptures may be interpreted.

• Maps of locations described in the Bible
  It is important to be aware of the geographic settings of events described in the Bible.

Study aids available from Olive Tree Studies:

This Web Site has been constructed with the primary intent of offering some special kinds of information related to the archaeology, geography, and structure of the Bible not usually found in sources like those above. As we continue this review, links are provided to various places in Olive Tree Studies where you may delve into each of these subjects in more detail.

In Bible study, it is easy to become distracted by peripheral topics like angels, Satan, Heaven, Hell, the origin of mankind, etc., but we will do well to keep our eyes focused primarily on the fundamental themes of the Bible. Bible study should always have as its primary goal to discover the nature of God, the nature of mankind, and the way in which we might achieve a personal relationship with Him. 

• The nature of God

• God is Spirit in essence, but possesses a Triune form, i.e. Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

• He is perfect, unlimited, infinite, i.e.
  omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing and absolutely right), omnipresent, eternal, independent (self-existent), and holy (completely separate and free from evil or moral impurity).

• His attributes may be identified by the following action words.
  creates, reasons, evaluates, plans, destroys, provides, controls, judges, grieves, cares, hears, hates, loves, etc.  

• The nature of mankind

• We each are physical in essence, but likewise possess a triune form, i.e. body, soul, spirit.

• Unlike God, we are imperfect, limited, finite, i.e.
  physically limited, mentally deficient (partly knowing and sometimes wrong), spatially isolated, non-eternal (mortal), dependent (environmentally and interpersonally), and morally impure (sinners)

• However, we have attributes that superficially appear to be similar with God.
  creates, reasons, evaluates, plans, destroys, provides, controls, judges, grieves, cares, hears, hates, loves, etc.

We see that some aspects of our nature are similar to those of God, suggesting that maybe God is a lot like us. However, we must come to realize that those imperfections and other limitations associated with our mortality, actually create an infinite gap between us and the God of all creation. I believe the way we come to understand these different intrinsic natures between God and mankind will have a great deal to do with the way we approach Bible study, and will also color the way we view the nature of God's Redemptive Plan for mankind. Indeed, other religions of the world, along with Christian related cults, will deviate in significant ways in their understanding of these basic precepts.

It is therefore of great value to discover that the Bible itself is organized in such a way as to punctuate the essential features of God' Redemptive Plan and facilitate our understanding of it.

A typical reaction of a person who is just beginning to read the Bible is that it appears to be a fragmented collage of stories, history, poetry, letters, and prophecy, seemingly disconnected and without a coherent organization. However, if it is carefully studied over time, it will be discovered that it is not only organized in a profound way, but that its organization is actually an integral part of God's Redemptive Plan. Surely, when the books of the Bible are grouped in the following way, the existence of some kind of overall structure becomes immediately apparent simply by virtue of the symmetry found in these groupings.

Furthermore, as you continue to study the Bible within the framework of this structure, you will become aware of several intriguing features that may be associated directly with God's Plan of Redemption in the following way:

1. The Bible begins in Genesis with the triumph of Satan, but ends in Revelation with the triumph of God.
   
   The fact that the subjects found in the books of Genesis and Revelation bound God's Plan from beginning to end must imply that the Bible is complete and wholly sufficient with respect to His Plan of Redemption for mankind.
   

2. The Old Testament "HISTORY" books describe God's dealings with mankind both before and after the giving of the Law.
   
   Notice how this portion of the Old Testament depicts mankind's basic problem.

   • "Beginnings"
     The problem of sin first occurred in a Gentile world described in the early chapters of Genesis, but was later also seen in the Jews, i.e. the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

   • "Old Covenant"
     Nevertheless, the Law brought the knowledge of sin, when the fallen nature of mankind became all too evident as Israel rebelled against God and the Law given through Moses during the period of the Exodus and wilderness wandering.

   • "Israel's History"
     Israel's second generation following the Exodus was permitted to enter the Promised Land under Joshua, still under the Law but without any change in their basic fallen nature. Consequently, Israel's moral impurity, when measured against God's Law, resulted in Judgement, first by the Assyrians then by the Babylonians. 
     The return of a remnant of Israel following the Babylonian Exile caused no change in their basic fallen nature, but only enabled Israel's genealogy to be completed thereby fulfilling the prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah.
     

3. The structure of the Old Testament books by the "PROPHETS" mirrors the structure of those related to "HISTORY".

   Since all of the "PROPHETS" lived during the period labeled "Israel's History", why are those books grouped separately as a kind of mirror image of the "HISTORY" portion? I believe the answer lies in their common character. Although they also contain snippets of history, their common theme is predictive of future events. 
   
   The Gentiles had failed without the Law, and Israel had failed with the Law. God's absolute holiness and mankind's innate moral impurity had created a gap, making him incompatible with and separated from God. If mankind was to reacquire a meaningful relation with God, something had to be done and only God could do it. These prophets foresaw a time when that problem would be solved, and prophets like Isaiah envisioned a solution that would include both Jews and Gentiles.
   

4. The "Old Covenant" books related to the giving of the Law naturally fall in contrast against the "New Covenant" books related to the coming of the Savior.
   
   The "New Covenant" books describe the beginning of God's solution to mankind's basic problem.  The four Gospels of the New Testament describe the birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They fall naturally to invite a comparison with the four books of the Old Testament describing the giving of the Law:

   • Whereas the "Old Covenant" defined God's strict standards commensurate with His impeccable holiness, the "New Covenant" was motivated by His love and defined His solution to reestablish mankind into a meaningful relation with Him.

   • Just as the Law defined the standards for perfect holiness, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law by His perfect life, thereby making Him uniquely qualified to be the Savior.

   • Just as Moses became Israel's redeemer to deliver them from Egypt, Jesus became Israel's Redeemer to deliver them back into a state of holiness.

   • Just as the "Old Covenant" prescribed a sacrificial substitute for the temporal forgiveness of sin, the "New Covenant" effected a perfect sacrificial substitute (Jesus Christ) for the eternal forgiveness of sin.
     

5. "Israel's History" naturally falls in contrast against the "Church's early history".
   
   This portion of the New Testament falls into natural contrast with "Israel's History" in the Old Testament, because they each define Israel's response to the Covenants proffered them.

   • God's "Old Covenant" with Israel was fulfilled when they were allowed to enter the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. In that respect, they received the fullness of the blessing in the Land over the time period described from the books of Joshua to II Chronicles.

   • However, the singular book of Acts marked the time of Israel's general refusal to accept their resurrected Messiah and concomitant gift of the Holy Spirit following the day of Pentecost. Therefore, New Testament Israel did not receive the fullness of the blessing offered them under the "New Covenant", manifest by a  spiritual renewal to bring them into the state of holiness required for meaningful fellowship with God.
     

6. The Old Testament "PROPHETS" naturally fall in juxtaposition with the New Testament "Church Letters" and "Hebrew Letters", thereby inviting a comparison.
   
   These portions of the New Testament fall naturally for comparison with the Old Testament "PROPHETS", because they describe the way in which the blessings previously prophesied are fulfilled to both Gentiles and Hebrews, each ultimately receiving the fullness of the blessings under the "New Covenant".
   

7. The Old Testament focuses on the Law and works, but the New Testament focuses on the Savior and belief.

   Thus, the Old Testament of the Bible in isolation could never be God's complete Redemptive Plan, because it only documents mankind's sin problem, and is only able to forecast the future solution. God's holiness and its expression in the Law, compels that we work to attain its provisions. Unfortunately, no works which we can accomplish can ever stand the test of God's perfection, so another way is required. That way is provided in the New Testament. It is accomplished by God's Grace and appropriated by us through faith when we trust in the perfect work that God performed through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Accordingly, the overall organization of the Bible itself provides the foundation upon which we may begin a serious study of its content. If we will spend some time to study this structure and its implications, our understanding of the Bible can be greatly improved, for it will enable us to better understand why the subjects and themes of individual books appear where they do, and how Scriptures may be fit into their proper general context within the overall framework of God's Redemptive Plan. 

After devising a methodology to place Scripture in its proper overall context, we need to drop down to a greater level of detail, adhering to some specific rules for Scripture interpretation. 

• THE ACCURACY PRINCIPAL
  
  The woman who refused to believe the Bible because "the Hebrews could never have carried Noah's ark around for 40 years in the wilderness" apparently never heard of this principal. With just a little review, she would have realized that the ark of the Covenant was a small chest of wood, not an ocean-going boat 450 feet long.
  
  In addition to such places and things, it's very important to identify the persons under discussion. For example there are 10 Simons, 4 Johns, 3 Jameses, 6 Marys, and several Herods in the New Testament. Beyond this, check out the definitions of the words from a Bible Lexicon, and the grammar: What is the person, tense, etc.?
  

• THE BACKGROUND PRINCIPAL
  
  Beyond the basic questions concerning "who is speaking?", and "who is being addressed?", always study the Scripture within the context of the entire chapter, entire book, and location within the entire structure of the Bible. In so doing, you can avoid the mistake of the man who depended solely on God's providential guidance for understanding. When he placed his finger on a text after randomly opening the Bible, he read, "Then he (Judas) threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself." (Matthew 27.5) Unsure how this verse might apply to him, he repeated his technique with the following result. "Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10.37)
  
  From Olive Tree Studies, review the historic setting, archaeology, and geography of the Scripture under investigation, then from a Bible encyclopedia study the culture at that time. Be aware of the fact that idioms are sometimes used with meanings different from like expressions used today, e.g. "a day and a night" in Biblical times did not necessarily mean a 24 hour day.
  

• THE PRINCIPAL OF CONCORDANT TEXTS
  
  Let the Bible interpret itself by using a good concordance to study the meaning of words or phrases that also appear other places in the Bible. By so doing, you will sometimes discover meanings quite different from your first-blush reaction. This is especially important when studying portions of Scripture written in poetic or apocalyptic terminology. For example, when David prayed poetically to the Lord to "Hide me under the shadow of Your wings" (Psalm 17.8), he was not under the false impression that God really has wings. Moreover, when you read in certain prophetic texts about the sun turning black, moon red, sky being rolled up, etc., you will discover in concordant texts that such apocalyptic terms were used commonly when referring to political, economic, and military upheavals among nations.
  

• THE PRINCIPAL OF LITERAL READING
  
  I am constantly appalled by the way that some people feel it necessary to search for some deep parabolic or hidden spiritual meaning in every Bible text. Initially, look for the plain, direct, face-value meaning, even though subsequent study may at times reveal deeper truths. Of all the errors that can be made in Bible study, I have come to believe that this one is probably the most grievous and dangerous. One well known radio Bible teacher systematically redefines the word "Israel" to mean "Church" in the Old Testament whenever Israel's prophetic future is under discussion. By so doing, and by spiritualizing the meaning of other related texts, he is able to promote a doctrine dramatically different from the one that is evident from a direct literal reading of those texts. Rather than redefining the Bible to fit our privately held belief systems, we should redefine our belief systems to fit what the Bible actually says.

The Bible is truly an amazing book. It tells us things about God and about ourselves that we could never figure out on our own. Most important is the revelation of God's true character. When that hits home, we will become convicted of our own deplorable condition relative to God's holiness, and aware of the actions He has already taken in love to redeem us. With that awareness, we will naturally respond in a way that will enable the required steps of "repentance", "faith", and the "new birth", all integral to God's Redemptive Plan. Furthermore, as we continue to seek the implications of the new life that God desires for His spiritual children, we will be moved to take continuing "actions" toward an ever closer walk with Him.

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