STUDY TIPS:

• Scripture is to be understood in light of all other scripture.
  This tip will help you not take any given verse out of context. Example: one Bible verse tells us that we are saved by grace, while another says we must be born again or immersed. Does one scripture nullify the other? No. (Click A Christian)

• Identify when the scripture was written - Old/New Testament.
  Example: We must be sure whether we are reading scripture from the Old Testament or the New Testament. Christians today are bound to the New Testament/New Covenant that Jesus established through His death, burial and resurrection. Another example would be whether scripture was referring to time before the crucifixion or after the crucifixion. Why is this important? Jesus lived and died under the Old Covenant/Old Testament. Jesus did fulfill the Law given by God in the Old Testament, however, He did not adhere to the traditions of men. For that reason, it is also important to know whether or not what was being practiced by men was the Law of God or traditions of men. 

• Identify for what purpose the scripture was written.
  Identify whether the passage is intended for others as well as for those being spoken to. An example of this is the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Each were written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, proving that He fulfilled every prophecy from the Old Testament foretelling His coming. Beyond that, each Gospel targeted specific questions for specific peoples. For instance, Matthew pointed out facts about Jesus that Jews would be looking for, although they were also helpful to us.

• Identify who is speaking & to whom.
  This is important to know in order to have a clearer understanding of the scripture's purpose. For instance, the Apostle Paul established many Christian churches, mainly Gentile, and addressed many of their issues in the New Testament letters. Although, these letters were written to edify the churches of that day, they are also an example of church procedure.

• Apply grammatical rules to Biblical Scripture.
  It is extremely important to apply grammatical rules when understanding scripture. Example: When the scripture says, 'repent and be baptized', you understand that the word 'and' is a conjunction. The text means that you must do both to obtain forgiveness for sins. When you begin to apply the rules, it assists you in understanding the scripture's true meaning.
  
  
• Always go to the scriptures for the answers.
  When you want to know what God has to say on any given subject, always search out the Holy scriptures. Never accept traditions or creeds in place of Biblical doctrine. There is a saying that explains it well, 'Where the Bible speaks, we speak. Where the Bible is silent, there is liberty.' It takes time to search out the scriptures, but your salvation is worth every moment.

• How to Identify 'Parables' from 'Actual Events or Accounts'
  The first key to identifying a 'parable' or 'story' referred to in the Bible, is that a 'parable' is identified as a 'parable.' Parables are 'stories' put in words and terms that help to convey what Jesus wants the people to understand. Another key to identifying a 'parable,' Jesus did not use the person's name in parables. See Luke 12:26 'And he spake a parable unto them saying, 'The ground of a certain man brought forth plentifully.' An 'actual event' is never referred to as a 'parable' in scripture. An 'actual event' such as 'Noah and the Flood' should not be referred to as a 'STORY' or a 'PARABLE.' 'Noah and the Flood' should be referred to as an ACCOUNT, because that is what it is. It is an 'ACCOUNT' of an 'ACTUAL EVENT or HAPPENING.' 

BIBLE FACTS:

• The Bible has 2 great divisions.
  Old & New Testaments
• There are 66 books in the Bible.
  
  39 in the Old Testament - 5 Law, 12 History, 5 Poetry, 17 Prophecy
  (LAW/Genesis - Deuteronomy; HISTORY/Joshua-Esther; POETRY/Job-Song of Solomon; Prophecy/Isaiah-Malachi)
  
  27 in the New Testament - 4 Gospels, 1 History, 21 Letters,1 Prophecy
  (GOSPELS/Matthew-John; HISTORY/Acts; LETTERS/Romans-Jude; PROPHECY/Revelation)
  
  
• The original language of the Old Testament is Hebrew
  
  
• The original language of the New Testament is Greek
  
  
• Most accurate text: Stephens Text (see Bible Versions for more)
  
  
• God is the ultimate Source of the Bible
  
  
• The Bible is 3,500 years old
  
  
• Manuscripts are documents written by hand
  
  
• Versions are translations to other languages
  
  
• There are 3 dispensations
      Starlight - 'Patriarchal' - Promise
      Moonlight - 'Jewish Mosaic' - Law
      Sunlight - 'Christian' - Grace
  
  
• There are 16 leading Old Testament characters
  Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Nehemiah
  
  
• New Testament has 3 distinct periods
  
  Life of Christ - Beginnings of the church - Work of Paul & John
  5BC-AD30 AD30-45 AD45-100
  
  
• In all, there were 14 Apostles in the New Testament
  Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, Matthew, Bartholomew, James, Simon, Thaddeus, Judas (After Judas' death Mathias replaced him and then Paul, once Saul the persecutor, was selected by Jesus as an apostle to the Gentiles.)
  
  Requirement to be an Apostle
  An Apostle must have seen the risen Lord as each of the above did.
  
  
• 2 Ordinances of the Christian Church
  Baptism & Communion
  
  
• Who Translated the King James Bible?
  A Committee of 54 Scholars (see 'Bible Versions' for more details)

'CROWN OF LIFE' CHALLENGE - Complete answers revealed! 

• What does the word 'BIBLE' mean?
  The word Bible in Greek means BOOK. (scripture reference : look in Matthew 1:1)
• Who is the Creator of all things? (scripture reference: look in Gen 1:1)
  God. 
• When God created the earth, what did he do on the 7th day? (scripture reference: look in Gen 2:2)
  Rested. 
• Name the first man and woman. (scripture reference: look in Gen 3:20)
  Adam and Eve. 
• Who committed the first murder? (scripture reference: look in Gen 4:8)
  Cain. 
• Who built the great ark? (scripture reference: look in Gen 6:14)
  Noah. 
• Who was the father of the faithful? (scripture reference: look in Rom 4:12,16)
  Abraham. 
• Who was Abraham's wife? (scripture reference: look in Gen 17:5,15)
  Sarah. 
• Name the first twins. (scripture reference: look in Gen 25:25,26)
  Jacob and Esau. 
• Who was Isaac's wife? (scripture reference: look in Gen 25:20)
  Rebekah. 
• What did Jacob give his son Joseph? (scripture reference: look in Gen 37:3)
  A coat of many colors. 
• What baby was hid in an ark in the bulrushes? (scripture reference: look in Ex 2:3)
  Moses. 
• How did God appear to Moses? (scripture reference: look in Ex 3:2)
  A burning bush. 
• Who was Moses' sister? (scripture reference: look in Ex 15:20)
  Miriam. 
• During the day time, what guided the Israelites on the journey to the promised land? (scripture reference: look in Ex 13:21)
  A pillar of cloud. 
• Esau sold his birthright for what? (scripture reference: look in Gen 25:30-33)
  A mess of pottage. 
• Moses was saved from the water by whom? (scripture reference: look in Ex 2:5,6)
  The princess of Egypt. 
• Who led the children of Israel in the battle of Jericho? (scripture reference: look in Josh 6:2)
  Joshua. 
• What was the secret of Samson's great strength? (scripture reference: look in Judges 16:17)
  His hair. 
• Who betrayed Samson? (scripture reference: look in Judges 16:19)
  Delilah. 
• Who was the mother of Samuel? (scripture reference: look in 1 Sam 1:20)
  Hannah. 
• Name the high priest with whom Samuel grew up? (scripture reference: look in 1 Sam 2:11)
  Eli. 
• Who was the first king of Israel? (scripture reference: look in 1 Sam 9:17)
  Saul. 
• Saul's son was David's best friend. Name him. (scripture reference: look in 1 Sam 18:1)
  Jonathan. 
• Name the 3 sons of Noah. (scripture reference: look in Gen 5:32)
  Ham, Shem and Japheth. 
• David was the son of whom? (scripture reference: look in 1 Sam 16:11-13)
  Jesse. 
• What giant did David kill? (scripture reference: look in 1 Sam 17:23,50)
  Goliath. 
• Who was Israel's second king? (scripture reference: look in 1 Sam 16:1,13)
  David. 
• Who spent a night in a lion's den? (scripture reference: look in Daniel 6:18-22)
  Daniel. 
• What 3 were cast into a fiery furnace? (scripture reference: look in Daniel 3:23)
  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.