When I was fifteen years old I thought God told me who I was going to marry. I could even quote a Bible verse explaining my reasoning. It’s embarrassing to type that now, but back then I was convinced that God used a Bible verse to tell me I was going to marry one of my guy friends.
Imagine my devastation when he married someone else. I was shocked. By then I was well over the guy but I couldn’t seem to wrap my mind around one thing: God lied to me, or so I thought. I read the verse and re-read it. I knew what it said. But I didn’t know what it meant — or what the original author intended for it to mean, anyway.
In college I pursued a minor in Biblical studies and became aware of the importance of studying Scripture in its context for the first time. You see, the Bible isn’t just one book. It is sixty-six books by numerous different authors (inspired by the Holy Spirit) written in two languages — Hebrew and Greek. When each book was written there was an original audience in mind.
While the Bible is certainly intended just as much for the modern Christian as it was for the ancients, we can’t throw history out the window when we have our daily quiet time. In order to get an accurate look at the entire picture we need to implement what some call the T.A.N. principle. We need to stop and ask ourselves three questions about each verse or passage we are studying:
Then: What did this verse or passage mean for its original audience?
Always: What truths in this verse or passage are always true for believers in all ages?
Now: What can I take from this verse and apply to my life today?
Since most of us aren’t familiar with the history behind each verse in the Bible and what it meant for the original audience, learning to use some good study tools can help (see below).
As I learned more and more about how to study Scripture in context I realized that God never lied to me when it came to marrying my guy friend. Instead I had taken a verse and made it out to mean something that was never intended. Perhaps you’ve had your own questions and confusion when it comes to understanding Scripture.
One of the easiest ways to avoid a misapplication of Scripture is to pick a book of the Bible and study it from start to finish. Now, before you tune me out, please understand: when you choose to study a book of the Bible you don’t have to tackle the entire thing at once (in fact, it’s better if you don’t).
Instead, take it a few verses at a time. Each morning set out to read three to five verses — look for natural breaks in sentences or thought patterns. As you read through each day’s verses stop and use the T.A.N. principle.
That’s all there is to it. Three simple questions as you read through the Bible. If you do that you’ll be studying the Bible in context and safeguarding yourself against embarrassing (and faith damaging) blunders like I made when I first began to study God’s Word.
If you would like some help when it comes to studying the Bible this way, leave us a comment below and if we get enough interest we’ll add a section here on the website to do a weekly Bible study check in.
It’s amazing what God can say to you in His Word when you are ready to listen and you’re hungry to know what He’s really saying.
What are you waiting for? Get working on your T.A.N.!
Resources…
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Bible Study Tools: Here you can obtain free access to things like commentaries, encyclopedias, dictionaries and parallel Bibles that will help you gain a greater perspective of the original context of each verse or passage you study. You can also do key word searches if you want to do a Bible study on a certain topic.
Bible Gateway: At this website you can look up Bible verses by topic, keyword or Scripture reference in various translations and compare them for free.
Something Else…
Natalie Grant’s son, I Will Not Be Moved, speaks perfectly to our topic of Bible study. Check it out…
Be on the look out for info about an upcoming online summer Bible study with She Seeks.
Shannon Primicerio is passionate about God’s Word, Milky Way Midnight bars and iced chai lattes. One of her favorite things to do is grab her Bible and her journal and head to the beach where she can get alone with God. You can learn more about her at www.beingagirlbooks.com
Leave a comment below for Shannon.
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I am struggling with studying the Bible. I guess its because I think of a scripture meaning one thing, but come to find later that it totally means something different. I have been a christian for many years, but never really put God’s word a priority in my life, However, I am much older now and I want to soak in all I can. I need some guidance on how to be a better student of God and really know His word. Any Suggestions??
This is such a useful devotion! I often get sidetracked by the “how” of studying the Bible. The T.A.N. Principle really helps me to put the Bible in its original context and allow it to speak to me today. I know so many twentysomethings who feel the Bible is irrelevant to their lives today, and I have felt that way many times as well. Thanks for writing this devotion. It’s so practical and releant to the needs of today.
I’d like to get a better understanding. It has always been a little difficult for me. I’ve grown up in church, but until this last year and a half, I’ve never gotten much from real application from it. I’ve been going to a new church for almost two years now and for the first time I really feel like I’m being fed and the message is applicable to my life. I used to hate the old testiment, thought it was a boring history book but this church has brought it to life and it’s making sense to me now. I would love to learn more background so I can better understand where some of the messages are coming from!
Growing heart!
Shanna: Thanks for your honesty. You are not alone in those feelings. I’ve struggled with studying the Bible many times. It can be overwhelming and confusing.
I would recommend investing in a good study Bible or a commentary to help you dig in and make sure you have the context right–that way there won’t be any surprises later on. The Nelson study Bible is a really good one to try and the NIV and NASB are two really easy translations to start with.
Once you have the right tools pick one book on the Bible (the gospels are always a great place to start) and then take it a few verses at a time. Before you know it you will be getting a lot out of it and having a great time.
I hope this helps. If you still have questions let me know
Alexis,
I’m so glad you find the T.A.N. principle helpful. I didn’t come up with it. It was actually developed by a man named Mike Fabarez. It’s been one of the easiest methods for me when it comes to simply studying the Bible.
Bethany,
I’m so glad you are plugged in at a church where you feel like you are really growing. Personally, I love the Old Testament. Some parts of it read like a gripping novel, but it really is the truth!
A good commentary would really help you with your understanding of the Old Testament. You can get great discounts on commentaries at cbd.com. You can ask your pastor for a recommendation or I like The Bible Knowledge Commentary or The Expositor’s Bible Commentary.
Let me know if you have more questions.
Thanks for the advice!! I love cbd they always have great stuff and pretty good prices. I’ll look into it.
I”ve never heard of this method before and am really excited to try it. I also seem to start out well with methods and then get sidetracked so hopefully this one will work!
i have never heared about this why of studying the Bible. Looking forward to starting to use it.
Hi Shannon,
I am a new Christian, so the bible is very new to me, I find the devotions on line helping me read verses that I would not have seen with explanations. I have yo thank God that He helps a beginner like me by sending me scriptue online, many time a few similar ones that I take to mean are relevant to me.I f I didnt have a commentary in my bible I wouldnt understand much, I am sure with time this will change and I will know God better and get closer to Him. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thankyou Susan
Thanks Shannon! So glad I stopped by today. This is worthy advice that I look forward to using and sharing.
Love the T.A.N. approach!
Susan
Thanks for that. I think we all may have twisted the Bible for our own purposes, allbeit sincerely. What’s important it that we don’t give up on Him when things don’t work the way we expected.
I think that SheSeeks Bible study is a great idea. I know many women look forward every week to when new entries and video logs are posted. That would just be one more thing to look forward to week by week. God bless
Thank you Shannon for your advice. You are the second person to tell me about the Nelson Bible. Purchasing 1 this week.
Tonya, Susan P., and Nicole: I’m so glad you all found this helpful.
Randelle: I’m excited you are interested in doing a She Seeks Bible study. Thanks for letting us know there’s an interest. We’ll get to work on something ASAP.
Susan: I am so glad that as a new believer you have a hunger for God’s Word! While finding verses online and reading them is helpful it’s not a substitute for a daily diet of being in the Word itself.
I would suggest you try using something like the ONe Year Bible (the NLT is a great version for new believers). The One Year Bible format gives you an Old Testament passage, a New Testament passage and a Psalm and a Proverb to read each day.
If you miss a day you can catch up or just move on to the next day. But the overall benefit is that reading the Bible this way helps you get an idea of what all is really in the Bible. I don’t use it every year but I try to do it every two to three years and I find that it’s always very helpful to me. Since it’s also very structured you always know what to read each day so you can’t get lost. I hope this helps!
i would be interested in doing a she seeks bible study also!!!
Hey Everyone!
Isn’t Shannon’s inspirational entry great this week! I’m going to start using the TAN principle asap. Wanted to piggy back off of Shannon’s comments to tell you that we are working on a summer Bible study that will be held via live video chat! More info to come soon-just wanted to fill you all in so be on the look out for an announcement. Would love everyone to join in!
Sarah
The She Seeks Team
what does (shanna) mean? Thank You
pleas send meaning to my email address.
Evelyn,
Shanna was talking about the context of Scripture (the Then part of the TAN principle). Without knowing the Then meaning it’s easy to misinterpret Scripture and make it mean something it was never meant to mean in the original context. Does that help?