Welcome to the Verse By Verse Method: (Peter Rhebergen):
This Bible study method, accompanied by resources, will allow you to do a Bible study in your
own way. It is an example of some of the most effective Bible study methods found and discussed
more fully in the following book, which is unfortunately now out of print:
Warren, Richard, with William A. Shell, 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods,
Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois, 1987.
All the material that follows has been taken exclusively from this book and summarized for
this course. I had the privilege of studying this material under William (Bill) Shell in a class
on Biblical Interpretation at Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1988 – 1989
and found both him and his teaching very beneficial as his heart was dedicated to the equipping
of the saints. If there is any copyright infringement I am solely to blame and plead the excuse
that this material is simply too valuable not to share with others.
In each method described here, a basic outline of the method will be given and some useful
tools for this method will be listed. The studies begin with the basic method types and progress
toward studies that are more in depth and require greater allocations of time but which will also
yield greater results. Each method of Bible study presented here is accompanied by a chart, which
has been reproduced from the above book.
-- Peter Rhebergen
In the Verse by Verse Method of Bible study you will select a passage of the Bible and
examine it in great detail, asking questions of it, finding cross references to it, and
paraphrasing each verse within it. The Verse by Verse Bible study concludes with your
obtaining a practical, personal application for each verse in the study.
12.1 - Tools
12.1.1 - Bible
12.1.2 - Cross references
12.1.3 - Exhaustive concordance
12.1.4 - Bible dictionary and/or encyclopedia
12.1.5 - Word studies
12.2 - Hints
12.2.1 - If you are short on time you can do this study without the reference
tools above, except for the Bible of course.
12.3 - Steps
Step 1 - Write out each verse of the passage in your own words, striving for
accuracy and not referring to other paraphrases except by way of example. You are attempting to
put the passage into your own words, not into the words of another person.
Step 2 - List any questions you have on any verse in your study, note any
answers you are able to find, and record any observations you have made on that verse. Do this
for each verse in the study. It may be helpful for you to indicate questions, answers, and
observations with the letters Q, A, or O so that each will be easier to
find upon returning to the study at other times.
Step 3 - Find some cross references for each verse, trying for at least one
for each verse, and indicate if the reference is for a specific word, phrase, or concept within
that verse.
Step 4 - For each verse note any insights you have found in your study.
Step 5 - Write a brief personal application for each verse or, failing that,
make note of some devotional thought to which you may return in a Devotional Bible study and
build upon it.
Chart for the Verse By Verse Method of Bible study
Bible Verse:
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1. Personal Paraphrase:
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2. Questions, Answers, and Observations:
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3. Cross References:
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4. Insights:
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5. Practical Personal Applications:
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Peter Rhebergen, was raised in a Christian home and currently
attends Westney Heights Baptist Church with his family. He is a volunteer in several of its
ministries and has served as assistant pastor, youth leader, adult Sunday School teacher and as
pulpit supply at various churches and Bible Camps in Southern Ontario. He has been married since
1989 and together with his wife has three wonderful children who have introduced them to horses,
hermit crabs and numerous other creatures they would not otherwise have met. He is an avid
photographer and poet and has held a life-long interest in astronomy thanks to Psalm 19 and an
uncle. You can visit's Peters website at
www.EachNewDay.com.
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