Bible study is no more than careful reading, taking notes, and reflecting on the information. God’s intent is to speak to us through His Word and in a manner that would capture our hearts. Observation is simply a careful survey of the content.

What does the word / term mean?

How does the author use the word or term here and other places he has authored? What is his intended meaning? Can we assume that we know the author’s definition of the word or term?

Example: In John 17:26, John 3:16, and John 14:21 the same word "love" is used towards three groups of people. Does "love" have the same meaning in each of these passages?

1) John 17:26: "And I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." Jesus acknowledges His Father’s love of Him.

2) John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." Jesus speaks of God’s love towards the human race.

3) John 14:21: "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." Jesus speaks of God’s love of Believers.

What was being conveyed by those words to the initial readers (audience)?

Everyone can understand the distinctions of love that a parent makes towards their own child, for the child of a friend and towards a stranger’s child. In the above example, the Greek word for "love" was "agapao" which was used identically in each of the verses. In John 17:26, God’s "agape love" is towards His beloved Son; in John 3:16, God’s "agape love" is towards the human race; and in John 14:21, God’s "agape love" is towards Believers. This is revealing to the Greek speaking audience; unlike them, God made no distinctions with His deep esteeming love. God loves all of His children whether they are His only Son, humanity, or Believers.

Are there any similar words or opposite words to help you understand the author better?

Example: Notice how both similar and opposite words are used to convey the meaning of love.

"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous;

love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;

it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails… (1 Cor 13:4-8)."

What is its original Hebrew or Greek?

Example: Two distinct Greek words, "phileo" and "agapao," are translated as the same English word "love." To learn about their distinctions, use a concordance.

It is clear that one cannot assume that the author uses words with the same meaning as the reader. This is just the first step in the process of observation; there are other factors that affect the meaning of words and how they in turn affect our understanding of ideas and concepts.