How To Study the Bible – Complete 10-Step KJV Guide

The Essential, Bible-Based Process for Understanding Scripture Clearly and Growing Spiritually

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Introduction: How To Study the Bible

Every believer can learn how to study the Bible, understand Scripture, and grow spiritually — not through mystical feelings, not through commentaries, and not through seminary training, but through the King James Bible and the Holy Spirit who teaches truth.

The Bible is not written to scholars. It is written to you.

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

Understanding the Bible is not about intelligence. It is about approach, habit, and faith. This guide will walk you step-by-step through how to study the Bible effectively, how to understand difficult passages, and how to build a lifetime of learning from God’s Word.

Quick Facts – What the Bible Says About How to Study

• Quick Facts Box – Studying the Scriptures, How to Study the Bible
  • God wants every believer to understand Scripture — “Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”
  • Understanding comes from the Bible itself, not outside sources — “Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
  • The Holy Spirit teaches believers truth — “John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.”
  • Studying is commanded — “2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Step 1. How to Study the Bible — Start With the Right Bible (The KJV Only)

This is the most important step in learning how to study the Bible. If you choose the wrong English Bible, you’ll be taking backward steps instead of forward steps.

Why the King James Bible Is the Only Bible You Should Study

If you want to learn how to study the Bible, the first step is settling which Bible is the Bible.

Modern versions:

• Remove verses
• Change doctrines
• Alter words that matter
• Attack the deity of Christ
• Confuse salvation

The King James Bible is:

• Preserved
• Accurate
• Consistent
• Complete
• Proven for 400+ years

Studying a corrupted Bible guarantees corrupted understanding.

Before you can learn how to study the Bible, you must settle the most important foundational question:

Which Bible is the Bible?

Every belief, every doctrine, every verse you study, memorize, or build your life on flows from the text you use. If the text is corrupted, your understanding will be corrupted. If the text is preserved, your understanding can be preserved.

This is why the very first step of true Bible study is choosing the right Bible — the King James Bible, the preserved Word of God in English.

Why the Modern Versions Can’t Be Trusted

Modern Bibles are not simply “updated language.”

They come from different manuscripts, different theology, and different translators with different goals.

Modern versions:

• remove entire verses (Mark 9:44, 9:46; Matthew 18:11; Acts 8:37)
• edit crucial doctrines (the blood, hell, repentance, deity of Christ)
• weaken salvation verses
• soften sin and judgment
• change key terms into vague modern language
• follow corrupted manuscripts that were rejected by God’s people for centuries
• disagree with each other thousands of times
• shift authority from God’s words to scholars’ opinions

Modern translations are built on the false assumption that the Bible was lost and must be reconstructed through human scholarship.

That is the opposite of biblical preservation. Learning how to study the Bible with modern versions will never turn out good.

What Makes the King James Bible the Final Authority?

The KJV is not perfect because it is old. It is perfect because:

1. It is translated from the preserved Hebrew and Greek texts

• Masoretic Text (OT)
• Textus Receptus (NT)

These were the texts trusted, copied, and used by Bible-believing Christians for centuries — not dug up after being lost, not revised by unbelievers, not patched together by “textual critics.”

2. It follows God’s doctrine of preservation

God promised not to restore His words someday. He promised to preserve them continually.

Psalm 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

If God did not preserve His words perfectly, then:

• man becomes the authority
• scholars become the final judge
• Christians cannot know if they have the truth

But God did preserve His words — perfectly — and the KJV is the culmination of that preservation.

3. It is consistent with itself

The KJV is built on a unified textual foundation. There is no better version that the perfect word of God when learning how to study the Bible.

Modern versions are built on contradictory manuscripts.

Doctrines in the KJV flow seamlessly because the text is consistent.

4. It is complete

No verses missing.

No brackets casting doubt on Scripture.

No footnotes saying, “Older manuscripts omit this.”

No warnings that undermine confidence in the Word of God.

5. It has been proven for over 400 years

Every revival, every great missionary movement, every major doctrinal advance in the English-speaking world came from the KJV.

Modern versions have produced:

• weaker doctrine
• weaker preaching
• weaker churches
• weaker conviction
• weaker Christians

The fruit does not lie. Open your eyes and take a look. The fruit of the KJV is the good fruit.

What Happens When You Use a Corrupted Bible?

Studying a corrupted text leads to:

• Corrupted doctrine
• Corrupted understanding
• Corrupted preaching
• Corrupted assurance
• Corrupted spiritual growth

A believer’s foundation is only as strong as the Bible they stand on.

If the foundation is polluted, the structure collapses.

Psalm 11:3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Definition – “Preservation”

• Definition Box – Preservation
  • Preservation: God’s promise and act of keeping His words perfect, intact, and accessible in every generation — without loss, correction, reconstruction, or human repair.
    • God did not lose His words
    • God did not need scholars to “recover” His words
    • God did not allow His words to become corrupted until 1881
    • God did not give us dozens of conflicting Bibles
    • God preserved His words fully and perfectly
  • The KJV is not a “version.”
  • It is the preserved text of Scripture in English. God promised to preserve His words in every generation. He didn’t lose His words.

Why You Must Begin “How to Study the Bible” With the KJV Only

If you want to learn how to study the Bible the right way:

• Begin with the right Bible (KJV = King James Version)
• Build your understanding on the right text
• Trust the words God preserved
• Reject modern confusion

With the KJV in your hands, you can study God’s Word with confidence, clarity, and certainty — knowing you are reading the very words God intended.

Table Showing Verses Removed in Modern Bible Versions

Reference	KJV (Full Verse)	Modern Versions (NIV, ESV, CSB, NASB)
Matthew 17:21	“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”	Removed
Matthew 18:11	“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”	Removed
Matthew 23:14	“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses…”	Removed
Mark 7:16	“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”	Removed
Mark 9:44	“Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”	Removed
Mark 9:46	“Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”	Removed
Mark 11:26	“But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”	Removed
Mark 15:28	“And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.”	Removed
Luke 17:36	“Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”	Removed
Luke 23:17	“(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)”	Removed
John 5:4	“For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water…”	Removed
Acts 8:37	“…If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest… I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”	Removed
Acts 15:34	“Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.”	Removed
Acts 24:7	“But the chief captain Lysias came upon us…”	Removed
Acts 28:29	“And when he had said these words, the Jews departed…”	Removed
Romans 16:24	“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”	Removed

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Step 2. Read the Bible in the Right Books First

You don’t want to start out with the toughest books in the Bible. Starting with books about salvation is recommended.

The Best Place for Beginners to Start

If someone asks how to study the Bible for beginners, the answer is not Genesis 1 and begin reading forward. That leads to early confusion.

Start here:

1. John — who Jesus is, eternal life, salvation
2. 1 John — assurance
3. Acts — the early church, evangelism
4. Romans — foundational doctrine
5. Genesis — creation, sin, promise
6. Proverbs — wisdom and daily living
7. The Gospels — Christ’s life and teachings

These books form the framework you need to understand everything else. These books are the basics of learning how to study the Bible.

Most people fail in Bible study because they start in the wrong place. If a new believer starts in Genesis and reads forward, they hit:

• long genealogies
• sacrificial laws
• ceremonial instructions
• judgments
• prophetic sections

…before they’ve learned the gospel, assurance, doctrine, or how salvation works.

If you want to truly know how to study the Bible, you must begin in the books that God uses to build foundations.

Here is the KJV-only beginner path — and why these books matter.

1. Start With the Gospel of John (Salvation and Identity of Christ)

John is the clearest book in the Bible on salvation and the deity of Christ.

It was written with one purpose:

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Why start here?

• You see Jesus clearly
• You understand eternal life
• You hear the pure gospel repeatedly
• You build a faith foundation before hitting “hard” passages

John is the perfect starting point for any believer.

2. Read 1 John (Assurance and Confidence)

1 John tells you how to KNOW you’re saved — not hope, not guess, not wonder.

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Why 1 John matters early:

• It teaches assurance
• It exposes false gospels
• It strengthens confidence
• It builds fellowship with God

A believer who is unsure about salvation will struggle everywhere else. 1 John removes fear and confusion.

3. Read the Book of Acts (The Early Church in Action)

Acts shows how the gospel spread and how ordinary believers lived with boldness and power.

Why Acts is important when learning how to study the Bible:

• You see real soul winning
• You see baptism in its proper place
• You learn the pattern of church life
• You see the apostles defending sound doctrine

Acts gives you a real-world look at Christianity.

4. Read Romans (The Foundation of Doctrine)

If John shows how to be saved, Romans shows what salvation means.

Romans teaches:

• justification
• righteousness
• imputed righteousness
• faith vs. works
• sin and the law
• the flesh vs. the Spirit
• the gospel explained

Romans is the doctrinal backbone of the Christian life.

Every believer should know Romans inside and out. And yes, it will be difficult at first. But ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

5. Read Genesis (Creation, Sin, and God’s Plan)

Once you know the gospel and the basics of doctrine, Genesis becomes clear.

Genesis provides:

• the beginning of everything
• the fall of man
• the promise of the Messiah
• the early covenants
• the foundation for all Scripture

Studying Genesis after the New Testament letters helps you see Christ everywhere.

6. Read Proverbs (Wisdom for Daily Living)

Proverbs is the Bible’s life handbook.

It teaches:

• discernment
• wisdom
• work ethic
• purity
• finances
• relationships
• humility
• righteousness

New believers need wisdom and stability, and Proverbs gives it in simple, memorable statements.

7. Read the Gospels (A Full Picture of Christ)

After reading John, read:

• Matthew
• Mark
• Luke

Why later?

Because once you understand salvation and doctrine, the Gospels become richer, deeper, and clearer.

You see Christ not only as Savior, but as:

• the perfect teacher
• the perfect example
• the fulfillment of prophecy
• the Lamb of God

A believer who knows the Gospels knows Jesus intimately.

Quick Facts – Where Beginners Should Start in Bible Study

• Quick Facts Box – Where Beginners Should Start in How to Study the Bible
  • START HERE: John → 1 John → Acts → Romans
  • THEN ADD: Genesis → Proverbs → The Gospels
  • AVOID AT FIRST: Leviticus, Ezekiel, Job, Revelation
  • WHY? Build foundations before tackling deep sections.
  • GOAL: Clarity, confidence, and consistency.

Why This Order Builds Faster Growth

Many beginners quit reading the Bible because they start with complex laws before learning simple truth.

This order solves that:

• Gospel first so you understand salvation
• Assurance second so fear is removed
• The church third so you see Christianity in action
• Doctrine fourth so you think biblically
• Foundation stories fifth so you see scripture’s structure
• Wisdom sixth so you grow in daily living
• Christ’s life seventh so you know Him fully

This order mirrors spiritual growth — milk first, then meat.

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Step 3. Use the Right Tools While You Read (But Keep It Simple)

Most people think “Bible study tools” means buying commentaries, downloading apps, and collecting study guides — but those things often overcomplicate the process.

If you want to learn how to study the Bible, the goal is not to gather more tools…

…it’s to choose the right ones.

Tools should support Scripture, not replace it.
Tools should clarify, not confuse.
Tools should guide, not dominate your study.

Beginners thrive with simple tools.

Below is the full breakdown in a clean, practical way.

The Most Important Bible Study Tool — Your Pen

You will remember 5x more when you write something down.

Writing forces your mind to:

• notice repetition
• see patterns
• slow down
• reflect
• connect stories and doctrines

A pen or pencil will help you build a memory map of Scripture faster than any digital study method.

What to write:

• key verses
• themes
• commands
• promises
• names
• questions
• observations

Why it works:

Your brain begins building “files” — mental folders that store Bible content.

When you study Genesis 3 and write:

• serpent
• sin
• shame

…you’ve created a permanent memory anchor.

A Simple Notebook or Scripture Journal

You do not need a fancy Bible journal, but you can use one. I highly recommend the True Words Scripture Notebook.

A cheap notebook works perfectly.

Divide your notebook into:

• Verses I Don’t Understand Yet
• Promises I Need Today
• Commands to Obey
• Questions for Later
• Doctrines I Am Learning
• Things I See About Jesus
• My Prayer List

This turns your notebook into a personal Bible commentary over time.

Quick Facts: Why Writing Helps Bible Study

• Quick Facts Box – Why Writing Helps Bible Study, How to Study the Bible
  • You retain 60% more when writing vs. reading only
  • Writing slows you down so you actually understand
  • Written notes create long-term memory pathways
  • Questions you write today become answers later
  • A notebook becomes your personal Bible commentary

A Clean KJV Bible Without Study Notes

Massive study Bibles look helpful… but they often:

• insert denominational bias
• interpret Scripture for you
• add confusion
• subtly teach bad doctrine
• distract from the actual text

A beginner should use:

• a plain-text KJV Bible
• wide margins if possible
• double-column or single-column (your choice)

Why? Because you want God’s words, not someone else’s commentary.

Remember:

Commentaries can be wrong. Study notes can be wrong. Sermons can be wrong. Blogs can be wrong. Your notes can be wrong. We aren’t always right.

But the KJV Bible is always right.

A Concordance (Helpful — Not Essential at First)

A concordance helps you find where words appear throughout Scripture.

You don’t need one every day, but it is powerful once you know how to use it.

What a concordance helps with:

• Comparing Scripture with Scripture
• Seeing patterns (“faith,” “repent,” “kingdom,” “spirit”)
• Finding supporting verses
• Studying Bible words deeply

BEST options:

• KJV-only pattern concordance (digital or print)
• Online KJV concordances (no Greek/Hebrew correction needed)

Avoid any concordance or lexicon that tries to:

• “correct” the KJV
• redefine English words
• claim “the Greek really means…”
• remove verses

Stick with pure Bible study tools.

Bible Cross-Referencing (Your Most Powerful Skill)

This is AP-level Bible study — yet easy for beginners. Cross-referencing means letting verses explain other verses.

Example:

Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

connects perfectly with:

Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Nothing explains the Bible better than the Bible itself.

How to do cross-referencing as a beginner:

• Look for the same phrase in other chapters
• Look for repeated themes
• Follow names and events
• Link New Testament explanations to Old Testament stories

This turns your Bible reading into living connections.

A Simple Dictionary (KJV Word Definitions)

A dictionary is helpful — but only if it is:

• simple
• accurate
• NOT redefining Scripture

Do not use Greek/Hebrew tools unless they support the KJV.
Do not use modern dictionaries that change meanings.
Do not use lexicons that attack the text.

Stick with KJV-era definitions that match the context.

Definition — “Study” (KJV Meaning)

• Definition Box – Study
  • Study (in Scripture) means:
    • to examine carefully
    • to give attention to
    • to be diligent
    • to meditate and consider
    • to compare Scripture with Scripture
  • Bible study is intentional. We have to slow down and look closely at God’s words.

Tools You Should AVOID as a Beginner

Because they harm Bible study:

• Study Bibles with denominational notes
• Modern Bible versions
• Greek/Hebrew lexicons that “fix” the KJV
• Devotionals written by false teachers
• Commentaries that contradict Scripture
• Emotional, experience-driven “study guides”

A beginner doesn’t need more voices — you need more Scripture.

Encouragement: The KJV Bible is All You Need to Start Studying

• Encouragement Box – How to Study the Bible With Only a KJV Bible
  • If you have a KJV Bible, a pen, and a notebook, you have everything you need.
  • The Holy Spirit will teach you as you continue.
  • You can grow, you can understand, and you can build strong Bible foundations — starting right now.
  • Remember, God is always faithful. As you try, He sees and He helps.
  • How to Study the Bible becomes easy with God’s help!

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Step 4. Ask the Right Questions (The Secret to Bible Understanding)

Most people don’t struggle with reading the Bible…

They struggle with understanding the Bible.

And the reason is simple:

They’ve never been taught how to ask the right questions.

Understanding Scripture is not about:

• having a commentary
• knowing Greek or Hebrew
• having a degree
• following traditions
• Googling everything
• listening to twenty different preachers

It’s about engaging your mind with the Word of God.

The right questions turn reading into Bible study. They pull truth out of the passage. They make you think. They connect verses together. They help you see Christ in every page.

Below are the questions every believer — beginner or advanced — should ask during Bible study.

Below are the questions every believer — beginner or advanced — should ask during Bible study.

The Six Questions That Unlock Every Passage

When you finish a verse, paragraph, or chapter, ask:

1. What does this teach me about God?

Every page of Scripture reveals something about:

• His character
• His power
• His holiness
• His justice
• His mercy
• His promises
• His faithfulness

This anchors your study in knowing God, not just gathering facts.

2. What does this teach me about man?

The Bible exposes our:

• weakness
• sin
• pride
• foolishness
• tendencies
• need for grace

This question keeps you humble and honest.

3. Is there a command to obey?

Sometimes the command is direct:

• “Pray without ceasing”
• “Flee fornication”
• “Love one another”

Sometimes the command is implied through example:

• Joseph fleeing temptation
• Daniel purposing in his heart
• David strengthening himself in the Lord

Commands don’t save you — but they shape your Christian walk.

4. Is there a promise to believe?

Bible study must be personal.

God wants His promises applied, not just admired.

Promises give:

• strength
• comfort
• hope
• direction
• faith

Examples:

• “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
• “Call unto me, and I will answer thee.”
• “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

5. Is there a warning to avoid?

The Bible is full of loving warnings:

• “Be not deceived…”
• “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed…”
• “Fools make a mock at sin.”

Warnings protect you from:

• sin
• deception
• false doctrine
• foolish decisions
• wasted years

A wise believer pays attention to God’s warnings.

6. How does this point to Christ?

This is the question most people never ask, but it changes everything.

Jesus said:

“Search the scriptures… they are they which testify of me.”

Christ is:

• in the types
• in the shadows
• in the prophecies
• in the patterns
• in the promises
• in the symbols
• in the characters
• in the stories

The whole Bible pulls your heart toward Jesus.

Quick Facts Box – Why These How to Study the Bible Questions Matter

• Quick Facts — Why These How to Study the Bible Questions Matter
  • They turn passive reading into active study
  • They keep doctrine sound
  • They focus your heart on God, not opinion
  • They build spiritual discernment
  • They protect you from false teaching

How to Use These Questions in Real Study

Here’s what most beginners do:

• read a chapter
• close the Bible
• forget everything

Instead, try this:

• read the chapter once
• read it again slower
• then ask each question

You don’t have to write long paragraphs. Short, simple notes are enough:

• “God: merciful, slow to anger”
• “Man: stubborn, proud”
• “Command: trust, wait on God”
• “Promise: God hears prayers”
• “Warning: sin destroys”
• “Christ: pictured in the sacrifice”

This builds Bible memory, doctrinal stability, and spiritual maturity.

How These Questions Protect You from False Doctrine

False doctrine thrives when people:

• don’t know context
• ignore Christ
• chase “hidden meanings”
• build theology from one verse
• follow feelings instead of Scripture

But these six questions keep you grounded:

• you look at all the Bible teaches
• you stay connected to Christ
• you let Scripture interpret Scripture
• you focus on doctrine, not speculation
• you build truth the way God intended

You’ll be shocked how quickly the Bible comes alive.

A Simple Example (Psalm 23:1)

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Ask the questions:

• About God? He leads, protects, provides.
• About man? We are sheep — needy, dependent.
• Command? Follow the Shepherd.
• Promise? God provides what we need.
• Warning? Wandering leads to danger.
• Christ? Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

See how simple it is? Yet how deep?

Definition — “Meditation”

• Definition Box – Meditation
  • Meditation: Biblical meditation is not emptying your mind. It is filling your mind with Scripture and thinking deeply about it, comparing verses, and applying truth.

Why Most Christians Never Learn This Method

Most Christians don’t lack desire — they lack direction.

Nobody ever showed them:

• how to ask questions
• how to think through a passage
• how to connect verses together
• how Scripture interprets Scripture

But once you learn this method and how to study the Bible, you will:

• understand difficult passages
• remember what you read
• see Christ more clearly
• grow faster spiritually
• build a solid foundation

This is true Bible study — not complicated, but intentional.

Encouragement – Understanding the Bible

• Encouragement Box – Understanding the Bible, How to Study the Bible
  • You don’t need to be smart to understand the Bible — you just need to be willing.
  • God reveals truth to the humble, the hungry, and the obedient.
  • Simply show God you want to learn, and He is the one who gives understanding.
  • I can make you the promise that if you put forth the effort to understand the Bible, that God will help you to understand. I am 100% sure of that.

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Step 5. Apply What You Read (The Missing Key Most Christians Overlook)

Most people want to know how to study the Bible, but they completely ignore the step that actually transforms their lives:

Applying what they read.

Information without application produces:

• boredom
• confusion
• spiritual dryness
• “I don’t feel like I’m growing”
• knowledge without obedience

But when you apply Scripture, everything changes.

God never intended Bible study to stay on the page — He intended it to show up in your decisions, habits, and daily walk.

The Bible Teaches Application — Not Just Reading

Here are foundational truths most believers skip:

• “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” — James 1:22
• “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” — John 13:17
• “Keep my commandments, and live” — Proverbs 7:2

Reading produces knowledge.

Application produces transformation.

Quick Fact – Christians Struggle with How to Study the Bible?

• Quick Fact — Struggles With How to Study the Bible
  • Christians don’t struggle because the Bible is unclear.
  • They struggle because they stop at understanding and never reach obedience.
  • Just keep going and trying.
  • Do not give up. This is how Bible study works. It’s hard work.
  • Even when I don’t understand a passage, I keep going. Pray and ask for help.

How to Apply the Bible During Your Daily Study

Here is a simple, biblical method you can teach anyone:

Step 1 — Identify the Main Truth

Ask: What does God want me to believe, avoid, or do?

Examples:

• Believe — God is faithful
• Avoid — sin destroys
• Do — forgive others

This is the “spiritual assignment” of the verse.

Step 2 — Make It Personal

Application is not:

“Christians should trust God.”

It IS:

“I will trust God today in this specific situation.”

Application personalizes truth.

Step 3 — Write ONE Action

You don’t need 10 things to obey — you need one thing you will actually do.

Examples:

• “I will pray instead of worrying today.”
• “I will apologize to my spouse today.”
• “I will separate from sinful influences.”

Obedience becomes real when attached to action.

Step 4 — Pray It Into Your Heart

Application without prayer becomes self-effort.

Pray:

“Lord, help me obey what You showed me today.”

God responds to willingness.

Definition — “Application”

• Definition Box – Application
  • Application: Taking the truth of Scripture and doing something with it today — not someday, not later, not when you feel ready.

A Simple Example of Application (Philippians 4:6)

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Study → Application (How to Study the Bible):

• Truth: Worry is a sin; pray instead. Simply make a request to God.
• Personal: I will stop worrying about finances today. I will simply keep working hard.
• Action: I will pray with thanksgiving every time worry hits. I will allow God to handle it.

This turns a verse into a victory.

Why Application Must Be Part of “How to Study the Bible”

Most Christians never grow because:

• they read without changing
• they listen without obeying
• they treat Scripture as information, not instruction

But when you add application:

• Scripture becomes unforgettable
• conviction becomes direction
• truth becomes lifestyle
• your faith develops strength
• you grow in wisdom and discernment

Bible study finally becomes alive. You will remember the words of the Bible!

Common Mistakes That Kill Application

• Over-complicating it
• Trying to apply the entire chapter
• Waiting for a feeling
• Ignoring conviction
• Forgetting the action by noon

These ruin growth.

The Secret to Lasting Growth — Apply One Truth Daily

If you apply ONE verse per day:

• that’s 365 obedience steps a year
• that’s 365 decisions becoming habits
• that’s 365 steps closer to Christlikeness

You don’t grow by accident — you grow by obedience. Change one thing at a time.

Encouragement – You Can Obey God

• Encouragement Box – Obeying God, How to Study the Bible
  • If you’re saved, you can obey Scripture.
  • God doesn’t command what He won’t empower.
  • If you are serious about obeying God, the Holy Spirit helps.

Step 5 Summary — Application Turns Study Into Transformation

Studying the Bible shows you truth.

Applying the Bible changes your life.

This step makes the difference between:

• A believer who “reads a lot”

And

• a believer who actually grows.

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Step 6. Use the Right Tools (Without Replacing the Bible)

Most Christians skip this step entirely. They either:

use no tools and stay confused
or
depend too much on tools and stop reading the Bible itself

Tools are helpers — not authorities.

They make Bible study clearer, faster, and more organized, but they should never outweigh Scripture.

This step shows you exactly which tools help you learn how to study the Bible the right way.

The Tools Every Christian Should Use (KJV Only)

These are the tools that strengthen Bible study — not replace it.

A KJV Bible With Paragraph Markers (How to Study the Bible With Complete Thoughts)

Not commentary.
Not notes.
Not modern footnotes.

Just the text — clear, readable, preserved.

Paragraph markers help you see:

• natural divisions
• major themes
• conversations
• prophetic breaks

They simplify study without inserting someone else’s interpretation.

A KJV Concordance (Digital or Print)

The #1 tool for studying Scripture using Scripture.

A concordance helps you:

• trace themes
• find parallel passages
• discover repeated words
• compare spiritual truths
• connect Old Testament and New Testament

This is how the Bible interprets itself.

Warning Box – Avoid Greek/Hebrew Corrections

• Warning Box — Avoid Greek/Hebrew “Corrections” in How to Study the Bible
  • Many concordance tools include Strong’s definitions that contradict the KJV.
  • Ignore tools that tell you the KJV is wrong or didn’t translate properly.
  • Use a concordance only to find verses, not redefine them.

A KJV Cross-Reference Tool

Cross-references reveal:

• prophecy fulfillment
• repeated commands
• parallel events
• doctrines reinforced multiple times

This is the heart of real Bible study.

A Scripture Notebook or Journal

You already use these — and you know the power.

Writing helps your mind:

• slow down
• observe details
• connect chapters
• remember truth
• build long-term Bible memory

Your brain remembers what your hand writes. It works. Writing Scripture works!

Audio Bible (KJV Only – Listening Helps You Learn How to Study the Bible)

Hearing Scripture activates another part of your mind.

Use it when:

• driving
• walking
• exercising
• getting ready in the morning

Hearing + reading = deeper retention.

Tools You Should Avoid Completely

These destroy Bible study and must be rejected 100%.

Modern Bible Versions

Because they:

• remove verses
• alter meanings
• soften doctrine
• corrupt salvation passages
• downplay Christ’s deity

Studying the wrong Bible guarantees wrong conclusions.

Commentaries (Not Important in How to Study the Bible)

99% are filled with:

• Calvinism
• lordship salvation
• replacement theology
• academic pride
• allegorical interpretation
• denial of prophecy
• correction of Scripture

They pull you away from Scripture, not into it.

“Greek and Hebrew Helps”

These tools claim to “unlock meaning,” but they actually:

• attack the KJV
• change definitions
• push modern scholarship
• create doubt
• corrupt doctrine

You do not need Greek or Hebrew to study the Bible.

God already gave you His perfect words in English.

The more tools you use that oppose Scripture, the less Scripture you understand.

How to Use Tools the Right Way (Without Depending on Them)

A tool is good if it helps you do ONE thing:

See more Scripture.

Here is the proper order:

1. Read the Bible First

God speaks through Scripture — not tools.

2. Observe the Passage Yourself

Look for:

• repeated words
• commands
• promises
• warnings
• context

3. THEN Use a Tool to Search or Compare

Never skip straight to a tool before you look at the verse yourself.

4. Write What You Learned in Your Journal

This reinforces truth and strengthens memory.

5. Pray for Understanding

Tools do not give understanding — the Holy Spirit does.

Step 6 Summary — Tools Support Study, They Don’t Replace It

The right tools help you to know how to study the Bible effectively:

• stay organized
• connect Scripture with Scripture
• grow deeper
• learn faster
• build confidence

But they should never replace:

• reading
• meditating
• praying
• obeying

Tools are helpers. The Bible is the authority.

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Step 7. Compare Scripture With Scripture (The Only Safe Interpretation Method)

Every false doctrine ever created came from not comparing Scripture with Scripture (this is not how to study the Bible).

If you want to learn how to study the Bible correctly, this is the single most important habit you can build.

Scripture interprets Scripture.
The Bible explains itself perfectly — without commentaries, scholars, or outside sources.

This principle is the backbone of Bible study, and it protects you from error every single time.

Why Comparing Scripture With Scripture Is Essential

The Bible is one unified book written by one Author.
Different human writers… one Holy Spirit.

This means:

• no contradictions
• no doctrinal conflicts
• no random isolated verses
• every passage fits with every other passage

When you compare Scripture with Scripture, you begin to see:

• repeated patterns
• consistent doctrine
• prophetic fulfillment
• clear definitions
• unified teachings

This is how new believers become strong believers.

How to Compare Scripture With Scripture – How to Study the Bible

1. Use Key Words

Find where the same word or phrase appears elsewhere.

Examples:

• “everlasting life”
• “believe”
• “justified”
• “sanctified”
• “wrath”
• “day of the Lord”

The Bible defines its own vocabulary.

2. Find Parallel Accounts

Many events appear in multiple books.

Compare:

• Kings with Chronicles
• Gospels with other Gospels
• Acts with Epistles
• Old Testament prophecy with New Testament fulfillment

Seeing the same event from multiple angles locks the truth into your mind.

3. Compare Doctrinal Passages Across Testaments

Doctrine develops consistently from Genesis to Revelation.

Examples:

• Faith (Genesis → Romans → Hebrews)
• Salvation (Exodus → Isaiah → John → Acts → Romans)
• End times (Daniel → Matthew 24 → 1 Thessalonians → Revelation)

You do not interpret doctrine through culture or tradition — you compare Scripture across the whole Bible.

4. Compare Clear Verses to Hard Verses – This is How To Study the Bible

This rule is simple:

Never interpret a clear verse by a hard verse. Always interpret a hard verse by a clear verse.

Confusion disappears instantly.

5. Follow the Thread Until It’s Complete

Do not stop after one related verse. Find the full pattern.

Example:

• “call upon the name of the Lord”
• shows up throughout Scripture
• but comparing every usage shows
  it refers to saved people praying,
  not how someone gets saved

This method destroys false doctrine effortlessly.

What NOT to Do When Comparing Scripture

Do NOT Start With What You “Think It Means”

Begin with Scripture — not imagination.

Do NOT Build Doctrine on One Verse

Every major doctrine has a pattern, not an isolated statement.

Do NOT Use Commentaries to Interpret Scripture

They introduce confusion instead of removing it.

Do NOT Let Feelings Guide Interpretation

Feelings change. God’s Word does not.

Quick Facts — Comparing Scripture the Right Way in How to Study the Bible

• Quick Facts — Comparing Scripture in How to Study the Bible
  • The Bible is its own dictionary
  • Patterns reveal doctrine
  • Repetition matters
  • God never contradicts Himself
  • Clear verses interpret hard verses
  • Scripture always agrees with Scripture
  • You do not need scholars to understand truth.

A Real Example — Understanding Salvation By Comparing Scripture

As you learn how to study the Bible, take the clearest verses first:

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Then compare:

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

None of these verses include:

• turning from sin
• asking Jesus into your heart
• praying a prayer
• confessing sins
• lifestyle changes

When Scripture is compared to Scripture, the truth becomes undeniable:

Salvation is by belief alone. Instant. Permanent. Guaranteed.

And the same method works for every doctrine.

How This Step Changes Your Entire Bible Study

Once you start comparing Scripture with Scripture, everything becomes:

• clearer
• simpler
• more consistent
• more powerful
• more enjoyable

Confusing passages start solving themselves. Contradictions disappear. Doctrine becomes solid.

This is how new believers grow into strong, confident Christians who can discern truth from error.

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Step 8. Stay Consistent (Bible Study Happens Daily, Not Occasionally)

If you want to learn how to study the Bible the right way, you must understand this:

Consistency beats intensity every single time.

Reading the Bible for 10 minutes a day will take you farther than reading for 2 hours once a week.
God designed spiritual growth to be daily, just like physical nourishment.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

You can’t eat once and expect to stay healthy. You can’t read once and expect to grow spiritually.

Why Consistency Matters More Than Anything Else in How to Study the Bible

Most Christians don’t struggle with desire — they struggle with routine.

A believer becomes strong in the Bible when they:

• read daily
• pray daily
• meditate daily
• build habits
• show up even on the “hard days”

Spiritual strength is the result of spiritual discipline.

How to Build a Daily Bible Study Habit

Here’s a simple system that works for everyone — beginners and long-time believers.

1. Set a Specific Time

Pick one time and stick with it:

• early morning
• lunchtime
• evening before bed

Let the clock serve you. Make it predictable.

2. Use the Same Place

Your mind builds association.

A reading chair.
A quiet corner.
A desk with your KJV open.

When your environment is consistent, your consistency becomes automatic.

3. Read a Manageable Amount

Do not start with 10 chapters a day.

Start with:

1 chapter
or 10 minutes
or a half-chapter with notes

Small, predictable steps become permanent habits.

4. Remove Distractions

no TV
no YouTube
no notifications
no noise

Silence brings focus.

5. Use a Simple Plan

A reading plan helps beginners stay on track.

Examples:

• 1 chapter a day through John
• then Acts
• then Romans
• then Genesis
• then complete the New Testament

Plans create direction. Direction creates consistency.

Quick Facts — What Daily Bible Study Produces When You Know How to Study the Bible

• Quick Facts — Daily Bible Study Produces Great Things
  • Better understanding
  • Stronger faith
  • Greater discernment
  • More joy
  • More wisdom
  • Faster spiritual growth
  • Clearer doctrine
  • A stable Christian life

Daily reading creates daily transformation.

What Destroys Consistency (Avoid This)

Consistency is fragile. Guard it.

• Skipping days
• Letting emotions control your habits
• Unrealistic expectations
• Comparing your progress with others
• Reading without prayer
• Letting small failures stop you

A missed day is not a disaster — it is simply a reminder to start again the next day.

The only true failure is quitting.

Encouragement — You Can Be Consistent

• Encouragement Box – Consistency, How to Study the Bible
  • If you can show up for work every day…
  • If you can check your phone every morning…
  • If you can eat meals on a routine…
  • You can read your Bible every day.

This isn’t about willpower — it’s about devotion. God honors every step you take toward Him.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

The moment you open your Bible, you are stepping toward God — and He meets you there.

The Golden Rule of Consistency

Never focus on how much you read. Always focus on showing up.

Because if you show up every day…

• you will read more
• you will understand more
• you will grow deeper
• you will become strong in doctrine

Consistency is the engine that drives Bible study.

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Step 9. Meditate on Scripture (The Missing Ingredient in How to Study the Bible)

Most Christians know how to read the Bible. Some Christians know how to study the Bible. But very few Christians know how to meditate on the Bible.

Yet meditation is what makes Scripture:

• sink deep
• transform thinking
• correct attitudes
• strengthen convictions
• renew the mind

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Bible meditation is not emptying your mind — it is filling your mind with the Word of God.

What Is Biblical Meditation? (Simple Definition)

Meditation = thinking deeply about Scripture until it changes you.

It means:

• slowing down
• repeating the verse in your mind
• considering each phrase
• asking what it teaches
• applying it to your life

Meditation turns information into transformation.

How to Meditate on the Bible (Step-by-Step)

Here is a simple, powerful method any Christian can use — even beginners.

1. Choose One Verse or Short Passage

Meditation works best in small portions:

• one key verse
• one main idea
• one command
• one promise

Example:

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2. Read It Slowly

Slow reading forces the mind to focus.

Take the verse phrase by phrase. Do not rush. Do not skim.

3. Emphasize Each Word

A powerful method:

Say the verse aloud, emphasizing one word at a time.

• THE Lord is my shepherd
• The LORD is my shepherd
• The Lord IS my shepherd

Each emphasis reveals a truth you would have missed.

4. Ask Key Meditation Questions

These questions unlock meaning:

• What is God teaching me here?
• Why did God say it this way?
• What does this reveal about God’s character?
• What sin does this correct?
• What comfort does this give?
• How should this change my thinking today?

5. Apply It Personally

Meditation is not complete until applied.

Ask:

“How do I obey this today?”

Not tomorrow. Not someday. Not “when life slows down.”

Today.

Application seals meditation.

6. Pray the Verse Back to God

Turn the Scripture into conversation.

Example:

“Lord, thank You that You are my Shepherd. Help me trust You today. Lead me. Guide me. Remove fear from my heart.”

Meditation becomes prayer. Prayer strengthens meditation.

Quick Facts — Why Meditation Changes You Faster

• Quick Facts — How To Study The Bible With Meditation
  • Meditation renews the mind (Romans 12:2)
  • Meditation creates spiritual stability
  • Meditation increases joy in Scripture
  • Meditation helps overcome temptation
  • Meditation makes doctrine stick
  • Meditation deepens assurance
  • Meditation strengthens spiritual memory

The more you meditate, the more you grow.

What Meditation Is NOT

• Not mystical
• Not emptying your mind
• Not chanting
• Not emotionalism
• Not yoga
• Not imagining things God never said

Biblical meditation is focusing — not drifting.

Encouragement Box — Everyone Can Meditate on Scripture

• Encouragement Box – You Can Meditate on Scripture
  • You don’t need a study degree.
  • You don’t need long hours.
  • You don’t need a perfect mind.
    • If you can think…
    • If you can pray…
    • If you can focus for even one minute…
  • You can meditate on Scripture.
  • God promises success to all those who meditate on His words.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Meditation is not optional for growth — it is essential.

Step 10. Apply What You Learn Immediately (How to Study the Bible Effectively)

Obedience Is What Turns Bible Knowledge Into Bible Power

Learning how to study the Bible is not complete until you act on what you read.

The Bible is not simply a book to be understood — it is a book to be obeyed.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Every time you read Scripture, God expects a response:

• a command to obey
• a sin to avoid
• a promise to believe
• a truth to remember
• a warning to take seriously
• a step of faith to walk in

This is the final step in Bible study — and the one most Christians skip.

Why Application Matters for Spiritual Growth

It’s not the amount of Bible you read…

It’s the amount of Bible you live.

John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Knowledge without obedience creates:

• pride
• confusion
• inconsistency
• spiritual dryness

But obedience creates:

• clarity
• spiritual strength
• discernment
• joy
• growth

How to Apply Scripture Every Day (How to Study the Bible and Apply)

Here is the simplest method:

1. Identify One Action Per Passage

After reading a chapter, ask:

“What is one thing I can do today because of what I just read?”

Keep it small and realistic:

• forgive someone
• pray about a specific need
• avoid a temptation
• speak kindness
• memorize a verse
• encourage someone
• change a habit

This is where growth happens. Allow the word of God to change you. Submit to His words.

2. Write Your Application Down

A simple sentence is enough:

“Today I will…”
“Because of this verse, I need to…”
“God is showing me to…”

Writing your application turns reading into responsibility.

3. Pray for Strength to Do It

Application is spiritual warfare.

Satan does not attack Bible readers — he attacks Bible doers.

Psalm 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

God gives power to obey when you ask.

4. Review Your Applications Weekly

Look back at what God has shown you:

• Are you growing?
• Are you obeying?
• Are you being consistent?

This is how you build lifelong spiritual habits.

Quick Fact — Why Application Strengthens Understanding

• Quick Fact Box — When You Apply How to Study the Bible Your Understanding Grows
  • The more you obey Scripture, the easier it becomes to understand the next passage.
  • Obedience opens the heart.
  • Disobedience closes it.
  • God will do great things for you when you apply His words.

The more you obey Scripture, the easier it becomes to understand the next passage.

Obedience opens the heart.

Disobedience closes it.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.

Encouragement – Do A Little At A Time

• Encouragement Box – Learn How to Study the Bible and Apply a Little at a Time
  • You don’t need to apply everything at once.
  • Just apply one truth every time you study.
  • Small obedience repeated daily builds strong Christians.

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Conclusion — Anyone Can Learn How to Study the Bible

You Don’t Need a Seminary Degree — You Need Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and Consistency

Learning how to study the Bible is not complicated. It is consistent, simple, and powerful when built on the King James Bible. God did not give you a confusing book — He gave you a perfect Book, written so that every believer can understand it.

Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

If you follow the steps in this guide, you will grow faster and stronger than you ever imagined:

• You choose the right Bible (the KJV).
• You start in the right books.
• You read with attention, prayer, and purpose.
• You ask the right questions.
• You form solid routines.
• You take notes and review them.
• You compare Scripture with Scripture.
• You obey immediately.

This is the heart of real Bible study. This is an extensive guide on how to study the Bible. If you follow this guide, you will be amazed at the results!

Bible Study Is Not About Intelligence — It’s About Hunger

God reveals Scripture to those who truly desire it:

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

If you keep coming back to the Bible daily, with an open heart and a willing spirit, God will give you wisdom, understanding, direction, comfort, and strength.

The Bible Will Change You — If You Keep Reading It

The more you study the Bible:

• the clearer it becomes
• the more connected it becomes
• the more powerful it becomes
• the more personal it becomes

Your spiritual growth will not be based on emotion or experience — it will be rooted in truth.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Final Encouragement – How to Study the Bible

You can understand the Bible.
You can grow spiritually.
You can build strong foundations.
You can walk with God faithfully.

One chapter at a time.
One day at a time.
One step of obedience at a time.

Call to Action – How to Study the Bible

If this guide on How To Study the Bible helped you, explore the full Bible Basics for Beginners category:

• How to start reading the Bible
• How to pray
• How to grow spiritually
• Assurance of salvation
• Bible reading plans
• Understanding difficult passages

Each one is designed to help you build a rock-solid foundation starting today — using the pure, preserved King James Bible.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Study the Bible

Where to Go After “How to Study the Bible?”

This Bible Study Guide comes from the Bible Basics for Beginners which comes from the KJV Bible Study Hub. Check out those pages for many more Bible Resources that will get you closer and closer to the Almighty God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Other pages related to How to Study the Bible that you will enjoy:

• The Ultimate KJV Bible Study Hub
• Bible Basics for Beginners
• How to Study the Bible (You’re Here)
• Why the King James Bible Is Perfect
• How to Start Reading the Bible (Step-by-Step Plan)
• How to Pray According to the Bible
• New Believer Discipleship Course
• How to Know You’re Saved (Assurance Scriptures)
• How to Grow Spiritually (Daily Christian Habits)
• Bible Reading Plans (KJV Only)
• How to Understand Difficult Passages
• Why Doctrine Matters for New Believers