Biographical Method

7/28/2019 Biographical Method

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/biographical-method 1/18

TheBibleiscomposedofnumeousstoiesofmenandwomenandtheielation-

shipswiththelovingGodwhoceatedthem.Tostudythelivesoftheseindividuals

ismeaningfulanduplifting.Wecanleanbothwhattodoandwhattobebylook-

ingatthepositiveattibutesofhundedsofpeoplewhofillthepagesofSciptue.

Wecanalsogainvastknowledgeandwisdombyobsevingandavoidingthete-

mendousfailuesandnegativeaspectsinthelivesofpeoplementionedinGod’s

Wod.

Definition

With the Biogaphical Method of Bible Study you select a biblical peson and

eseachtheSciptuestostudyhisohelifeandchaacte.Youtytobecome

thooughlyacquaintedwiththatpeson’sinnelifeandfindoutwhatmadeita

spiitualsuccessofailue.AskGodtohelpyouthinkandfeelwithhimoheso

thatyoustudybecomesalife-changingexpeience.

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THe BiOgRaPHicaL

MeTHOD Of BiBLe sTUDY

How to Find Out What MadeBible People Tick



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Rick WaRRen’s BiBLe sTUDY MeTHODs

Theapplicationofthisstudycomeswhenyouexamineyouownlifeinlightof

thestudyandaskGodtohelpyoumakepositivechaactechangesinyouweak

aeas.ThiswillesultinChistiangowthandmatuity.

the imPortance of BiBle PeoPle

PeopleaeimpotanttoGod.Weaemadeinhisimageandlikeness,andtheBible

isaecodofhisdealingswithmenandwomen.ItisalsoaevelationofGodhim-

self,bothto peopleandthrough people.ToundestandtheBiblefully,youmustget

toknowthepominentpeopleoftheSciptues.

Step One — Select the Bible Person You Want to Study

Step twO — Make a List of All the References about That Person

Step three — Write Down First Impressions (First Reading)

Step FOur — Make a Chronological Outline (Second Reading)

Step Five — Get Some Insights into the Person (Third Reading)

Step Six — Identify Some Character Qualities (Fourth Reading)

Step Seven — Show How Other Bible Truths Are Illustrated in the Person’s Life

Step eight — Summarize the Main Lesson(s)

Step nine — Write Out a Personal Application

Step ten — Make Your Study Transferable



The.Biographical.Method.of.Bible.Stu

MuchoftheOldTestamentis innaativefom,descibingthelivesofmany

people.ThebookofGenesis,foexample,evolvesaoundsixgeatnames:Adam,

Noah,Abaham,Isaac,Jacob,Joseph.TheapostlePaulsaidthatGodgaveusthe

stoiesintheOldTestamenttobeexamplestous,fomwhichweshouldleanvaluablelessonsfolivingfohimin thiswold.Paulwote,“Foeveythingthat

waswitteninthepastwaswittentoteachus,sothatthoughenduanceand

theencouagementof theSciptueswemighthavehope”(rom.15:4).Healso

said,“Thesethingshappenedto[thepeopleoftheOldTestament]asexamples

andweewittendownaswaningsfous,onwhomthefulfillmentoftheageshas

come”(1Co.10:11).

TheNewTestamentisabookofinstuctions;theOldTestamentisabookof

illustations, thoughbothTestamentscontain instuctionsandillustations.NewTestamenttuthsaeillustatedintheOldTestament.Oneofthebestwaystostudy

theOldTestamentistostudyitspeople.ThismakestheoldeSciptueseally

comealive.

TheBiblementionsingeateolessedetailmoethan3,000people.When

youhaveleanedthismethodofstudy,youwillhaveopenedthedootoalifetime

ofexciting,fulfillingBiblestudy.Biogaphicalstudiesaeenjoyableandaealsoone

oftheeasiestmethodsfomwhichtofindpesonalapplications.

tools you Will neeD

• StudyBible

• Exhaustiveconcodance

• TopicalBible

• Bibledictionayoencyclopedia

some tiPs for a gooD BiograPhical stuDy

Todoameaningfulbiogaphicalstudy,keepthefollowingpointesinmind.

1.Statwithapesononwhomyoucandoasimplestudy.Beginwithone

aboutwhomtheeisasmallnumbeofefeences.Somebiblicalpeoplecanbe



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studiedinafewhous;othestakeweekstostudy,andsomemajopesonscan

takealifetime.DonotstatdoingthisstudyonapesonsuchasJesus,Moses,

oAbaham.BeginwithsomeminobutimpotantpeoplesuchasAndew,Ban-

abas,oMayofBethany.2.Thesecetofagoodbiogaphicalstudyistolivewiththatpesonduing

thestudy.Walkinhisohesandals.Tytogetinsidetheimindandseehow

theythink,feel,andespondtocicumstances.Attempttoseethingsfomthei

pointofview,heawiththeieas,minglewiththeifiends,andfightwiththei

enemies.Become thatpesonwhileyouaestudyingthem.Thisisonlypossibleif

youspendmuchtimewiththatpeson,eading,andeeadingalltheBibleefe-

encesaboutthem.

Afiendofmine,WayneWatts,hasspentalifetimestudyingAbaham.Hehasstudiedthisbiblicalpesonsolongthathehastakenonmanychaacteisticsof

Abaham.Heisageatmanoffaith,asAbahamwas.

3.Becaefulnottoconfusediffeentpeoplewhohavethesamenamewhen

youlookuptheefeencesaboutthem.Youwillhavetobesuethattheveseis

speakingaboutthepesonyouhavechosentostudy.Youwouldnotwanttocon-

fuseJohntheBaptistwithJohntheApostleoJohnMak.Foexample,theBible

showsusthatthefollowingnamesweepopulaandefetodiffeentpeople:

• Zechaiah—30diffeentmen

• Nathan—20men

• Jonathan—15men

• Judas—8men

• May—7women

• James—5men

• John—5men

Thecontextoftheveseswillusuallytellyouwhichpesonisinview.

4.Becaefultofindthevaiousnamesthatmayapplytojustonepeson.Since

theBiblecame outofaHebew-Aamaic-Geekcontext, some people’s names

changedinthediffeentlanguages,inboththeOldTestamentandtheNew.The

apostlePete,foexample,isknownasPete,Simon,Simeon,andCephas.Dan-




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iel’stheefiends,Hananiah,Mishael,andAzaiah,aebetteknownasShadach,

Meshach,andAbednego.Sometimesanamechangecamebecauseofachaacte

change,whichwasthecaseofJacobbecomingIsael.Sobecaefulandfindall

thenamesusedfothesamepesoninyouBiblestudy.5.Stay away fombookswitten aboutbiblical peopleuntilafte youhave

exhaustedeveyBibleefeenceaboutthatpesonandhavedawneveypossible

insightoutofthosetexts.Don’tletaBiblecommentayobyouofthetaskofpe-

sonaldiscoveyopejudiceyouviewsofapeson.Doyouownwokfist,then

checkothesouces.

simPle stePs on Doing a BiograPhical stuDy

TheBiogaphicalStudyFomhas10sections,whichaethe10stepsfodoingthis

study.

Step One Select the Bible Person You Want to Study

Youmightstatoutbyselectingsomeonewhoeithehasaweaknessthatyouhave

oastengththatyouwouldliketodevelop.Chooseapesonwhoselifewillgive

yousomevaluableinsightsintohowyoucanconfommoetoGod’sstandadfo

livingandbecomemoelikeJesusChist.

Step twO Make a List of All the References about That Person

Usingyouefeencetools,findalltheSciptuepassagesyoucanaboutthatpe-

sonandthingselatedtohelife.Thismightincludesuchthingsashebith,majo

eventsofhelife,heaccomplishments,whatothessaidabouthe,andhedeath.

Youwillnotbeabletogetall thenecessay“vitalstatistics”abouteveypeson

youstudy,butfindoutasmuchaboutthemasyoucan.

Alsolookupanyefeencesthatdealwiththehistoicalbackgoundofhelife.

IfyouweestudyingEsthe,youwouldneedtostudythebackgoundofheday:

thePesianEmpie.IfyouweestudyingtheapostlePaul,youwouldhavetostudy

hismissionayjouneys.



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Step three Write Down First Impressions (First Reading)

readthoughtheSciptueefeencesyouhavelistedandmakesomenotes.Wite

out the fist impession youhave of thispeson. Thenwitedownsomebasic

obsevations and impotant infomation youdiscove about himo he. Finally,

listanypoblems,questions,odifficultiesyouwondeaboutasyoueadthese

efeences.

Step FOur Make a Chronological Outline (Second Reading)

Foamajobiblicalpeson,eadalltheefeencesagainandmakeachonologi-

caloutlineofthepeson’slife.Thiswillhelpyougainagoodpespectiveonhis

life,andyouwillseehowdiffeenteventselatetooneanothe.Late,whenyou

studytheeventsassociatedwithhislife,youwillknowinwhatpatofhislifethey

occued.

Fominobiblicalpeopleothoseaboutwhoselivesfewdetailsaegiven,ead

theefeencesandmakeanoutlineonthebasisoftheinfomationyouhave.

Tytoeadalltheefeencesinonesittingandinamodentanslation.This

willhelpyoufeeltheflowofthepeson’slife.Asyouead,lookfoanynatual,

majodivisionsinhisohelife.Thenlookfoandwitedownanypogessions

andchangesofattitudeinthatpeson’slifeastimesgoesby.Foexample,awell-

knowndivisionofMoses’lifeis

• FotyyeasinPhaaoh’scout—leaningtobeasomebody

• FotyyeasintheMidiandeset—leaningtobeanobody

• FotyyeasintheSinaideset—leaningthatGodisSomebody

Thisisaealkeytostudyingthechaactesofthepeopleinvolved.Seehow

GodslowlymoldedandchangedthepeopleohowSatanboughtthemdown.

Step Five Get Some Insights into the Person (Third Reading)

Gobackovetheefeencesagain,andlookfopossibleanswestothequestions

suggestedinappendixB.Byansweingsomeofthesequestions,youshouldget

somehelpfulinsightsintothechaacteofthepesonyouaestudying.




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Step Six Identify Some Character Qualities (Fourth Reading)

Asyoueviewthe efeencesonceagain,use thesuggestedlist ofpositiveand

negativechaacteisticsinappendixCasachecklist.Witeonyoufomopape

eachquality,goodandbad,thatshowsupinthepeson’slife.Giveaveseefe-

encethatshowseachchaacteisticyouhaveobseved.

Step Seven Show How Other Bible Truths Are Illustrated in the Person’s Life

Examinethepeson’slifetoseehowitillustatesothetuthstaughtintheBible.

Foexample,doeshisohelifeshow thepincipleof“youwilleapwhatyou

sow”?Look inthat lifefo illustationsofsomeofthePovebsoofpinciples

taught in the Psalms.Fo instance, youmight ask, “Doeshis life illustate thepomise, ‘Delight youself intheLOrDandhewill giveyouthedesiesofyou

heat’”(Ps.37:4)?Findcoss-efeencesthatillustatewhattheBiblesaysabout

someofthechaacteisticsyoufoundinthispeson’slife.

Step eight Summarize the Main Lesson(s)

Inafewsentenceswiteoutwhatyouthinkisthemainlessonthatistaughto

illustatedbythispeson’slife.Istheeanyonewodthatcoulddescibethatlife?

Whatwashisoheoutstandingchaacteistic?

Step nine Write Out a Personal Application

refetotheDevotionalMethodofstudy(chapte1)fothespecificsofwitingan

application.Inadditiontothepinciplessuggestedthee,youmightaskyouself

thesequestions:

• DidIseeanythingofmyselfinthispeson’slife?

• Didheshowsomeofmyweaknesses?

• Didheevealtomesomeofmystengths?

• Whatimpessedmemostaboutthispeson’slife?

• WheedoIfallshotinthisaea?

• WhatdoIintendtodoaboutit?



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Step ten Make Your Study Transferable

Condensewhatyouhaveleanedintoasimpleoutlinethatwillhelpyouemembe

itandenableyoutoshaeyouconclusionswithothes.Makeit“pass-on-able.”

Askyouself,“Whatcanthispeson’slifemeantoothes?WhatcanIshaethatI

haveleanedthatwouldhelpsomeoneelse?”

Dividetheinfomationintonatualsequencesoftimeand/oeventsandles-

sonsleaned.Usethepogessionsthatyouhavefoundandecoded.Thenthink

ofsomeeasilyemembeedwaystotitleeachsection.Keepthesetitlestueto

themajocontentofeachsection,makinguseofhymes,alliteations,andothe

memoydevices.Useyouimaginationinthislaststep!

AnillustationofatansfeableoutlineofthelifeofBanabasmightlooklikethis:

• He was an investor of money in the lives of chuchmembes (Acts

4:36–37).

• He was the introducer of Saul (late Paul) to the apostles (Acts

9:26–28).

• Hewastheinspector ofthenewchuchatAntioch(Acts11:22–24).

• Hewasaninstructor ofnewChistians,includingPaulandMak(Acts

11:22–26;15:39).

• Hewastheinitiator onthefistmissionayjouney,whichhebeganastheteamleadebutendedasateammembe(Acts13–14).

• Hewasaninterpreter ofthedoctineofsalvationandGod’splanfothe

Gentiles(Acts13–14).

• Hewasinsistent ingivingMakanothechancetobetainedinthegospel

ministy(Acts15:36–39).

conclusion

Inthe10-steppoceduejustgiven,itissuggestedthatyoueadallyouefe-

encesthoughfoutimes.Actually,thisisa.minimum numbe.Themoetimesyou

eviewthepassagesaboutthepesonyouaestudying,themoeyouaegoingto

obseve.(Seetheobsevationsectionsinchapte10ofthisbook.)




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HOWTOFILLINTHEBIOGrAPHICALSTUDYFOrM

AttheendofthischapteisaBiogaphicalStudyFomthatyoucanepoduceo

useasaguidefowitingonyouownsheetsofpape.Thefomliststhe10steps

aleadydiscussedfodoingthisstudy.

Filling Out the Form

Fillintheblanksofeachofthe10patsasdescibedinthesectionabove.If

youneedmoeoom,usethebackofthefomoallowmoeoomonyouown

pape.

Sample Filled-out Form

SeetheexampleonthelifeofStephenattheendofthischapte.

Assignment

AppendixDpovidesalistofthemajoandminomenandpominentwomenofthe

Bible.Selectfomthoselistsanypeoplewhopaticulalyinteestyou.Ifyouaejust

beginningthismethodofstudy,youmightwanttodothefollowingpeoplefist:

1. MayofBethany

2. Andew

3. Caleb

4. ruth

5. Daniel

For Further Reading

ManybookshavebeenwittenonthemenandwomenoftheBible.Theones

listedheeaesomeofthebetteones.remembe,howeve,nottoeadthebooks

befoedoingyoustudy;doyoustudyfist,thenchecktoseewhatotheshave

discoveedaboutthatpeson.

All.of.the.Women.of.the.Bible.byEdithDeen(HapeSanFancisco)

All.the.Men.of.the.Bible.byHebetLockye(Zondevan)

All.the.Women.of.the.Bible.byHebetLockye(Zondevan)



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The.Complete.Book.of.Who’s.Who.in.the.Bible. byPhilipComfotandWalteElwell(Tyndale)

Her.Name.Is.Woman,.Books.I.and.2,.byGienKassen(NavPess)

Lost.Women.of.the.Bible.byCaolynCustisJames(Zondevan)

Making.of.a.Man.of.God.(onDavid)byAlanredpath(revell)

Men.of.the.Bible.byAnnSpangleandrobetWolgemuth(Zondevan)

New.International.Encyclopedia.of.Bible.Characters,.editedbyPaulGadne(Zondevan)

The.Oxford.Guide.to.People.and.Places.of.the.Bible,.editedbyBuceMetzgeandMichael

Coogan(OxfodUnivesityPess)

Robust.in.Faith.byJ.OswaldSandes(MoodyPess)

Women.of.the.Bible.byAnnSpangleandJeanSysweda(Zondevan)



BiOgRaPHicaL sTUDY fORM

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1. naMe Stephen

2. Scripture reFerenceS

Acts6:3–8:2

Acts11:19

Acts22:20

3. FirSt iMpreSSiOnS anD OBServatiOnS

StephenwasanealyChistianwhohadatemendoustestimonyinthechuch,

wasapowefulpeacheandwitness,andwaswillingtodiefohisfaith.

4. Outline OF hiS Or her liFe

A.Chosenbytheealychuchasaleade—

1. tohelpesolveaconflict(Acts6:5)

2.onthebasisofcetaingodlychaacteistics(Acts6:3,5,8)

B.Hehadawideministy—

1.waitedontables(Acts6:2,5)

2. pefomedmiacles(Acts6:8)

3.peachedandtaughtpowefully(Acts6:10) C.Hewaspesecuted—

1.opposedbyJewsfom“oveseas”(Acts6:9)

2. falselyaccused(Acts6:11)

3.aestedandboughtbefoetheSanhedin(Acts6:12–14)

a. falsewitnessestestifiedagainsthim.

b.defended himself with a masteful eview of O.T. Sciptue (Acts

7:2–53)

c. testifiedtoJesus(Acts7:55–56) d. lynchedbyanangymob(Acts7:57–60)

D.He had aministy afte his death—pesecution caused the chuch to

spead(Acts8:2–4;11:19)



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5. general inSightS (Ass o Qsos)

A.Whywashechosentobealeade?Because—

•HewasfulloftheHolySpiitandwisdom(Acts6:3).

•HewasfulloffaithandtheSpiit(Acts6:5).

•HewasfullofGod’sgaceandpowe(Acts6:8).

•HeknewtheSciptues(Acts7:2–53).

B.Whatwashisesponsetofalseaccusations?He“kepthiscool,”emained

silent,andonlyansweedwhenhewasdiectedtospeakbythehighpiest.

C.AetheeanypaallelswithJesus?Yes,hewasfalselyaccused,demon-

statedloveandconcenfohisaccuses,anddiedan“undeseved”death.

D.Whatwashisattitudetowadhisexecutiones?Hewasfogiving,evento

thepointofpayingthatGodwouldfogivethemfotheisinofmude.

E.Whatweethelong-temesultsofhislife,ministy,anddeath?

•TheyfowadedtheplanofGod.

•HisdeathcausedthedisciplestoscatteandtaketheGospeltoothe

patsofJudea,Samaia,andegionsbeyondPalestineinfulfillmentof

Acts1:8.

•HisdeathalsohelpedbingPaultotheLod.




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6. character QualitieS iDentiFieD TheBookofActs

• Spiit-filled(6:3,5,10)

• Wise(6:3,10)

• Faithful(6:5)

• AvailabletoGod(6:8)

• Pesistent(6:10)

• Holy(6:15)

• Knowledgeable(chap.7)

• Bold(7:51–53)

• Bave(7:51–53)

• Fogiving(7:60)

• respectedbyothes(8:2)

• AwitnesstoJesus(22:20)

7. BiBle truthS illuStrateD in hiS Or her liFe

• The pesence and comfot of the Holy Spiit in the tials of life (Acts

7:54–55;Hebews13:5–6).

• Falseaccusationsandpesecutionwillcomeintooulives(Acts6:11ff).

• God’s gace is sufficient when we walk with him (Acts 6:10; 1Co.

1:27–31;2Co.12:9).

8. SuMMary OF leSSOnS learneD FrOM hiS Or her liFe

TheoutstandingchaacteisticofStephenwashiscommitmentto theLod

andhiswillingnesstodoanythingfohim,includinggivinguphislife.

Thiscommitmentisseeninthefactthathewasamanwhowalked

withGod(hewas“fulloftheSpiitandwisdom...faith...God’sgaceand

powe”).Hehadageattestimonybefoeothesinthechuch.Hewitnessed

topeoplebothinlifeandindeath.

Hewas,futhemoe,amanoftheWod.HeeallyknewhisBible—theOld

Testament.Hemusthavespenthousstudyingthescollsandthepachments.



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9. perSOnal applicatiOn

IneedtobecomeapesonlikeStephen—apesonoftheWodwhoknows

JesusChistintimatelyandwhoisabletoansweotheswithSciptuewhen

theyaskquestions.Asaesultofthisstudy,Iwillcommitmyselftohavinga

dailyquiettimefoatleast15minutestogettoknowChistbette.Iwillalso

commitmyselftomemoizingtwoSciptueveseseachweeksothatIcan

answepeoplewhoaskmequestions.

10. tranSFeraBle cOnceptS (ways i ca sa s os)

Theconceptsinthisstudythataetansfeable:

A. ThenecessityofapesonalwalkwithJesusChist.Theonlywaywe

canbecomemenandwomenoffaithandwisdomlikeStephenisto

haveadailyquiettimewiththeLod.Stephenhadadynamicwalk

withJesusChist.

B. ThenecessityofbeingintheWodofGodonaegulabasis—Bible

studyandSciptuememoy.IfIamtoknowmyBibleasStephen

did,Ineedtospendqualitytimeinitandbeabletoteachotheshow

todosoaswell.Thisbookisonemeanstohelpmedoso.Ineedto

shaethesemethodswithothes.

C. Thenecessityof couage in times of advesityand pesecution. I

needtopaythatGodwillgivemeboldnesswithothes.

11. SOMeOne with whOM i intenD tO Share thiS StuDy

PatConneandTommyPaute(byemail)




1

1. naMe

2. Scripture reFerenceS

3. FirSt iMpreSSiOnS anD OBServatiOnS

4. Outline OF hiS Or her liFe



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5. general inSightS (Ass o Qsos)




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6. character QualitieS iDentiFieD

7. BiBle truthS illuStrateD in hiS Or her liFe

8. SuMMary OF leSSOnS learneD FrOM hiS Or her liFe



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9. perSOnal applicatiOn

10. tranSFeraBle cOnceptS (ways i ca sa s os)

11. SOMeOne with whOM i intenD tO Share thiS StuDy

Biographical Method

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