Deductive and Inductive Bible Study
Two types of Bible studies are found within the Christian church.
One type is the "Deductive Study" and the other is the "Inductive Study".
A brief explanation of a deductive study is that the deductive study uses "study verses" throughout the Bible (without any study of context) to build toward a desired position. There are many National-International Churches N-IN & Local Churches(L) that present such studies to their membership. The result of such studies is that members are "taught" the vision of the N-IN-L leadership and can become closed groups having a form of godliness but no power to do the work of the ministry. They have ignored the specific instructions given to Peter and the Apostles as to the development of Disciples.
An inductive study is a verse by verse study of the Bible so as to achieve a hermnical context for the conclusion. Click here to read about Biblical Hermeneutics. An inductive study will present verses and then present questions that start with such words as: Who, What, Where, Why, and How. Such questions give the "student" the opportunity to explore the context of the verse. Click Here to see an Inductive Study of 1 John.
As the verses are examined with an understanding of Verbal Plenary Inspiration, the student will reach a Biblical conclusion provided they also cross-reference the verses so that the Bible explains itself. Greek and Hebrew Lexicons, Concordances, Interlinear Bibles, and Bible Dictionaries are used to throughly examine the scriptures. At the end of such a study, most students consult Exhaustive Commentaries so as to check their conclusions against other Biblical investigators. This is done so as to make sure the conclusion is in line with Church leaders throughout the history of the Church. Bible study software is used to document the study by many students. (Click Here for a download of Biblesoft's PC Study Bible for only $9.95)
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