Debbie Swindell

Doctrine and Disciplines of the Bible ll

In the previous study, “Reading the Bible Well,” we considered why context matters. We cannot lift a sentence from Scripture, give it a meaning that suits our circumstances, and assume we have understood what God intended. Bible study asks us to stay with a passage long enough to understand what it says before deciding how to apply it.

God uses His Word to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and to grow us in Him (2 Timothy 3:14–17). That growth is His work. Careful study cannot give us the power to change ourselves, but God calls us to attend to His Word and respond to it.

David Mathis, author of Habits of Grace, writes, “The great end of our habits of grace is knowing and enjoying him.” That is our purpose in this study. We want to know Christ, not merely become skilled at filling a notebook.

Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks organize Bible study around three movements in Living by the Book: observation, interpretation, and application. For the next three days, we will practice one movement each day. We will use Philippians 1:9–11 as a passage to study together, while learning questions you can take to any book of the Bible.

Day One: Observation

What does the passage say?

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14–17; Acts 17:10–12; and the entire first chapter of Philippians.

The Bereans heard Paul’s message and examined the Scriptures to see whether what they heard was so. They listened carefully and looked at the text for themselves. We need that same willingness to examine what we read and what we are taught.

Observation begins before we reach for a commentary or ask what a verse means for us. Read Philippians 1 from beginning to end. Then return to verses 9–11 and read them again. Notice who is writing, to whom he writes, and what he is doing in these verses. Look for repeated or related ideas. Mark anything you do not understand without feeling that you must settle every question immediately.

Paul’s prayer in verses 9–11 belongs within a letter. What he says before and after it may help us understand why he prays as he does. A sentence can be true and encouraging when read alone, but we understand it more fully when we see its place in the writer’s thought.

At this stage, resist the urge to write an application. Record what is there. You might notice that Paul speaks of love, knowledge, discernment, approving what is excellent, and the fruit of righteousness. Those observations give you something to investigate on Day Two.

Observe the passage

1. Who wrote Philippians, and to whom was it addressed? What do you learn from Philippians 1:1–8 about Paul’s relationship with these believers?
2. In Philippians 1:9–11, what does Paul pray will increase? What does he pray their growing love will enable them to do?
3. What outcomes does Paul name in verses 10–11? Where does he say the fruit of righteousness comes from, and what is its final purpose?
4. Read the rest of Philippians 1. What concerns or circumstances does Paul mention? How might these help you understand his prayer?
5. What words or phrases in verses 9–11 do you need to investigate further? Write them down as questions.
6. According to 2 Timothy 3:14–17, what does Scripture do? How did the Bereans respond to the teaching they heard in Acts 17:10–12?

Pray: Ask the Lord to help you notice what He has placed in the passage, including details you might otherwise hurry past.

Day Two: Interpretation

What does the passage mean?

Read: Philippians 1:1–11 again, then read Philippians 1:27–2:4 and 2 Timothy 3:14–17.

Once we have observed the words, we ask what Paul meant to communicate to the believers in Philippi. Interpretation calls us to consider the passage’s grammar and context. We ask how its ideas connect, what the first readers would have understood, and how the passage fits within the teaching of the letter.

Paul does not pray merely that the Philippians will feel greater affection. He prays that their love will abound with knowledge and discernment. Notice the relationship among those words. He wants their love to be shaped by truth so that they can approve what is excellent. As you read on into the letter, consider how that prayer relates to his call for them to live in a manner worthy of the gospel and to consider others in humility.

We may need to compare related passages or consult a trustworthy teacher when a question remains difficult. A commentary can help us investigate the text, but it should not replace our own reading. Test an explanation by asking whether it accounts for the words, the context, and the writer’s argument.

Kevin DeYoung, author of Taking God at His Word, says that Scripture can be trusted “to speak what is true, command what is right, and provide us with what is good.” That confidence gives us reason to study closely, even when a passage challenges an assumption we would rather keep.

The Holy Spirit’s help and careful thought belong together. We pray for understanding while attending to the words He has given. An insight that ignores the passage’s meaning is not made more trustworthy because it feels personal or timely. God can use a passage to address a real need in our lives through what that passage actually teaches.

Understand the passage

1. In Philippians 1:9, what is the relationship between love, knowledge, and discernment? How do verses 10–11 help explain Paul’s purpose?
2. What does “approve what is excellent” mean within Paul’s prayer? What clues does the surrounding passage provide?
3. How does Philippians 1:27–2:4 help you understand the kind of life Paul desires for these believers?
4. What does verse 11 teach about the source and purpose of the fruit of righteousness?
5. In one or two sentences, summarize the main point of Philippians 1:9–11 as Paul wrote it to the Philippians.
6. If you use a study Bible or commentary, compare its explanation with your summary. Which observations in the passage support it? Is there anything you need to reconsider?

Pray: Ask God to grow your understanding and to make you willing to correct an interpretation that does not fit the passage.

Day Three: Application

How should I respond to what the passage means?

Read: Philippians 1:9–11; Philippians 1:27–2:4; James 1:22–25; and 1 Corinthians 3:6–7.

Application is more than finding a sentence that feels relevant. We begin with what Paul prayed for the Philippians. Then we ask how that truth addresses us. God’s people still need love shaped by knowledge and discernment. We still need to grow in our ability to recognize what is excellent and live in a way that honors Christ.

Perhaps Philippians 1:9–11 exposes a way you have treated love as though it had little to do with truth. Perhaps you have gathered biblical knowledge while neglecting love for others. You may need discernment in a particular relationship or decision. A sound application will connect that need to Paul’s actual prayer rather than turning a phrase into a private message about an unrelated concern.

James warns us against hearing the Word without doing it. Scripture may call us to confess an attitude, seek forgiveness, change the way we speak, or act with greater love. We should name a response clearly enough that we can put it into practice.

At the same time, we must remember who gives the growth. Paul says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6, ESV). We study and obey, but we cannot produce spiritual change by the quality of our notes or the length of our study session. We depend on the Lord as we use the Word He has given.

This also helps us evaluate other resources. A book or study guide may offer useful observations about life. Ask whether it explains Scripture in context, treats biblical teaching as authoritative, and directs you toward Christ and the truth of the gospel. We need not fear questions, but we do need to examine the answers.

Respond to the passage

1. What does James 1:22–25 say is missing when someone hears the Word but does not do it?
2. What truth about God or His work do you see in Philippians 1:9–11?
3. Where do you presently need love joined with knowledge and discernment? Describe the situation without changing the meaning of Paul’s prayer.
4. What specific response does this passage call for in your beliefs, desires, words, or actions?
5. What does 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 teach you about your effort and God’s work in spiritual growth?
6. Look back over your notes from all three days. Which movement do you tend to skip: observation, interpretation, or application? How will you give it more attention the next time you study?

Put the method into practice

Choose one paragraph from a New Testament letter. Read the entire chapter, then return to your paragraph. First, write down what you observe: the writer, the first readers, repeated words, and connections to the surrounding verses. Next, interpret the paragraph by summarizing the writer’s main point in one or two sentences. Finally, apply its truth by writing down one way you should respond. End by praying in light of what you read.

Some days you may notice something you had never seen. On other days, you may be reminded of a truth you already know but need to obey. Keep your Bible open and your heart teachable. The purpose of careful study is to hear God’s Word faithfully, know Christ more deeply, and respond to Him.

Won’t you join me at the table?

Sources quoted or mentioned: Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks, Living by the Book; David Mathis, Habits of Grace and “Growth Is Not the Goal”; Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at His Word and “3 Things We Must Believe about God’s Word.”

Sources for the broader series.