An exercise in Observation
Introduction to the Bible Episode 7b
Did you find yesterday’s video helpful. There are three-steps to studying the Bible: Observation, Interpretation, and Application. Let’s do two exercises in observation.
(1) Give yourself ONE minute to look at the picture. Then without looking at the picture again, answer the questions from memory.
(2) Observation questions
- What is the background colour of the cloth?
- Is the boy wearing short or long sleeves?
- What is the colour shirt of the boy’s shirt? Green or grey?
- How many spools of threads are below the boy and girl?
- Is the girl smiling with her teeth showing or her mouth closed?
When you are done, look at the picture again.
(3) How did you do? Did you get all 5 questions right?
Question 3 was a trick questions. The boy is wearing a blue shirt, not green or grey. The embroidery of the boy and girl is sewn on an off-white cloth.
Many colour threads make up the embroidery that you saw. The combination of colours and tones create a picture. If we remove one of the colours, it will change the picture. If we used green for the skin, it will make the picture wrong. If we remove many colours, it will make the picture incomplete or even unrecognisable.
Observation
This same method of observation can be applied to the study of Scripture. When we study the Scripture, we look at the context. We observe the words. We don’t add anything. We don’t remove anything. We let the text speak for itself.
The hardest part of Bible study is observation because it takes time and effort.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15, ESV
Want to learn more? Download notes on How to Study the Bible by Hope Church.