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This phase of the R₃-V₃ Bible Study Process is where the hard work is done – it informs us.  The goal here is to answer the question:

What did the passage mean
to the people in its day?

There are several things we can do to answer this question.

First, we need to understand that studying the word of God is done in partnership: “Holy Spirit sheds light on the Word” as we “examine the Scriptures every day”.

Second, and most important, we must pray that God’s Holy Spirit will guide us. After all, He is the author of God’s word (2 Peter 1:20–21). Who would know better than Him what every passage in the Bible meant to the people of its day.

Third, we must remember that this is a study, not a survey.

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The Relate Phase Process

Visual Investigation

(In four parts: Text, Context, Peritext, Epitext.)

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Part 1: Text 

Inventory

Focus: The Bible passage that you are studying.  It includes ONLY the word of God – nothing else; no titles, notes, commentaries, etc.

► Read the study passage. Ask, explore and document answers to questions like these:

• Who? (Questions/Statements of Identity)
  • Who is mentioned or referred to in this passage?
  • Participants (Who’s involved with the action of the passage? What was their role? Primary or Secondary role? Protagonist or Antagonist?)
  • Persons Quoted (Who and what did they say?)
  • Persons mentioned (Who and why were they mentioned?)
  • Are they an example of someone I should follow or avoid? Why? How?
• What? (Questions/Statements of Definition or Description)
  • What did each person say or do?
  • Other things, Actions, or Events mentioned, referenced or described.
• When? (Questions/Statements of Time and Timing)
  • When did this happen?
  • What other time periods are mentioned (precise or relative)?
  • In what order did the events occur?
• Where? (Questions/Statements of Location)
  • Where did this happen?
  • What other locations are mentioned or referred to?

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Part 2: Context

Interview

Focus: The word of God in the pericopes³ before and after the study passage. They teach you about the setting, context and flow of the study passage.

• Read the pericopes before and after the study pericope, looking for information that helps you find and understand answers to the Inventory questions above.

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Part 3: Peritext

Interrogate

Focus: Information in your Bible that is associated with the study passage, but is not part of the text or context. Use the following resources in your Bible to Interrogate your study passage:

Footnotes 

• Usually marked with a number, asterisk or letter next to a word or verse.
• Provides an alternate translation to a word or phrase, or background information, to help the reader understand the passage.
• Read the footnotes marked in the study passage to see how they can help you understand the study passage.

Cross References 

• Usually marked with a letter, number or asterisk next to a word or verse.
• Provides one or more references to other Bible passages that are related to the study passage.
• WARNING: Not all cross references are helpful.  Some are listed only because the same word, person or place is mentioned in both places that doesn’t add anything to your understanding of the study passage.  
• Look up the Bible passages that are listed in the cross references of the study passage and consider only those passages that help you understand the study passage (not just mention or repeat the same information you already learned in the study passage).

Study Bible Notes 

• Study Bibles go beyond the footnotes and cross references.  They provide study notes that explain the passage, along with helpful maps, diagrams, charts and articles.
• Read the introductory and background information about the Bible book you are studying.  Since you already have done the READ study, you’ll know what information is helpful to your understanding of the study passage, and what isn’t. (You usually only need to do this once when you begin your study in that book of the Bible.)
• Read the study notes associated with the study passage.  Also check to see if any of the maps, diagrams, charts or articles have information that helps you understand the study passage. (They are usually mentioned in the study notes.)

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Part 4: Epitext

Investigate

Focus: Information related to the study passage that is found in resources other than your Bible. Use the following or similar resources to research information related to your study passage:

Bible Dictionary 

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary [Amazon] [Logos]

• Look up any words, terms or concepts in the study text that you don’t understand like you would use a regular dictionary.

Dictionary of Bible Themes (Martin Manser) [Amazon] [Logos]

• Use the Scripture Index to see what themes are related to your study passage, then look up those themes to see if any provide information that helps you understand the study passage.
• Look up words, terms or concepts directly like you would with the Bible Dictionary.

Bible Commentaries, Handbooks

Believer’s Bible Commentary (William MacDonald) [Amazon] [Logos]

• Read the notes related to your study passage

BibleRef.com (https://www.bibleref.com)

• An online Bible commentary. Read the notes related to your study passage (including the Context Summary and the Chapter Summary).

GotQuestions.org (https://www.gotquestions.org)

• An online resource for studying Bible passages and researching topics. Type in your question in the search box about any Bible passage or topic and explore the articles listed in the results.

Talk Thru the Bible. (Wilkinson, Bruce, and Kenneth Boa)   [Amazon] [Logos]

• Great overview of each book of the Bible.  Includes helpful outlines, charts and maps.
• Read the information about the book of the Bible you want to study.

Cross References 

New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Jerome Smith) [Amazon] [Logos]  (An earlier version of this is included in the free Logos version referenced above.)

• This resources is a huge list of Bible references related to your study passage.  
• Look up each verse of your study passage in this resource and check out the verses listed there in your Bible
  • REMEMBER: Not all cross references are helpful.  Some are listed only because the same word, person or place is mentioned in both places that don’t add anything to your understanding of the study passage.  
  • This resource also has a few notes related to the verses listed that are sometimes helpful.  Don’t skep over them, but only consider those that truly help you understand your study passage.

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Notes:

• Links to Amazon.com and Logos.com are offered as a convenience to the student for the purposes of product descriptions, price comparisons and availability.  Their use here does not constitute agreement with or indorsement of their policies, philosophies, practices or theology. These resources can also be found at and are available from other sources (except Logos products which are only available from Logos.com and other Faithlife websites).
• Be sure to compare products and prices to make sure you are getting what you need and for the best price.
• Purchase only those books that you can understand and will use. Please reports errors, typos or broken links to tim@thessalonianfaith.org.