---

---

This phase of the R³ 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?

(Semantic Meanings)

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 or reading assignment. The more time and effort you put into relating to the study passage, the more you will get out of it.  You need to be:

---

---

The Relate Phase Process

Visual Investigation

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

---

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)
  • 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?)
  • Who is mentioned or referred to in this passage?
  • 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 precise or relative time periods are mentioned?
  • In what order did the events occur?
• Where? (Questions/Statements of Location)
  • Where did this happen?
  • What other locations are mentioned or referred to?

(NOTE: The Why and How questions are answered in the Respond phase of the R³ Bible Study Process.)

---

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.

---

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).
• A helpful resource: New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Jerome Smith) [Amazon] [Logos] (An earlier version of this is included in the free version of Logos Bible Software.)

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.)

---

Part 4: Epitext

Investigate

Focus: Information related to the study passage that is found in resources other than your Bible. 

Click HERE for resources and tools that can help you study and relate to God’s Word.

---

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.