Is the SOAP Bible study method as clean as it sounds?
Let’s start this Quest!
Kia ora, whanau!
Today we're going to be looking at the SOAP Bible study method which is quite widely known,
and I do have an issue with it.
The four steps are:
Scripture
Observation
Application
and Prayer
I’m going to take you through a small Bible study using this method, and explaining how
it can be both amazing, or completely pointless, depending on how you utilise it.
S is for Scripture.
Now, this is about studying the Bible, so of course we're going to be starting with scripture.
So let’s use Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I’m going to focus on the words “worry.”
O is for Observation.
Now, this is the step where I have the biggest issue with this study.
Worst case scenario, many of the online instructions will simply tell you to make observations
from your own personal experiences.
The better examples online recommend that you ask questions about the author, audience,
or the purpose of the original statement, the word definitions, cultural or historical
context.
But most of these still don't provide any instructions on HOW to get this information.
So if I’m left to my own ideas or knowledge about this, I could read “do not worry”
as just “don’t even think about it” or having a “hakuna matata" vibe to it.
If you're merely making personal observations on scripture, this will hurt you in the long
run, and doesn’t actually qualify as actual study - it's just self-reflection.
Here's how I would do the Observation stage:
I would start by looking up these words in a Bible Dictionary or Lexicon, and probably
three of them.
So the word "worry," in the Greek, is "merimnaō" it means to be anxious, to care for, it's
often used for the cares of life which disturb sleep, from which refuge is sought in love
or drink, which only death can end.
This is an intensely packed word!
The context of Author and Audience is fairly straight-forward, as it is Jesus talking in
His sermon on the mount, He's preaching Pharisees and Sadducees, and everyday people.
Next I will lookup which other scriptures in the Bible use this specific Greek word.
You could possibly use a concordances for this, I like to use the Logos Bible Software
as it makes it very fast to do this.
The word "merimnaō" was used 19 times in the New Testament and includes verses such
as:
Luke 10:41–42
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried (merimnaō) and upset about many
things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one…”
or in Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious (merimnaō) about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
or in 1 Corinthians 12:24–25
…But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal
concern (merimnaō) for each other.
Now, all three of these verses they use "worried," "anxious," "concern" - it is the exact same
Greek word used for all of them.
As you start to go through these other verses that use the same Greek word, you begin to
see some common threads or patterns, and it gives you a bigger picture on how the writers
used these words.
Next, I could look up additional insight from a Commentary to get someone else's thoughts
on this, who's studies a lot more than I have:
So for example, this person had said:
"The Pharisees in their pursuit of material things had never learned to live by faith.
Jesus told them and us not to worry about these things, for life is more important than
physical things.
Jesus was saying God has built into His Creation the means by which all things are cared for."
The next stage in SOAP is A for application.
Having observed, we go from reading the Bible to asking - What can I learn from this and
how can it change my life?
This is always going to be completely different for every person because we're all coming
to the Bible from a different place in our lives.
Now, there are some common things that everyone can learn, but there are also unique things
that God can speak to us through His Word.
So make sure that you take the time to think on this and write down what comes to your
spirit.
Lastly, P is for Prayer.
After having studied, take the time to sit still and quietly pray and listen for God
to speak into your heart about what you've studied.
Hopefully this has cleaned up on how to use the SOAP Bible Study method for yourself.
and I’ll see you on our next quest.