My Journey into Scripture: Inductive Bible Study
Inductive Bible study gave Scripture back to me.
Every Wednesday, I offer in The Well a deeper dive into the series for the week. Today’s deep dive is into Inductive Bible Study.
Up until a class with Robert Traina, and his book Methodical Bible Study, my college and seminary courses on Scripture were dominated by what scholars called “higher criticism.” The special love of higher criticism wasn’t the Bible itself, but the sources that might have been behind it. I could talk more easily about “Q” (a hypothetical sayings source for Matthew and Luke) than about the gospels we actually have in our hands.
Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of “Q.” No one’s ever seen it. It’s a scholarly guess. What we do have—without guessing—are four stories—four gospels—filled with words and stories that show us Jesus.
That’s what inductive study gave me: a way to pay attention to the words we do have, not speculate about the words we don’t. It trained me to look closely at what is actually written, to notice details I’d skimmed past, and to let the text itself speak. It exposed and challenged presuppositions and assumptions I had about what the words meant that differed from what the words actually said. That not only saved my love for Scripture—it made it possible for me to help others love it too.
I sometimes shudder when I think what would have happened if I had avoided Robert Traina’s course. I might have been able to lecture smartly about the history of the Bible, but I would have missed the joy of discovering the redemptive story for myself—and of helping others fall in love with it too. For the first time, I wasn’t just talking about the Bible. I was actually reading it and then talking about what I had discovered.
Five Lessons That Still Ring True
Here are five things I learned in that class that are still impacting me today:
Inductive vs. Deductive. Inductive study starts with what’s in the text. Deductive study starts with our assumptions. One builds conclusions from evidence; the other often imposes conclusions before the evidence is even read.
Humility. Inductive study forces you to let Scripture question what you think, rather than using Scripture to back up what you already think. The Bible regains its power to mess with you—and that’s a good thing.
Courage. This way of reading takes you where the words take you, whether or not that lines up with your denomination, politics, or family traditions. That takes real openness and bravery.
Spirit-Led Discovery. Over and over, I’ve found that when you stay with a phrase long enough, light breaks in. Sometimes it brings repentance. Sometimes joy. Sometimes awe. The process is that powerful.
Grammar Matters. I come from a family of grammar geeks, and inductive study showed me why. Verbs, prepositions, contrasts, connections—they all carry weight. They turn old words on a page into a living word that won’t let you go.
Inductive Reading in Practice
It’s one thing to describe inductive study. It’s another to actually do it. Robert Traina used to say: “Make five observations. Now, after finding five, find five more.” His point was simple: your first glance rarely scratches the surface. The more you look, the more you see. And the more you see, the more room you give the Spirit to work.
Here’s one passage you can try right now:
Luke 6:27–31
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Step 1: Observation. Read these verses several times. It won’t take long. Write down 5 observations. Then push yourself: find 5 more. Now, because your powers of observation are warming up, stretch further—find 10 more.
Here are some ideas to guide you:
Notice who’s talking—and who’s listening. (You’ll find this earlier in Luke 6.)
Find and list all the verbs—the actions (love, hate, etc.) Notice who is doing all of these actions, and whether they are past, present, or future.
Notice the contrasts. List as many as you can find (love vs. hate, etc).
Step 2: Questions. Now ask questions about what you’ve seen. For example:
Why does Jesus use so many examples?
Why does he connect each positive action (love, do good, bless) with a negative opposite?
Who is being told to do these almost impossible things?
Don’t rush to conclusions. The quality of your questions will take you deeper than quick answers ever will. What I now know after years of inductive practice is this powerful truth: the better the question, the deeper the understanding. So, take your time. Go back over your observations and ask some good questions about what you’ve found.
Step 3: Insight. Add it all up. What do you think Jesus is teaching here? Write a simple sentence: “I think the point Jesus is making is…” Trust your process of seeing, asking, and reflecting.
Step 4: Application. Where does this land in your life? Don’t leave it in the realm of theory—’It would be great if people..,”--let it become concrete–”I will…” What specific step of obedience are you being nudged toward today?
What is the personal application for you? What are you going to do because of these words? Where will you do this? When will you begin doing this? How?
These words are spoken to a community, not just an individual. So, how do these words apply to the community where you live? How are they intended to land inside our churches and culture being torn apart by deep division today?
Let’s Talk
Have you tried inductive Bible study before?
What do you find most helpful about it?
What’s the hardest part for you?
What’s something you found in the Luke 6 words that you want to share with the rest of us?
Share your thoughts in the comments — your experience will encourage someone else who’s just getting started.
A Resource for Going Deeper
For those who want to dive deeper, Dr. David Bauer—who updated Traina’s Methodical Bible Study into its current form, Inductive Bible Study—has recorded a 30-part lecture series. Each lecture runs about an hour. The first one (“Introduction: Inductive versus Deductive Methods”) is a great place to start.
👉 Click here to watch part one: Introduction
Preparing for Tomorrow
Practicing inductive study sharpened my eyes to see what is actually written. Later, I discovered contemplative ways of reading—like lectio divina—that trained another kind of vision: the eyes of the soul.
Inductive study helps me pay attention to the words. Lectio divina helps me attend to what my soul most needs to receive. In my life, and in my classrooms, I’ve paired them: retinal eyes for the text, spiritual eyes for the heart.
Tomorrow, in Gone Hiking, I’ll share more of that journey.
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