Observation
1. Read the passage with care.
a. Read repeatedly—read text several times (even out loud) to become familiar with the
general message.
b. Read thoughtfully—focus attention on the text. Write down your thoughts as you read
and study or keep a journal of what you learn.
c. Read patiently—take time to fellowship with God.
2. Record your initial impressions.
a. After reading the text, jot down your overall impression of the text. Then, note more
specific impressions.
3. Record the major facts. Go back and hunt for more information.
a. Who? Who is speaking and who are the listeners? Who are the characters involved,
and what can we learn about them? Identify all the principle characters in the
passage.
b. What? What is happening? Is the passage about events or about ideas? What is the
main subject and what are the key words? What is the tone? Does it reflect joy,
sorrow, victory, or defeat? What took place before and after the passage that would
help with understanding?
c. Where? Describe the location of the action. Where is the author at the time of writing
and where are the recipients? Are there important geographical locations that need to
be identified on a map in order to understand the setting of the text?
d. When? When are these events taking place? Is the timing significant? At what point
in the history of Israel or the church is this occurring? Is the timing significant in the
life of the author or the recipients?
**Asking “why” is for the time of interpretation.
In the step of observing the whole of the passage, we are searching for its general structure.
Looking at the individual parts
Every portion of Scripture has organization that is then broken down into divisions or parts.
Structure—the relationship of ideas or actions to one another within the passage or book being
studied.
Understanding the principles of structure is an essential part of determining the logic of a
passage.
Principles of Structure
1. Comparison- associating things that are alike.
2. Contrast- associating things that are opposite.
3. Repetition- reiterating the same or similar terms, phrases, clauses, or concepts.
4. Cause to Effect- stating a cause and then its effect(s).
5. Effect to Cause- stating or describing an effect then its cause.
6. Explanation- introducing an idea that is then expanded or clarified.
7. Illustration- introducing an idea, followed by an example of it.
8. Climax- arranging the text so that it progresses from the lesser to the greater (i.e., the
story or discourse builds in climax).
9. Pivot- arranging the subject matter so that there are specific points at which the story
changes direction; they act like hinges in the text.
10. Interchange- altering or exchanging certain elements in the text; moving back and forth
between several ideas.
11. Preparation- including background material or the setting for events or ideas to prepare
the reader to understand what follows.
12. Summary- briefly restating the main ideas presented.
13. Question Posed- structuring the text around questions the author raises.
14. Question Answered- structuring the text around answers the author gives to a question,
either explicitly stated or merely implied.
An outline, diagram, or chart can bring the structure of a passage into focus.
Structural Outline- shows the logic in a passage by writing out the phrases of the verses in
short lines.
Example:
Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Question Posed)
Shall trouble
or hardship
or persecution (Repetition)
or famine
or nakedness
or danger
or sword? …
For I am convinced that
neither death
nor life,
neither angels
nor demons,
neither the present
nor the future, (Contrast)
neither height
nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
(Climax)
will be able to separate us from the love of God this is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Making a chart helps you to see the relationships between words and ideas. Many are visual
learners; if we see it we can understand it. This helps to visualize how the author organized his
thoughts.
Write out the contents in a structural way and then identify the structural relationships
(comparison, contrast, repetition, etc.) More than one relationship may be present; note them all.
Then produce the vertical outline:
Outline of Galatians 5:16-26 (don’t need to write out passage for assignment-just showing to
understand example)
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of
the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one
another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you
are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality,
impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger,
selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of
which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those
who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the
Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well. Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying
one another.”
1. Exhortation: live by the Spirit (v. 16)
2. Negative example: acts of the sinful nature (vv. 17-21)
3. Positive example: fruit of the Spirit (vv. 22-23)
4. Conclusion: Christians should walk by the Spirit because they have crucified the sinful
nature (vv. 24-26)
Looking at the fine details
We read and reread things that we know affect us personally—like love letters. Every detail,
every nuance is important to us. The same is true of reading Scripture.
Even though you will continue to focus on the main text, at this stage you will also examine the
context (within the same book) for clues.
The Key Questions of Observation
In this final phase, you will isolate those details that stand out in the passage—details that raise
questions or need to be more fully explained. Example below summarizes the questions related
to the details of a passage. (Note that this list is an expansion of the information covered in
chapter 4-who, what, where, when)
Who?
(the characters)
The writer
The recipients
The characters involved in the action
The characters indirectly involved in the action
Special people addressed in the passage
What?
(the key truths or events)
Key ideas
Theological terms
Key events
Important words (verb tense, commands)
Figures of speech
Atmosphere
Where?
(the geography and location)
Places mentioned
Buildings
Cities
Nations
Landmarks
When?
(the time factors)
Date of the author’s writing
Duration of the action
At what point in the life of Israel
At what point in the life of the church
Past, present, or future
Not every detail will have a corresponding question. Many noted items will be simple
observations. Some details will require answers. Many of the specifics of a passage could
themselves be a subject of future Bible study. The more time you can give to your study, the
more rich it will be, leaving adequate time for interpretation and application. In this type of
study, try to discern the main details and clarify them.
Example of structured outline for Galatians 4:21-31
Structural Outline for Galatians 4:21-31
QUESTION POSED
21I Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?I
PREPARATION
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free
woman.I
EFFECT TO CAUSE
23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free
woman through the promise.I
EXPLANATION/CONTRAST
24 This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from
Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.I
EXPLANATION
25I Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is
in slavery with her children.I
CONTRAST
26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.I
PIVOT
27 For it is written,
"REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR;
BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;
F OR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE
THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND ."
I
COMPARISON
28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.
EXPLANATION
I29 But at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born
according to the Spirit, so it is now also.I
CONTRAST
30 But what does the Scripture say?
"l CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON,
FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN, SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF
THE FREE WOMAN."
I
SUMMARY/QUESTION ANSWERED
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman but of the free woman. (NASB 95)
Here is an example of how to explain each element.
I
Verse(s) Principle of Structure
4:21 QUESTION POSED-Paul begins his writing with a question for those standing
against the Old Covenant
4:22 PREPARATION- Paul sets the foundation for his lesson, the reality of
Abraham's two sons and what they represent
4:23
EFFECT TO CAUSE- The son of the slave women were conceived in
accordance with the flesh/ son of the free women in accordance with God's
promise
4:24 EXPLANATION- Paul begins explaining the meaning behind his
interpretationI
4:24
CONTRAST- Paul begins the overarching theme that dominates this section of
scripture by first pointing out that these sons represent the two conflicting
covenants
4:25
EXPLANATION- Paul continues explaining that it is Hagar’s representation as
Mount Sinai and New Jerusalem that strengthens his stance on the enslaved
followers of the old covenant
4:25-26
CONTRAST- Paul contrasts the present City of Jerusalem as a woman in
slavery with her son/ the Heavenly Jerusalem is one of freedom who bore the
children of the new covenant
4:27 PIVOT- Paul changes direction slightly and dives into the barren women, more
specifically Sara’s role in the formation of God’s current Kingdom. Paul quotes
Old Testament scripture which notes the woman unable to bear children will
produce more heirs than any mother who labored can
4:28
COMPARISON- like Paul connected the mother of Hagar to the children who
are enslaved by the old covenant, he also connects the free children of the new
covenant to the rightful son of Abraham and Sara which was promised by God
4:29 EXPLANATION- Paul explores the historical significance of Ishmael and
Isaac and notes the persecution present between them
4:29-30 CONTRAST- The son of flesh persecutes/ the son of the free women receives
the inheritance
4:31 REPETITION- Paul reiterates the fact that the believers in the Galatian church
re children of the free women (as in 4:28)
4:22,23,25,29,31 REPETITION- Paul repeatedly reiterated the factors and presence of the slave
women and her son, and the free woman and hers
4:31
SUMMARY- Paul ends by completing his idea; his church members who
welcome the Kingdom and renewal of Christ are not slaves as born of the
flesh, but are free as born by the Spirit
4:31
QUESTION ANSWERED- The question that Paul posed to begin these ten
verses seems to be answered by this final sentiment. Those who desire to be
under the law must first understand the law; when understanding this ideal,
Paul concludes that it is his brothers and sisters in Galatia who must relinquish
this desire to be under the old law to hold their rightful place as children of the
free woman.
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