The question
Do not begin by assuming the answer. Identify what the passages actually say, what they do not say, and where interpretation begins.
Begin with these passages
Read each passage in its surrounding context. Note the speaker, audience, setting, and point being made. Compare related passages rather than building a conclusion on an isolated phrase.
Questions for personal investigation
- What does the passage state explicitly?
- What conclusions are reasonable inferences, and what assumptions would be required?
- Are there other biblical passages that appear to support, qualify, or challenge that interpretation?
- What is the strongest alternative interpretation, and does it explain the same evidence?
- Does the conclusion come from Scripture itself, or from a tradition or authority brought to the text?
Record your conclusion
Write down what you currently understand, the evidence supporting it, and any questions that remain unresolved. Be willing to revise a conclusion when the evidence warrants it.
The purpose of this study is not to tell you what you must conclude. It is to help you examine the question carefully and make a responsible decision before God.