Lesson 1 | Cross-References
The 3-Step Discovery Process
In this course, we will be using a 3-step process to approach the text:
1. Read the passages that the writer expects you to be familiar with
For this step, we are looking for refers-back-type cross-references. As we have already learned, this includes:
- Incidents and events referred to
- People mentioned
- Prophecies reference
- Cited passages
2. Study the passage of focus
This is the part of our process that reaches outside of the focus of this course and depends upon what Bible study methods you have learned elsewhere. It made be Phrasing, Bracketing, or Arcing. It may be working through the original languages. It may be using some sort of highlighting method. Or it might look as simple as writing out some notes. For example, you might use an observation–interpretation–application paradigm and write down the following:
- Observation: Record questions you have as you read through the text (along with any answers you find in the immediate context)
- Interpretation: Record what the passage teaches us about God, us, and the world
- Application: Record tentative applications—what does this passage demand of me?
3. Use Bible study tools to refine your study
In this lesson, we have begun to learn how to use the Bible study tool of cross-references. We will add several other tools later on in this course.
The order of our 3-step process is very intentional. So often Bible study is done by beginning with the tools before you give significant thought to the passage. Or even worse, folks often turn to the commentary notes of their study Bible first.
But the Scriptures are sufficient in and of themselves to reveal God and his purposes to us. And Christians have been given the Holy Spirit to help us. Granted, God has also given us teachers (Ephesians 4:11). So that is why we joyfully continue on to step three and beyond (e.g. checking commentaries, discussing fellow Christians, asking our pastors). But the reality of the New Covenant is such that our primary means of knowing God is now direct (Jeremiah 31:34)—something we in no way want to short-circuit by teaching how to use Bible study aids. This is why we will be putting step two in front of step three.
But what about step one? The key word in that step is “expects.” Unless you plan on studying your Bible attentively from Genesis to Revelation, you will sometimes find yourself falling below the expectations of the biblical author. He expects you to know what has come before in the Bible. And for that reason, we will make sure we do as a first step in our process.