Lesson 1 | A view to the whole: reading and outlining
Divide and conquer: But where to divide?
Creating an outline for an entire book of the Bible may seem more than a little daunting at first. However, like many other large tasks, it is made simple by taking it one step at a time.
Start with the major divisions. Ask: “What is the author talking about now?” When the answer to that question changes, mark a division. Continue this same process all the way through the text, focusing on the major themes the author addresses. Consider each unit you have divided and write a descriptive title in one short sentence or less.
Note that there are several Heading levels to choose from in the headings menu. It is up to you which levels you use, just be consistent as you work through the text. The app will automatically place your heading labels into an outline based on the levels you have chosen.
Next, focus on each major division in turn and ask the same question as before, “What is the author talking about now?” Only this time, you are refining the answers to that question, seeking to identify the subsections within the main units. Once again, when the answer to that question changes, mark a division as before.
Continue on dividing and labeling your sections until you are satisfied you have helpfully organized the contents of the text.
It is important to recognize that the process of outlining is somewhat fluid. There will certainly be shifts in content that will be clear and obvious. On the other hand, there will be transitions that are far less distinct. You may very well go through a few revisions of your outline as you work toward completion.
An example
Consider my outline of Galatians.
Give it a try yourself
Let's go back to 3 John for more practice. This time, read through John's letter, the shortest book in the Bible, a couple times. After you have done so, make divisions again while also creating an outline per the instructions and example above.