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Better Bible Study
How to Do a Survey of a Book of the Bible

Survey a Book of the Bible

Many Bible study groups (whether adult Sunday school classes, or home Bible study groups) enjoy studying a whole book of the Bible rather than focusing on a specific topic. But how can you get the most out of this kind of Bible study? One way is to engage in a survey of the book you plan to study before you dig into all the details.

Try these five simple steps you to gain an overview of the entire book that will help you better understand and relate the specifics you’ll uncover as you study. Record your answers to the following questions before beginning your next book of the Bible study.

Principal Personalities: Who is the author of the book? To whom was he writing? What other major personalities are mentioned in the book? How do these personalities relate to each other?
Historical Setting: When was the book written? What is the historical setting? What was happening in that part of the world at that time? You may want to consult a Bible handbook or Bible dictionary for help on this.
Purpose: Why was this book written? The author may spell this out, or you may want to consult a commentary. Was the author trying to correct a specific problem?
Themes: What is the major theme of the book? List recurring ideas. What are the subjects the author brings up?
Overview: Summarize the book in a simple outline, chart, or diagram. Don’t get too hung up on this—it’s only to help you see how all the parts come together.