The Bible on the Bible: Guide to a Topical Study of the Bible

Guide to a Topical Study of the Bible

“A Topical… Study involves selecting a biblical subject and tracing it through… the entire Bible in order to discover what God says about the topic.” (Richard Warren, 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Victor Books, 1978), p. 105). Here are a list of references to help you do a topical study on the Bible. You will also find a number of verses in the article “The Bible—The Most Unique Book in the World.”

Scriptures—God’s revelation

Called:

Word of God—Heb. 4:12

Word of truth—James 1:18

Oracles of God—Rom. 3:2

Word—James 1:21–23

Holy Scriptures—Rom. 1:2

Sword of the Spirit—Eph. 6:17

Scriptures of the prophets—Rom. 16:26

Described as:

Authoritative—1 Pet. 4:11

Inspired—2 Tim. 3:16

Effectual in life—1 Thess. 2:13

Truth—Ps. 119:160 Perfect—Ps. 19:7

Sharp—Heb. 4:12

Pure—Prov. 30:5

Inspiration of, proved by:

External evidence—Heb. 2:1–4

Internal nature—2 Tim. 3:16, 17

Infallibility—John 10:35

Fulfillment of prophecy—John 5:39, 45–47

Understanding of, by:

Spirit’s illumination—1 Cor. 2:10–14

Searching—John 5:39

Reasoning—Acts 17:2

Comparing—2 Pet. 1:20, 21

Human help—Acts 17:10–12

Proper uses of:

Regeneration—1 Pet. 1:23

Salvation—2 Tim. 3:15

Producing life—John 20:31

Searching our hearts—Heb. 4:12

Spiritual growth—Acts 20:32

Sanctification—John 17:17

Illumination—Ps. 119:105

Keeping from sin—Ps. 119:9, 11

Defeating Satan—Eph. 6:16, 17

Proving truth—Acts 18:28

Negative attitudes toward, not to:

Add to or subtract from—Deut. 4:2

Handle deceitfully—2 Cor. 4:2

Twist—2 Pet. 3:16

Invalidating by traditions—Mark 7:9–13

Distortion of:

Condemned—Prov. 30:5, 6; Rev. 22:18–20

Predicted—2 Tim. 4:3, 4

Memorization of:

Keeps from sin—Ps. 119:11

Gives understanding—Ps. 119:130

Facilitates prayer—John 15:7

Taken from Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nelson’s Topical Bible Index [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Tho­mas Nelson) 1997, c1995.