How to do a Topical Bible Study

One of the most exciting ways to study the Bible is by examining it topically. Doing so allows us to study subjects that are of particular interest. Biblical topics usually have many minor themes running through them. In order to do a topical study, every related passage should be considered. The Biblical Topics method will help you to select the subject matter, trace it through the entire Bible, and discover everything that God has said about it, in His Word.

The Biblical Topics method can be used to study a doctrine, an idea, a phrase, or any subject that is mentioned in the Bible. It enables us to study the Word of God systematically, logically, and in an orderly manner. It gives us a proper balance regarding biblical truth as we get to see the whole counsel of God’s Word on the subject. To keep you on course let’s look at some helpful hints before we start.

Suggestions for a Good Topical Study

R. A. Torrey, a great Bible teacher, gives three suggestions that are helpful in studying the Bible topically. They are as follows:

1. Be systematic. Never study the Bible haphazardly. Make a list of all the subjects that are related to your topic. Be as comprehensive and complete as possible. Then take these items one at a time, studying them in a systematic and logical order.

2. Be thorough. Do your best to find and study every verse that relates to the topic. The only way to know everything that God has said on a topic is to go through the entire Bible and find all the passages on that topic. You will need to use a concordance to do this.

3. Be exact. Study each verse in order to understand its exact meaning. Be sure to examine the context of each verse in order to avoid misinterpretation. The biggest mistake you must avoid in doing a topical study is taking a verse out of its context.

With that in mind, complete the following steps to get started on a Biblical Topics study:

Step 1 Choose a topic that interests you

Is there a biblical topic that you would like to study—one that excites you or maybe one that has always confused you? It may be a topic that was specifically mentioned in a passage that you read in your daily reading and you want to learn more about it. Or maybe it was something that was just merely implied in a text but it is of special personal interest to you, so you want to dig into it a little further.

Step 2 Create a list of words

Make a list of all the related words, synonyms, phrases, and anything else that could have something to do with your topic. This will help you search the Bible more completely for God’s thoughts on that topic.

Step 3 Collect verse references

Gather all the verses you can find on the topic by looking up each related word in a concordance. You will also want to use a topical Bible to get references that may relate in thought but not in word. Be sure to look for illustrations as well. For example, on a study on the topic of faith you might include stories about Abraham and Rahab.

Step 4 Consider each reference individually

Read and study every reference, write down your observations and insights on each verse. Be sure to check the context carefully so that your interpretation will be correct. Define all the key words that you come across (use a Bible dictionary). Ask as many questions as you can about each verse in order to find the intended meaning. Remember to use the what, why, when, where, who, and how questions.

Step 5 Compare and group the references into themes

After you have carefully studied all the verses individually, you will begin to notice that some of the references naturally complement each other and deal with the same themes of the topic under study. Categorize these references on a piece of scratch paper for now.

Step 6 Condense your study into an outline

Outline your study by arranging the themes logically under main divisions. Do this by grouping related or similar references together under different theme divisions.

Step 7 Concluding thoughts

Summarize your findings in a brief paragraph. What have you learned about this topic? How have the themes you’ve found broadened your understanding of the Biblical perspective on this topic?

Step 8 Application

Write a practical application drawn from your concluding summary. Identify one area of your life where you can better live out these truths. Make a plan and give yourself a deadline.

The next page has a sample of the Biblical Topics Bible study method. (Note: A true topical Bible study will be exhaustive in reviewing every applicable verse.

Andy Deane, Learn to Study the Bible: Forty Different Step-by-Step Methods to Help You Discover, Apply, and Enjoy God’s Word (Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 2009), 117–119.