How I study the Bible

A structured, color-coded note system—paired with cross-translation reading and symbol tracking—turns Bible study from a vague exercise into a searchable map of themes, promises, and repeated imagery. The core idea is simple: when a reader doesn’t fully understand a passage, they don’t have to stall. Instead, they mark it as a “placeholder” (tabs, sticky notes, or symbols) so the meaning can be revisited later as other parts of Scripture start to connect.

The method starts with a margin-friendly Bible and a willingness to keep notes messy at first. Using a KJV Journal award Bible large Prince Thomas Nelson, the reader relies on wide margins to insert custom pages and visuals—like a page created for Daniel 7’s “Beast” material, supported by pictures and targeted notes. The approach is practical: information can live on inserted pages, while the Bible text stays readable. When a phrase sparks confusion—such as “adore the Temple of the Lord between the porch and the Altar” in Ezekiel—the reader adds the related cross-reference (including Joel 2:17) directly where it matters, even if the deeper meaning isn’t fully understood yet.

A second layer focuses on “linking” key doctrines across the Bible. When a verse feels important, the reader uses prominent sticky notes to create quick retrieval points. A major example is Isaiah 42:21 (“the Lord is well pleased… he will magnify the law and make it honorable”), which becomes a tool for responding to claims that Jesus “did away with the Sabbath.” The study logic is that Jesus’ Sabbath actions are framed as honoring and magnifying God’s law rather than abolishing it—so the verse is kept ready for later discussion.

To build understanding without getting overwhelmed, the reader uses two reading plans. One is an audio-style overview running in the background (for familiarity and pattern recognition). The other is a deep-dive routine: listening to the New King James Version while reading the King James Version, then writing differences on top. If meaning still isn’t clear, the reader consults additional translations via BibleHub.com and then drills down further using Strong’s numbers to define specific words (for instance, “adamant” in Ezekiel 3:9, traced to a term associated with hardness and “a thorn… from its keenness for scratching a gem”). That word study then feeds into a larger theme: the “Seal of God” and the “mark of the beast,” with the reader interpreting “forehead” and “hands” as connected to thoughts and actions.

Color-coding and symbols make the system scalable. The reader circles and colors verses by category (e.g., Seal of God, Antichrist, Satan, mark of the beast) and plans a more organized rainbow layout for future note-taking. Symbols like “S” for Satan and “A” for Antichrist help locate verses quickly, while tabs and lettered notes track which passages belong to which theme.

Finally, the study method emphasizes repeated biblical symbolism—especially connections between Old Testament sanctuary imagery and New Testament fulfillment. A detailed example is Revelation’s use of sanctuary elements: “seven golden candlesticks,” “table of showbread,” and “altar of incense” are treated as structured, time-spanning imagery rooted in Exodus and Leviticus. The takeaway is that Scripture’s patterns aren’t random; they’re meant to be noticed, linked, and revisited—so even difficult books like Job or symbol-heavy sections like Revelation become manageable through targeted study aids and cross-references.