PHILIPPINE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
PANAY GUIMARAS DISTRICT COUNCIL MINISTERIAL TRAINING
METHODS OF BIBLE STUDY
CHAPTER SUMMARY METHOD
February 13, 2025, via Zoom Class
The Bible as it was originally written had no chapter or verse divisions. It was not until
A.D. 1228 that Bishop Stephen Langton added the chapter divisions. These were added
to make the various sections of the Bible more accessible to the readers. Some of these
divisions are arbitrary and interrupt the flow of a writer’s message. Usually, however, they
provide good breaking points that are helpful in Bible study.
CHAPTER SUMMARY METHOD
1. Definition
The Chapter Summary Method of Bible Study involves gaining a general understanding
of the contents of a chapter of the Bible by reading it through at least five times, asking a
series of content questions, and summarizing the central thoughts of the passage.
2. The Importance of This Method
This method is important because it enables you to begin understanding chapters of the
books of the Bible. It is a popular method for those beginning Bible study because
chapters are usually fairly short, and it does not require deep study to do a chapter
summary. It is a valuable method because it can be quickly learned by a brand-new
Christian or someone else who is interested in doing meaningful Bible study. It is an
excellent method with which to begin a lifetime of personal Bible study for four reasons.
a. This method is easy to learn. You can begin practicing it as soon as you understand
the 10 basic steps that follow in these notes. The study form and example should help
you.
b. This method does not take much time.
Depending on the length of the chapter you are studying, you can complete a chapter
summary in not more than a few hours. This is especially true if the chapter contains a
historical narrative — parts of the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the book of Acts, for
example. You will have to spend more time, however, in the Psalms, the prophetic books,
and the doctrinal letters of the New Testament.
c. This method does not require any outside help or reference tools, but it is
necessary to memorize the ten steps.
You can do a chapter summary in any situation at any time, using your Bible and a piece
of paper. Whenever you have extra time to spend — as in a doctor’s waiting room, a bus
station, or an airport — this is the method to use. Pick a book of the Bible, start with
chapter 1, and begin recording your discoveries. This method can be used when you go
to a retreat and cannot take your reference tools with you.
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d. This method is a good type of study to use when you are engaged in a rapid
reading survey through the Bible. You can make initial notes as you read each chapter
by using the Chapter Summary Form.
3. Ten Steps For Doing A Chapter Summary
In preparing to fill in the study form for this method of Bible study, read through the chapter
at least five times. You will find no better way to get acquainted with a chapter of the Bible
than to read it over and over again. The more times you read a passage of Scripture, the
more it will come alive to you. Many Christians miss the great insights of Scripture
because they fail to read and reread its passages.
The great Bible expositor G. Campbell Morgan was famous for his powerful, exciting
sermons. When asked for the secret of his ability to communicate God’s Word, he replied
that he made it a habit to read a chapter or passage 30 or 40 times before he began
working on it for a sermon. It is no wonder his sermons were exciting and meaningful.
Here are some tips on how to read a chapter of the Bible:
Read it in a Bible without notes. If you try using this method by reading a Bible in which
you have made notes, you will tend to concentrate on the same ideas. Let God freshly
speak to you and give you new insights.
Read it without stopping. During your first few readings, don’t stop in the middle of a
chapter, but read it from start to finish. Your goal is to feel the flow of the chapter, so don’t
be concerned with the details at the outset. Try to capture the central message and the
writer’s overall theme.
Read it in several different contemporary translations. This will give you additional
insights as you see how each translator rendered the original writing. Make notes on the
interesting differences you find.
Read it aloud quietly to yourself. If you have a problem with concentration, this will help
tremendously because you will be hearing yourself read. Many people have found that
reading aloud helps them better focus their attention on the text.
As you reread the chapter, look for the following 10 specific things and write your answers
on your Chapter Summary Form or on a blank piece of paper. You may fill in the 10 Cs
in any order, saving Step Ten for the last step. The 10 steps of the study are:
a. Step One: CAPTION
Give the chapter a short, descriptive title. The shorter the title, the more likely you will
remember it. If you use this method on every chapter in a selected book of the Bible, you
can remember the contents of the whole book by memorizing your chapter titles. Use one
word if possible (1 Corinthians 13 might be titled “Love”) and five words at most (Hebrews
11 could be “Heroes of the Faith”). Try to find the keyword of the chapter and fit it into
your title. If your title is catchy or produces a mental picture, you will remember it longer.
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One creative person gave “Well-Well” as a title for John 4. The two key events of that
chapter are the woman at the well and the nobleman’s son whom Jesus made well.
b. Step Two: CONTENTS
Describe, summarize, paraphrase, outline, or make a list of the major points in a chapter.
The method you choose will depend on the literary style of the chapter and on your own
preference. Some people like to summarize; analytical people enjoy outlining. Choose
the method with which you feel most comfortable and is easy for you to do. Don’t try to
interpret the chapter; just make observations on its contents. Record on your form what
you feel the writer said.
c. Step Three: CHIEF PEOPLE
List the most important people in the chapter. Ask questions such as:
Who are the main people in this chapter?
Why are they included?
What is significant about them?
If the chapter contains pronouns (he, she, they, etc.) you may have to refer to the previous
chapter to identify the people. Write down your reasons for choosing certain people as
the chief ones of the chapter. When you come to long genealogies (lists of people), don’t
try to list each one, but summarize the list.
d. Step Four: CHOICE VERSE
Choose a verse that summarizes the whole chapter or one that speaks to you personally.
In some chapters you may find a key verse that summarizes the writer’s argument; in
other chapters, there may not be a key verse. On occasion, you may want to pick a verse
from which you will be writing your application, a verse that you believe God would have
you apply to your life.
e. Step Five: CRUCIAL WORD(S)
Write down the keywords or words of the chapter. Many times, the keyword will be the
one that is used most frequently (“love” in 1 Corinthians 13 and “faith” in Hebrews 11).
Sometimes, the crucial word may be the most important word but not the most used one.
In Romans 6, for example, the word “count” (KJV, “reckon”) is an important word even
though it is used only once (Rom. 6:11). Also, a chapter may have more than one crucial
word.
f. Step Six: CHALLENGES
List any difficulties you may have with the passage.
Are there any statements you do not understand?
Is there any problem or question you would like to study further?
Often while doing a chapter summary, you will get ideas for other types of studies you
may want to do in the future. For instance, a certain word in the chapter may catch your
attention. Take note of that word; you may want to do an in-depth study of it later. A
question about a doctrinal matter might motivate you to do a topical study on that
particular teaching.
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g. Step Seven: CROSS-REFERENCES
Using the cross-references in your study Bible, look up other verses that help clarify what
the chapter is talking about and list them on your form.
Ask the question, what else in the Bible helps me understand this chapter?
Cross-references are important because they are helpful tools in interpreting the meaning
of a chapter; they enable you to see what the Bible as a whole has to say about any given
teaching.
h. Step Eight: CHRIST SEEN
The entire Bible is a revelation of the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus used the Old
Testament to teach his disciples about himself. On the day of resurrection on the Emmaus
Road, Jesus taught two of his disciples: “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he
explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).
As you study each chapter, be alert for statements that tell you something about Jesus
Christ, the Holy Spirit, or God the Father. Ask yourself:
What can I learn about the nature of Jesus from this chapter?
What attributes of God in Christ are illustrated here? (Some examples: his love,
justice, mercy, holiness, power, and faithfulness)
This step may be the most difficult to complete in some portions of the Bible, particularly
in Old Testament narratives and in passages where symbolism is used.
i. Step Nine: CENTRAL LESSON(S)
Write down the major principles, insights, and lessons you learn from this chapter. Ask
yourself:
Why does God want this passage in the Bible?
What does He want to teach me from this chapter?
What is the central thought the writer is trying to develop?
A possible answer might be “We should be loving in all interpersonal relationships” (1
Cor. 13).
j. Step Ten: CONCLUSION
This is the application portion of your study. As discussed in the previous lesson, develop
a project to help you implement in your life a lesson you have learned from the chapter
or portion. It will benefit you to conclude your chapter summary by asking yourself two
questions:
(1) How do these truths apply to me personally? and
(2) What specifically am I going to do about them?
4. An Example
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ASSIGNMENT for February 20, 2025:
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