If we’re serious about gaining wisdom, we need to be just as serious about how we engage with Scripture. The Bible isn’t a collection of quick fixes or feel-good quotes—it’s the source of God’s wisdom, meant to shape how we think, live, and lead. But wisdom doesn’t come from simply skimming the text; it comes from understanding and applying it. That’s where Howard Hendricks’ Observation, Interpretation, and Application framework comes in. This simple yet powerful approach helps us see what the text says, grasp what it means, and determine how it should change us. When we study the Bible this way, wisdom isn’t just something we learn—it’s something we live.
1. Observation – What Do I See?
This step focuses on carefully examining the text without jumping to conclusions. Hendricks encourages readers to slow down and look for key details. He suggests asking:
- Who is speaking? Who are the key figures in the passage?
- What is happening? What actions are taking place?
- When and where is this happening? What is the historical and cultural context?
- Why is this included? What themes or patterns emerge?
- How is it written? Are there literary devices like repetition, contrast, or cause-and-effect relationships?
Hendricks emphasizes the importance of reading repeatedly, marking keywords and phrases, and noticing structural patterns in the text.
2. Interpretation – What Does It Mean?
After observing the details, the next step is discovering the intended meaning of the passage. Hendricks advises asking:
- What is the context? (Immediate, book-wide, and biblical context)
- What is the author’s intent? (Not our opinions, but the original message)
- What do words mean? (Study definitions, grammar, and historical usage)
- What cultural or historical background is important?
- How does this passage fit with the rest of Scripture? (Let Scripture interpret Scripture)
He warns against common interpretation errors, such as taking verses out of context, inserting personal biases, or over-allegorizing.
3. Application – How Does It Work?
Hendricks stresses that Bible study is incomplete without application. After understanding a passage, we must ask:
- How does this truth affect my beliefs, character, or actions?
- Is there a command to obey, a promise to claim, a sin to confess, or an example to follow?
- What specific steps will I take to live out this truth?
- How will I rely on the Holy Spirit to apply this in my life?
Hendricks’ Living by the Book teaches that careful observation leads to accurate interpretation, which results in meaningful application. He calls Bible study a lifelong adventure, emphasizing discipline, curiosity, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. His method is structured yet accessible, equipping readers to study Scripture with depth and confidence. He encourages personal and practical application, ensuring that biblical study leads to transformation, not just information.
Further reading:
The Essentials for Becoming Wise
Wisdom Reading List
Why You Should Read the Entire Bible Once a Year
How DID we get the Bible?
Living By The Book
Howard G. Hendricks
This is a revised and expanded edition of Living by the Book. Removing the barriers that keep Scripture from transforming your life, this practical, readable, and applicable step-by-step will soon have you drawing great nourishment from the Bible.
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