[  Inductive Bible Study  ] 歸納法研經
Επαγωγικός Μελέτης Αγίας Γραφής מחקר אינדוקטיבי התנ"ך

The 3-Step Method

OIA

In the previous session, we introduced this 3-step method of OIA: Observe - Interpret - Apply. (If you're new at this, click here to read that first so you don't miss anything.)

In this session, we'll illustrate that it is actually nothing new. People do it all the time. You do it too! [ more... + ]

We may not be aware that we go through those steps in our jobs and daily lives, but we do. In fact I'd venture to say that people in all professions have to do it. A lawyer in one of the Inductive Bible Study method classes I taught said that was what they had to do at work.

Ah!
For example, a doctor, what's the first question he asks you? "What is your disease?" Of course not! He'll ask you how you feel, but he's going to find out for himself as well. He tells you to say 'ah'. He then looks into you mouth, perhaps noting the colors, shape, and size of your tonsils. To the untrained like us, we don't really know what to look for. But he does! Then he may ask you some questions like 'does it hurt?' or 'when did you start feeling sick?' After that he will tell you what he thinks you're suffering from - in other words his diagnosis. Then he'll write you a prescription for medication.
  1. What is a doctor's observation?

    Asking 'What is your disease?'
    Telling what the patient is suffering from.
    Looking into the patient's wallet.
    Looking into the patient's mouth and notes to himself the colors, shape, and size of the tonsils.

  2. What is a doctor's interpretation?

    Looking into the patient's bank account.
    Writing a prescription for medication.
    Giving his diagnosis.
    Giving you an injection.

  3. What is a doctor's application?

    Taking the medication for the patient.
    Telling the patient to say 'ah'.
    Telling the patient to say 'uncle'.
    Writing a prescription for medication.
(This won't send you to another page.)
  • Observation:

  • Interpretation:

  • Application:

??
Another example: a teacher. He gives his lecture to the class. But he wants to make sure that his students are paying attention and understand the material. He keeps an eye on the reaction of his students - facial expressions, posture (face on palm propped up by the elbow?), responses (questions asked or answers given), etc. If he thinks that many of the students don't understand, he will try to explain some more in a different way, or asks what they don't understand. [ more... + ]
Sometimes if a student has his book propped up, the teacher may walk closer to the student's desk to see how he will react. If he sees him approaching and removes something from behind the book, he will know that the student has not been paying attention but doing something unsanctioned. What will he do about it? It may be a free walk for the student: to the principal's office!

  1. When is a teacher making observations?

    When he sees that many of the students don't understand.
    When he sees that some of the students don't understand.
    When he sees that he himself doesn't understand.
    None of the above.

  2. When is the teacher making an interpretation?

    When he keeps an eye on the reaction of his students.
    When he explains the material one more time.
    When he thinks that many students don't understand.
    When he gives up explaining and sends himself to the principal's office.

  3. When is the teacher applying his interpretation?

    When he sends a student to the principal's office.
    When he explains the material once more but in a different way.
    When he asks what the students don't understand.
    All of the above.
(This won't send you to another page.)
  • Observation:

  • Interpretation:

  • Application:

CSI
Another good example is a CSI - crime scene investigation technician. She looks for hair, fiber, finger prints, blood stains, and a number of other things. Then she interprets what they mean. For example, blood droplets - if one has a 'tail', it helps her to figure out the direction of the source and maybe also the velocity at which the droplet was traveling before it landed. [ more... + ]
Then the detectives will take the forensic evidence and if it matches with what the people involved say. If they don't match, then there's a possibility that the people are lying or hiding something. The application could be to further investigate the people.

You?
All these people are skilled and know what to look for. On your job, how do you go through the same 3 steps of OIA? Or if you're a student, how do you go through those steps to minimize study time and maximize your education?

But when studying the Bible inductively, what do you look for?

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"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
2 Tim. 3:16,17 (NAS)
 
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