Bible Study

Definition and Meaning

Bible study is the systematic learning of the content and meaning of the Bible. Although it may be done alone, in churches it frequently takes place in small group meetings led by a leader. Unlike reading through the Bible, which covers the text from beginning to end, or quiet time, which involves daily meditation on a short passage, Bible study centers on a chosen theme or book whose content is explained and discussed. In Korean churches, discipleship training, a program for training laypeople, is sometimes treated as virtually synonymous with Bible study.

Biblical and Historical Background

The passage most commonly cited in discussions of Bible study is Acts 17:11, which reports that the Bereans "searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" in response to Paul's preaching. Likewise, 2 Timothy 3:16 states that Scripture "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

After the Reformation, Protestants translated the Bible into vernacular languages and emphasized that laypeople should read it for themselves. In keeping with the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, reading and studying the Bible came to be regarded as the responsibility not only of the clergy but of every believer.

Practice in Korean Churches

Under the influence of the Nevius Mission Plan, the early Korean church placed great importance on Bible study by all church members. Bible study conferences (sagyeonghoe, 査經會), in which believers gathered for several days to study the Bible, were widely held. The Great Pyongyang Revival of 1907 is said to have begun during a Bible study conference held in Pyongyang.

From the 1970s onward, mission organizations such as Korea Campus Crusade for Christ and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Korea spread small-group Bible study across university campuses. Inductive Bible study, which approaches the text through the successive steps of observation, interpretation, and application, also came into wide use during this period. Among local churches, the discipleship training program led by Ok Han-heum at SaRang Community Church influenced many congregations.

The names of the meetings and the materials used vary by denomination.

• Presbyterian: In district worship meetings, members study using lesson books (gonggwa, 公課, prescribed study materials) published by the denomination. Doctrinal study based on the Westminster Confession of Faith or the catechisms is also conducted.
• Methodist: In the class meeting (sokhoe), which continues the small-group tradition of John Wesley, members study using class-meeting lesson books.
• Others: A variety of forms exist side by side, including the district meetings of Full Gospel churches, one-on-one discipleship materials used across denominational lines, and lecture-style topical Bible colleges.