Indenting as an Aid for Bible Study

A few years ago, I stumbled upon an article that demonstrated a technique of understanding scripture called Block Diagramming. The original article still exist, and I would like to extend my personal thanks to Steve Brandon, a pastor at Rockford Christian High School, for this information. This study technique has become such a rich and powerful tool for grasping the complex sentence structures of the New Testament, I naturally found myself wonderfully excited about it. It’s very easy … and I intend to demonstrate just how easy it is in this article. 

Before I began … I would like to preach to the choir so to speak, (i.e. myself included) concerning how to respectfully approach the study of God’s Word. It is not an ordinary book … it is not to be studied like an ordinary book. It is living and powerful, it discerns the intents of our heart … it declares God to us. Since we will be looking at a method to analyze scripture, let me share something I was reading a bit ago that stuck in my mind. It seems highly appropriate to mention it here. I was reading an article by Justin Taylor, reviewing John Piper’s results of “burying himself in Romans 9:1–23” for eight months in order to write a book: The Justification of God. During that writing sabbatical, Piper employed the arcing method of analyzing scripture. But night after night, his “analysis emerged into worship”. After all that analysis, Piper was overwhelmed with feelings and passions for desiring peoples lives to be transformed. He was filled with awe for God’s glory. It was as if was as if God were saying:

I will not simply be analyzed; I will be adored.
I will not simply be pondered; I will be proclaimed.
My sovereignty is not simply to be scrutinized; it is to be heralded.

So, these statements serve us well in reminding us that Christianity is a matter of the heart, not a matter of intellect, or a collection of knowledge. This method does help a seeking heart to have a richer experience in reading the Bible, but ultimately it is the Holy Spirit that guides our minds in spiritual understanding. (Jn 16:13; | 1 Cor 2:14; | 1 Jn 2:27)


Let’s get started! Consider the first sentence of Romans.

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Step One: Place “minimal word groups” on a separate line.

I’ve found this is easy to do on a computer in an editor. Just copy and paste a passage of interest into notepad, or some other favorite editor. ( I love UltraEdit, which has some unique features.)

Their really is no set rule for deciding what a “minimal-word-group” is. The fact that you have to slow down and decide for yourself forces greater understanding of the passage. Starting out, here are some basic guidelines:

  • conjunctions — and, or, nor, therefore, so, but, but also,
  • prepositions — for the gospel, through the prophets, beloved of God,
  • verbs

Here’s what I came up with from NASB version. Even if you’re using the same version, your list may be different; that’s quite alright, it’s the mental exercise of doing this that adds to your understanding of the passage. There is lots of freedom in this method.
Paul,
a bond-servant
of Christ Jesus,
called
as an apostle,
set apart
for the gospel
of God,
which
He promised beforehand
through His prophets
in the holy Scriptures,
concerning His Son,
who
was born
of a descendant
of David
according to the flesh,
who
was declared
the Son of God
with power
by the resurrection
from the dead,
according to the Spirit
of holiness,
Jesus Christ
our Lord,
through whom
we
have received
grace and apostleship
to bring about
the obedience
of faith
among all the Gentiles
for His name's sake,
among whom
you
also
are the called
of Jesus Christ;
to all
who are beloved
of God
in Rome,
called as saints:
Grace
to you
and peace
from God our Father
and
the Lord Jesus Christ.

Once you’re happy separating your “minimal-word-phrases”, you’re ready for the next step.


6 Replies to “Indenting as an Aid for Bible Study”

  1. Sharon

    I was introduced to this method several years ago, but never really grasped the concept of doing it. Thanks a lot for the step-by-step illustration, making it really easy to understand 🙂

  2. Danelle

    Hi Richard!

    Thanks so much for taking the time to flesh this out. I found it very helpful and intend to use this technique as much as possible. I was introduced to a concept much like this one by a missionary whom encouraged scripture memory. 

    His version was not as detailed yet still effective:

    And He gave some, Apostles;
    And some, prophets;
    And some, evangelists;
    And some, pastors and teachers;
    For the perfecting of the saints,
    For the work of the ministry,
    For the edifying of the body of Christ:
    KJV, Ephesians 4:11–12

    Great reminders:
    “It is not an ordinary book … it is not to be studied like an ordinary book. It is living and powerful, it discerns the intents of our heart … it declares God to us.”

    Christianity is a matter of the heart, not a matter of intellect, or a collection of knowledge. This method does help a seeking heart to have a richer experience in reading the Bible, but ultimately it is the Holy Spirit that guides our minds in spiritual understanding.” 

    Very well said! Thank you for your dedication to Him.
    Philippians 1:9

    • richard

      Thanks Danelle! Your comment just made my day! Few even look at my site. This was one of my favorite posts. I’m so glad you enjoyed the article. Btw, the indentation you applied in your comment came through in the email notification … although it was lost in the html formatting on the website — so I see how you applied this same technique to that example from the one that taught you. 

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