A third method of study is the Biographical. This
needs no definition. It consists in taking up the various persons
mentioned in Scripture and studying their life, work and character.
It is really a special form of Topical Study. It can be made very
interesting and instructive. It is especially useful to the minister
with a view to sermon building, but is profitable for all
Christians. The following suggestions will help those who are not
already experienced in this line of work.
1.
Collect all the passages in
the Bible in which the
person to be studied is
mentioned. This is readily
done by turning in Strong's
Concordance to the person's
name, and you will find
every passage in which he is
mentioned given.
2.
Analyze the character of the
person. This will require a
repeated reading of the
passages in which he is
mentioned. This should be
done with pencil in hand,
that any characteristic may
be noted down at once.
3. Note
the elements of power and
success.
4. Note
the elements of weakness and
failure.
5. Note
the difficulties overcome.
6. Note
the helps to success.
7. Note
the privileges abused.
8. Note
the opportunities neglected.
9. Note
the opportunities improved.
10. Note
the mistakes made.
11. Note
the perils avoided.
12. Make
a sketch of the life in
hand. Make it as vivid,
living and realistic as
possible. Try to reproduce
the subject as a real,
living man. Note the place
and surroundings of the
different events, e. g.,
Paul in Athens, Corinth,
Philippi. Note the time
relations of the different
events. Very few people in
reading the Acts of the
Apostles, for example, take
notice of the rapid passage
of time, and so regard
events separated by years as
following one another in
close sequence. In this
connection note the age or
approximate age of the
subject at the time of the
events recorded of him.
13.
Summarize the lessons we
should learn from the story
of this person's life.
14. Note
the person in hand in his
relations to Jesus, e. g.,
as a type of Christ (Joseph,
David, Solomon and others),
forerunner of Christ,
believer in Christ, enemy of
Christ, servant of Christ,
brother of Christ (James and
Jude), friend, etc., etc.
It will be well to begin with some person who
does not occupy too much space in the Bible, as, e. g., Enoch
or Stephen. Of course many of the points mentioned above cannot be
taken up with some characters.
Suggestive books in character studies are
Stalker's Lives of Christ and Paul, and Stalker's "Imago Christi";
Rev. F. B. Meyer's "Elijah," and also other O. T. characters; Mr.
Moody's "Bible Characters."