The following is an excerpt from the forthcoming commentary on the book of Jonah to be published later this year. There are many methods of Bible study used to derive the most information and greatest understanding of the text. We have used several forms including traditional hermeneutics, literary analysis and observing other textual cues. To understand the verse-by-verse analysis of Jonah we felt it important to provide the reader with six steps of biblical observation. These steps will teach you the terminology used in the commentary and provide a foundation of biblical study that may be applied to any historic narrative in the Bible.

Unlike more formal study methods like those mentioned above, this method is not an exact science. Rather it helps the student focuses his thoughts about the text through an objective lens. The result is the most accurate perspective on the passage.

Step One – Identifying Situation Clues

A Situation Clue is a word or phrase that enlightens us to the situation the character is facing. They usually identify:

• Who is involved
• What problem or circumstance they face (or are addressing)
• When the story takes place (including cultural standards)
• Where the character is or the location the author is writing to, from or about.

Therefor Situation Clues deal with geography, history, culture, and emotional, physical, spiritual and temporal matters. The student should focus on clues that assist in understanding the text. It may be helpful to highlight these clues in yellow. Some situation clues are irrelevant to understanding the passage or may be restatements of clues that are already given, in such cases you may not need or want to highlight them.

After highlighting the text, it is best to make notes. Documentation should be in complete sentences and written in the third person. Keep all clues as objective as possible (avoid words, "I feel," "I think" and use phrases like "appears;" "it seems that," "clearly states" etc.). Summarize all situation clues together in one to two paragraphs. See the example study at the end of this section for assistance.

Step Two – Identifying Purpose Clues

A Purpose Clue is any word or phrase that enlightens us to the character’s intension, the writer’s reason for writing or God's goal. To find "Purpose Clues," the student should ask the following questions:

• What is the character trying to accomplish? Or, what is the writer’s purpose?
• What is the point of the author including these statements at this point in the text?
• What is God's purpose or goal for including this account in the Bible?

Some examples are strong verbs (imperatives); any kind of command; strong appeals like "I want you to..." "Oh that you might...," "So that you might...," "In order that...," "Therefore...", "So...," "Since...," "If-then" statements, and words like "Because" Purpose clues are often obvious, occasionally subtle or implied, and are often emphatic--saying the same thing over and over again.

At this point in the study examine the passage in light of the Situational Clues and the Purpose Clues together. Document the Purpose Clues using complete sentences and write all observations in the third person; keep all clues as objective as possible (avoid words, "I feel," "I think" and use phrases like "appears;" "it seems like;" "clearly states" etc). It may aid the student to highlight the Purpose Clues in blue. In the event that a situation and purpose clue overlap yellow and blue makes Green and should be noted as a possibly significant part of one's interpretation of that particular passage. Again, see the example study at the end of this section for assistance.

Step Three – Identifying Paragraph Clues

In the English language paragraph breaks are important clues in identifying content and changes in topic or direction. Each paragraph is a main idea that stands by itself. Unfortunately the paragraph breaks in translations of the Bible are not inspired and are made by the translators to aid the student in study. In the original language, paragraph breaks are rare. For example, the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is not only a single paragraph in Greek, it is also a single sentence. Even so, the translators have done their best to order the original author’s ideas into an English format that makes sense. These breaks can be instructive, but if you feel the paragraph should break elsewhere you may be right.

Determine where a paragraph breaks can be time consuming and repeated reading and analysis of the entire passage plays an important role. Look for the development of a truth or idea in the passage. Paragraph breaks are justified by sentence structure and content rather than interpretation. Learn to recognize each main clause as they are developed in the passage. Justify the train of thought throughout the paragraph. A paragraph could be one sentence long if it were one major point. In narratives, paragraph breaks are broken up by scenes or snapshots, much like how movies are made today and at times much longer in length.

After study of the passage mark your paragraph breaks with a fore slash (?) or back slash (\). Next,

Your reasoning in complete paragraphs and write all observations in third person, keep all observations as objective as possible (avoid words, "I feel," "I think" and use phrases like "appears;" "it seems like"). Demonstrate how and why every verse creates the paragraph.

Step Four – Identifying Paragraph Points

After determining where the Paragraph Breaks are, evaluate each paragraph to find its one central truth. This too takes time and repeated analysis. The Paragraph Points is a word or phrase in the text that expresses the key idea of the paragraph.

In the Bible text mark all paragraph points by underlining them once. Begin your documentation by justifying the train of thought throughout the paragraph. Document your reason why everything in the paragraph is directed back to the Paragraph Point. Again, use complete sentences and write all observations in third person, keep all observations as objective as possible.

Step Five – Identifying Passage Boundaries

Remember your middle school writing class and the elements of a five-paragraph essay? It started with an introduction to the topic, offered three proofs or developments of the topic and ended with a conclusion. Biblical writers never use this five-paragraph format, but they do develop their ideas in a similar fashion. The authors may only develop an idea over a single paragraph, or over ten, but each paragraph relates to the last, at least until it doesn’t. That’s what you are looking for, the moment the author stops developing one idea or story and moves to another.

In the Bible text mark all passage breaks with a solid line drawn through the text, from one end of the page (or column) to the other end. Again, this is not interpretation it’s a justification of the Passage Break. Document your reason why all the Paragraph Breaks and Paragraph Points come together. Explain clearly why the train of thought transitions to another subject. Documentation should be in complete sentences and write all observations in third person,

Step Six – Identifying the Key Center

The final step is dedicated to uncovering the one central truth of the entire passage. The Key Center is a word or phrase in the text that expresses the key idea of the entire passage. The key center unites the passage together, that is, it serves as the focal point for everything in the passage. The key center can be found anywhere in the passage, however, all paragraph points must directly relate to the key center. Everything in the passage, then, must be seen through the eyes of the "key center." There are times when a paragraph point can also function as the key center as well. Be willing to re-evaluate the paragraph points as well.

In the Bible mark all key centers by placing [brackets] around them. Carefully document your reasons for how all the Paragraph Points relate to the Key Center verse. Explain clearly how all the Paragraph Points reinforce the Key Center. Documentation should be in complete sentences and write all observations in third person, keep all clues as objective as possible.

Example Study, Revelation 2.1-7

For an example we’ve chosen a very short epistle, one of the letters by Jesus found in the book of Revelation. This letter was written to the church of Ephesus. You will find it coded according to the steps above, and commentary written below.

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write the following:

“This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has a firm grasp on the seven stars in his right hand – the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

‘I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary.

But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love! Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and [repent! Do the deeds you did at the first;] if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent.

But you do have this going for you: You hate what the Nicolaitans practice – practices I also hate.

The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’

The Situation

The second generation of Ephesians was living on borrowed faith from their pastors or parents. They had their theology down, and their service to others couldn’t be more highly acclaimed, but their love for God was shallow. They had never heard Paul’s sermons, they didn’t know the impact God had made in their metropolis, they hadn’t seen the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the early days. To them Jesus was a god like many others, one who happened to win over a city that once was sold out to Artemis (Dianna). They might have wondered what god would eventually replace Jesus.