Questions to Ask in a Bible Study: A Jewish and Christian Guide

In Jewish tradition, asking questions isn't just permitted — it's practically a religious obligation. The Talmudic method (chavruta learning) is built on dialogue, debate, and relentless inquiry. Deuteronomy itself anticipates the questioning child and treats that curiosity as a teaching opportunity rather than a threat Deuteronomy 6:20.

When studying the Torah or other texts, classic Jewish questions include: What does this text mean in its original context? How does this passage connect to other parts of scripture? What does this demand of me practically? Rabbi Akiva (c. 50–135 CE) famously derived entire legal principles from single letters, modeling the kind of granular textual attention that good study questions require.

Deuteronomy 13 even models investigative questioning as a spiritual discipline — believers are told to enquire, search, and ask diligently before drawing conclusions Deuteronomy 13:14. Similarly, the Israelites at Bethel demonstrate communal inquiry directed at God himself, asking for direction before acting Judges 20:18. Jeremiah 23 shows prophetic accountability through direct questioning: What did God answer you? Jeremiah 23:37 — a model for asking whether our interpretations actually reflect divine intent.

Practical questions to bring to a Jewish Bible study might include: What is the plain meaning (peshat)? What allegorical or deeper meaning (derash) might apply? What does this passage require of our community today? What earlier texts does this echo?

Christian Bible study has always been shaped by the practice of questioning. Jesus himself modeled this — in Mark 9, he turns to the scribes and asks directly what they're debating, modeling engaged, curious inquiry rather than passive reception Mark 9:16. That's a useful template: good Bible study questions don't just seek information, they surface disagreement and invite honest wrestling with the text.

Scholars like Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart (in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, 1981) argue that the best Bible study questions operate on three levels: What did it mean to the original audience? What are the timeless theological principles? How does this apply to my life today? This framework maps well onto the scriptural model of diligent inquiry found in Deuteronomy, which Christian readers also treat as authoritative Deuteronomy 13:14.

Practically, strong questions to ask in a Christian Bible study include: What does this passage reveal about God's character? Where do I see Jesus in this text (especially in Old Testament passages)? What sin or error does this correct? What promise does this offer? How does this connect to the broader narrative of redemption? Is there a command to obey, a warning to heed, or an example to follow?

The Bereans in Acts 17:11 are held up as a model — they received Paul's teaching eagerly but then examined the scriptures daily to verify his claims. That spirit of respectful but rigorous questioning is the gold standard for Christian Bible study.

Not applicable. This question concerns methods and questions for studying the Bible, which is not Islam's primary scripture. Muslims revere the Quran as the final and preserved word of God, and Islamic study traditions center on Quranic exegesis (tafsir) and hadith scholarship rather than Bible study. While the Quran does reference earlier scriptures and asks rhetorically whether people have a scripture to learn from Quran 68:37, this doesn't constitute a framework for Christian or Jewish Bible study practice.

Tanakh models asking God, prophets, and leaders direct questions for discernment and obedience Judges 20:18 Judges 18:5 Jeremiah 23:37. Intergenerational teaching also expects children to ask and receive explanations of God’s commands Deuteronomy 6:20. Communities are told to investigate claims carefully and verify the truth through diligent inquiry Deuteronomy 13:14.

• “What did GOD answer you?” Use this to check the text’s plain sense and any claimed message or application Jeremiah 23:37.
• “Who of us shall advance first?” Ask what faithful first steps look like today in light of the passage Judges 20:18.
• “Please, inquire of God; will this succeed?” Discuss criteria for godly success versus mere expedience Judges 18:5.
• “What mean the testimonies, statutes, and judgments?” Invite participants to define key terms and purposes in the passage Deuteronomy 6:20.
• “Enquire… make search… ask diligently—Is it true?” Test interpretations and reports against context and cross-references Deuteronomy 13:14.

Jesus models probing, clarifying questions that surface motives and understanding in community discussion Mark 9:16. The Old Testament (part of the Christian Bible) frames intergenerational Q&A as a core teaching method Deuteronomy 6:20, and commands thorough investigation to confirm what is true Deuteronomy 13:14.

• “What are you discussing?” Open the floor for observations and tensions in the passage, following Jesus’ approach Mark 9:16.
• “What do God’s testimonies and statutes mean here?” Trace how the passage reveals God’s character and commands Deuteronomy 6:20.
• “Have we enquired and asked diligently?” Evaluate claims or applications by careful study and verification Deuteronomy 13:14.
• “What did God answer?” Identify explicit divine responses or promises within the text Jeremiah 23:37.
• “Who should take the first step?” Consider faithful next actions prompted by the reading Judges 20:18.

Not applicable. Concerns Christian/Jewish scripture and the practice of Bible study; no direct counterpart required.