NOTE: This app not only gives reasons why you need to know scriptures, but it also gives a practical principle (Divide & Conquer), tips, techniques, and examples with step-by-step procedures to show you how to learn scriptures effectively. As an added benefit, these techniques can also show you the relationships between the different parts of a scripture passage.
With a few exceptions, most scriptures are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Although the KJV is used, this principle and its corresponding techniques can be used with ANY version of the Bible.
TIPS: Why Learn Scriptures
- It is better to commit to memory three VERSES that you can apply to your daily life than to read three CHAPTERS only to forget them soon. — Cornelius Chopin
- "The best time to KNOW the Word of God is when you don't NEED IT." Many people wait until they have a life crisis to turn to the Word which is not proper because it takes time for you to meditate on the Word for it to become a reality in your heart... — Chopinisms app
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: All techniques in this principle are designed to build upon one another in a logical sequence. If some of the techniques are not readily understood, they may become more evident later as you advance through the app. If you view a technique out of order, cross-references may be given so that you can refer back to specific topics.
The Divide & Conquer Principle is Part 1 in the multi-part Learning Scriptures Made Easy series.
It is sad to say, but true, that many Christians let other people (including ministers) think for them, especially when it comes to issues relating to the Bible. This app will help you become effective in the use of the Word of God for yourself.
Have You Ever Wanted To?
Have you ever wanted to go to any Bible book quickly or share your faith without intimidation? Maybe, you would like to quote scriptures literally more often than you paraphrase them. If you desire to experience any of the following, then this app is designed with you in mind:
- “Analyze correctly, divide accurately, and skillfully teach the Word of God” (2 Tim. 2:15 - Amplified Bible)
- “Convince mightily from the scriptures that Jesus was and is the Christ” (Act 18:28)
- “Refuse to be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrines” (Eph. 4:14)
- “Think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report” (Phil. 4:8)
- “Have your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man” (Col. 4:6)
- “Be able by sound doctrine to exhort, convince, and stop the mouths of the gainsayers (the opposition) that they may have no evil thing to say of you” (Titus 1:9)
- “Let the Word of God discern the thoughts and intentions of your heart” (Heb. 4:12)
- “Be a doer of the Word of God and not just a hearer only” (James 1:23)
- “Give an answer to every man by reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15)
- “Be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18)
- “Know you have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and to know you have eternal life” (1 John 2:1)
- “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3)
Christians Should Take a Stand
Quoting scriptures cannot get you to heaven, but it is one of the first steps in learning to live the Word of God. David said in Psalm 119:11:
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
In fact, Satan quoted scriptures to Jesus:
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Matthew 4:5-7)
NOTE: Satan's quote is in blue and Jesus' quote is in red.
Jesus was quoting from Deuteronomy 6:16 and Satan was quoting from Psalm 91:11. If Satan can quote scriptures out of context, Christians should learn to quote scriptures even more so.
Many people, including some Christians, say they do not like to discuss religion or politics. The main reason is that they are uninformed in both areas. Have you ever met someone that loves talking about sports or movies? In some cases, you cannot get a word in edgewise to stop that person from talking. If most Christians knew the Word of God as they do sport and movie celebrities, they would be powerhouses for the Lord. The Bible says that Christians should:
- ...put to silence the ignorance of foolish men (1 Peter 2:15)
- ...we [Christians] cannot help but speak the things which we [Christians] have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20)
However, we cannot do this if we don't know the Word of God. If Non-Christians can tell dirty jokes, Christians should be able to speak the Word of God with all boldness and confidence.
Summary
If knowledge is power, how much more powerful can Christians be if they tap into the knowledge of the Word of God? The Bible says:
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)
Verses in this app are:
- intentionally broken apart
- placed on separate lines
- formatted with styles (e.g., bold, italicized, underlined, etc.)
So you can SEE the OVERALL STRUCTURE of the verses more readily.
For example, although Matthew 7:7-8 or Luke 11:9-10 says the basically the same thing in the two formats below, notice how it is clearer to see the word structure in the second format even though it is larger.
Current Format:
...Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and the that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Custom Format:
In the custom format above, the primary key words (ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK) and secondary key words (given/receive, find, and opened) are stacked on TOP of one another so that you can SEE the PARALLEL between them. Most words that are the SAME (denoted by the underlines) are also stacked on TOP of one another so that you can SEE the SIMILARITIES between the verses.
To assist you in interpreting techniques and identifying particular information easily, visual cues (hints or reminders) are used. The following conventions are typically used in this app to highlight specific formatting styles.
| STYLE | HIGHLIGHT |
|---|---|
| BOLD & ALL CAPS | PRIMARY KEY WORDS OR PHRASES |
| Bold | Secondary Key Words or Phrases (no capital letter, except for the first letter) |
| Underline | Letters or words that are the same in the same verse(s). |
| Italicize | Key transitional words/conjunctions (e.g., but, and), specialized terms, or words italicized in the King James Bible |
| Red typeface | Words of Jesus |
| Square brackets [...] | Used to define certain words (e.g., ...STRAIT [NARROW] gate: ... and BROAD [SPACIOUS]... Matthew 7:13-14) |
| Normal typeface | Regular text |
| EXCEPTION: Any convention may be omitted if it interferes with a concept that is being conveyed. | |
NOTE: Some scriptures passages may be too small to be viewed on a smart phone in the portrait mode. If so, rotate the phone to landscape for better viewing. See example below:
Also, to accommodate smaller devices width, some LONG phrases are SPLIT into two lines. See highlighted examples in yellow below:
PROVERBS 25:13, 20
Moreover, besides the central passage(s), many verses are formatted so that they will have one or more of the following:
- an opening phrase
- a transitional phrase
- a closing phrase
MATTHEWS 13:15
