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Three Steps for Studying the Gospels

  • Johnny Cisneros Bible Study Magazine
  • 2012 29 Feb
Three Steps for Studying the Gospels

Bible Study Guide for the Gospels


1. When reading biblical stories, consider: theme, fit, characters, location, time and the events.

2. Consult the Bible, a theology book, Bible dictionaries and commentaries.

3. Summarize the passage in light of what you’ve learned.

SEE ALSO: How Can I Get Started Studying the Bible?

John 4:4 (NIV)




SEE ALSO: The Odd Couple: Psalms 1 and 2


13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”



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25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you — I am he.”


Question: Where does the passage ‘fit’ in the book? What happens before the story and what happens after?

Answer: Before? Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader (31–21), contrasts ironically with His conversation with a Samaritan woman (4:4–26). Nicodemus, a learned man, was baffled by Jesus’ words (3:9), but the untrained Samaritan woman recognizes Jesus as prophet and Messiah (4:19, 29). After? Because of the woman’s testimony, other Samaritans believe (4:42; compare 1:11).


Question: What is the major theme of the book?

Answer: “Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God who came into the world to bear witness to the truth and to give his life so that all people might have the opportunity of receiving eternal life through faith in him.” (Marshall, New Testament Theology)


Question: What characters are involved?

Answer: Crowds? None. Individuals?

1. Jesus (4:4)

2. A Samaritan woman (4:7). “The Samaritans were regarded by the Jews as despised half-breeds, the offspring of the resettlement policies of the cruel Assyrians. ... The Jewish desire for a pure and loyal people of God, particularly after the return from the Babylonian exile, led Ezra to develop a segregation policy that excluded Samaritans and others of mixed backgrounds (Ezra 9–10)” (Borchert, John 1–11)

3. Jacob (4:5)

4. Joseph (4:5)

5. Prophet (4:19)

6. God as Father (4:20–21, 23)

7. Samaritans (inferred from 4:22)

8. Jews (4:22)

9. Messiah (4:25). Since Samaritans only viewed the first five books of the Bible as authoritative, “a Messiah from the house of David could not be anticipated, as no evidence for such could be found in the Pentateuch. Rather, the Samaritans awaited a ‘prophet like Moses’ based on Deuteronomy 18:15–18.” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary)


Question: Where does the story take place?

Answer:  Location? A well (4:6) City? Sychar (4:5) Region? Through Samaria (4:4). “This was the shortest route from Judea to Galilee but not the only way. … In Jesus’ day the Jews … normally took the eastern route in order to avoid Samaria. But Jesus chose the route through Samaria in order to reach the despised people of that region” (Bible Knowledge Commentary, 284). Other locations? Jerusalem and “this mountain” (4:20–21). “Gerizim remains the sacred mount of the Samaritans’ for they have ‘worshiped on this mountain’ [Jn. 4:20] for countless generations, ascending it to [keep] the feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. According to Samaritan tradition, Gerizim is Mt Moriah [Gn. 22:2] and the place where God chose to place his name [Dt. 12:5]” (New Bible Dictionary, 406).


Question: What happens in the story?

Answer: Is it a teaching (e.g., a parable or instruction)? No.

What is the sequence of events?

1. Jesus shows care and concern for a Samaritan woman in spite of her ethnicity, gender, and sin.

2. Jesus corrects the Samaritan woman’s view of God and worship.

3. Jesus confirms to her that He is the Messiah.


Question: Where does the story take place?

Answer: “The sixth hour [4:6] would be noon, the hottest part of the day. It was unusual for a woman to visit the well alone.” (New Bible Commentary) Yet this Samaritan woman does exactly that, perhaps because her reputation (4:18) had made her a social outcast. How much time has passed? Same day. Described by a proper name (e.g., Passover, Sabbath, Feast of Tabernacles)? No.


Question: How would you summarize the purpose of this story?

Answer: This passage teaches us about Jesus, the Living God.

God exposes the contents of our hearts, not for our shame, but for our good.

Jesus communicated care before He communicated content.

Jesus worked with what the woman already knew. He didn’t argue about what books were included in her Bible, but He was not hesitant to correct her view of God.

Jesus wasn’t concerned with the popular customs of Jewish piety, but he was concerned for a person.

We can trust that God, who knows our hearts, is able and willing to help us even in the midst of our shame.

As we make disciples, we must communicate care and concern along with content.

As we make disciples, we must discern what points in a person’s worldview can be used as a bridge to a biblical worldview. This requires that we be bold yet respectful.

Holiness is not about preserving traditions, but about preserving people.

Resources Used

I. Howard Marshall, New Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel (Downer Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004), pg. 512.

Gerald L. Borchert, John 1–11 (New American Commentary Vol. 25a; Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1996), pgs. 199–200.

Walter A. Elwell and Phillip W. Comfort (eds.), Tyndale Bible Dictionary (Wheaton: Tyndale, 2001), pg. 1154.

John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck (eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Vol. 2; Dallas: Victor, 1983–1985), pg. 284.

D.R.W. Wood and I. H. Marshall (eds.), New Bible Dictionary (3rd ed.; Downer Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996), pg. 406.

D.A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer and G. J. Wenham (eds.), The New Bible Commentary (Downer Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1994), pgs. 1033–34.

Article courtesy of bible study magazinepublished by logos bible software. Each issue of Bible Study Magazine provides tools and methods for Bible study as well as insights from people like John Piper, Beth Moore, Mark Driscoll, Kay Arthur, Randy Alcorn, John MacArthur, Barry Black, and more. More information is available at Originally published in print: Copyright Bible Study Magazine (Sept–Oct 2009): pgs. 16–17.

Publication date: February 29, 2012