How to Study the Bible Accurately: Understanding the L.A.W.S. of Observation (Part 4 of 10)
If you've ever wondered why two people can read the same Bible passage and come away with completely different interpretations, you're asking the right question. The answer often lies in whether they've learned to observe Scripture carefully before rushing to interpret it.
Today we're diving into what I call the L.A.W.S. of observation—a simple framework that will revolutionize how you study God's Word. L.A.W.S. stands for Literary Form, Atmosphere, Words, and Structure. These four elements work together to help us see what's actually on the page before we decide what it means.
Why Precision Matters in Bible Study
Before we explore the L.A.W.S., let's talk about precision. Is precision important? Absolutely. You wouldn't want a surgeon to be "close enough" when operating on your heart, and you shouldn't settle for "close enough" when handling God's Word.
Consider this Christmas card error I once caught just before printing: "We are very grateful for the Gods' gift of his son." Notice the apostrophe? That little mark changed what should have been "God's gift" (singular, possessive) to "the Gods' gift" (plural, possessive)—a massive theological error from one tiny punctuation mark.
Jesus himself emphasized this level of precision when he said, "Not a jot or tittle will pass away from the law" (Matthew 5:18). Even the smallest marks matter in Scripture. This is why careful observation is essential before we interpret.
The "L" in L.A.W.S.: Literary Form
Let's start with Literary Form. At the observation stage, it's sufficient to simply identify the literary form: Is this narrative? Discourse? Poetry? Prophecy? This identification becomes crucial during interpretation because different forms communicate truth in different ways.
Descriptive vs. Prescriptive
Narrative is descriptive—it tells us what happened. Discourse is prescriptive—it tells us what should happen or what is true.
This distinction is vital. When we read about Noah getting drunk and naked after the flood (Genesis 9:20-23), the narrative is describing what happened, not prescribing what we should do. Everything recorded in Scripture is not necessarily commanded or commended.
The narrative reveals truth indirectly: even after being delivered into essentially a new world, sin patterns immediately arose again. Noah was righteous in his generation, but he wasn't sinless. This teaches us principles about human nature without giving us a recipe to follow.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Don't treat narrative like discourse or poetry like narrative. Many interpretation errors happen when people apply the wrong literary lens to a passage. Gideon's fleece (Judges 6:36-40) is narrative, not a model for how we should test God. The passage may teach us that it's okay to ask God for help when we're struggling with doubt, but God doesn't owe us miraculous signs to confirm his will.
The "A" in L.A.W.S.: Atmosphere
Atmosphere might seem subjective, but it's actually a crucial observation tool. Think of it like salt in cooking—it doesn't change what the dish is, but it enhances and amplifies the existing flavors.
Atmosphere Enhances, Never Drives
Atmosphere should never determine the meaning of a passage, but it can help us better understand the author's heart and intent. When Paul writes to the Galatians, "I'm fearful for you that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted" (Galatians 4:11), the atmosphere is tender concern, not harsh condemnation.
Observing Emotional Shifts
Atmosphere can change within a passage. Notice the shift in Galatians 2:20-3:3:
"I've been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me..." (tender, personal)
Then: "You foolish Galatians! Who has put a spell on you?" (passionate, concerned urgency)
This atmospheric shift helps us understand Paul's escalating concern for these believers.
The "W" in L.A.W.S.: Words
Words are like bricks in a wall—each one matters, and their arrangement determines the strength of the whole structure.
The Power of Small Words
Consider John 14:6: "Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
What if we changed "the" to "a" throughout this verse? We'd get: "I am a way, a truth, a life." Suddenly Jesus becomes one option among many rather than the exclusive path to God. That little word "the" appears three times and is absolutely crucial to the verse's meaning. It narrows the focus and calls attention to Jesus' uniqueness.
Key Words to Watch
When observing words, pay special attention to:
Prepositions and conjunctions: Words like "therefore," "because," "in order that," and "so that" are like big red arrows pointing to the author's main argument.
Repeated words: If an author uses the same word multiple times in a passage, that's intentional emphasis. In Psalm 42, the word "God" appears 13 times—that's not accidental.
Pronouns: These can clarify crucial distinctions. In John 1:1, "He was with God in the beginning" uses a masculine pronoun referring to Jesus. But in Hebrews 4:12, "the word of God is living and active" uses a neutral pronoun, indicating it refers to Scripture, not Jesus.
Making Preliminary Definitions
During observation, don't be afraid to write preliminary definitions for unusual words, even if you change them later during interpretation. For instance, in Hebrews 5:9, when it says Jesus "was perfected," that doesn't mean he went from imperfect to perfect. The Greek word means "made complete" or "brought to fulfillment"—his role as our source of salvation was completed through his suffering.
The "S" in L.A.W.S.: Structure
Structure reveals how the author arranges their argument or narrative. This is especially crucial for complex passages.
Ignoring Chapter and Verse Divisions
Remember, chapter and verse numbers are helpful for finding passages, but they're not inspired Scripture. They can actually mislead us sometimes.
Look at Jonah 2:10-3:3. If we read this as separate chapters, we might think there was a long gap between Jonah being vomited onto land and receiving God's word again. But reading it as one continuous narrative suggests there doesn't seem to be any indication of a lapse of time.
Identifying Contrasts and Comparisons
Structure often reveals important contrasts. Consider the dramatic shift between Jonah 3:10 and 4:1-3:
"God saw their actions that they had turned away from their evil ways. So God relented from the disaster he had threatened them and he did not do it. Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious."
The contrast is stark: God shows mercy to repentant Ninevites, while his own prophet becomes angry about it. This structural observation reveals a key theme of the book.
Observing Argument Flow
In discourse passages, carefully trace the logical flow. Romans 15:18-19 is a good example where Paul makes a complex argument: "I will not dare to say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed... by the power of miraculous signs, wonders, and by the power of God's Spirit."
Break it down: Paul = nothing. Jesus through Paul = miraculous signs, wonders, gospel proclamation. The structure reveals Paul's point: it wasn't him doing anything—he was simply the tool Jesus used.
Putting L.A.W.S. into Practice: Psalm 42
Let's apply these principles to Psalm 42. Here's what careful observation using L.A.W.S. reveals:
Literary Form: Poetry (uses figurative language like "as a deer pants for water")
Words:
"God" appears 13 times
"Remember" is repeated multiple times
Water imagery throughout: streams, tears, waterfalls, breakers, billows
Repeated refrain in verses 5 and 11
Structure: Question-and-answer format where the psalmist talks to himself, moving from despair to hope to resolve
Atmosphere: Deep depression giving way to determined faith; the psalmist feels distant from God but chooses to trust anyway
These observations lead to a clear interpretive statement: Though believers can suffer depression and feel distant from God, God remains faithful to his covenant and is worthy of praise.
The application becomes: As a wise disciple, I will answer my emotions with truths about God's faithfulness.
Making Bible Study Accessible Globally
This L.A.W.S. framework represents the kind of practical, systematic Bible training that transforms ministries worldwide. At Bible Training Centre for Pastors (BTCP), we've seen how low cost pastor training and easy pastor training methodologies can multiply disciples across economic and cultural barriers.
Whether you're leading a church in a resource-rich area or providing training for poor pastors in developing nations, these observation principles work the same. The L.A.W.S. framework offers fun Bible study that engages both new believers and seasoned ministers, making it perfect for church leadership pipeline development and economic pastor training initiatives.
Our low cost seminary approach focuses on reproducible methods like L.A.W.S. that pastors can immediately teach to others. This creates sustainable pastor training for missions that doesn't depend on expensive resources or advanced technology. When pastors learn to observe Scripture carefully using Literary form, Atmosphere, Words, and Structure, they gain confidence to handle God's Word accurately in any context.
Conclusion: Building a Foundation for Accurate Interpretation
The L.A.W.S. of observation provide a solid foundation for accurate Bible interpretation. By carefully observing Literary form, Atmosphere, Words, and Structure, we're far less likely to impose our own ideas on Scripture and far more likely to discover what God actually intended to communicate.
Remember: observation comes before interpretation, and interpretation comes before application. If we skip careful observation, we're building our spiritual lives on shaky ground. But when we take time to see what's actually on the page—using the L.A.W.S. framework—we position ourselves to hear God's voice clearly through his Word.
In our next article, we'll explore the crucial first principle of interpretation: interpreting literally, not allegorically. Until then, practice applying L.A.W.S. to your daily Bible reading. You'll be amazed at what you discover when you slow down to truly observe Scripture.
This article is part of BTCP's commitment to providing accessible global Bible training that equips pastors and church leaders worldwide with practical skills for accurate Bible study and teaching.