Bible Study Skills: OIL

When studying the Bible, an important acronym to remember is OIL: Observation, Interpretation, Life application. Observation asks this question about a passage, “What does it say?” Interpretation asks, “What does it mean?” Life Application asks, “What should we do about it?” Only after diligently analyzing a passage can one truly find its meaning, and only after understanding the meaning of a passage can one properly apply it. Observing, interpreting, and applying are skills which the Bible student must develop to become competent at studying Scripture. We will look at each skill separately.