The Biblical Application Process is a systematic and logical approach to discovering how things work according to the Scriptures.
When conducting research, Bible Scholars use the Biblical Application Process method to collect measurable, empirical evidence in an experiment related to a truth (often in the form of an if/then statement), the results aiming to support or contradict a belief.
The steps of the Biblical Application Process method go something like this:
- Make an observation or observations.
- The Bible says God does this or does not do that.
- The Bible teaches that this will or will not happen.
- The Bible teaches that this will or will not happen if I do this or do not do that.
- The Bible says this or does not say that.
- Things happen or do not happen, and I do or do not attribute this to God.
- Ask questions about the observations and gather information.
- Is this a one-time occurrence?
- If this has happened before, did it happen again in the same exact manner?
- If it did or did not happen in the same exact manner, then what was different?
- Does it say the same thing in various different versions, and if not what is the difference?
- What Biblical principles are applicable to this situation or circumstance?
- Did the people who were involved follow the same stated steps or apply the same Biblical principles in the exact same manner as before?
- What are the conditions, requirements, and circumstances necessary for the expected outcome, according to the Scriptures?
- Am I making conclusions based on personal experience, or according to what the Scriptures specifically teach?
Can the results be reproduced?
- Form a hypothesis — a tentative description of what’s been observed, and make predictions based on that hypothesis.
If this did or did not happen, when I did or did not do this or that, then it should happen again in the same way, if I do the same as before.
God’s Word will function as it teaches it will, and the result(s) should be as expected if one applies the Biblical principles as instructed in Scriptures.
If the results can be depended upon to be as stated or indicated through the teaching of the Scriptures, then they can use those principles to garner, benefit, and/or gain the “blessings” that God wants for His children.
- Test the hypothesis and predictions in an experiment that can be reproduced.
Follow the same steps, apply the same principles under the same circumstances, and you should get the same results.
Decide what should be the expected result, and then get someone else to apply the same process as you, and see if the results match your prediction.
- Analyze the data and draw conclusions; accept or reject the hypothesis or modify the hypothesis if necessary.
- Did your test work?
- If not, why?
- What was different?
- What did you miss?
- Figure out the difference and make corrections.
- Test your hypothesis again.
- Reproduce the experiment until there are no discrepancies between observations and theory.
Once what you believe the Bible teaches will be the result and what you actually get as a result are the same, then you have a working principle.
Working principles are the cornerstone of a healthy understanding of the Scriptures regarding God’s promises and what may be expected as a result.
If it cannot be reproduced, then it is just guesswork, and, not the truth of the Word of God.
Some key underpinnings to the scientific method:
The hypothesis must be testable and falsifiable.
Falsifiable means that there must be a possible negative answer to the hypothesis.
Research must involve deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning.
Deductive reasoning is the process of using true premises to reach a logical true conclusion.
Inductive reasoning takes the opposite approach.
A Premise is something that is assumed to be true and that is used in reaching a conclusion.
A principle must include a dependent variable (which does not change) and may include independent variable (which does change).
Theories and laws (Principles)
The Biblical Application Process and the Christian Walk, in general, can be frustrating. A theory is almost never proven, though a few theories do prove out to be Biblical laws.
A Biblical law (principle) describes an explained expectation or result, but it doesn’t always explain the when and how.
“In the Scriptures, laws are a starting place. From there, a student of the Word can then ask the questions, ‘How and when?'”
