With this in mind, I want to offer you some powerful insights into how and how not to use AI for studying Scripture. If you’re a Pastor, Bible teacher, or student of God’s Word, this will help you utilize AI software in helpful ways. But first, pray! We recommend you always pray before you start studying God’s Word; whether or not you are using AI as a tool to help you study the Bible. Remember: Studying God’s Word is supposed to be a spiritual discipline, which should ultimately lead us to spiritual growth and maturity. Our study of Scripture should not only lead to greater knowledge of Biblical facts.
When the internet first came out, it stirred up widespread controversy. Many people stated that “it is just a fad” and that it would be short-lived. Others said, “let us embrace it for it is the way of the future.” Those who embraced it benefited and found that using it could serve them, and their enterprises, well. I believe it will be the same with AI. We can either bury our heads in the sand, or we can realize it is here to stay and use it to serve us and our objectives.
How to Use AI as a Bible Study Tool
Ideation
If you have ever felt stuck in your study, sermon preparation, or research, you can use this to help you brainstorm ideas and get unstuck. For example, the major questions Christians are asking.
Here’s an example of how you might prompt the AI, using 2 Corinthians 4:7 as the subject: “What questions do people ask about 2 Corinthians 4:7?”
2 Corinthians 4:7 is a Bible verse that reads,
“2 Corinthians 4:7 is a Bible verse that reads, ‘But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.’ Some questions that people may ask about this verse include:
- What does the “treasure in earthen vessels” refer to?
- What is the significance of the “earthen vessels” in this verse?
- What does “the excellency of the power may be of God” mean in this context?
- How does this verse relate to the concept of humility?
- What is the main message of this verse and how can we apply it in our lives?
- Who is the “we” that is referred to in this verse?
- How does this verse relate to other passages in the Bible?
- How can we use this verse to encourage ourselves and others during difficult times?
- What is the historical and cultural context of this verse?
- How does this verse fit into the larger themes and messages of 2 Corinthians?
Use it As An Extra-Biblical Language Resource
AI can be an incredible tool to look up Greek/Hebrew words as they were used outside the Bible. Here’s an example of how you might prompt the AI: How was ἀγαπάω [agapaō] used in ancient Greek?
Here’s a real example answer from the AI:
“The verb “ἀγαπάω” (agapaō) was commonly used in Ancient Greek outside of the Bible to describe various types of love and affection. It was used in a general sense to express love or affection between family members, friends, and lovers, as well as to describe a love of things like music, poetry, and literature.
In Ancient Greek literature, the verb was often used to describe the love between a hero and a beloved, as in the case of Achilles and Patroclus in Homer’s “Iliad”. It was also used to describe the love between gods and mortals, as in the case of Zeus and his mortal lovers.
The verb was also used in a religious context, where it was often used to describe the love of the gods for their worshippers and vice versa. For example, the Oracle at Delphi was said to be beloved (ἠγαπημένη) by Apollo, and in the mystery religions, devotees were said to be beloved by the gods.
Overall, the verb “ἀγαπάω” (agapaō) had a wide range of uses in Ancient Greek, reflecting the many different types of love and affection that were valued in Greek culture.”
Note: Sometimes it will regurgitate the same information from your Bible lexicon. When it does so, you will want to ask, “How was this used outside the Bible?”
Use it as a Jewish Literature Resource
This is a powerful way to learn about how the Jewish people used and understood certain terms and teachings. Here are three example prompts you might consider:
- “How did the Rabbis teach ____________ in the first century?”
- “In Jewish tradition, what was the ________________?”
- What does the Talmud say about _____________?”
If you are looking for information on how the Jewish people understood regeneration during Jesus’ day, you might want to ask, “How did the rabbis’ teach regeneration and rebirth in the first century?” You will get a response like this:
“The Rabbis also emphasized the importance of obedience to the Torah, which was seen as the foundation of Jewish faith and practice. By studying and following the commandments of the Torah, individuals could experience spiritual growth and transformation, and draw closer to God.
Another important concept in Jewish thought was the idea of the coming of the Messiah, who would bring about a time of renewal and restoration for the Jewish people. The Rabbis taught that the Messiah would lead the people in a new era of spiritual and physical renewal, bringing about the ultimate regeneration of the world.”
Use it to Brainstorm Anecdotes, Metaphors & Stories
If you are a pastor, Bible teacher, or a small group leader, this can be an excellent way to brainstorm and ascertain storied examples. Here’s an example prompt: “Tell me a story about a fish in a stream as a metaphor for _____________?”
This can be a fun way to brainstorm anecdotes and analogies for your sermons, teachings, etc.
Use it to Confirm Your Own Observations & Reflections
Similar to how we use a commentary, we can use AI to help us confirm our personal observations. This is important. Too many people don’t understand how to use a commentary, and this needs to be discussed briefly. Here’s an example prompt: “Give me an exegesis on __________?”
You can use the compiled response to test the validity of your own observations. IE “explain __________.”
Use it to Identify Sources
If you are a student of God’s Word, you cannot plagiarize or cite AI responses. You can, however, use it to help you identify sources for reference in your research.
Here’s an example prompt: “Provide me 4 academic sources for __________?”
How NOT to Use AI for Bible Study & Sermon Prep
Now that we’ve given you six key use cases for doing AI Bible study, we thought we’d offer you the flip side of the coin, as well:
- Do not let it write your sermons for you
- Do not use it to do all the research / “speaking” (like many do with commentaries)
- Do not let it be a distraction from hearing the Lord
- Do not plagiarize
- It can, and it will give you wrong information sometimes
- As with anything on the internet, make sure to fact-check the information it populates
- It can and will pull information from unorthodox and uncredible sources. It draws from all over the internet – including cult websites and erroneous information
- Do not get rid of your Bible study software or your Bible study library. Consider LLM chatbots as an additional tool to add to your existing library
Ready to start using AI to support your Bible study? Check out this free PDF guide which offers powerful prompt examples to help you get started.
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