Bible Study Methods Robert Thurman MABS Brookes Bible

Bible Study Methods Robert Thurman, MABS Brookes Bible College, Spring 2016

Presuppositions Everyone has presuppositions. Here are the ones I am bringing to this course… 1. I presuppose that we are here today because of our mutual love for God’s Word and that you are willing to engage in hard work and study to learn how to handle the Scriptures properly. 2. I presuppose we agree that the Scriptures are our ultimate authority and that they are uniquely sufficient to provide answers to the questions we will wrestle with during this course.

Presuppositions 3. I presuppose that you will not always agree with my understanding of the Scriptures. You are always free to disagree, but if you want to debate, I presuppose you will make your case using the Scriptures and in a loving and respectful spirit. 4. I presuppose that you expect to get your money’s worth out of this class, and that you expect me to challenge your thinking and to stretch you academically.

Presuppositions 5. I presuppose that you will not always understand everything in the assigned readings. I expect you to read them anyway and get what you can. 6. I presuppose that you will not always understand everything I communicate during lectures. I expect you to ask me questions and don’t stop until I’ve made myself clear.

Presuppositions 7. I presuppose that you want to do your best work, and that you want me to tell you how you can improve the work you submit to me. 8. I presuppose that you will face many challenges as you seek to complete this course. I presuppose that you will communicate with me if there’s something I can do to help.

Presuppositions 8. I presuppose that we will grow in Christian love and in mutual respect for each other. 9. I presuppose that you are not here for mere intellectual stimulation, but to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior. 10. I presuppose that you will desire and make every effort to turn your theology into doxology.

Bible Study Methods Before we talk about how to study the Bible, we need to understand the nature of the Bible. When we study the Bible, we are not studying an ordinary work of literature, but we are seeking to understand the divinely inspired and inerrant testimonies of the Lord.

Bible Study Methods The doctrine of inspiration: God carried along the human writers of the Bible so that they composed and recorded without error His message to mankind in the words of their original writings. The doctrine of inspiration is not something that men have imposed upon the Bible. Rather, it is a teaching of the Bible itself.

Bible Study Methods 2 Timothy 3: 16 shows us the extent of inspiration: All Scripture is inspired. What is Scripture? The New Testament uses the word Scripture 51 times.

Bible Study Methods Sometimes Scripture refers to the entire Old Testament (Luke 24: 45; John 10: 35). Sometimes Scripture refers to a particular passage of the Old Testament (Luke 4: 21). Sometimes Scripture refers to a particular passage of the New Testament (1 Timothy 5: 18; cf. Luke 10: 7).

Bible Study Methods 1 Timothy 5: 18 is significant because it combines a New Testament passage with an Old Testament passage designating them both as Scripture. Sometimes Scripture refers to a larger portion of the New Testament (2 Peter 3: 16).

Bible Study Methods 2 Timothy 3: 16 also shows us the means of inspiration: All Scripture is God-breathed. 2 Timothy 3: 16 also shows us the purpose of inspiration: All Scripture is profitable to make us fully equipped for every good work.

Bible Study Methods 2 Peter 1: 21 shows us the process of inspiration: God moved and bore the writers along (cf. Acts 27: 15). 2 Peter 1: 21 shows us the source of inspiration: The writers did not write from their own wills.

Bible Study Methods Some argue that only the thoughts or ideas expressed by Scripture are inspired. 1 Corinthians 2: 13 shows us that the actual words (not just the thoughts) of the Bible are inspired.

Bible Study Methods The Bible is unlike other books because of the variety of materials it contains. Genres or types of inspired materials in the Bible. . . 1. Material that came directly from God (Duet. 9: 10; 1 Corinthians 11: 23) 2. Researched material (Luke 1: 1 -4).

Bible Study Methods 3. Letters 4. Songs, poetry, wise sayings 5. Prophetic material (1/4 of the Bible) 6. Historical Materials 7. Other materials (Gen. 3: 4 -5; Titus 1: 12; Rom. 9: 1 -3)

Bible Study Methods- Quiz 1 Second Timothy 2: 15 highlights three basic ideas. List them. True or False 1. 2. 3. 4. _____William Tyndale was responsible for the first printed English Bible. 5. _____ The process of copying the books of the Bible is called transmission. Bonus: Orthotomeo means _________.

Bible Study Methods The Bible’s inspiration teaches us something about how it must be interpreted. The Bible’s inspiration tells us that it is a human book.

Bible Study Methods Because the Bible is a human book we assume: 1. That it communicates its message according to the normal rules of human language and logic. 2. That the Bible’s meaning is shaped by the historical contexts and intents of its human authors. 3. The Bible’s meaning is going to be impacted by the culture and language of its human authors.

Bible Study Methods Because the Bible is inspired we also know that it is supernatural. Therefore we can assume: That humans need divine guidance and power to fully understand its meaning That it reveals the nature and character of God That it is inerrant.

Bible Study Methods The doctrine of Inerrancy: Scripture is without error or fault in all its teaching. Inerrancy applies only to the original manuscripts. However, this does not minimize the importance of this doctrine.

Bible Study Methods There is deductive evidence for the Bible’s inerrancy. A deduction consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.

Bible Study Methods A. God breathed out the words of the Bible (2 Timothy 3: 15 -17). B. God is true. C. Therefore, the Bible is true.

Bible Study Methods A. God superintended over the transmission of His Word (2 Peter 2: 20 -21). B. God does not fail. C. Therefore the Bible does not fail to accurately transmit His Word to us.

Bible Study Methods There is also inductive evidence for the Bible’s inerrancy. Inductive reasoning bases a conclusion upon the examination of evidence.

Bible Study Methods Jesus accepted the plenary inspiration of the Bible (Matthew 4: 4, 11 -12). Plenary means complete.

Bible Study Methods Jesus accepted the truth of the propositions of the Bible (Matthew 4: 4, 7, 10).

Bible Study Methods Jesus referred to historical figures and events in the Old Testament as factual. For instance. . .

Bible Study Methods He affirmed that Adam and Eve and Abel were actual people (Matthew 19: 3 -5; Mark 10: 6 -8; Matthew 23: 35).

Bible Study Methods He affirmed the Old Testament account of Noah and the ark (Matthew 24: 3839; Luke 17: 26 -27).

Bible Study Methods He affirmed that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were real people (Matthew 8: 11; John 8: 39).

Bible Study Methods He affirmed the story of Lot and his wife and Sodom’s destruction (Matthew 10: 15; Luke 17: 28 -29).

Bible Study Methods He affirmed Moses and his writings Matthew 8: 4; John 5: 46). He affirmed that David was a real person (Matthew 22: 45).

Bible Study Methods He affirmed the story of Jonah as true (Matthew 12: 40). He affirmed that Isaiah was a real person (Matthew 12: 40).

Bible Study Methods He affirmed that Elijah was a real person (Matthew 17: 11 -12). He affirmed that Daniel was a real person (Matthew 24: 15).

Bible Study Methods He affirmed that Zechariah was a real person (Matthew 23: 35). Jesus promised that all the Old Testament promises would be fulfilled (Matthew 5: 17 -18).

Bible Study Methods Jesus based an important teaching on one small word of an ordinary passage (John 10: 31 -38; Psalm 82).

Bible Study Methods Jesus based an important teaching on the verb tense of a Scripture passage (Matthew 22: 23 -33; Exodus 3: 6).

Bible Study Methods Jesus based an important teaching on one letter of a Scripture verse (Matthew 22: 44146; Psalm 110: 1).

Bible Study Methods Robert Thurman, MABS Brookes Bible College, Fall 2015

Bible Study Methods Christians believe in the inerrancy of Scripture because God is ultimately the author of the Bible and because God is incapable of inspiring falsehood or failing.

Bible Study Methods If the Bible is inspired and inerrant, logic dictates it must also be understandable. Theologians refer to this doctrine as the perspicuity of the Bible. We assume that because God superintended over the transmission of the text and guarded its content, that God intended to communicate His message with clarity.

Bible Study Methods That God demands that His Word be obeyed (with nothing added to it or taken away) also tells us that the Bible is understandable. This doesn’t mean that there will not be difficult passages, and it doesn’t mean that the truth of the Bible can be apprehended in a transforming way apart from the illumination of the Holy Spirit. However, the Bible must be understandable for it to be obeyed.

Bible Study Methods Definitions. Hermeneutics: The study or practice of interpretive philosophies or the study or practice of a particular set of interpretive principles

Bible Study Methods Definitions. Hermeneutic: A set of principles guiding the interpretation of a text All of us use a hermeneutic every time we read.

Bible Study Methods Definitions. Exegesis: The process of implementing valid interpretive principles. Exegesis involves investigation into the history, grammar, genre, and literary context of the text.

Bible Study Methods Definitions. Meaning: The truth intention of the author. How many truth intentions can an author have in a particular text? What is truth?

History of Western Thought Pre-Modern Thought (pre 1700 s) Absolute truth exists and it is objective Absolute truth comes to us via divine revelation Absolute truth is authoritative and binding Dependence on the supernatural

History of Western Thought Pre-Modern Thought (pre 1700 s) Modern Thought (Enlightenment until 1989) Absolute truth exists and it is objective Absolute truth comes to us via divine revelation Absolute truth comes to us via human reason/science Absolute truth is authoritative and binding Dependence on the supernatural Rejection of the supernatural

History of Western Thought Pre-Modern Thought (pre 1700 s) Modern Thought (Enlightenment until 1989) Post-Modern Thought (1989 -? ) Absolute truth exists and it is objective Absolute truth does not exist; truth is subjective Absolute truth comes to us via divine revelation Absolute truth comes to us via human reason/science Subjective truth may come from an infinite number of sources Absolute truth is authoritative and binding No truth can be authoritative or binding Dependence on the supernatural Rejection of the supernatural Open to the supernatural

Bible Study Methods Definitions. Interpretation: An understanding of the truth intention of the author. How does your worldview (pre-modern, post- modern) impact your ability to interpret a text?

Bible Study Methods Definitions. Application: The use or practice of the author’s truth intention in the interpreter’s personal life. The application of a text is distinct from the interpretation or the meaning of the text.

Bible Study Methods Definitions It is extremely important to not confuse or to muddle these aspects of the interpretive process. What potential dangers might come from confusing exegesis and interpretation, or from confusing interpretation with application, or confusing meaning and application?

Bible Study Methods Some parts of the Bible are easy to understand, but much of it is not. There are numerous barriers that every interpreter must cross to discover the Bible’s meaning.

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: 1. Pre-understandings- all of us read with biases and assumptions. We tend to be more subjective than objective. It is very difficult for us to approach the Scriptures free from prejudices and assumptions, but these can prevent us from understanding their meaning.

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: We must seek to let the Bible speak for itself by approaching it impartially and objectively. Some examples of how pre-understandings affect our interpretation: If I approach the Bible with the pre-understanding that the earth is billions of years old, how will that impact my interpretation of Genesis 1?

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: If I approach the Bible with a pre-understanding that the church has replaced Israel how would that impact my interpretation of Genesis 12: 1 -7, the Mosaic Law, or Revelation 7: 4?

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: 2. Time/Historical Context- the oldest books of the Bible were written almost 1500 years before Christ; the newest was written less than 100 years after Christ’s birth. We don’t always immediately know why a book, passage, or verse was written. We don’t always know what was going on historically that prompted the writing. We also have to keep in mind the progress of revelation.

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: Does the historical situation of the original readers affect how they would have interpreted a text? How might we interpret Genesis differently if we do so remembering that it was written to people who had been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years?

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: How might we interpret Isaiah 7: 14 -16 differently if we know the historical context? How might not understanding the historical situation behind the book of Philemon impact our ability to arrive at its meaning?

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: 3. Language- the Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. All three languages use words and employ expressions that are difficult to translate or understand. Why does Colossians 1: 15 say Jesus is the firstborn of creation and 1: 18 say he is the firstborn of the dead?

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: 4. Culture- the people of the Bible had customs not relatable to us. Misunderstanding their customs can lead to misinterpreting the text. Why did Ruth spend the night sleeping in a barn at the feet of Boaz? Why did Jonah not want to go to Ninevah?

Bible Study Methods What was Elisha asking Elijah for when he requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (1 Kings 2: 9; cf. Dt. 21: 17)? Why does Amos call the women of Bethel “cows of Bashan” in Amos 4: 1? Why did Jesus reject the man in Luke 9: 59?

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: 5. Geography- Very often understanding the setting for an event helps us to understand the event more clearly. Why did Jesus speak of a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho in Luke 10: 30 when Jericho is north of Jerusalem?

Bible Study Methods What is significant about Jesus calling the church in Laodicea lukewarm in Rev. 3: 16? Why did Samuel ask God to send rain as a sign in 1 Samuel 12: 17? Why did David not offer a sacrifice for his sins involving Bathsheba? (Ps. 51)

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: 6. Religion- The actions of people in the Bible and the way they would have understood the events recorded in the Bible would be impacted by their religious views.

Bible Study Methods Why did God send the plagues upon Egypt? Why did Elijah challenge the prophets of Baal to meet him on Mount Carmel? Why did the Herodians, Saducees, and Scribes ask Jesus the questions they did in Mark 12: 13 -28?

Bible Study Methods Barriers to the interpretive process: 7. Genre- We know to read a poem differently than we read a science textbook. In the Bible, we encounter literary genres that may be unfamiliarlaments, parallelism, imprecatory psalms, prophecy, etc. 8. Literary context- Without understanding how a verse or passage fits into the book, it is very difficult to be certain you’ve interpreted correctly. The original readers read the entire work at once, whereas sometimes we attempt to interpret verses isolated from the text around them.

Bible Study Methods Crossing these barriers in study is the work of exegesis, which must take place before interpretation or application.

Bible Study Methods Beginning the Exegetical Process Before determining what the text means, we must first determine what it says. How to read carefully A. The Sentence Level- Look for the following 1. Repetition of words a. How many times does the word occur in the passage? b. Is the word used in the same way each time (noun, verb, etc. )? c. Is the word modified the same way each time (articles, adjectives, adverbs)? d. Is the word connected to other words the same way each time (prepositions)?

Bible Study Methods Example Passages 1 John 2: 15 -17 (look for world) 2 Corinthians 1: 3 -7 (look for comfort) John 15: 1 -10 (look for remain) Matthew 6: 1 -18 (look for Father)

Bible Study Methods Beginning the Exegetical Process Before determining what the text means, we must first determine what it says. How to read carefully A. The Sentence Level- Look for the following 1. Repetition of words 2. Contrasts- Look for items, ideas, and individuals that are contrasted with each other. Example Passages Psalm 1: 1 -6 Proverbs 14: 31 Proverbs 15: 1

Bible Study Methods Romans 6: 23 Ephesians 5: 8 1 John 1: 5 -7 How to read carefully A. The Sentence Level- Look for the following 1. Repetition of words 2. Contrasts- 3. Comparisons- Look for ideas, items, individuals compared with each other Example Passages: Proverbs 25: 26; James 3: 3 -6; Isaiah 40: 31

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully A. The Sentence Level- Look for the following 1. Repetition of words 2. Contrasts 3. Comparisons 4. Lists- When you encounter more than two itemized things, you can identify them as a list Example Passages- 1 John 2: 16; Galatians 5: 22 -23; 5: 19 -21

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully A. The Sentence Level- Look for the following 1. Repetition of words 2. Contrasts 3. Comparisons 4. Lists 5. Cause and Effect- Look for the effect of each cause and the cause of each effect. There may be more than one effect from a single cause in the text Example Passages- Proverbs 15: 1; Romans 6: 23; Romans 12: 2; John 3: 16; Psalm 13: 6; Colossians 3: 1

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully A. The Sentence Level- Look for the following 1. Repetition of words 2. Contrasts 3. Comparisons 4. Lists 5. Cause and Effect 6. Figures of speech- these are images in which words are used in a sense other than the normal, literal sense. Example Passages- Psalm 119: 105; Matthew 23: 27; Psalm 18: 2; 1 Corinthians 3: 6; Luke 13: 34

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully A. The Sentence Level- Look for the following 1. Repetition of words 2. Contrasts 3. Comparisons 4. Lists 5. Cause and Effect 6. Figures of speech 7. Conjunctions- Look for words like but, therefore, for, since, because, etc. and find out what they contribute to what the verse says. Example Passages: Romans 6: 23; 12: 1; Hebrews 12: 1; 2 Timothy 1: 7 -8; Genesis 6: 8

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully 8. Verbs a. Identify what kind of verb is used- past, present, future tense? b. Is the action expressed ongoing? c. Is it imperative (Be, Go, etc. )? Example of imperative verb- Ephesians 4: 2 -3 d. Is the verb active or passive? Examples of active and passive verbs- Colossians 3: 1; Ephesians 1: 11; Genesis 12: 3 9. Pronouns- Find the antecedent Examples- Ephesians 1: 3; Philippians 1: 27 -30

Bible Study Methods Robert Thurman, MABS Brookes Bible College, Fall 2015

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level- In addition to looking for the things we learned to look for in sentences, we need to look for the following: 1. General and Specific- Sometimes an author will introduce an idea with a general statement, and then follow this general statement with specifics of the idea. Example passages- Galatians 5: 16 (General), 5: 19 -21 (Specific), 5: 22 -23 (Specific); Romans 12: 1 (General), 12: 9 -13 (Specific); 1 Corinthians 13: 13 (General), 1 Corinthians 13: 1 -12 (Specific)

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level 1. General and Specific 2. Questions and Answers- Sometimes biblical writers ask a question and then answer it. Example passages- Romans 6: 1 (Question), 6: 2 (Answer); Mark 2: 7 (Question), 2: 10 (Answer); 2: 16 (Question), 2: 17 (Answer); 2: 18 (Question), 2: 19 (Answer); 2: 24 (Question), 2: 25, 27 (Answer); 3: 4 (Question), 3: 6 (Answer)

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level 1. General and Specific 2. Questions and Answers- Sometimes biblical writers ask a question and then answer it. 3. Dialogue- Note that dialog is taking place. Ask the following:

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully 1. Dialogue- Note that dialog is taking place. Ask the following: a. Who are the participants? b. What is the setting? c. Who is speaking to whom? d. Are other people around? e. Are they listening? f. What is the tone of the dialog (friendly, argumentative), etc. g. What is the point of the dialog?

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level 1. General and Specific- 2. Questions and Answers 3. Dialog- Example passages- Habakkuk 1: 1 -4, 5 -11, 12 -2: 1, 2: 2 -20 4. Purpose Statements- These are phrases that describe the reason, result, or consequence of some action. They are frequently introduced by conjunctions like “that, ” “in order that, ” “so that, ” and “to. ” Example passages- Eph. 2: 10; John 3: 16; John 15: 16; Duet. 6: 3; Ps. 119: 11

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level 1. General and Specific- 2. Questions and Answers 3. Dialog- 4. Purpose Statements 5. Means (by which something is accomplished)- When an action, result, or purpose is stated, look for the means that brings it about. Example passages- In Romans 8: 13, what is the means by which the misdeeds of the body are put to death? In Psalm 119: 9, what is the means by which a young man keeps his way pure?

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level 1. General and Specific- 2. Questions and Answers 3. Dialog- 4. Purpose Statements 5. Means (by which something is accomplished)- 6. Conditional Clauses- (usually if then statements)- always determine exactly what the required conditional action is (the if part) and what the result or consequence is (the then part). Example passages- 1 John 5: 16; 2 Cor. 5: 17; James 1: 26; Duet. 28: 1

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level- 1. General and Specific- 2. Questions and Answers- 3. Dialog- 4. Purpose Statements- 5. Means (by which something is accomplished)- 6. Conditional Clauses- 7. The Roles/Actions of People & the Roles/Actions of God- What does God do in this passage? What do people do in this passage? Example passage- Ephesians 5: 1 -2

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level- 1. General and Specific- 2. Questions and Answers- 3. Dialog- 4. Purpose Statements- 5. Means (by which something is accomplished)- 6. Conditional Clauses- 7. The Roles/Actions of People & the Roles/Actions of God- 8. Emotional Language- Look for words and phrases with emotional overtones like “Father, ” “Mother, ” “Son, ” “Daughter, ” “Beloved” and “plead. ” Example passages- Jer. 3: 19 -20; Gal. 4: 12 -16

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level- 1. General and Specific- 2. Questions and Answers- 3. Dialog- 4. Purpose Statements- 5. Means (by which something is accomplished)- 6. Conditional Clauses- 7. The Roles/Actions of People & the Roles/Actions of God- 8. Emotional Language- 9. Tone- what is the tone of the passage? Angry, gentle, loving, sorrowful, hostile, scolding? Example Passages- Col 3: 1 -4, Gal. 3: 1 -4; Matt. 23: 33 -35; Lam. 3: 1 -6

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level- C. The Pericope Level- A pericope is a distinct unit of thought longer than a paragraph- a story, an episode, a sermon, a chapter. At this level, we use all the skills we’ve learned so far, but we add a few more. 1. Connections between Paragraphs and Episodes- look for connections between paragraphs, and look for connections between episodes in narratives. Example passages- How is Mark 8: 22 -26 connected to 8: 14 -21 and to 8: 27 -30? How is Colossians 1: 1 -8 connected to 1: 9 -14? 2. Story Shifts (Breaks and Pivots)- A major break is a shift in topic, we look for these primarily in teaching passages like those found in the NT letters. A pivot is an episode that changes the direction of a narrative.

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level. C. The Pericope Level- 1. Connections between Paragraphs and Episodes- look for connections between paragraphs, and look for connections between episodes in narratives. 2. Story Shifts (Breaks and Pivots)- Example passages- a major break occurs when Paul moves from Colossians 1 -3 to chapter 4. A pivot in the narrative about the life of David happens in 2 Samuel 11 -12. Look at David’s life before and look at his life afterwards.

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level- C. The Pericope Level- 1. Connections between Paragraphs and Episodes- look for connections between paragraphs, and look for connections between episodes in narratives. 2. Story Shifts (Breaks and Pivots)- 3. Interchange- interchange involves contrasting or comparing two stories at the same time as part of the overall development of a narrative. Examples- 1 Samuel- Eli and his worthless sons are compared to Hannah and her godly son. Why? The writer wants us to see how Samuel is different than the corrupt leadership he replaces. Acts- 1 -7 are about Peter, Acts 7: 58 -8: 3 is about Paul, 8: 14 -25 is about Peter, Acts 9 is about Paul, but Acts 10: 1 -11: 1 -18 is about Peter. Acts 11: 19 -30 is about Paul, but Acts 12 is about Peter, the rest of the book is primarily about Paul.

Bible Study Methods How to read carefully B. The Paragraph Level- C. The Pericope Level- 1. Connections between Paragraphs and Episodes- 2. Story Shifts (Breaks and Pivots)- 2. Interchange- 3. Chiasm- a common feature of Hebrew literature

Bible Study Methods Example- Genesis 11: 1 -9 a. the whole world (1) b. had one language (1) c. Shinar and settled there (2) d. Come, let’s make bricks (3) e. Come, let us built (4) f. a city with a tower (4) g. but the Lord came down (5) f. to see the city and the tower (5) e. that the men were building (5) d. Come, let us go down and confuse their language (7) c. Babel-because there (9) b. the Lord confused the language (9) a. the whole earth (9)

Bible Study Methods Determining Historical/Cultural Context Since God spoke His message in specific historical situations (i. e. , to people living in particular places, speaking particular languages, adopting a particular way of life) we should take the historical/cultural background of each Bible passage seriously. Scripture was God’s Word to other people before it was God’s Word to us. For our interpretation of a text to be valid, it has to be consistent with the historical-cultural context of the text. Historical/cultural context involves the Biblical writer, the original audience, and any historical or cultural elements that will help you understand the text.

Bible Study Methods Determining Historical/Cultural Context The following questions can help you investigate the historical cultural context of a Bible book or passage: 1. Who was the writer? (Read Philippians 3 and 1 Timothy 1: 16. How does knowing about Paul’s background add to your understanding of these verses? ) 2. What was the writer’s ministry? 3. What is the relationship between the writer and the people? (compare Galatians 1 with 1 Thessalonians 1). 4. Why did the writer write this portion of Scripture? (Why did Moses write Genesis? Why did Luke write his gospel and Acts? )

Bible Study Methods Determining Historical/Cultural Context 5. Who was the Biblical audience? 6. What were the circumstances of those in the audience? 7. How was their relationship to God? (Consider the Judeans during the time of Jeremiah, the Galatians, etc. ) 8. What kind of relationship did they have with each other (Consider the division in the Corinthian church; how were Philemon and Onesimus related? ) 9. What was happening at the time the book was written? 10. Are there any other historical/cultural factors that might shed light on the book?

Bible Study Methods Resources for investigating Historical/Cultural Context 1. Bible Handbooks 2. Commentaries 3. Old Testament/New Testament Surveys 4. Bible Atlases 5. Special studies in ancient life and culture 6. Computer software like Logos and Bible. Works Word Studies We must always try to understand as precisely as possible what the author meant to convey by his use of his words in their context. Common Word Study Mistakes 1. English Only Mistakes- Because the Bible was not originally written in English, it must be translated into English from Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

Bible Study Methods Common Word Study Mistakes 1. English Only Mistakes- Because the Bible was not originally written in English, it must be translated into English from Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. a. Therefore, you may not realize that a word in Hebrew or Greek may be translated into English with a number of different English words. For example paraklesis is sometimes translated comfort, but other times it is translated exhortation. Comfort and Exhortation can mean different things in English. b. You may not realize that several different Hebrew or Greek words might be translated into English with only one English word. For example there are 6 Greek words all translated comfort in English. The English Only mistake occurs when you base your word study on the definition of the English word rather than on the definition of the word in the original language.

Bible Study Methods Common Word Study Mistakes 2. Root Mistake- It is a fallacy that you can always determine the meaning of a word by understanding its root. This is true even in English. Is a butterfly made of butter? Do pineapples grow on pine trees? Context is more important than etymology. 3. Time-Frame Mistakes- Sometimes word meanings change over time. Often we try to take the more modern meaning of the word and insert it into the text (the reverse is possible, but happens less frequently). For instance, how many of you have heard that the word translated power in Romans 1: 18 is the word from which we get our word dynamite. Was Paul thinking of dynamite when he wrote Romans? 4. Overload Mistake- Most words can have more than one meaning depending on their context. Don’t try to attach all the possible meanings to a word in one instance. Context determines meaning.

Bible Study Methods Common Word Study Mistakes 5. Word Count Mistakes- It is a mistake to think that a word must have the same meaning every time it occurs. (ex. kosmos). Again, word meanings are determined by context in the passage. 6. Word Concept Mistakes- Don’t think that because you’ve studied a one word that you have studied the entire concept represented by that word. For example, studying the Greek word ekklesia will not tell you everything you need to know about the New Testament church. 7. Selective-Evidence Mistakes- Sometimes you will be tempted to dismiss evidence so that you can define a word according to what you want it to mean. The Scripture should change our views; our views should not change the Scripture.

Bible Study Methods For help with word studies use, concordances, Bible dictionaries, lexicons, and commentaries. You don’t need to do a word study on every word in a passage. Choose words carefully. Choose only those words that have meanings crucial to understanding the passage. Never forget that context determines meaning.

Bible Study Methods Meanings or Meanings- A major debate in hermeneutics today is who controls the meaning. Is the meaning controlled by the author or by the reader? All of us at times reinterpret literature to make it mean what we want it to mean. For example: We listen to songs at times and the only way we can enjoy them is to ignore what the author wanted to communicate (I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends; Let Freedom Ring) We read stories and watch movies and we are often ignorant or we ignore what the author intended to communicate (Wizard of Oz, Star Wars). We often do this with the Bible, but is this right?

Bible Study Methods Those who hold to authorial intent argue that the meaning of a text is the truth intention of the author. They believe in what we call authorial intent. However, others hold to the idea that the reader controls the meaning of a text. This idea is called reader response. If we are reading something that does not communicate an important or authoritative message to us, it may be harmless for us to make what we are reading mean what we want it to mean. But if we are reading something that contains important or authoritative truth, it is dangerous not to grasp the meaning.

Bible Study Methods If we fail to understand the meaning of the Biblical text, we could be in grave danger. The Bible communicates to us what God requires. Therefore, we are saying in this class that the only valid meaning of a biblical text is the truth intention of the author. Our understanding of the author’s meaning is our interpretation. What we do with the author’s meaning is our application. It is vitally important that we not confuse these terms.

Bible Study Methods Does the Bible contain levels of meaning? All of us are tempted at times to look for different levels of meaning in a biblical text. We have all seen this modeled. People try to assign various levels of meaning to the Bible through the following means: 1. Spiritualizing- those who do this see a dichotomy between the literal meaning of a text and its spiritual meaning. However, there is no such dichotomy, because the spiritual meaning of the text can’t be different than the literal meaning Examples: Luke 15: 8 -10 What does this passage mean? How many meanings or layers of meanings can you devise?

Bible Study Methods Does the Bible contain levels of meaning? We could come up with many spiritual meanings of the text. Some of them might be theologically true. However, all of them miss the point that Jesus was communicating. We need to seek the meaning God intends and not a meaning created in our imaginations. Prior to the Reformation spiritualizing the text was considered virtuous and proper by many in the church. Spiritualizing the text was seen as a way of making every text speak directly of Christ and directly to our lives.

Bible Study Methods Does the Bible contain levels of meaning? This fuller meaning is referred to as sensus plenior. A few centuries after Christ there was a popular four-fold system of biblical interpretation. The system saw four levels of meaning in every biblical text- literal, allegorical, moral, and spiritual. For example, the word Jerusalem could mean 1) literal- a city; 2) allegorical- the church; 3) moral- the human soul; 4) spiritualheaven. Hopefully, you can see how dangerous this interpretive scheme could be. The Reformers took the Protestant church away from this kind of scheme, but there are still other ways of missing the author’s intent.

Bible Study Methods Does the Bible contain levels of meaning? 1. Spiritualizing 2. Allegorizing- an allegory is a story that uses an extensive amount of symbolism. The Bible occasionally uses allegories. For example Isaiah 5: 1 -7. However, it is dangerous to interpret a nonallegorical text as if it were allegorical. Doing so takes us away from God’s intended meaning.

Bible Study Methods Does the Bible contain levels of meaning? Some examples of allegorizing Exodus 27: 19… “The pins, or nails, [tent pegs] of the Tabernacle were made of brass; therefore they did not rust. As they withstood every desert storm, even so Christ’s holy life withstood every onslaught of Satan. How minutely the details of the God-given pattern for the Tabernacle in the wilderness foreshadow the glories of our crucified and risen Lord!” Louis Talbot, Christ in the Tabernacle (Wheaton, Il. ; Van Kampen, 1942) 89

Bible Study Methods Does the Bible contain levels of meaning? “We repeat the pins were buried in the ground, but also emerged from the ground, and it speaks of the death and resurrection, that which is buried, and that which is above the ground. The part of the pins beneath the ground becomes a symbol of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ; the part above the ground suggests His resurrection. ” Martin R. Dehaan, The Tabernacle (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), 65

Bible Study Methods The Bible does use symbols frequently, but the symbols cannot mean something that would have not been understood (at least in part) by the original audience. We have a tendency, especially with the Old Testament to attach New Testament meanings to symbols in the Old Testament without paying attention to what that symbol would have meant to the original audience. This is certainly what we’ve seen in the preceding quotes from Talbot and Dehaan. Here’s another example. The four major colors found in the Tabernacle were white, purple, and blue.

Bible Study Methods Talbot in his book, Christ in the Tabernacle. P. 38, says that “blue speaks to us of our Lord’s deity, for blue is the heavenly color. ” Note his apparent line of reasoning. Blue is the color of the sky. Another term for the sky is the heavens. Jesus came from heaven. Blue must refer to His heavenly origin. Now this is not far off, but it’s not on target. It seems he simply relied on his intuition and was motivated by a desire to see New Testament truth symbolized in the Old Testament

Bible Study Methods Instead, he should have done some research into what the color blue symbolized to the people’s of the Ancient Near-East. How can we find out such things? A good resource is the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, ed. by Ryken, Wilhoit, and Longman. (Any good Bible dictionary or handbook should provide you with credible information). Here’s what they say about the color blue:

Bible Study Methods “ In ancient thought the sky was believed to separate the place of the gods from the human realm. Therefore blue, the color of the sky, could appropriately suggest the boundary between God and His people and symbolize his majesty. Like purple, blue was an expensive dye and thus connoted wealth and prestige. Blue was the dominant color of the vestments of ancient Israel’s high priest (Ex. 28). The high priest wore an outer garment of solid blue over the white robe of his priesthood. . He was the boundary between the human and divine realms, moving in both as he ministered in the Holy of Holies. p. 158

Bible Study Methods The Tabernacle was the location of the presence of God. He lived among his people in a visible way. Thus the use of the most expensive dyes (blue and purple) signify His riches and power. The blue in the Tabernacle didn’t point to Jesus’ heavenly origin, but showed that the tent was the boundary between God and man. As you can see, we do not have to allegorize or use our imaginations to find what the color blue symbolizes. The meaning provided through historical research actually, in this case, provides a spiritual insight much deeper and profound than the one produced by imagination, and because it is rooted in fact and not in imagination, it is truthful.

Bible Study Methods We must always avoid the temptation to allegorize biblical texts. Don’t try to read Christ into every tent peg and color in the Old Testament or you will miss the actual meaning of the text. Now there are legitimate connections between Christ and the Old Testament. These generally come to us through typology and prophecy. (We will deal with prophecy later in the course).

Bible Study Methods Typology Numerous passages in the Old Testament describe things that point to or foreshadow what Christ ultimately fulfills. For instance, the Old Testament sacrifices foreshadow the sacrifice of Christ. However, to view the Old Testament sacrificial system as foreshadowing Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is different than interpreting every element of the Old Testament sacrificial system allegorically. The sacrificial system involved doves, goats, cows, grains, ashes, smoke, fire, wine, and may other things.

Bible Study Methods Typology Allegorical interpretation tries to make every element and details somehow connected to Christ (the tent pegs). The concept of foreshadowing is more general than specific and does not speculate about minute details. Moreover, most foreshadowing of Christ in the Old Testament is identified for us in the New Testament. Don’t look for novel or hidden connections. If you are the only one who sees it, it’s not there.

Bible Study Methods Typology A type can be defined as a Biblical event, institution, or person which serves as an example or pattern for other events, institutions, or persons. A type is fulfilled by its later antitype. For instance the Passover Lamb serves as a type of Christ Ex 12; 1 Corinthians 5: 7). Melchizedek is also a type of Christ (Genesis 14; Psalm 110; Hebrews 5: 6, 10; 6: 20; 7: 1, 10, 11, 15, 17, 21) David served as a type of Christ in his sufferings in Psalm 22: 1 -18. David was writing about himself, but prophetically he was writing about Christ.

Bible Study Methods Typology We know that David is serving as a type in Psalm 22 because the New Testament confirms this (Matthew 27: 46; Mark 15: 24, John 19: 24 -25). To see a difference between a type and a prophecy compare, Psalm 22 with Psalm 16, cf. Acts 2). An Old Testament passage cannot be confirmed as typological unless the New Testament confirms it as such.

Bible Study Methods Bible Codes Another way that people try to find levels of meanings in the Bible is through Bible codes. For the most part, this type of biblical interpretation has been made possible by the use of computers. However there is an ancient form of this called gematria. In his 1997 book, The Bible Code Michael Drosnin claimed there was a special letter sequence code hidden in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. He argued that this code, unlocked only with the help of computers, predicted dozens of modern events.

Bible Study Methods Bible Codes The idea of the Bible containing hidden codes only available to experts and the technologically advanced smacks of Gnosticism. Don’t be gullible. Furthermore, it implies that only this generation is really able to unlock and understand the Word of God. The computerized approach to unlocking these so called Bible codes is called Equidistant Letter Sequencing (EDS). When EDS is applied to other books, it produces results similar to those seen when it is applied to the Bible.

Bible Study Methods Bible Codes In other words, if you apply this method to any book, eventually you may find something that seems prophetic. However, this method and its interpretation are both highly subjective, and the words have to be interpreted in a strained way to arrive at any kind of predictive thought. EDS and Gematria are not legitimate approaches to understanding the Bible or any other book.

Bible Study Methods The Role of the Holy Spirit in Bible Study Methods We have already observed that the Bible has both human authors and a Divine Author. The Bible is breathed out by God to men who recorded His Word without error as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit inspired Scripture, we need His help to understand it. This is called the Spirit’s work of illumination (John 16: 12 -14). Since the Spirit inspired the Scriptures, we should not expect Him to contradict the authorial intent of Scripture when He illuminates it.

Bible Study Methods Can we understand God’s Word apart from the Work of the Holy Spirit? This question requires a nuanced answer. 1. Yes- if an unbeliever uses valid interpretive methods, he can comprehend much of the Bible. However, without the Holy Spirit this person’s understanding of the Bible will be limited. a. Sin has an effect on the whole person including the human mind. b. An unbeliever’s understanding of the Bible is going to be limited by the effects of the unbelieving preunderstanding that he brings to the text.

Bible Study Methods Can we understand God’s Word apart from the Work of the Holy Spirit? c. Understanding the Scriptures involves more than taking in information, it involves belief and application. 2. No- Will people without the Spirit accept the truth of the Bible and apply it to their lives? (1 Corinthians 2: 14)

Bible Study Methods What Help Should I Expect from the Holy Spirit As I Interpret the Scriptures? 1. Having the Holy Spirit does not mean that I do not have apply valid interpretive methods. The Bible is not only divinely inspired, but it is human. It follows the rules of human language and logic, and it was written to humans in specific historical/cultural settings. 2. The Spirit of God does not create meanings or provide new information. 3. The Spirit does not change the Bible to suit our purposes or to match our circumstances.

Bible Study Methods What Help Should I Expect from the Holy Spirit As I Interpret the Scriptures? 4. The Holy Spirit will bring the meaning of the Bible to bear on us when we study the Bible seeking to obey. 5. The Holy Spirit will use the Bible to sanctify us (Ephesians 1: 17 -19) Application Once we have come to understand the meaning of a text (interpretation) we move to application. Here are four steps involved in the process of applying the Scriptures:

Bible Study Methods 1. What did the text mean to the original audience? 2. What are the differences/similarities between the biblical audience and us? 3. What is theological principle in the text? 4. How should believers today apply theological principle in the text to their lives?