Recap Gaps Time, Culture, Geography, Read a book at a time
PRINCIPLES TO UNDERSTAND
- There are repetition in the Bible (emphasis, new perspective)
- Matthew-King of the Jewsènew bel
- Mark-Servant/Servanthood/persecution èUnbel Did
- Luke-Son of Man (real human, sorrow, hungry, tired)èUnbel Said
- John-Son of God (Divinity)èOld Believers
- Parables of Jesus, repeated
- Chronicles vs Kings (originally one book)
- Chr Priestèafter the exile (Good things)
- Kings-Prophet,èBefore the exile (Bad things)
- To understand a part(book) you must understand the whole (Bible) (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah) (connection e.g Judges,Kings
- Look out for virtual partitions in the books(shift of focus) (Joshua ch 1-11 (war) 11-end (distribution) Acts 1-12 (Peter) ch 12-28 (Paul) OT don’t NT do
- Different types of books demand different approaches
- History Books:1 kg,Samuel,Judges, Joshua main event,
- Gospels(History)
- Prophets:who were they ministering to Isreal Judah, foreign land
- Letters:1 Cor,Hebrews (The issue of correction,Cor Theme; Galatian(Legalism)directive)
- PoetryèProverbs,Psalms(song and Prayer), Eccl, Job (Proverb one a day, ying yang)
Questions to ask as you study the Bible
- What is the POINT of the passage?
- Who is talking
- Who is being addressed
- What are the events surrounding this
- Where is the verse occurring
- When was it written?
- How-something was said or done
- What is the verse not saying
- What is implied but not said.
- What did the verse mean to those original audience
- Where is this thought found in a PARALLEL passage? Isam 2, 2v52
- What are the PROBLEMS in this passage?
- What are some PRACTICAL applications for this passage?
- Any lesson(s) for me?
- Any warning(s) for me?
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Four principles should guide us as we interpret the bible:
Why was the book written, who wrote the book? To whom was it written,
- literal,
- historical,
- grammatical, and
- The Literal Principle.
Scripture should be understood in its literal, normal, and natural sense.While the bible does contain figures of speech and symbols,they were intended to convey literal truth.In general, however, the bible speaks in literal terms, and we must allow it To speak for itself.
- The Historical Principle. This means that we interpret a Passage in its historical context. We must ask what the text meant to the people to Who it was first written.In this way we can develop a proper contextual understanding of The original intent of Scripture.
- The Grammatical Principle.
This requires that we understand the basic grammatical structure of each sentence in
The original language. To whom do the pronouns refer?What is the tense of the main verb? You will find that when you ask some simple questions like those, the meaning of the text immediately becomes clearer.
4.The Synthesis Principle.
This is what the Reformers call the analogia scriptura. It means that the Bible does Not contradict itself.If we arrive at an interpretation of a passage that contradicts a truth taught elsewhere in the Scriptures, our interpretation cannot be correct. Scripture must be compared with Scripture to discover its full meaning.
Conclusion
. What is the POINT of the passage?
A key to effective Bible study is to focus on the main point of the passage. It is easy to become side-tracked by looking into insignificant details. When you do that, you usually miss the whole point of a passage. Even some Bible teachers have become side-tracked on matters like the number of details in Noah’s ark and missed the whole point of God’s saving purpose in providing the ark for Noah and his family during the flood.
As you study the Bible, you need to constantly ask the question, “What is the POINT of the passage?” Most students of the Bible find there is far more truth to be gleaned from the Scriptures when Scriptures can speak for themselves, than when you go looking for things that are not there, or things that really are not that important.
b. Where is this thought found in a PARALLEL passage?
To make a passage of Scripture come alive, begin by attempting to write out the point of each verse in the chapter. If it is a story, write out the point of the story. Why is it in the Bible? The second step in your study of a biblical passage is to ask, “Is there another description of this event somewhere else in the Bible?”
- What are the problems in this passage?
Solving problems can also be an important part of your Bible study. You often learn most when you are motivated to solve a significant problem in your life or the life of someone close to you. Therefore, as you begin your Bible study, take time to clarify the problems you find. Write them down. List problems whose solutions are obvious to you, these problems may be an obstacle to someone else. Problem solving is an effective way of teaching. As you suggest solutions in class, you may help someone else. Begin by writing out the problems that are easy and then those that stump you. You probably will not solve a problem until you first clarify it by writing it down.
- What are some PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSfrom this passage? Personal Bible study should always be practical. James urged his readers, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). The goal in our Bible study should be the discovery of principles by which we live our Christian life
