BIBLE STUDY METHODS 01 INTRODUCTION

Transcription

1 BIBLE STUDY METHODS 01 INTRODUCTION A simple way to approach the study of the Word of God is to think of Bible verses in terms of boxes. Go beyond your first impression. Be curious. Do not settle for a superficial look. Expand the little box (a single Scripture) into bigger boxes (multiple consecutive Scriptures that have a connection) or start with bigger boxes and go from large to small. Either way gives an accurate picture. Isolating a verse will not give you a true picture of the author s intent. BOOK OF JOHN (Gospel genre of literature) JOHN, Chapter 11 (Larger Literary context - Lazarus died) JOHN 11:1-44 (Immediate Literary Context of the narrative) JOHN 11:25 (Primary Verse) I am the resurrection and the life Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? BOOK OF ROMANS (An epistle written by Paul to whom?) ROMANS, Chapter 7 (What were the issues?) ROMANS, Chapter 8 (Is this connected to the issue in Romans 7?) ROMANS 7:7-8:39 ROMANS 7:24 ROMANS 8:2 Understanding the need to make these connections is the beginning of good Bible interpretation. This can be combined with connecting non-consecutive boxes with each other. Doing this often completes the picture and fills in the blanks, so you understand the complete principle or event you are studying. For example, three of the four Gospels record Jesus saying, take up his cross. 1

2 To get all the information of the incident, you must go to all three. (Matthew 16:24 NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 1. Jesus was talking to His disciples. (Mark 8:34 NKJV) When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 2. There were others with the disciples. He was speaking to them too. (If you only read Matthew s version, you would confine the conversation to Jesus and His disciples.) (Luke 9:23 NKJV) Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 3. Only Luke records Jesus saying that His followers must take up their crosses daily. Cross-bearing (or a sacrificial life) is to be an every-day lifestyle. How big is the box Luke 9:23 fits within? Verse to verse What will you find by seeking larger boxes? 1. Historical Context (Describe the times in which the particular Scripture occurs... where is it, what is going on and who is involved) Example: 1 Corinthians 2. Cultural Particulars Example: Jesus and the woman at the well: 1. What made this so important to Jesus mission? (What Scriptures back your answer? What was the significance of the well? Example: Book of Esther - What was Queen Esther s dilemma? 3. Related, important facts What circumstance caused Daniel to say what he did in Daniel 1:8? 2 VERSE S

3 4. People who are key and most relevant to the particular Scripture(s) Give an examples from Exodus 16. Acts 4 - Who are the three key people most important to the Chapter 4 narrative? Literary Context (What type of literature is it?) Genesis, Chapter 12 Psalms 91; Song of Songs; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes Isaiah; Jeremiah 6. Overriding Theological/Doctrinal Issues Paul s fundamental theology of Romans: The primary theological issue of Hebrews: 7. Possibly Time Issues (Is the text chronological?) Example: Genesis, Chapters 1 and 2 8. Find supporting Scriptures to verify your conclusions. EXEGESIS Exegesis is the systematic study of Scripture to learn the original meaning of the writer for his contemporary readers. This is primarily an historical task - to discover: o Occasion for writing (What was going on) o Purpose of the writings (Why the writer wrote what he did) o When possible, find additional related Scriptures to help explain the meaning and intent of the writer. 3

4 DANGER! Beware of interpreting Scripture from secondary sources (Bible dictionaries, books from the Christian bookstore, etc.). Do a thorough study of the Scriptures and let the Holy Spirit be your Guide. Only then, use secondary sources to fill in the blanks and enrich your study. EISEGESIS Eisegesis is the process of trying to make the Scriptures say what they never said. We do this to create, confirm or pass on to others doctrines and ideas that come from our personal need to make them say what we want them to say. We match them up to our own presuppositions or what others have taught us. We do this without discovering for ourselves what the truth should be. This is a process where we selectively pick what we want and ignore or avoid what does not help us prove or confirm it. Prevent this by looking at the bigger boxes. Find the relevant issues, such as the historical context, cultural particulars, and other related facts. HERMENEUTICS This is the task of converting proper exegesis into relevance for today. What does it mean to us in our contemporary world? What does it mean here in this specific place and for these specific people? Does it really apply at all to today s world in which we live? IT CAN NEVER MEAN WHAT IT NEVER ORIGINALLY MEANT! HOWEVER, THERE CAN BE, AND OFTEN IS A FULLER, DEEPER MEANING. (As we will see in later lessons, a Scripture, or even a category of the book of the Bible itself (its genre), can be either clear as to its meaning, or it can be (1) pure symbolism, (2) unclear and difficult or (3) impossible for us to understand.) Look at the boxes. The bigger box is going to be built on smaller boxes. The smaller box will not stand alone without the bigger boxes (There will be exceptions to this rule, such as Proverbs or some of the Psalms.) The fuller, more accurate meaning requires that we identify and use the contexts (bigger boxes). Resist the temptation to settle for a box that leaves out too much information or is too easily misinterpreted. 4

5 USE COMMON SENSE! Cults are built on the acceptance of lies, manipulation of Scripture, nonsense and a willingness to base doctrine and theology on eisegesis. If the Scripture goes against what your heart tells you is right for today, it may be the Holy Spirit helping you to see the Scripture is not instructional for proper living today. Yes, this happens. Do not expect the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible writers to produce nonsense. This goes against the Spirit s character. DEFINITIONS (Eurofield Information Solutions Wordgenius Dictionary, incorporating Webster s Random House Dictionary content) Doctrine: 1. A particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion 2. A body or system of teachings relating to a particular subject: the doctrine of a Church Theology: 1. The field of study and analysis of God and of God's attributes and relations to the universe; the study of divine things or religious truth; divinity 2. A particular form, system, or branch of this study Class Exercise: Genesis, Chapter 3 1. Historical Context 2. Cultural Particulars 3. Related Important Facts 4. People who are key and most relevant to the particular Scripture(s) _ 5. Literary Context (What type of literature is it?) 6. Overriding Theological/Doctrinal Issues and 7. Time Issues (Give Reference) 8. Find supporting Scriptures (N.T. please) 5