Accurately Handling God s Word A Seminar to Help the Christian Develop a Clear, Accurate Understanding of the Bible

Transcription

1 Accurately Handling God s Word A Seminar to Help the Christian Develop a Clear, Accurate Understanding of the Bible by Chuck McCaul The foundational presupposition of this seminar is that the Bible is God s inerrant Word to mankind. The Bible is the most important book in the history of mankind. It is of the utmost importance for mankind to clearly understand God s Word. In order to completely and accurately understand the Bible we must follow certain proven methods of study and research lest we distort God s Word (2 Peter 3:16). Subjects to be Studied in this Seminar 1. Understanding the Bible The Need to Interpret the Bible... 8 A. The Historical Gap... 9 B. The Geographical Gap... 9 C. The Historical Gap D. The Linguistic Gap The Context Principle of Interpreting the Bible A. The Whole of Scripture Context B. The Testament Context D. The Book Context E. The Passage Context Understanding the Language of the Bible A. Understand Figurative Language B. Understanding Prophecy C. How to do Word Studies The Need to Understand the Whole Counsel of the Word of God (How to do Topical Studies) 6. How to do Character Studies How to Study a Passage of the Bible How to Correctly Apply the Bible Summary: How to do Accurate Interpretation... 41

2 1 Understanding the Bible Everybody Has a Foundational Belief-system Everyone has a basis of authority which becomes a base of operation for his thinking and doing. Sometimes that basis of authority is a complex system that the person is consciously aware of, and other times they are not even cognizant that they have such a thing as a basis of authority. But everyone does. The authority of the world religions would be the teachings of their founders or the ancient writings upon which their religion was established. Some base their authority upon human reasoning. They, themselves are the judge of right and wrong, good and bad. Their decisions and lifestyle are based upon what they feel is appropriate. Others are influenced by the writings of poets, historians, or philosophers. The writings of these men and women are referred to as the foundation for their world-view and philosophy for life. The Catholic Church sees the church as the seat of authority. The Bible is believed, but it is interpreted by the church leaders and when the Pope speaks "ex cathedra" his word is on an equal level of authority as the Scriptures. The evangelical Christian's basis of authority is found within the framework of the revelation of God. The Bible is part of that revelation. When we speak about salvation, Jesus Christ, or any subject found in the Bible we are making an assumption that the Bible is worthy of our respect and can legitimately stand as a source of authority. Not all people hold this view. Many, if not most, today deny the validity of the Bible and relegate it to the place of a novel or ancient historical book worthy only of wise sayings and stories. It is believed that one may pick and choose from the Bible, because there is some truth in it, but certainly it is not the basis for living today. This study is designed to address some of these issues and to instill a confidence in the Christian that the Bible is both historically and morally accurate, and is the inspired Word of God to man, to be read, obeyed, and lived out in all areas of life today and forever. We believe it is the moral, social, and spiritual standard for humankind and is relevant today as it was when it was first penned. 2

3 The Uniqueness of the Bible Whether one believes the Bible is inspired or not, it must certainly be acknowledged that the Bible is a unique book. It is different from all others and has no equal. It stands apart from other ancient historical and religious literature. When speaking with skeptics, the uniqueness of the Bible is something they are forced to acknowledge. UNIQUE IN ITS UNITY A. The Bible was written over a span of 1600 years by over 40 different authors. The authors came from various walks of life, including kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, and scholars. B. The Bible was written in different places, at different times, and on different continents, yet it maintains its unity. It was written in the wilderness, a dungeon, a prison, in the countryside. It was written during military campaigns and exiles, in palaces, and in homes. It was written by writers living in Asia, Europe, and Africa. C. The Bible was written in three different languages: Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew. D. The Bible's subject matter includes hundreds of controversial subjects, yet their are no opposing opinions or contradictory statements. All the writers mainlined a central theme: God s plan of redemption for mankind. E. As Josh McDowell mentions in his book Evidence That Demands a Verdict, If you would take ten authors, all from one walk of life, one generation, one place, one time, one continent, one language, and one controversial subject and ask them to write, the result would be conglomeration, not unity. Nevertheless, the Bible maintains its unity in the face of tremendous odds that would suggest the very opposite. Truly, the Bible is a unique book! 3

4 UNIQUE IN ITS CIRCULATION The Bible has been read by more people and published in more languages than any other book. It was the first book printed by a printing press (Gutenberg in the early 1500's), and there have been more copies produced of its entirety and more portions and selections than any other book in history. In its overall circulation there is no book that reaches or compares to the circulation of the Bible over the years. While this doesn't prove the Bible is the Word of God, it does show that the Bible is unique! UNIQUE IN ITS SURVIVAL A. The Bible, compared with other ancient writings, has more manuscript evidence than any other piece of classical literature. B. While being written on parchment, material that perishes, it has survived the effects of time and nature. C. The Bible has withstood vicious attacks of its enemies as no other book. Many have tried to burn it, ban it, and legally outlaw it, yet it still survives and is thriving. D. The Bible has also withstood the attacks of critics and skeptics. Someone said that the anvils of infidels have been pecking away at this book for ages, but the hammers are worn out, and the anvil still endures. No other book has been criticized, scrutinized, and sifted as the Bible. While none of the above proves that the Bible is the Word of God, it nevertheless proves that the Bible is a unique book. Anyone who is honestly searching for truth would be amiss if he did not consider the book that has drawn more attention than any other. 4

5 What Does The Bible Say About Itself? The English word "Bible" comes from the Greek words biblos and biblion, which mean "book." Ancient books were written on the biblus, or papyrus reed, and from this custom came the Greek name biblos, which finally came to be applied to the sacred books. This brief study examines what the Bible says about itself. THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN BY MEN UPON WHOM THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVED 2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. THE BIBLE IS ABLE TO GIVE ONE WISDOM THAT LEADS TO SALVATION 2 Timothy 3:15 And how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED BY GOD 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, THE BIBLE WILL BRING GAIN TO A PERSON'S LIFE (IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE) 2 Timothy 3:16 THE BIBLE IS USEFUL FOR INSTRUCTION IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE 2 Timothy 3:16 THE BIBLE IS USEFUL TO ADMONISH AND CONFUTE THOSE IN ERROR 2 Timothy 3:16 5

6 THE BIBLE IS USEFUL TO HELP PEOPLE STAND FIRMLY IN LIFE 2 Timothy 3:16 THE BIBLE IS USEFUL TO BRING PEOPLE TO MATURITY (COUNSELING) 2 Timothy 3:16 THE BIBLE IS USEFUL TO BRING EQUITY OF CHARACTER 2 Timothy 3:16 THE BIBLE EQUIPS AND MAKES ADEQUATE THE MAN OR WOMAN OF GOD 2 Timothy 3:17 So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. THE BIBLE WILL BRING FRUITFUL LIVING AND PROSPERITY Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. THE BIBLE RESTORES THE SOUL OF MAN Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. THE BIBLE GIVES WISDOM TO THE SIMPLE-MINDED Psalm 19:7 The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. THE BIBLE BRINGS JOY TO THE HEART Psalm 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. THE BIBLE GIVES UNDERSTANDING Psalm 19:8 The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 6

7 THE BIBLE IS TRUE Psalm 19:9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and righteous. THE BIBLE WARNS US AND BRINGS A GREAT REWARD Psalm 19:11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. THE BIBLE CAN CAUSE A YOUNG MAN TO REMAIN PURE Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. THE BIBLE WILL HELP US FROM SINNING AGAINST GOD Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. THE BIBLE IS A LAMP AND GUIDE FOR OUR LIVES Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. The Bible is God s Word. God revealed himself to men through visions, dreams, angels, voices from heaven, manifestations of the Angel of the Lord, inner impressions, and prophetic words. While each man retained his own personality and literary style, the Holy Spirit guided him as to what He wanted written and communicated. The Bible is infallible and inerrant. Every word is inspired. It has no error. 7

8 2 The Need to Interpret the Bible What Has God Said to Mankind? It is recognized by Christians throughout history and the world that the One True God has spoken, but it is not so clear what he has said! The multitude of Christian denominations are a testimony to the confusion and difference of opinion which exist on what the Bible is actually saying. The early church faced the same dilemma (1 Timothy 1:18-20; 6:3-5; 2 Peter 3:16). Our goal is to have a clear and accurate understanding of the words of God. There are laws which govern literature. While the Bible is the inspired Word of God, nevertheless, it is still written literature and while the authors were inspired to write exactly as the Holy Spirit directed them, nevertheless they used universal laws of writing. These laws apply to the interpretation of the Bible. The literary methods of writing the Scripture give rise to the principles of interpreting Scripture. For example, some accounts of the Bible are historical in nature. Others are parables, symbols or other common figures of speech. Understanding the definitions of original words are important if we want a clear and accurate understanding of the Bible. In fact, as we ll see in this lesson, there are four gaps which need to be bridged before we can have a clear and accurate understanding of the words of God. Hermeneutics is the science of interpretation. The goal is to bridge the gap between the sender and the receiver of the message. God: Infinite Holy Incomprehensible God must frame his thoughts in a way that man may understand. Man: Finite Sinful Limited in Knowledge Man must interpret God s thoughts and apply them to his current situation. Romans 1:21 Ephesians 4:17-18 God has chosen to bridge the communication gap by the use of words. We must understand the meaning of those words. His original communication to us is through a particular culture and point in history. That culture and time in history is very different from ours. We must seek to understand the context of the language, culture, and place in history when God spoke in order to gain a clear and accurate understanding of His Words. Then we must apply them to our own culture. 8

9 Bridging Four Gaps THE HISTORICAL GAP A. The Problem: The historical context of the biblical writers differs greatly from that of the modern-day reader. B. The Solution: The way to bridge the historical gap is to become familiar with the historical setting of the events in the Bible. 1. Understand the chronology of the Bible. What book of the Bible fits into what period of time? Who prophesied to whom, ruled over whom, ruled after whom? Who was this book written to? When, where? What were the circumstances? This is especially useful when trying to understand the prophetical books of the Bible. 2. Understand the political history of the Bible. Which government is influencing God s people and what is the nature of that influence? For example, the ten plagues on Egypt were a confrontation with the ten gods of Egypt. During the exodus and conquest of Canaan many of the surrounding nations were relatives of the Israelites. The visions of Daniel are intricately fulfilled in the succeeding world empires. The policies and practices of Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome affected their relationships to Israel. 3. Understand the religious history of Israel and it s neighboring nations. Who was Molech, Baal, Ashterah, Atremis (Diana)? THE GEOGRAPHICAL GAP A. The Problem: The geographical context of the Bible is foreign to the modern-day reader. B. The Solution: Become familiar with the geography of the Bible. 1. Understand where cities, provinces, regions, and nations are located. What does it mean, From Dan to Beersheba? Where is Nineveh from Joppa? What s the significance of Samaria? 2. Understand where mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas are located. What s the difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Sea of Chinnerth or Tiberias? How far did the land promised to Abraham reach? 9

10 3. Understand the kind of animals and plants referred to in the Bible. For example, what did the crown of thorns look like? What was the tabernacle covered with? Did they use a badger s skin or a porpoise s skin? What is a behemoth or leviathon mentioned in the Book of Job? What s the significance of the eagle, serpent, ants, badgers, conies locusts and lizards mentioned in the Book of Proverbs? What does it mean to have eyes like doves and resemble a flock of goats? It would be very difficult to appreciate the inspired Word of God in the Song of Solomon if you didn t understand the animals and plants of the day. THE CULTURAL GAP A. The Problem: The cultural context of the Bible differs vastly from that of modern-day readers. B. The Solution: Seek to understand the various cultural settings of what your reading. 1. Understand the manner in which things are done and why they are done. For example, what is a Kinsman-Redeemer? What is the Levirate Law? What s the significance of a seal on Christ s tomb and the use of vinegar at his crucifixion? 2. Understand the implements of the culture. What happened during a siege on a city? What was an alabaster box of ointment? What were the different kinds of swords used? What was an ephod and various other types of clothing mentioned in the Bible and used as symbolism? THE LINGUISTIC GAP A. The Problem: The Bible was written in three foreign languages. All of them ancient and no longer in use. B. The Solution: Seek to understand the language of the Bible. 1. Understand the vocabulary of biblical words. (Galatians 5:16-17) 2. Understand the grammar in a particular sentence. (Matthew 7:7-12) 3. Understand the literary style of the language. Is it prophetical, figurative, idiomatic, symbolic, or poetic? Words, phrases, and meaning are different when used in different styles of writing. Knowing the style helps us to recognize when something is literal and not figurative, or figurative and not literal. 10

11 TOOLS FOR BRIDGING THE FOUR GAPS A. A good study Bible. Some people prefer to read from a Bible which has no notations. Personally, I prefer to have a Bible which has chain references and other helpful information readily available. If it has a commentary section in it, I realize that these are men s ideas which may or may not be helpful or correct. The Thompson Chain Reference Bible is full of helpful study aids and does not have any commentary. The Ryrie Study Bible and Scoefield Reference Bible also have helpful information in them, but both come from a dispensationalist theology. The Open Bible has good information, as well as the Spirit-Filled Bible, although it, too comes from a biased theology. B. Tools to bridge the Historical Gap. 1. A book that gives you a survey of the Bible. 2. Bible Dictionaries or Bible Encyclopedias often have several paragraphs explaining various historical settings. 3. A Bible Handbook is similar to a Bible Dictionary. It often combines several other reference books into one. C. Tools to bridge the Geographical Gap. 1. Use the maps in the back of your Bible. 2. Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias. D. Tools to bridge the Cultural Gap. 1. Manners and Customs books explain the manners and customs of the times. A series of books exists entitled All the..(fill in the blank!) of the Bible. All the men, women, prophets, cites, and a multitude of other comprehensive bits of information. The series is written by Herbert Lockyer. 2. A Bible handbook also helps bridge this gap. E. Tools to bridge the Language Gap. 1. An exhaustive concordance, such as Strong s or Young s Exhaustive Concordance. 2. Hebrew/Greek Dictionaries, such as Vine s Expository Dictionary or Word Pictures in the New Testament by A.T. Robertson or Word Studies in the New Testament by Kenneth Wuest. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament is good for Old Testament Word Studies. 11

12 3. The Daily Study Bible series is a series of short, devotional commentaries by William Barclay which are excellent for bridging the Language Gap. F. Basic tools recommended for understanding the Bible: A Bible handbook or Bible dictionary, A Strong s Concordance or a Vine s Dictionary, A Survey of the Bible book. 12

13 The Context Principle of Interpreting the Bible We Must Understand Biblical Truths Within Their Context 3 The Apostle Peter made mention of the Apostle Paul s writings, as well as the other Scriptures, being distorted (2 Peter 3:16). Distorting and twisting Scriptures to make them say what one wants them to say has been a threat to the truth since they were first penned. Many unlearned, and some deceivers, inaccurately interpret the Bible, as well as inappropriately apply it as a result of taking a verse out of its context. Have you ever been misquoted or had someone take something you said and misrepresent you because they haven t heard your full statement or they don t understand one statement in light of your complete belief on that subject or in light of the context in which you made the statement. Anybody who works with the public is in jeopardy of being misquoted as a result of a statement taken out of its context. The interpretation of any verse is determined by a consideration of its context. The Context Principle of interpreting Scripture signifies the connection of thought running through either the whole of Scripture, a Testament, a book of the Bible, or a particular passage. The Context Principle is the First Principle of Hermeneutics: Scripture interprets Scripture. The part can never be understood without an understanding of the whole and the whole cannot be understood without knowing the meaning of its parts. The interpreter must interpret the whole with a knowledge of its parts and interpret each part in light of the whole. Imagine the Bible as a tree with one trunk, two branches (the Old and New Testaments), several smaller branches (the books of the Bible), more smaller branches extending the larger ones (individual passages), and leaves (specific words). The tree cannot be understood by the leaves or branches only, it must be understood as a whole. Nevertheless, in order to understand the whole, one must understand each part. The context of the Bible falls into four categories: 1. The context of the whole of Scripture. 2. The context of the testament. 3. The context of the book. 4. The context of the passage. 13

14 THE WHOLE OF SCRIPTURE CONTEXT A. Understand the purpose of the Bible. The Bible was not written primarily as a science textbook, a historical textbook, an archeological textbook, nor even a detailed account of the history of Israel or the life of Jesus Christ. God inspired the writings of the prophets and apostles for one purpose: That mankind might come to know Jesus Christ (John 20:31). When the authors of the Bible speak about scientific, historical, or archeological subjects their words are in accordance to the truth, but if God answered all the questions we might have about these and life in general the Bible would be more than sixty-six small books, it would be a library (John 21:25). That was not God s intention. B. Understand the truths that are woven in Scripture and developed throughout the history of its writing. For example, the Old Testament saints didn t have a clear understanding of the Church. The fact that Gentiles would be invited to partake of God s covenant was mentioned, but not clearly understood even by the prophets themselves (Ephesians 3:2-6; 1 Peter 1:10-12). The promise of the Messiah which was made to Adam and Eve was further developed as God continued to bring greater revelation to succeeding generations. The same is true of death and eternal life, the Kingdom of God, tithing, the Sabbath, ceremonies and festival days, and other subjects. When we open our Bible to a particular verse and discover a truth, to accurately understand how that truth and how it applies to me it s important to understand at what stage the truth is in its development in God s revelation to mankind. That brings us to the next category of contextual interpretation: THE TESTAMENT CONTEXT Within the whole of Scripture the context of any verse is the Testament in which it is found. Each of the two Testaments has its own distinctive character and emphasis. We must understand the Testament context to accurately understand and apply the verse or passage to our life. As a general rule, The Old is interpreted by the New. The New Testament Apostles are the infallible interpreters of the Old Testament prophets. Old Testament types, shadows, symbols, and promises find their fulfillment in the New Testament. The Old Testament (Covenant) is fulfilled by the New Testament (Covenant). Refer to the following Scriptures: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-27; Hebrews 8:6; 10:

15 The writings of the Old Testament are written to give us insight into God s overall plan and His history with mankind. True stories are recorded to provide an example, both good and bad, for us. It is written to prepare our hearts to receive the Savior, to reveal God s character and, to testify of his existence and to teach us his ways. Consider the following Scriptures which reveal why the Old Testament was written: Psalm 119:30 Proverbs 6:23 Romans 15:4 1 Corinthians 10:11 Keep in mind that technically, the Old Testament was not written to Christians. It was written primarily to the twelve tribes of Israel - God s covenant people. Some of it was written to Gentile nations and of course some of it was meant to be understood by New Covenant Christians. But we interpret the words of the Old Covenant through the New Covenant. The cross is the filter by which we interpret the Old Testament. The cross is the key to biblical interpretation of the Old Testament. What happened at the cross pertaining to temporal elements in the Old Covenant (as also the temporal elements in all other covenants) becomes the key to understanding and experiencing New Covenant realities. The cross is the dividing point of the Old and New Covenants. At the cross the Jews and the Gentiles were reconciled to God in one body - the body of Christ. (cf. Romans 9:4; Ephesians 2:11-12) At the cross animal sacrifices and oblations, the Levitical priesthood, and the whole tabernacle and temple services were abolished. Some things go to the cross and are fulfilled and abolished there. Some things go to the cross and then through it into the New Covenant, to a higher and spiritual level. All students of the Bible need to ask themselves these questions: Was this truth from the Old Testament fulfilled by Christ and abolished by him? Is this truth confirmed and re-established in the New Covenant by the New Covenant apostles and prophets? Under the Old Covenant God portrayed in shadowy form many things which would become a reality under the New Covenant in and through the church (1 Corinthians 10:6; Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 8:5-13; 9:1-10; 10:12a). Many have been confused, not knowing the difference between the shadow and the substance and have thus missed the great truths of our New Covenant Relationship with Christ and the truths of the church. 15

16 Old Testament Shadows New Testament Realities Physical Circumcision Heart Circumcision Genesis 17: Exodus 12:43-50 Colossians 2:11-17 Natural Israel Exodus 19:3; 1 Kings 12:21 Spiritual Israel Galatians 6:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 2:28-29 Natural Temple Spiritual Temple 1 Chronicles 28-29; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ezekiel Ephesians 2:19-22 Natural Priesthood Spiritual Priesthood Numbers 18; Exodus Revelation 1:6; 5: Peter 2:5-9 Natural Sacrifices Spiritual Sacrifices Leviticus 1-7; 17:11-14` Hebrews 10:1-2; 13:15 1 Thess. 5:18; Phil. 4:13-19; Romans 12:1 Natural Incense Spiritual Incense (Prayer) Exodus 30:1-10; 37:25-28 Psalm 141:1-2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4 Natural Kingdom Spiritual Kingdom Exodus 19:3-6; 1 Samuel 8:1-9 Matthew 4:22; 9:35; Revelation 11:14; Romans 14:17; John 18:36 Natural Sabbath Spiritual Sabbath Leviticus 23:1-3; 25:1-7 Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:1-11; Colossians 2:16-17 Natural Jerusalem Spiritual Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 11:4-9; Hebrews 11:10-11; 2 Samuel 5:1-10 Revelation 21-22; Hebrews 12:22-24 We of course should read the Old Testament Scriptures and seek to apply eternal principles to our lives, but we should be careful to rightly divide God s Word and understand not everything in the Old Testament can be applied to us. We must interpret the Old in light of the New. 2 Timothy 2:15 THE BOOK CONTEXT Each book of the Bible was written by a different author, to a different group of people, in a different period of time and for a different purpose. Discovering the purpose of each book will aid us in 16

17 accurately interpreting any particular verse within that book and accurately applying it to our life. The use of a good book with gives a survey of each book of the Bible is helpful here. Two such books are: What the Bible is All About, by Henrietta C. Mears Explore the Book, by J. Sidlow Baxter. These books will give you the historical context of the book: When was it written, where was it written, under what circumstances was it written? You should take the pains yourself to discover the content of the book. This involves: A. Reading the book looking for its theme. B. Reading the book looking for broad thoughts. C. Making an outline of the book. Each book has a central theme. Just like writing a letter, the biblical author had something in mind when the Holy Spirit moved upon him to pen his thoughts. When an author writes, more often than not his thoughts are linked together and built upon one another. The exception to this may be the Prophetical Books and the Poetical Books. We want to follow the author s chain of thought and notice when he makes a parenthesis (an amplification or explanatory phrase or sentence inserted in a passage) or concludes his thought and moves to another. We do this in letters by starting another paragraph. Sometimes the author s parenthesis can be quite lengthy - perhaps even a chapter or two. Read The Book Looking For Its Central Theme Read the book at least four times. Read it through at one setting. Look for a common theme. Now write out what you perceive to be the overall theme of the book. By looking at re-occurring words or phrases you may discover the theme of the book. Read The Book Looking For Broad Thoughts Usually one chapter carries with it one broad thought, but this is not always true. Sometimes more than one broad thought is contained in the chapter and sometimes the thought spills over into the next chapter. You want to read the book discerning and recording where the author changes his general chain of thought. Write down from what verse to what verse the thought is contained and give the section a title. Example: Ephesians 6: The Believer s Spiritual Armory Example: Philippians 2:1-30. The Believer s Call to Servanthood 17

18 Make an Outline of The Book The purpose of an outline is to give a logical progression of the main or principle ideas of a subject. It is the organization of material in logical form. An outline is like a skeleton, the bones without the flesh. It is a way to list the important points and supporting facts in a concise form. Organize your outline as follows: A. Main topics are the central ideas. They should be briefly and clearly stated and not too numerous. They are denoted by Roman Numerals: I, II, III... B. Subtopics are the topics which explain the main topics. They are denoted by capital letters: A, B, C... C. Sub points are the points which explain the topics. They are denoted by Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3... If further subdivisions are necessary they should be noted in progression as: a. 1) a) (1) (a) Be sure the subdivisions either clarify, classify, define, serve as examples, list details, and/or illustrate. An example of an outline of a book is: Ephesians: Leaning to Live For Christ I. Our Riches in Christ, 1:3-23 II. Our Relationship Through Christ, 2:1-22 III. Our Destiny From Christ, 3:1-21 IV. Our Walk For Christ, 4:1-6:20 THE PASSAGE CONTEXT Within the whole of Scripture, the Testaments, and the books of the Bible, we must also interpret each verse in light of its immediate context. Each book of the Bible is divided into passages, each dealing with related or unrelated subjects. Outlining helps us discern those chains of thought. An example of an outline of a passage is: I. Our Riches in Christ, 1:3-23 A. Chosen in Christ, 1:3-4 B. Predestined in Christ, 1:5-6 18

19 C. Redeemed in Christ, 1:7-8a D. Initiated in Christ, 1:8b-10a E. Heirs in Christ, 1:10b-12 F. Sealed in Christ, 1:13-14 G. Enlightened in Christ, 1:15-23 As we ponder a particular verse in the Bible we should ask ourselves, What is the immediate context of this verse? What is the author talking about before and after this verse? How is this verse linked to the ones before and after it? 19

20 4 Understanding the Language of the Bible Common Figures of Speech It is startling to realize that much of God s Word is not literally true! Some of the most precious and important statements simply cannot be taken as they stand: This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light. 1 John 1:5 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up. John 11:11 Now you are the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God s mighty hand, that in due time he may lift you up. 1 Peter 4:6 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature. Colossians 3:5 God has been pleased to give us the revelation of his will in words. It is therefore absolutely necessary that we should not merely understand the meaning of the words, but also the laws which govern their usage. All language is governed by laws, but in order to increase the power of a word or the force of an expression, these laws are often departed from and words or sentences are put into new forms or figures. When applied to words, a figure denotes some form which a word or sentence takes, different from its ordinary and natural form. This is always for the purpose of giving additional force, more life, intensified feeling, and greater emphasis. Following are some common figures of speech: SIMILE A simile is a declaration that one thing resembles another. It is a comparison by resemblance. It is a cold, clear, plain statement as to a resemblance between words and things. They are often marked by words such as as, like as, even as or like. A simile differs from a Comparison in that comparisons admit of dis-similarities as well as resemblances. It differs from Allegory in that allegory names only one of the two things and leaves us to find and make the resemblance with the other ourselves. It differs from Metaphor in that it merely states a resemblance, while metaphor boldly transfers the representation. It differs from Hypocatastasis in that the latter only implies the resemblance, while a Simile states it. 20

21 Psalm 1:3; Matthew 9:36; 1 Peter 2:25 Sometimes a Simile is really used as a figure, implying not only merely resemblance, but the actual thing itself. Psalm 122:3; John 1:14 Sometimes the word as is followed by the word so to strengthen and heighten the comparison. Isaiah 24:2; 55:10-11 METAPHOR A Metaphor is a declaration that one thing is (or represents) another. It is a comparison by representation. While the Simile says All flesh is like grass (1 Peter 1:24), the Metaphor carries the figure across at once and says All flesh is grass (Isaiah 40:6). A Metaphor is confined to a distinct affirmation that one thing is another thing, owing to some connection in the uses or effects of anything expressed and understood. The two nouns themselves must be mentioned, and are always to be taken in their absolute literal sense. The meaning of the one is carried across, or transferred to another thing. Psalm 23:1; 84:11-12; 91:4; Matthew 5:13; 26:26; John 6:35; 8:12; 10:9; 15:15; Revelation 1:20; 5:8; 16:14; 17:9 IMPLICATION (HYPOCATASTASIS) This is a declaration that implies the resemblance or representation. It is a comparison by implication. Only one noun is named and the other is implied, or as it were, it is put down underneath, out of sight. For example, one may say, You are a beast. This is Metaphor. You are like a beast. This is a Simile. If, however one simply says, Beast! this would be an implication. Psalm 22:16-17; Matthew 5:29-30; 15:13; 16:6-12; 15:26 ALLEGORY An Allegory is a continued comparison by representation or implication. It is a continuation of a Metaphor and/or Implication. It teaches or tells us something beyond what is said. Allegory is always stated in the past tense, and never in the future. This it is distinguished from Prophecy. Isaiah 5:1-6; Galatians 4:21-27; Judges 9:

22 PARABLE A Parable is a comparison by a continued resemblance. It is a placing beside for the purpose of comparison. It is an illustration by which one set of circumstances is likened to another. It consists of likeness, not representation. This likeness is generally only in some special point. The likeness is not to be pressed at all points. The thing, history, or story may be true or imaginary, but the events must be possible or likely to happen, otherwise it is a Fable. Jesus spoke Parables to veil the truth to those with hard hearts and to reveal it to those with open hearts. An Allegory contains implicitly within itself or its context its own interpretation, in that one thing is stated as being another. A parable will either state its comparison explicitly (Matthew 13:31), or not at all, and will require explanation outside of itself to know what is being compared. Matthew 21:33-41; 25:1-12; Chapter 13; Luke 14:16-24 TYPE A type is a figure or example of something future and more or less prophetic, called and Antitype. The theological use of the word agrees more with what in the New Testament is called a shadow. Types are to be viewed as a select group of symbols having a prophetic and foreshadowing characteristics. A symbol is one thing standing for another, while a type is a prophetic representation; one thing pre-figuring another. Types may involve symbols, but symbols are themselves never types. Types may be found in persons (Romans 5:12-21), offices (Hebrews 5:1-10), institutions (Hebrews 8:1-5), and events (1 Corinthians 10:1-11). These categories overlap in Scripture. An event may include persons, offices, and institutions (Leviticus 16). We should allow the New Testament apostles to interpret the Old Testament types. I feel many teachers of the Bible have stretched and perhaps even distorted the Scriptures in their attempt to symbolize and prove as a type many things from the Old Testament. It may be safer to say that a particular event in the Old Testament is an example for New Testament believers rather than a type. Romans 5:14; Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17; Leviticus 1-5; 1 Kings 1:34; Exodus 25-40; Matthew 12:39-41; Genesis 37-50; Exodus 28; Genesis 6-9 SYMBOL A symbol is a material object substituted for a moral or 22

23 spiritual truth. One thing is often used to represent something else because of common characteristics. God uses natural things to become spiritual symbols. The language of creation becomes the language of redemption. Generally speaking, the Bible interprets its own symbols. Thus, the interpreter must search the Scriptures for the interpretation. Something may be used to symbolize more than one thing in Scripture (i.e., - the lion). There are symbolic objects, creatures, actions, numbers, names, directions, and colors. Hosea 7:8; Revelation 1:20; Daniel 7:17; Isaiah 40:31; John 1:29; Psalm 141:1-2; Genesis 25:23-26; Joshua 1:3; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Revelation 13:18; 1 Samuel 25:25; 4:21; Hosea 1:9; John 1:42; Isaiah 1:18; Mark 15:17-18; Revelation 19:8; Ezekiel 43:1-2 METONYMY A Metonymy changes one noun for another related noun. Metonymy is not founded upon resemblance, but on relation. It includes when the doer is put for the thing done, or the instrument for that which is affected, or the action is put for the effect produced by the action. It also includes when the effect is put for the cause or when anything is put for one thing itself. For example, in Genesis 9:27, Japheth s name actually represents his descendants; in Romans 9:13 Esau actually represents all of his descendants and in Luke 16:29 Moses is used to actually represent his writings. In Proverbs 25:15 the tongue is used to represent persuasive speech. John 3:34; 6:63; Ezekiel 34:23; Psalm 16:10; 2 Samuel 3:12; Leviticus 26:6 PERSONIFICATION A Personification is a non-personal or non-living thing spoken about as though it were a person. An object is given characteristics or attributes that belong to a person. This includes members of the human body, animals, products of the earth, inanimate objects, kingdoms, countries, states, and human actions. Deuteronomy 13:8; 1 Kings 20:6; Psalm 35:10; Job 12:7; Leviticus 19:23; Joel 1:10; Genesis 4:10; Exodus 19:18; Joshua 24:27; Isaiah 1:5-6; 2 Samuel 20:19; Genesis 4:7; Psalm 85:10; Revelation 18:5 HYPERBOLE A Hyperbole is when more is said that what is literally meant. It is an exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis. 23

24 Genesis 2:24; 42:28; Deuteronomy 1:28; Judges 20:16; 1 Samuel 5:12; Proverbs 23:8; Luke 14:26; John 3:26 ANTHROPOMORPHISM This is ascribing human attributes to God. God is much greater than humans, but to communicate with them he must use language which they can understand. Therefore to express himself clearly to the mind of humans God leads the writers of the Bible to use this figure of speech. Psalm 11:4; Exodus 15:8; Numbers 12:8; Job 11:5; Isaiah 52:10 All of these are common forms of speech with you and I use everyday. It helps to identify them in order to help us clearly understand the meaning of Scripture. There are many skeptics that misunderstand the Word of God because they attempt to interpret something literally which was meant to be interpreted as a figure of speech. Many have twisted the Scriptures and distorted them as a result of their mis-interpretation of figurative language. It may be asked, How are we to know when words are to be taken literally and when they are to be taken figuratively? The answer is that whenever and wherever possible, the words of Scripture are to be understood literally, but when a statement appears to be contrary to our experience, or to know fact or revealed truth or seems to be at variance with the general teaching of Scripture, then we may reasonably expect that some figure is used. If the literal meaning of any word makes good sense in its connections, it is literal; but if the literal meaning does not make good sense, it is figurative. (Lockhart) When the plan sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense. (Cooper) 24

25 Guidelines for Interpreting Predictive Prophecy Prophecy means to speak forth the mind and counsel of God. All of the Bible is prophecy. Predictive Prophecy is the prophecy in the Bible that points to a future fulfillment. The scope of this chapter is not to fully explain the processes of interpreting predictive prophecy from the Bible, but following are some general guidelines to consider when attempting to understand predictive prophecy from the Scriptures: A. When a prophet spoke for God the prophecy could refer to one of the following: 1. A present or near future fulfillment. The prophecy is immediately fulfilled or in the near future. 2. A future fulfillment. The prophecy in its entirety will be fulfilled at some time in the distant future. 3. A two-staged fulfillment. The prophecy is partially fulfilled in the near future and completely fulfilled in the distant future. (Isaiah 61:1) 4. A dual fulfillment. The prophecy is fulfilled at that time or in near future, but also will have a fulfillment in the distant future. (Isaiah 7:14) B. When you study prophecy you need to discern if the prophecy refers to: 1. The prophet s own time and/or a future time. 2. The captivity or restoration of Israel or Judah. 3. The first coming of Jesus Christ or any of the events connected with it. 4. The second coming of Christ or any events connected with it. 5. The period of time after Christ returns. C. The prophecies of a prophet were not necessarily in chronological order. The prophet saw the future but not necessarily the time frame of the events he prophesied about. Remember, the prophets did not fully understand everything about which 25

26 they prophesied (1 Peter 1:10-12). Sometimes and Old Covenant prophet wrote about the first and second coming of Jesus Christ in one passage, not distinguishing the two events. D. Prophecy should always be understood as literal unless one of the following occurs: 1. The grammatical context shows it to be figurative language by the use of similes, metaphors, parables, allegories, symbols, or types. 2. A literal interpretation is contrary to what the author is saying or to what the rest of the Scriptures teach. E. Many times a prophet refers to a future event but does not use the future tense. F. You must consider the historical context of the prophetic writing. Remember that God was delivering a message to a particular people at a particular point in time. Therefore, he used words, pictures, and stories which people of that time would be able to comprehend. When attempting to interpret predictive prophecy it is essential to do a careful historical and cultural analysis of the text. Determine the identity of all the historical events, proper names, and geographical locations before you seek to interpret and apply the text. G. Often New Testament prophecies are spoken with Old Testament language. Scholars estimate that between 350 and 400 Old Testament quotations or allusions appear in the Book of Revelation alone. The Book of Revelation is filled with the language of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the Minor Prophets. Therefore, to accurately understand New Testament prophecies you will need to check Old Testament cross references. H. Understand the Church and Prophecy Galatians 3:29; Romans 2:28; 9:6-7; Philippians 3:3 I. When seeking to interpret and apply Old Testament prophecies ask yourself the following questions: 1. Was this prophecy fulfilled during the prophets lifetime? 2. Was this prophecy fulfilled at any point during the history of Israel? 26

27 3. Was this prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ? 4. Was this prophecy fulfilled by the Church - the spiritual Israel of God? 5. Was this prophecy fulfilled during the history of the church? 6. How did other Christians throughout the church age understand and apply this prophecy? 7. Does my interpretation and application of this prophecy violate known, clear teaching by New Testament apostles? In my opinion the prophecies of the Old Testament are the most difficult part of the Bible to understand. I find this to be true for myself because there are so many factors necessary to accurately interpret when a prophecy did or will come true, and how many aspects of the prophecy are applied to what group of people. Unfortunately there have been and still are many people who incorrectly apply the prophecies of the Bible to a variety of current and past events. It s for that reason that we must be diligent to thoroughly investigate all aspects of the prophetic word in order to have a clear, accurate understanding of what God has said through his prophets. 27

28 How to do Word Studies Perhaps the most basic method of Bible study is a word study. This method examines the origin, definition, occurances, and uses of a particular word used in a passage. Just as a great door swings on small hinges, so the important theological statements of the Bible often depend upon even the smallest of words. (Irving Jensen) In a Word Study we choose just one word from the Bible and we attempt to discover all we can about it. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of that one word we not only better understand the truth that word represents, but we are also able to better understand each verse in which that word occurs. In order to bridge the Language Gap that exists between our minds and those of the biblical authors there are two major parts of language that must be studied: The vocabulary, which involves the meaning of words, and the grammar, which involves the ways the words of the language are put together in order to communicate thoughts and ideas. Word Studies focus on the vocabulary of the language. We believe that each word in the Bible is inspired by God. When God moved upon the writers of the Bible to choose one word over another it was because there was a particular meaning found in that word which exactly expresses what God wanted to say. The Bible was written primarily in Greek and Hebrew then translated into various languages. It is impossible for any English translation to exactly express the full meaning of the Hebrew or Greek word. In fact, one Greek or Hebrew word may be translated by two or more English words in our English New Testament. The same is of course true when the Bible is translated into any language. Therefore, it s necessary to research as accurately as possible the meaning of particular Greek or Hebrew words to accurately understand the meaning of God s Word for us today. This takes time and it takes effort, but it provides a rich reward for the diligent student of God s Word. The method of Word Studies which I learned and still use is that taught by Pastor Kevin Connor. An explanation of that method follows: 28

29 STAGE ONE: ACCESS THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD The first thing one must do when beginning a Word Study is to access the definition of that word. Common sources include the following: A. Strong s Concordance This resource book gives you a basic definition of the Greek or Hebrew word. If you have no other resource Strong s Concordance will give you a basic understanding of the word. B. Vine s Expository Dictionary This book gives a more comprehensive definition than Strong s. It has hundreds of Greek words, but not so many Hebrew words. C. Thayer s Greek-English Lexicon D. New Testament Words (William Barclay), Word Pictures in the New Testament (A.T. Robertson), Wuest s Word Studied in the Greek New Testament (Kenneth Wuest), The Daily Devotional Bible Study Series (William Barclay) I ve enjoyed using all of these books give me good word definitions for the Greek and some for the Hebrew words. I ve particular enjoyed Wuest s Word Studies and the Daily Bible Study Series. I feel that for the average Christian any of these would be helpful. E. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament I ve found this book helpful in defining Old Testament words. This is not a comprehensive list of vocabulary aids, but for the average Christian I feel that any of these books will be adequate in discovering accurate definitions of words for your Word Study. On a sheet of paper you write your definition from your sources, then your conceptual definition. Example: WORD: Love STRONG S NUMBER: 26 TRANSLITERATION: Agapeo ETYMOLOGY: From Strong s #25 29

30 DEFINITION: Strong s: (Insert Strong s definition) Vine s: (Insert Vine s definition) Other: Summary: (Insert definitions from other sources) (Summarize and combine your research from various sources in your own words: Agapeo is... ) STAGE TWO: SCRIPTURAL ANALYSIS After ascertaining the definition of the particular word you re researching you should seek to analyze how the word is used in the Bible. This takes time, and although it s not difficult, it is tedious, because to accurately understand how this word is used in the Bible, and the biblical teaching arising from it, every instance of the word must be looked at! To accurately understand how a word is used in the Bible, and the biblical teaching arising from it, every instance of the word must be looked at! To read each instance the word occurs in the Bible it is necessary to use a concordance. This is where Strong s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible is used. Mr. Strong has given each word in the Bible a corresponding number. In his concordance you can look up the number of the word and find every instance in which that word is used in the Bible. Then you open your Bible and read each one, or at least read the phrase which is listed in Strong s Concordance. On the left-hand side of a sheet of paper you list the verse. In the middle column of the paper you make a one-line summary statement of what that verse says in relationship to the word you are researching. Example: Matthew 24:12 Luke 11:42 John 5:42 In the last days the love of many shall grow cold. Pharisees neglect justice and the love of God. Pharisees do not have the love of God in their hear 30

31 We list every reference and make a summary statement about how our word is used in that reference. STAGE THREE: ORGANIZATION The final stage in our Word Study is the organization of our thoughts. A simple format is to ask the questions: What? Who? Why? When? Where? How? Example: What? What is love? (We list the definition we have discovered in our research.) Who? Why? When? Where? How? Who gives this love? Who receives this love? Who has this love? Who doesn t have this love? (We ask ourselves any pertinent questions regarding Who and our word.) Why is this love given, rejected, misunderstood? Why do we need this love? (We look through all our references and see if we can find an answer to our Why question.) The same as above. We look through all our references on our handy reference sheet and see if there is any verse that will answer the question When? Such as, When was this love given? When is this love received? We look for any time element/words in our references. Here we look for any locative hints in our catalog of Scripture references for this word. Where was this love given? Where is this love received? Etc.) The same here. How is this love received? How is this love expressed? How is this love rejected, manifested, misunderstood? When you ve completed your Word Study and you ve strictly summarized what the Bible says about the word and its uses (not your pre-conceived ideas or doctrinal biases), you will have an understanding of what the Bible teaches on that subject. You ll have it written down on paper and put into a Word Study Notebook for future reference. Many Bible lessons can be taught from this research. In your devotional reading you will have a more clear understanding of a passage or verse when you come upon a word which you have thoroughly researched. Word studies like these are helpful when counseling other Christians. You will be able to say, This is what the Bible teaches about this subject rather than venture your own opinion. 31

32 5 Understanding the Whole Counsel of the Word of God How to do Topical Studies of the Subjects of the Bible Topical Studies are also called Thematic Studies. They arise out of Word Studies. In comparison to Word Studies Topical Studies are much more broad. They are an extension of Word Studies and the building blocks of understanding major doctrinal subjects. Few people actually take the time to research what the Bible says about a subject. They will much more readily believe the words of an author rather than do the research themselves. A thorough study of an entire theme in the Bible is often an awesome task, but is tremendously rewarding. By doing so a student adds a whole new dimension to his knowledge of the truth. Many people who study the Bible develop a narrow perspective by concentrating on only specific verses of Scripture. While this is beneficial, one verse must be submitted to the whole teaching of God s Word on that subject. Only in this way can we avoid error and maintain balance. Single words seldom comprise the fulness of a biblical subject. Usually there will be several Hebrew or Greek words that are related to a particular subject. All of them must be studied to understand the full counsel of God regarding that topic. For example, if you want to do a study of suffering in the Bible because you want to see what God s Word says about why Christians suffer and where the source of suffering comes from, you will not only have to look up the word suffer, but also the words trial, tribulation, test, adversity and other synonyms and related words. These words comprise a theme. There are nine Greek words for sin ; two different words for love ; at least seven different words for know. All of these words should be researched to understand the whole counsel of the Word of God on the subject. Thus, Word Studies are preparatory for Topical Studies and Topical Studies are the result of Word Studies. A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE FOR DOING A TOPICAL STUDY A. Choose the word(s) which comprise the topic of your interest. 32

33 You can do this by using a Thesaurus and considering the synonyms of a particular word. You can also do these by discovering the etymology of a particular word (what is the root word it came from and/or its word family) through a Strong s Concordance, Thayer s Lexicon, or references from the authors of the other books you ve used to research the definition of a word. B. Determine the scope of your study. As you ll see as you proceed with your Word Study/Topical Study, many subjects are linked together. You ll be tempted to get side-tracked onto different, yet related subjects. You ll need to choose the scope of your subject - what you ll study at this time and what you ll leave for a later time. Otherwise the vastness of the Bible may overwhelm you and cause you to give up on doing anything! C. Do a Word Study on the family of words relating to your topic. D. Consider the significance of the unfolding of truth regarding your topic. The Bible is one book yet 66 books with a unity of thought regarding its themes. Many of these themes are progressively unfolded throughout the chronology of the Bible. The truths of Scripture are like rivers which run through the Bible, beginning in Genesis (the Book of Beginnings) and emptying in Revelation (the Book of Conclusions). Many of the themes of Scripture are first revealed in the Book of Genesis in seed form and progressively developed in the pages of the Bible. One write builds upon what the Holy Spirit has said through another writer. E. After completing your various Word Studies and considering the Historical, Cultural, and Geographical ramifications, summarize your findings. We can use the same question words which we used in our Word Studies: What? Who? Why? When? Where? How? Another helpful tool in researching topics in the Bible is a Bible Dictionary or Topical Bible. A Bible Dictionary gives a summary of a specific topic and a Bible Dictionary lists many of the references on a particular topic, saving you time in researching them yourself. 33

34 Some broad categories which can launch you into topical studies include the following: What the Bible says about: The various attributes of God The Church as a Family Heaven/Hell Satan Angels The blood of Jesus Christ Children Obedience Fear Depression Prayer Various life-dominating problems Money Work Government Grace/Law The River of God The Names of God Jerusalem Spiritual Israel (the descendants of Abraham) The Antichrist The various feasts of Israel Speaking in tongues The various gifts of the Holy Spirit There s a great satisfaction that comes with personal research on these subjects. Rather than trusting an author s perspective, which may or may not be correct, there s great confidence in being able to say I ve read every verse in the Bible on this particular subject and this is what the Bible says. A Topical Study can be overwhelming. Variations of it may include simple Word Studies or perhaps discovering that only the New Testament or a particular book says about this subject. As you save your written research you will eventually compile a more comprehensive base for more exhaustive Topical Studies. 34

35 How to do Character Studies A Character Study is when you study the life of an individual in the Bible to discover his theological and practical significance. The lives of the characters of the Bible - all of them - are recorded to serve as examples for us - both good and bad. (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:6) Therefore, it s not only interesting to study the characters of the Bible, but very profitable for every day Christian living as well. God is interested in our character. The lives of the individuals recorded in the Bible are examples of both good and evil character. These men and women also faced the same kind of experiences as we do (1 Corinthians 10:13), therefore by studying their lives we can learn how to successfully deal with the experiences in life which we face. THE PROCEDURE The procedure is similar to the procedure for Word Studies and Topical Studies: Look up every reference to the person by using a concordance to find those references, both in the Old and New Testaments. Follow these other steps as well: A. What is the meaning of the person s name? A name will often represent a person s character, experience, or ministry. B. What it their ancestral background? What kind of heritage did they have? How did their mother or father influence their life? What happened to their siblings? What influence did they have on their descendants? C. What was the political, religious and cultural situation of their day? The environment in which they lived probably influenced their life. They either succumbed to the influences of their day or they overcame them. D. What great event(s) took place during their day? E. Who were their friends and associates? F. What character traits did they exhibit (good and bad)? G. What were their failures and successes? 35

36 H. What was their relationship with God like? I. What lessons can be drawn from their life? Herbert Lockyer has a series of books entitled All the...of the Bible. One of those books is entitled All the Men and Women of the Bible. This is a helpful resource when doing Character Studies. 36

37 7 How to Study a Passage of the Bible A Passage Study The study of a passage in the Bible is the study of a segment of thought in a particular book. It incorporates all of the previous skills we ve studied, including bridging the Cultural Gap, Historical Gap, Geographical Gap, and Linguistic Gap. Following are eight steps to take in doing a Passage Study: A. Pick one passage to study. B. What is the context of the passage? Who is the author? Who was he writing to? What covenant was he writing in regards to? What is the overall purpose of the book? What is the context of the chapter? What does this passage have to do with what is being said before and after it? These are probably some of the most crucial questions which need to be asked in doing a passage study. Time should be taken to read and re-read the book, chapter, and surrounding passages to discover the context of the passage you are about to study. Needless to say, you should write everything down. C. List the key words in the passage that need to be defined. What are the words on which the passage hangs? What are the transitional words, leading from one thought to another? Is there a list of words, such as Paul is prone to give, which need to be defined? Don t assume you know the meaning of the word if you haven t done a word study on them. Just because you think you know the meaning of the English word doesn t mean it is the same in the Greek or Hebrew. The definition of the word in the original language often unlocks a previously not understood truth in the passage. D. Are there any figures of speech used in the passage which need to be defined? If so, what are they? Is every phrase in the passage to be taken literally or are their similes or Hebrew idioms which need to be understood? If so, what are they? E. Are there any symbols in the passage which need to be interpreted? 37

38 F. Are there any cultural, historical, or geographical gaps which need to be bridged? Do you understand the Hebrew, Greek, Roman, or other culture which has influenced the text? If an object is mentioned or an action is taking place, it exists with a particular culture. What is the significance of that action or that object? The same is true for the point in history and location of the event. G. What would you say is the key verse of the passage? Is there one verse or phrase which summarizes what the author is saying? H. To summarize and apply the teaching of the passage, ask yourself and answer the following questions: 1. What is the main point the author is trying to communicate to his readers? 2. What is the teaching about Jesus in this passage? 3. What is the teaching about God? 4. What is the theological or doctrinal truth taught in this passage? 5. What command is given that I should obey? What am I supposed to do? 6. What promise is given that I should claim by faith? 7. How can I apply God s Word to my life today? The goal of our study of the Scriptures is to accurately understand what God has said and how we can apply that to our lives today. If we attempt to apply one verse to our life, or a situation, we must understand the context of that verse, as well as bridge any gaps which are necessary to bridge. Our goal is to only say what God has said, not add our biases nor those of a commentator or other person. We want to know what God has said, and communicate only what God has said, applying it to our own cultural setting. Accurately interpreting and applying any particular verse in the Bible takes skill. It takes effort. But if our desire is to honor God with our life we ll be willing to make the effort necessary. 38

39 8 How to do Accurate Application Applying the Bible to Our Lives The purpose of application is to take the truths that have ben seen through observation and understood through interpretation and accurately apply them to our lives. Application is finding out what God s Word says to me, and then obeying that Word. Without application the words of the Bible are useless. We are warned about being only hearers of the Word and not doer s of the Word (James 1:22-25). God s Word is relevant for today. It can help us with every aspect of our life (2 Timothy 3:15-17). After reading and researching a particular passage or verse, ask yourself the following questions: A. Does it a apply to a particular nation? Is it something God intends for Israel or a foreign nation? Is it something for the Jews or the church? (Ezekiel 37) B. Does it apply to the cultural setting? Is it something that applies to the cultural setting of the day or can it also be applied to our culture in exactly the same way? (1 Corinthians 11) C. Does it apply to a particular historical setting? Does this truth apply to the second coming of Jesus, his first coming, the circumstances under a particular king? (Matthew 24) D. Is it superseded by a New Testament truth? Is it something that was for the Jews but is no longer valid for the Church? Was it something that served as a type and found its fulfillment in Jesus or the Church? E. What is the underlying principle? A principle is a fundamental truth that can be applied in many different cultures or circumstances. (cf. Matthew 5:41) A principle is a transferrable truth. While a specific Scripture may be technically written for someone else in a different cultural or historical setting, often principles can be derived from them. Is the principle compatible with New Testament truth? F. How does the Scripture correct me? Does it expose any error in my beliefs or thinking? Is there a clear command which I have not obeyed? Are there any wrong attitudes or motives in my life which need to be adjusted? G. What must I do? God gives us answers in his Word for life on this earth. How should you do it? What must you do first? (Philippians 4:6; Matthew 18:15-20) 39

40 H. Major on what the Bible majors on. Don t build doctrines on obscure passages of the Bible, things not confirmed in the New Testament or things not substantiated by at least three clear verses or passages of the Bible. If it is important enough for us to build our life or church on it should be a major emphasis of the Bible. Don t get off track as a result of trying to be deep. There s enough clear, fundamental teaching in the Bible to keep us busy applying without creating doctrines out of something God doesn t emphasize. I. Beware of the following: 1. Applying cultural standards rather than biblical standards. God creates his own culture. 2. Twisting the words of the Bible to say what you want it to say. Allow the Word of God to judge your ideas and concepts. 3. Filtering what the Scriptures say through your previous training, ego, or pet prejudices, or denominational beliefs. 4. Applying the Bible without getting its full teaching on the subject. 5. Having knowledge without transformation, because in the end that knowledge will be your judge. 40

41 9 Summary: How to do Accurate Interpretation A. Begin with a good observation. The foundation of accurate interpretation is precise observation. That is why much time and diligence should be given to observation. The more time you give to observation, the less time it will take to do interpretation. Read, re-read, write, make notations, summarize, clarify. B. Be aware of presuppositions. Each of us view the Scriptures through the eyes of our experiences in life and former teachings. It s important for us to know that we view the Word of God in that way. A presupposition is a predetermined opinion about something. C. Recognize the necessity of identifying the author s purpose and occasion for writing. Interpretation is discovering what the author meant to say to those who received the document. D. Have a teachable attitude. Unless you are teachable and are willing to admit when you are wrong, you will never learn to do correct interpretation. We want to hear and understand what God says, not what we think God says. Allow the Word of God to change you mind. E. Stay away from commentaries as long as possible. You ll notice that in this manual I haven t listed any recommended commentaries or books other than references books. I recommend you consult another s opinion only after you ve exhausted your own resources in digging out the meaning. F. Understand the Scripture will never contradict Scripture. God s Word is true. History has proven it, science has proven it, archaeology has proven it, linguistics have proven. If there is an apparent contradiction it s because we have not done accurate research. (See my lesson on Dealing With Contradictions.) 41

42 G. Always seek the full counsel of the Word of God. Because many Christians are ignorant of the whole counsel of the Word of God they are often apt to accept teaching simply because they have seen it in one or two places or someone tells them it s true. Scriptures may be taken out of context, misapplied, or misunderstood. Read the Bible extensively and regularly. H. Always interpret the Scriptures literally, recognizing grammatical principles and laws of composition. I. Never use an obscure passage to interpret a clear teaching of Scripture. An obscure passage is a passage or verse that is not clear. Some passages in the Bible are difficult to understand. Don t use these passages as a basis for establishing doctrine. J. Consider the type of literature you are studying. Every book of the Bible does not consist of the same type of literature. Literature can be historical, biographical, poetical, proverbial, prophetic, didactic, or a letter. Poetry is full of figurative language, history is usually not. Prophecy is often filled with poetical language, figures and symbols. Each style of literature should be interpreted with these general truths in mind. K. Remember, Context is the king of interpretation. Your interpretation of the passage must always be considered in light of the context it is in: chapter, book testament, covenant, historical, cultural. L. Always look for the single meaning of the passage first. Unless the author or another biblical writer indicates there is another meaning to what is being said (such as a type, symbol, allegory, or prophecy) the interpreter has no right to say that there s another meaning. The author is the obvious one to give the original meaning to his own statements. To ascribe meaning to the text other than what the author intended is presumption, giving yourself authority equivalent to or superseding the authors. M. Ask yourself questions. Questions help you examine the passage more thoroughly. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Are good questions to ask about each passage. 42

43 N. Find answers to your questions. Start the process of bridging the necessary gaps, doing Word Studies, reading about cultural, historical and geographical implications. O. Check your cross-references. A cross reference is another scripture that supports, illumines, or amplifies the scripture you are studying. You can find these in the columns of your Bible, in the back of your Bible, in Topical Bibles, and by remembering where they are as your draw on your exhaustive knowledge of the Bible which you ve build up from reading it over the years! P. Compare other translations. Some translations are easier to understand. It doesn t hurt to use other translations to help you understand a sentence more clearly. I personally find the New American Standard very difficult to understand when it translates some of Paul s sentences. Q. Summarize your conclusions. Keep a notebook or pad of paper near where you read your Bible or study. Organize your thoughts and studies according to topics. It will pay off in the future! You always remember more when you write it down and you ll have it when you want to refer to it again. 43

44 Accurately Handling God s Word A Seminar to Help Christians Develop a Clear, Accurate Understanding of the Bible by Chuck McCaul It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Proverbs 25:2 44