Love, Learn, Live the Word sermon series INTERPRETATION

Love, Learn, Live the Word sermon series INTERPRETATION

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION Hermeneutics: the science and art of biblical interpretation. Exegesis: understanding the author s intended meaning Eisegesis: imparting the reader s meaning into the text

RESOURCES

JOHN 15:1-4 NIV I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

JOHN 15:5-8 NIV I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

JOHN 15:9-14 NIV As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one s life for one s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

JOHN 15:15-17 NIV I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

JOHN 15:2 NIV He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. PROBLEM VERSE

JOHN 15:6 NIV If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. PROBLEM VERSE

SOME BASIC RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION 1. HISTORICAL-CULTURAL AND CONTEXTUAL STUDY a. What is the general historical setting in which the writer speaks? (Political, economic, social situation, custom, level of spirituality) b. What is the specific historical-cultural context and purpose of this book? (writer, audience, purpose)

SOME BASIC RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION 1. HISTORICAL-CULTURAL AND CONTEXTUAL STUDY c. What is the immediate context of the passage under consideration? (major blocks of material, flow of thought, author s perspective, descriptive or prescriptive truth, teaching focus, immediate audience) KEY: WHO is being spoken to? WHY? What did it mean to them?

THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT John 13 to 17 = Jesus final words of comfort to his disciples before his arrest.

THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress (Jn 13:1-2a NIV) Come now, let us leave (Jn 14:31b). I am the true vine (Jn 15:1) When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it (Jn 18:1 NIV). JOHN 13-17

JESUS MODELS SERVING ONE ANOTHER JOHN 13:1-15 NIV

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

PROMISES IN JOHN 14 Come now, let us leave (Jn 14:31b NIV)

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES John 15:1-17

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. JOHN 15:1-11 NIV

THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT It s about Encouragement & Comfort Not If don t bear fruit you re going to be cut off to lose your salvation to be burned in hell! Now, I ve told you this so that your joy may be complete. JOHN 15:1-11 NIV

More on the Work of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16) Jesus Prayers (Jn 17)

SOME BASIC RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION 2. LEXICAL-SYNTACTICAL STUDY What is the meaning of individual words (lexicology) and the way those words are combined (syntax)? Recognises words whether literally, figuratively, symbolically.

SOME BASIC RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION 2. LEXICAL-SYNTACTICAL STUDY 6-Step procedure: a. Identify the general literary form (prose, poetry, apocalyptic literature) b. Trace the development of author s theme (context of the words and syntax) c. Identify the natural divisions of the text (conceptual units through the use of sentences and paragraphs)

SOME BASIC RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION 2. LEXICAL-SYNTACTICAL STUDY d. Identify the connecting words within the paragraphs and sentences (conjunctions, prepositions etc) e. Determine what the individual words mean (identify multiple meaning of word in time and culture, and single meaning intended in context) f. Analyse the syntax (relationship of words to one another through grammatical forms) KEY: WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN?

BEAR FRUIT JOHN 15:1-17

WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN? Love = mentioned 9 times Fruit = mentioned 9 times Fruit & Fruitful = 45 times in New Testament What is meaning of fruit in this context? JOHN 15:1-17

WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN? * Mt 3:8 - the fruit of repentance * Mt 26:29 - the fruit of the vine (communion wine) * Rom 7:5 - we bore fruit for death (sinful lifestyle) * Rom 15:28 - received this fruit (offering of money) * Gal 5:22 - fruit of the spirit (9 godly attitudes) * Eph 5:9 - the fruit of light (truth, righteousness, goodness) * Col 1:6 - this gospel is bearing fruit and growing (new believers) * Heb 13:15 - praise to God - the fruit of our lips

WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN? Different interpretations on Fruit Christlikeness Character (Gal 5:22-23); conduct (Phil 1:11); conversions (Rom 1:13) Asking in prayer JOHN 15:1-17

WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN? The meaning of fruit, looking at the immediate context is: LOVE This is to my Father s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love (Jn 15:8-9 NIV).

WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN? Fruit-bearing (LOVE) is produced by remaining in Christ ( v4) brings glory to God (v8) gives me complete joy as Christ s joy is in me (v11)

OBSERVATION True fruit-bearing only from within

WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN? He cuts off (Gk airei ) every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful (Jn 15:2 NIV). If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire (Gk pur ) and burned (v6) GIVEN THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT AND ORIGINAL WORD MEANING

SOME BASIC RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION 3. THEOLOGICAL STUDY a. What is the pattern of God s revelation? b. How does this passage fit into the total pattern of God s revelation? Nature of God s Relationship to Man - Continuity vs Discontinuity (grace, law, salvation, ministry of Holy Spirit) - Law and Gospel (wrath and grace)

SOME BASIC RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION Steps in Theological Study: a. Determine the nature of God s relationship to man and identify the implication of this view for the passage you are studying b. Assess the extent of theological knowledge available to the people of that time and the meaning of the passage to them KEY: BIBLICAL NARRATIVES OF GOD

MY PERSONAL APPLICATION Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (Jn 13:14-15 NIV). You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other (Jn 15:16-17 NIV). By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (Jn 13:35).

MY PERSONAL APPLICATION I will love by humbly serving. I will love by boldly praying

What can your CG do to put this verse into practice? APPLICATION Putting it into Practice The Micah 6:8 Assignment He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord requires of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8 NIV)