HANDLE WITH CARE RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH An Equipping Class based on How to Study Your Bible Precept Ministries International
WEEK 5 STUDY (MAR. 23 APR. 11 ) 1DAY At a Glance Chart Summarize Chapters 1 3 LFL Lessons for Life 4DAY 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Focus on Sexual Immorality Examine cross-references 2DAY Thessalonians Transition 1Thess. 3:11 4:18 5DAY 1 Thessalonians 4:9-18 Focus is on Love & Hope Ch. 1 4 list of observations 3DAY 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Mark bookmark keywords Add to your lists 6DAY 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 The rapture passage Observations & X-references
INTERPRETATION FIGURES OF SPEECH
PRINCIPLES GUIDING INTERPRETATION 1. Context rules 2. Seek the full counsel of the Word of God 3. Scripture will never contradict Scripture 4. Do not base doctrine on obscure passages of Scripture 5. Interpret Scripture literally 6. Look for the author s intended meaning of the passage 7. Check your conclusions by using reliable commentaries
INTERPRET SCRIPTURE LITERALLY The Bible is a SUPER-NATURAL book but not necessarily a MYSTICAL book. Take the Word of God at face value, in its natural, normal sense. Accept the usual, literal sense of the words unless you have reason to believe they are figurative or allegorical.
FIGURE OF SPEECH A word or phrase used in a nonliteral sense to enhance communication in a spoken or written passage.
ENHANCING COMMUNICATION Figurative language creates a picture in a person s mind... and a picture is worth a thousand words Can add color and connection to a thought Can emphasize and call attention to a point Can shed light on a subject IGNITES THE IMAGINATION... FUELS MEDITATION
WHY FIGURES OF SPEECH IN THE BIBLE? The Bible isn t just a handbook for life... it is a compilation of different types of literature. The Bible communicates not just facts, data, and to dos, but also ideas, concepts, and principles
DISCERNING THE USE OF FIGURES OF SPEECH IS IMPORTANT... LITERAL? The bread actually becomes Jesus body Transubstantiation NONLITERAL? A figure of speech indicating the bread represents His body. And He took bread, and when he had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me. Luke 22:19 ESV
TYPES OF FIGURES OF SPEECH
SIMILE A formal comparison using as... so or like to express resemblance. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God. (Psalm 41:1 ESV) According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. (1Corinthians 3:10 ESV)
METAPHOR An implied comparison between two things that are different. A word applied to something it is not to suggest a resemblance. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:13-14 ESV)
HYPERBOLE Intentional exaggeration for effect or emphasis. Magnifying beyond reality. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.... And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30 ESV)
METONYMY A figure of association, when the name of one object or concept is used for that of another to which it is related Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:5-6 ESV) The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. (Proverbs 10:20 ESV)
SYNECDOCHE A figure of association where the whole can refer to the part or the part can refer to the whole. The law can refer to the Ten Commandments, or the first five books of the Old Testament, or the whole Old Testament. So they were seeking to arrest Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. (John 7:30 ESV) In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. (Luke 2:1 ESV)
PERSONIFICATION Where an inanimate object is given characteristics or attributes that belong to people. For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12 ESV)
IRONY A statement which says the opposite of what is meant. Often a bit sarcastic... Sometimes with a humorous side... For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. (1Corinthians 11:18-19 ESV)
FIGURES OF SPEECH Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Metonymy Synecdoche Personification Irony Direct comparison Indirect comparison Exaggeration One name used for another Whole referring to part or vice versa Objects given people attributes The opposite is meant
P 1 O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 131:1-3 ESV)
P 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. (John15:5-8 ESV)
P 28 And Moses said, Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. 29 If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me.... 31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. (Numbers 16:28-32 ESV)
P 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it. 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon,... But there was no voice, and no one answered.... 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened. (1Kings 18:25-27 ESV)
P 16 And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me. 17 The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest. 18 With great force my garment is disfigured; it binds me about like the collar of my tunic. 19 God has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes. 20 I cry to You for help and You do not answer me; I stand, and You only look at me. 21 You have turned cruel to me; with the might of Your hand You persecute me. 22 You lift me up on the wind; You make me ride on it, and You toss me about in the roar of the storm. (Job 30:16-22 ESV)
RECOGNIZE FIGURES OF SPEECH LET THEM INFORM YOUR INTERPRETATION LET THEM SPARK YOUR IMAGINATION
NEXT WEEK... NO BREAK OUT GROUPS EASTER SUNDAY & COFFEE FELLOWSHIP
HANDLE WITH CARE RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH