The Interpretive Journey Hour Two What Was Meant Then & There
There are 4 steps in this journey 1 What Was Meant Then & There What did the text mean to the biblical audience? 2 Then & There vs. Here & Now What differences may divide us from the biblical audience? 3 Crossing the Divide What is the theological principle in this text? 4 Application Here & Now How should individual Christians today apply the theological principle in their lives?
It is impossible to over-emphasize Observation! You see, Watson, but you do not observe. - Sherlock Holmes
Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China.
Eats, shoots and leaves.
Context is the MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE.
Two major kinds of context: Historical-cultural context (often called background information by preachers) Literary context (This includes Literary genre form or type of literature Surrounding context words, sentences, and paragraphs that surround your passage
What is literary genre? Genre means form or kind. We encounter different literary genres in everyday life: Newspaper Telephone book Menu Devotional book Poem Love letter Math textbook Map
The Bible contains different types or forms of literature: Old Testament Narrative Law Poetry Prophecy New Testament Gospel Theological History Letter Prophetic-Apocalyptic Wisdom
What is the surrounding context? Any passage that surrounds your passage Give the highest priority to immediate context
THREE STEPS to identifying literary context: 1 Identify how the book is divided into paragraphs or sections. (Not necessarily Chapters & Verses!) 2 Summarize the main idea of each section in a dozen words or less. 3 Explain how your particular passage relates to the surrounding sections.
Questions to ask re: the Context of the Entire Book By whom? To whom? When? Where? Why? What? How? Author(s)? Recipient(s)? Date? Where was it written? Where did recipients live? Why was it written? What was going on at the time it was written? What type (genre) of writing is it?
For writings that were sparked by specific occasions: 1. We need to do our best to determine what the occasion was; this is part of the Why question. 2. What were the circumstances, what was the problem this letter is intended to address?
More Specific Setting or Immediate Context a. Paragraph or Section: What is the author s primary message for the paragraph or section in which the text in question stands? b. Verses: What are the verses before and after saying? And how do they tie into the text in question. c. Sentences: What are the sentences before and after saying? And how do they tie into the text in question?
More Specific Setting or Immediate Context Observing scripture at the paragraph, verse, and sentence level is necessary for us to do exegesis--- to answer the fundamental questions: 1. What does the text say? 2. What did it mean to the original readers? Only after we have done our exegesis, are we prepared to determine the theological principle and apply the scripture to our own lives.
Examples of Passages Often Taken out of Context Matthew 18:19 Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father Who is in heaven.
Examples of Passages Often Taken out of Context Matthew 18:20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am in their midst.
Examples of Passages Often Taken out of Context Matthew 24:40 41 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
Examples of Passages Often Taken out of Context Matthew 24:38 & 39 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Don t forget! Context determines meaning! Ignoring context allows us to make the Bible say what we want to hear. But that approach ultimately hurts us by robbing us of God s liberating truth.
What are some Things to look for in Sentences? 1. Repetition of Words
Example 1 John 2:15 17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15 17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15 17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15 17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Things to look for in Sentences 2. Contrasts
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. WAGES SIN DEATH MAN CHRIST JESUS GOD GIFT GOD LIFE BUT
Things to look for in Sentences 3. Comparisons
James 3:4 6 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.
Additional Things to look for in Sentences 4. Lists 5. Cause & Effect 6. Figures of Speech 7. Conjunctions 8. Verbs 9. Pronouns
There are also things to look for in Paragraphs 1. General & Specific Statements 2. Questions & Answers 3. Dialogue 4. Purpose Statements 5. Means Statements
Things to look for in Paragraphs 6. Conditional Clauses IF / THEN 7. Actions of God & of People 8. Emotional Terms 9. Tone
Things to look for in DISCOURSES 1. CONNECTIONS between Paragraphs & Episodes 2. STORY SHIFTS: Breaks & Pivots 3. INTERCHANGE
Things to look for in Discourses 4. Chiasm or Chiasmus (An inverted relationship between parallel phrases) A - I got up this morning, B - got dressed C - and drove into town. D - I worked hard all day, A 2 B 2 C 2 - returned home, - put on my PJs - and went to bed.
Things to look for in Discourses Psalm 76:1 In Judah, God is known: His name is great in Israel. A - In Judah B - God is known; B 2 - His name is great A 2 - in Israel.
What is the LITERARY CONTEXT? What does it actually say?