Welcome to Going Deeper into Bible Study! Week 3
The Theology Program
Read the Bible for Life
Inductive/OIA Method Observe What do I see? Interpret What does it mean? Apply How does it work in my life?
OIA/Inductive Method Observation What do I see? (Last Week) STEP 1: Mark up the passage Underline all verbs Circle key words and phrases Box connecting words, linking words
Finish OBSERVATION Step 2 and 3 This Week Questions to consider as you observe What to look for Writing good questions based on your observations to set yourself up for good interpretation. Start INTERPRETATION
Observation What do I see? STEP 2: write 2-5 observations per verse Answer Structure Questions: What verbs are used to describe action in the passage? What is significant about these verbs? What is the tone of the passage? Are there any repeated words? Repeated phrases? Does the author make any comparisons? Draw any conclusions? Does the author raise any questions? Provide any answers? Does the author point out any cause and effect relationships? Is there any progression to the passage? In time? Actions? Geography? Does the passage have a climax? Does the author use any figures of speech? Is there a pivotal statement or word? What linking words are used? What ideas do they link?
Six Things to Look For (Hendricks ch 19-23) Things that are Emphasized (space, stated purpose, order) Repeated (terms, characters, OT quote) Related (Q & A, cause and effect) Alike (similes, metaphors, parallelism) Unlike (but, contrast) True to life How does text explain reality, human experience?
Observation What do I see? STEP 3: Write out Questions for Interpretation Flow from your observations. Set you up for good interpretation helping you answer the question, what was the intent of the author? Will be some of the questions that you try to answer to get at the meaning of the passage. Get at the why, the point, the significance.
Observation What do I see? STEP 3: Write out Questions for Interpretation WHO is The author talking about? Accomplishing the action? Benefiting from it? WHAT is the Meaning of this word? Significance of the phrase? Implication of this statement? Meaning of this figure of speech? Author s flow of thought and tone? relationship between these phrases? WHY did the author Choose this word? Include this phrase or statement? Not include or talk about something? Connect these ideas?
What are we trying to do? Research the context and setting Answer our questions for interpretation Discover the original meaning Summarize the passage and create a big idea Come up with universal principles, timeless truths based on the passage
What are we trying to do? In conjunction STEP 1: Research setting and context STEP 2: Answer your questions for interpretation
STEP 1: Answer Setting and Context Questions Setting and Context Questions Who is the author or speaker? Why was this book written? What was the occasion of the book? What historic events surround this book? What was happening in the world at the time this was written? Where was it written? Who were the original recipients? What do we know about them? What literary form is being employed in this passage? What is the overall message of this book, and how does this passage fit into that message? What precedes this passage? What follows? How does this passage fit the immediate context? Where does this passage/book fit into the overall context on what God is doing throughout the Bible plan of God?
The Five C s of Interpretation (Hendricks) 1. CONTENT 2. CONTEXT 3. CULTURE 4. COMPARISON 5. CONSULTATION
The Five C s of Interpretation CONTENT What is there in the passage, raw data Ideally you have done this work in the observation phase, observation and questions Knowing the content well sets you up for really good interpretation The more good work you do in observation, you will see that it really helps you in the next step
The Five C s of Interpretation CONTEXT - types Literary Context Immediate context Type of literature, genre (types?) Grammar Horizons Immediate horizon (the road ahead, behind) Book horizon (the foothills) Bible horizon (the mountain peaks) (NT/OT and storyline)
The Five C s of Interpretation CONTEXT types Historical-Cultural Context The time and culture of the author and his readers. Who is the author, who is the audience? Social conditions Economic conditions Political
The Five C s of Interpretation CONTEXT types Theological Context Where does this passage fit into the unfolding of the plan of God in Scripture? The Bible appears like a symphony orchestra each instrument has been brought willingly, spontaneously, creatively, to play his notes just as the great conductor desired, though none of them could ever hear the music as a whole the point of each part only becomes fully clear when seen in relation to all the rest. J.I. Packer
The Five C s of Interpretation STORYLINE of Scripture Creation Fall Redemption Consummation
God s Story Acts and Scenes Plug it into God s play! (Readers Guide to Bible) ACT 1 God s Plan for All People Scene 1 Creation: The God of all life Scene 2 The Fall: Rejecting God s Vision for life Scene 3 The Flood: God judges and makes a covenant to preserve life
God s Story Acts and Scenes ACT 2 God s Covenant People Scene 1 The People: God calls a covenant people Scene 2 Deliverance: God Rescues His people Scene 3 Covenant and Law: God embraces and instructs His people Scene 4 The Land: God s place for His people
God s Story Acts and Scenes ACT 2 God s Covenant People (continued) Scene 5 Kings and Prophets: God shapes a kingdom people Scene 6 Kings and Prophets: God Divides the Kingdom People Scene 7 Kings and Prophets: The Southern Kingdom as God s people Scene 8 Exile: God disciplines His people Scene 9 Return: God delivers His people again
God s Story Acts and Scenes ACT 3 God s New Covenant People Scene 1 Christ s Coming: God s true king arrives Scene 2 Christ s Ministry: God s true king manifests his kingdom Scene 3 Christ s Deliverance of His people: God s work through the death, resurrection, and enthronement of His king. Scene 4 Christ s Church: God s people advance the Kingdom Scene 5 Christ s Second Coming and Reign: God s future for his kingdom
The Five C s of Interpretation CULTURE What was life like back then? Entering their home. Customs, rules, ways of living. Putting yourself in their shoes.
The Five C s of Interpretation COMPARISON How do other passages help inform/explain the meaning of a text you are studying? Let Scripture interpret Scripture Allow the clear passages to illuminate difficult Use of a concordance, topical Bible, parallel Bible, online tool.
The Five C s of Interpretation CONSULTATION Should be done after the hard work of studying the passage by yourself. Use outside materials to help you answer your questions and determine meaning. Check your answers, interpretation. Seek to be in community as you study.
The Five C s of Interpretation CONSULTATION types Concordance Bible Dictionary or Encyclopedia Bible Atlas Word Study Helps Commentary Study Bible One/Two Volume Multiple Volume/sets