How to Study the Bible

Hermeneutics…

Psalm 119:33–37 NIV

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

A little boy was trying to connect the dots in a coloring book, but he was skipping all over the page. His mom said, ‘If you just follow the numbers, you’ll see the big picture!’ The Bible is full of dots to connect, each verse leading us to understand God’s greater plan. Studying it helps us to see the masterpiece He is creating in our lives. Let’s not skip the dots!

We must remember that the bible comes from a specific part of the world, in very specific time periods, which will shape how the literature was and is portrayed to the reader today.

So whats unique about Ancient literature?

One of the issues with reading the bible is it lacks the detail, modern books have created, and we have come to know and love.

Which makes it seem very simple, yet all the details that are listed in scriptures are very sophisticated.

Lets take the first story of the bible, Adam and Eve

Because of the lack of details we can ask.

Where did this talking snake come from?

and Why?

Who is the Tree of Life for, if not man.

Who is the offspring that would crush the serpant?

Why didn't they die on the spot like God said they would?

Did Adam have a belly button?

What was the fruit on the tree of knowledge

Did the snake have legs?

What kind of snake was it?

Who was cain’s wife?

What if they didn’t eat the fruit.

Although there weren’t many details, this was on purpose, God had a plan.

You could think, and the assumption could be correct, that because of the lack of details, readers could and do add in these questions with there own answers, making crazy stuff up, making something hyperbole, when its actual, making something metaphor that is meant to be reasonable.

Yet this is something the Biblical Author, The Holy Spirit, was okay with doing this style of writing.

Because in reality, the lack of details, and questions that need to be answered open up an invitation for the reader.

Let me show you, like the question of who is the offspring. It opens up room for the future of the story.

Eve’s lineage is traced down to king david, and in the new testament, Jesus is traced back to the offspring of Eve.

Now of course, when we read the scriptures there is no expectation for us to piece together, all of this from day one, or year one. The journey with God through His word is one where we are called to slow down, read and journey with God throught the scriptures.

With that, lets so what do you know, more so, where did you learn what you know from?

Where have we learned the things of christianity?

(make a list)

parents

sunday school

sermons

praise songs

christmas carols

reading the bible

our own conclusions

books we have read

conversations with friends

In all honesty this is a very random curation of sources for our belief system to be maintained after.

There’s no purposeful intent with these random events.

Yet that’s what Hermeneutics is, the intention to understand the biblical interpretation.

Hermeneutics is the science and art of Biblical interpretation. It is a science because it is guided by rules within a system; and it is an art because the application of the rules is by skill, and not by mechanical imitation. (Source: Protestant Biblical Interpretation )

(http://media.sabda.org/alkitab-2/PDF%20Books/00051%20Ramm%20Protestant%20Biblical%20Interpretation%201956.pdf)

This is important> Why? Well in acts 2 we have the pouring out of the holy spirit, in Matthew we have Jesus telling his disciples I must go away from here, so that the advocate or helper may come to be with you…

who is that helper? The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in you. but is not for you. If you were with us during Real Talk bible studies you know that ive been saying, The Spiritual Gifts that come with the Holy Spirit inside of you are not for you, but for the glorification of the Lord.

Why am i bringing any of this up, we are a Pentecostal church. A church that believes in the Holy Spirit, but there are some in the bible and even today, churches that believe the Holy Spirit works different works than the bible.

We dont have time to give definition or anything in the sorts right here or now, but ill give a worldly example for us to better understand the importance of this.

Many interpret the holy spirit for the wind,

Someone may come up to you and say, “I feel like this is for you”

God is the God of truth, not of feelings, We must Know. Thats what dictates truth from opinions.

Now for this, when we read the bible, we must learn hermeneutics in order for us not to take something in scriptures and twist it outside of what it truly means.

Through this course, im going to teach alot of stuff the normal everyday christian doesn't really need to know. Or at least remember, but for the everyday christian we are going to practice some of the principals we go over. So that we learn how to contextualize the scriptures properly.

Is all about Context

So what are we going to be looking at? When studying something like shakephere or Lord of the flies in school? How did you write a essay in school about those books?

Who wrote the book?

When was the book written?

What group was the book addressing?

What is the purpose or theme of the book?

Lets look at the difference between Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John

Matthew: is written primarily to the Jews. Matthew writes how Jesus is the fulfilment of the law and the fulfilment of messianic prophecy. Matthew writes to the religious, to show them a king has set them free from the Law.

Mark: is written to motivate, or to excite a christian to accept the call, Its a book written about actions and its writting liturgy is written to the greeks. (call to action)

Luke: is written to educated greeks who never met/knew Jesus. Its all about the Life and Ministry of Jesus. (a first level biography): Points to the historical evidence of Jesus.

John: Is written to christians, to those who accepted Jesus, yet had struggled with the faith and needed an understanding of Jesus’ teachings. Written to encourage believers in their decision of Christ Jesus.

Morphology or Grammer

Syntax

Context

Historical or cultural backgrounds

Semantics

Rules of interpretation

1. Rule of definition

Grammar - general message of a word

A word must be understood in the way it is used in its sentence, and a sentence must be understood within its context

any study into a specific scripture passage, must begin with a study of words.

Define the terms and keep the those terms defined.

If you think about what scripture is used for

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Its used to teach and instruct, whats the point of God teaching something that cant be defined, figured out, or explained clearly.

Keeping to the definition of a word is a practice not only you and I should adhere to, but its also what the original authors did.

They couldn't create new words and terms and teach them, instead they had to take ideas and use commonly used words to teach.

Just an FYI id like to put in there, I’d be thrilled to be a tv preacher or known for my well known story telling abilities like many big mega church pastors are known for like Todd White, or Steven furtick, And i like listening to there preaching because i always walk away feeling good about myself. Until one day for both of those preachers, there came a day where they preached a known convicting passage and i didn't feel convicted, and yet i knew i had not done well according to scriptures. This is not only dangerous, but its misleading, and nothing should ever be misleading about scripture. It should always be taught in accordance to What God is saying in the passage.

2. Rule of Usage

Syntax - The study of word arrangements in a sentence structure

scriptures on similar topics should be compared. If necessary, a third scripture could explain the conflict between two scriptures

We must understand the the bible was written first to the Jew, and in this we must take in account jewish or Hebrew usage of terms, and cultivation.

This rule is part of the background of the bible.

3.Rule of Context

Context - the circumstances that form to create a story

Many parables, and teaching through the scriptures will not be understood unless we put them in proper context.

Every word we read must be understood in WITH the words before it and after it.

In Matthew 25 you have a list of many different teachings of Jesus through parables, and at first glance they have nothing to do with one another, but in proper context of what is being taught and to whom, all these parables are interconnected and prove to support a biblical and righteous life in Christ.

4. Rule of History

History or background information- the study of past events (biblical and non biblical)

Exegesis is a word we should become familiarized with.

Exegesis is explanation or interpretation of a text.

in proper exegesis you must interpret the words inside of an image.

I say often especially recently, we must allow the words of the bible to come alive to us, this is difficult without seeing the history of this time period.

Another FYI….understanding historical background and the idea of it is very important, not just in biblical narrative, but also in ministry, When someone comes to you and begins to tell you a struggle we must put this into account for there historical background. In order to give proper guidance, and have empathy on the struggles they have walked through.

5. Rule of Logic

Semantics - the study of language and structure

a. The use of logic, or reason, and rhetoric comes to us in the form of investigation.

b. we can conclude some of scriptures through logical explanations, like do not murder and covenanting others things, are both bad things,

but logic is not always the best bet for understanding, for logic changes with cultural appropriation.

As the culture changes and dilutes wrongs, it also creates a sense of indifference between generations, diluting the word and the rights and wrongs.

However, when you have accepted God as King and Lord over all, logic is restored in a sense and you understand the obligation that when God speaks it is final. This helps in the authority of scriptures more so the understanding of scriptures

Charles G Finney, a lawyer and theologian said this,

“i’ve interpreted scripture as I would have understood the same or like passage in a law book”d

Logic: the way of thinking. A=B through simple understanding

Reasoning: the way of using reasoning to conduct a conversation or argument to change ones mind.

Rhetoric: the art of words, to persuade ones mind

Conclusion:

Something worth noting, and understanding as we look through scriptures, is that not only do we today need to understand the contextualization, but we also should note that God spoke to people through there own understanding.

This is what God does to us as well.

We ought to be careful trying to obtain the whole world of knowledge so fast, with how vast this can be. Not only will God come and speak to you in your understanding but the enemy will try to confuse you in it as well.

Genesis 2:17 NIV

but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

yet we were still led to

Genesis 3:4–5 NIV

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Past this we can learn about Different type of interpretations we out to do.

For example

Example: Isaiah 52 11-12

Isaiah 52:11–12 NIV

Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the Lord’s house. But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Plain meaning here would be what?

a- To leave any unclean thing behind and head toward God for he will protect you.

okay a next step would be to cross reference this with other passages to ensure you are getting a clear and plain message

many bibles have references in the margin of the bibles at the bottom or center of each paragraph.

Isaiah 48:10 NIV

See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

Jeremiah 50:8–9 NIV

“Flee out of Babylon; leave the land of the Babylonians, and be like the goats that lead the flock. For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance of great nations from the land of the north. They will take up their positions against her, and from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.

2 Corinthians 6:17 NIV

Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Now, we can understand the theme of clean and unclean things in the Pentateuch because that is there in Isaiah 52, “Don’t touch what is unclean.” Of course, we know that’s symbolic for sin and righteousness now, and we don’t have to work our way through Leviticus, especially.

This also ill fill in some blanks for us for time sake, the idea of unclean behaviors fits inside of the theme of Isaiah’s writings, we know it points to sin, but in particular with this passage and its cross references its referring to idols in ones life.

and its pointing to God who saves, aka Salvation. And the security of salvation.

Not just to get rid of what is hurting you, but be comforted because God assures you of protection.

now if we take a step back and give ourselves a moment to silence our minds and thoughts of ideas and questions

Questions like, Well ive accepted God’s salvation but im not living an easy peasy life here.

Im not feeling the protection of God here.

I want to remind us that even if we begin to walk away from uncleanliness we must still choice day in and day out to live righteously.

Noah…and the fact that God sealed the door.…

We will stop here.

1. Literal Interpretation: Plain meaning

-taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory.

2. Moral interpretation: Ethical Meaning

3. Allegorical interpretation: Secondary Layer/Prophetic words

4. Analogical Interpretation : Spiritual Implications