COTV Leadership Training - Hermenuetics
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· 5 viewsCOTV Leadership Training (Part 2) - Ho wot study the Word
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1. Introduction to Hermeneutics
Purpose: Define biblical hermeneutics and highlight its importance for Christian life.
Biblical hermeneutics is the method of interpreting Scripture to understand its God-inspired meaning (2 Timothy 3:16).
Why is it important?
Quick question: “Has a Bible verse ever confused you or seemed to mean different things in different situations?” Philippians 4:13
Key Takeaway: Hermeneutics helps us hear God’s voice clearly through His Word.
2. Core Principles of Biblical Interpretation
Context is Key:
Historical-cultural context: Consider the original audience, culture, and historical setting (e.g., Israel’s covenant in Deuteronomy).
Literary context: Understand the genre (narrative, law, prophecy, epistle, poetry) and surrounding verses.
Authors Intent and Divine Inspiration:
Seek the human author’s intended meaning, guided by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration (2 Peter 1:21). Avoid reading modern ideas into ancient texts.
Scripture Interprets Scripture:
Use clear passages to clarify ambiguous ones
Christ-Centered Interpretation:
See how all Scripture points to Jesus (Luke 24:27, John 5:39).
**** Change from Joe to Seth ****
3. Practical Steps for Studying the Bible
In our weekly patterns of personal study of the Word, we must establish a clear, repeatable process for interpreting Scripture. WHY is this so important?
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
As followers of Christ, we must learn how to rightly handle the Truth we have been given. How are we supposed to fulfill Christ’s mission of making disciples of all nations if we have a lackadaisical, lazy approach to understanding what we are proclaiming?
So...Since the Holy Spirit is the true author of Scripture, this informs our first step in the hermeneutical process.
Pray for Illumination
Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and humility.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
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.
2. Study the Text
SIDE NOTE: In last month’s training when discussing Patterns of Personal Study, we discussed Answering the: Who or Whom? When? What? Why?
These next steps follow a very similar path but hopefully in a more clear way for us to follow.
Read the Text: Read the passage multiple times, noting key words, repeated ideas, and questions. Read different translations of the Scriptures (ESV, CSB, NASB).
SIDE NOTE: Find a good balance between reliability (word for word) versus readability (thought for thought). It could also be helpful to read some background on how that translation came together.
Analyze Context: Investigate historical background, literary genre, and surrounding verses. For historical background, a good study bible will typically have an introduction to each biblical book. This will provide all the context needed for a biblical book. GET A STUDY BIBLE.
Additionally, Scripture is the perfect interpreter of Scripture. Meaning, since the Scriptures are God’s words and not man’s, they will not contradict themselves.
Example:
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Does this mean Peter believed the ordinance of Baptism does this saving? No.
Acts 15:10–11 “10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.””
Ephesians 2:4–5 “4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”
Romans 3:23–24 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”
Find the Main Point: Determine the author’s intended message and its place in the Bible’s redemptive story. Details are important, but do not get lost in them. An author’s main point may stretch across a few verses, single chapter, or multiple chapters. “The Bible Themes Handbook” from Daily Grace Company is good tool in showing how certain books are sectioned into different parts.
Apply to Life: Ask, “How does this truth shape my faith, worship, or actions?”. It is important to realize that a verse or chapter may not have minimal or no application points… And that is okay. Additionally, certain texts may have application for the initial audience that do not apply to us today. Others may have application that is timeless for the people of God.
Group Activity
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
In pairs, apply steps 2-4 (read/observe, analyze context, find main point).
Example prompt: For Colossians 3:12-14, “What does ‘clothe yourselves’ mean in context, and what’s the main point about Christian character?”
READ/OBSERVE
Paul (the author) is speaking to “God’s chosen ones” being His church, those in Christ. He is giving them instruction concerning their lives together in the body of Christ.
ANALYZE CONTEXT
Paul writing to the church at Colossae, a city of Phrygia (the Roman Province of Asia) near the biblical city of Laodicea, on the Lycus River (modern Day Turkey). Colossae’s populations was mainly Gentile but did have a sizable Jewish population.
In Colossians 1-2, Paul wrote on the Deity of Christ and Redemption and Reconciliation in Christ, specifically to refute the false doctrine and teaching that started infecting the church.
Colossians 3 opens with the exhortation to set our minds on things above and not things below, meaning be heavenly and eternally focused. Put to death the former self and its sins, for they are worldly and of no benefit to the life in Christ and we are bound to them no more.
FIND THE MAIN POINT
The chosen ones of God, with new life in Christ, must be active in shaping who we are based on who Christ is. Who we used to be in the flesh is gone, who we are becoming is Christ-like.
4. Avoiding Common Errors in Bible Study (10 minutes)
Pitfall 1: Taking verses out of context (use AI responsibly)
Pitfall 2: Eisegesis - Reading meanings into a biblical text as opposed to out of a biblical text.
Pitfall 3: Ignoring the whole counsel of Scripture
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
