Bibliology - Week 10 - How to Study the Bible (Part 1)

Introduction

Welcome back to our class. Let’s pray, then begin.

Pray

We are in Week 10 of our class on the Bible. We have talked about the doctrine of the Bible, then in our past 2 classes, we talked about the history of the Bible (first with Martin Luther, and then with a history on the English translations). Now we are down to our final three classes, and we are going to spend these last sessions talking about how to study the Bible.

Now this is a big topic. I taught an adult Sunday School class on this a few years back, and that was a study that took 3 months. That’s about 13 hours of teaching how to study the Bible, and I still didn’t cover everything I could have. At Lancaster Bible College, I took a Bible study course – which was required for all students – that lasted a whole year. It was called Biblical Hermeneutics (meaning, how to study the Bible), and the book of notes was about 2 inches thick.

show Hermeneutics notes

So, in all honesty, there is no way that I can fit all of that into 3 sessions. But I would like to do my best to give you the essentials that you need to study the Bible well.

So here’s what we’ll do:

We’ll start with some basic definitions and principles that will guide us in our interpretation.

Then we will give an overview of a basic method on how to study the Bible.

We will then practice the steps that I give you in this method. This will take us through the next 2 weeks.

Finally, we will look at some of the best resources that are available to you (both in print and online), for you to use going forward. (That will likely be the last class, on Nov 26).

So let’s begin with some definitions

Definitions:

Hermeneutics - the study of the principles and methods of interpreting the text of the Bible.

Exegesis - the process of discovering or ‘drawing out’ the author’s original meaning in a biblical text, by means of careful, objective analysis.

The word exegesis literally means “to lead out of.” That means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text.

Eisegesis - the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading.

The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants. This is bad. For example, when I was at Lancaster Bible College, I once saw a sign that was placed on one of the cafeteria tables. It was a double-sided sign, and on one sign it said, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (). Then, on the other side, it said, “Just think: For want of vision, the Christian also perishes!”

Example of

General Rules of Interpreting the Bible

Scripture can be understood.

Scripture contains all the truth we need for godly living. ()

2 Peter 1:3 ESV

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,

We need the Holy Spirit to properly understand the Scripture. (, , )

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

John 16:13 ESV

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Scripture interprets Scripture.

Scripture never contradicts itself.

The Bible tells one story, not a collection of unrelated stories. Therefore there is one metanarrative that flows throughout the whole Bible.

5. Scripture only has __1___ meaning in a given passage (though it can have many applications).

When we interpret Scripture, we are seeking to know the author’s intent (the human author’s/God’s intended meaning, which are one and the same), and not ‘what this passage means to me.’ The meaning of a passage comes from the author, not the listener/reader.

When we study the Bible, we want to ___draw out_______ the meaning from the text, and not ___read in___ our own interpretations onto the Bible.

Nevertheless,

When we study the Bible, we want to draw out the meaning from the text, and not read in our own interpretations onto the Bible.

Scripture must be interpreted in context.

The meaning of a passage is genre-dependent.

There are many different types of literary genres in the Bible, such as psalms, proverbs, letters, historical narrative, prophecy, etc. Each of these has certain rules of interpretation. For example, says, "And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.” It is important to know that this is not a historical narrative, but a prophecy. Or, if you are studying a parable of Jesus - like the parable of the Good Samaritan in - you aren’t looking to figure out the background information about the city that this story takes place, but rather, are looking for the spiritual point that Jesus is making in the parable.

The purpose of Scripture is to change lives not just to fill your head. (Lk 6:46)

Luke 6:46 ESV

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

We read the Bible according to the HGRT (Historical, Grammatical, Rhetorical, and Theological) method.

(Expound the HGRT)

A Basic Method of Studying the Bible - O.I.C.A.

One Method for Studying the Bible - O.I.C.A.

I’m going to give you a detailed method on how to study the Bible.

But first, let me give you a quick version.

Simple Bible study handout

That’s one way to do it. Though it is not very complete. If you have time to get more in depth, then I can recommend an even more thorough way.

Now its good to keep in mind that studying the Bible is both a science and an art. It’s a science, because there are some solid steps you should follow. But it’s an art because sometimes, interpreting a passage correctly cannot be accomplished simply by following certain steps. Sometimes, it is hard to know what a passages is saying. Sometimes there can be many different options, and it takes wisdom to know which one to choose. But with that said, these are the four simple steps of studying the Bible.

O-Observation

I-Interpretation

C-Correlation

A-Application

O – OBSERVATION – Notice what the text says and I - INTERPRETATION – decipher what it means

**(These two often go together)

Set the limits of your study.

Define the extent of your passage.

a. Define the extent of your passage

i. Don’t just study a sentence.

Don’t just study a sentence.

Instead, consider a pericope (per-ih-coe-pee) as the most important unit of thought.

ii. Instead, consider a pericope (per-ih-coe-pee) as the most important unit of thought.

A pericope is just a fancy word for a section of text (one paragraph or a collection of paragraphs) that is related in its subject matter.

1. A pericope is just a fancy word for a section of text (one paragraph or a collection of paragraphs) that is related in its subject matter.

Determine what your pericope is by looking at the chapters surrounding your passage, and marking where it starts and ends.

2. Determine what your pericope is by looking at the chapters surrounding your passage, and marking where it starts and ends.

Determine the relationship of your pericope to what surrounds it.

b. Determine the relationship of your pericope to what surrounds it.

Determine the limits of the pericopes before and after yours.

i. Determine the limits of the pericopes before and after yours.

Determine what the relationship is between your passage and the ones before and after it.

ii. Determine what the relationship is between your passage and the ones before and after it.

When possible, read the entire book that contains your passage of study.

c. When possible, read the entire book that contains your passage of study.

To practice, we will use a passage from Luke – , and we will make divisions.

To practice, we will use a passage from Luke – , and we will make divisions.

Next, on our handout.

Next, on our handout.

Observe differences in translations.

Observe differences in translations

1. Observe differences in translations

a. Choose a primary translation to use for study (i.e., ESV)

Choose a primary translation to use for study (i.e., ESV).

Compare a few translations side by side (NIV, NASB and KJV are all good. Don’t use paraphrases like the New Living or the Message at this stage).

b. Compare a few translations side by side (NIV, NASB, NRSV and KJV are all good. Don’t use paraphrases like the New Living or the Message at this stage).

c. Ignore differences that aren’t significant

Ignore differences that aren’t significant.

d. Note any significant differences in translation.

Note any significant differences in translation.

(Look at translation handout.)

(Look at translation handout.)

(Maybe compare translations of )

(compare translations of )

Next….

Next….

Ask questions of your passage and answer them.

1. 3.Ask questions of your passage and answer them.

a. Use who/what/where/why/how

Use who, what, where, why, and how.

Watch Look at the book, and do 10 who/what/etc, questions

Examine historical background of the writer.

b. Examine historical background of the writer.

Who is the author?

i. Who is the author?

ii. Who are the recipients? (Are they Jewish? Gentile? Where are they located, and what is their relationship to the author?)

Who are the recipients? (Are they Jewish? Gentile? Where are they located, and what is their relationship to the author?)

iii. What are the circumstances in which the letter was written (the author’s, the recipients)

What are the circumstances in which the letter was written (the author’s, the recipients).

Examine the historical background of the story described in your passage.

c. Examine the historical background of the story described in your passage.

i. Look up cultural or historical concepts that Scripture does not explain, such as clothing, customs, units of measure, food, civilizations, and geography.

Look up cultural or historical concepts that Scripture does not explain, such as clothing, customs, units of measure, food, civilizations, and geography.

ii. A Bible dictionary, atlas, or encyclopedia will help with this information.

A Bible dictionary, atlas, or encyclopedia will help with this information.

Use the surrounding context to answer questions you might have.

d. Use the surrounding context to answer questions you might have

If you are unsure of what the author means, look in the immediate context.

i. If you are unsure of what the author means, look in the immediate context

If you are unsure of what the author means, look in the immediate context

If that does not help, look at the entire chapter, book, or all the Bible.

ii. If that does not help, look at the entire chapter, book, or all the Bible.

e. Study specific words or terms

Study specific words or terms.

i. Study words/terms that are confusing, or ones that repeat or are significant.

Study words/terms that are confusing, or ones that repeat or are significant.

1. Repeated words or concepts often can help you determine the theme of the passage.

Repeated words or concepts often can help you determine the theme of the passage.

ii. Use Strong’s numbers (or something similar) to discover the original meaning of the Greek/Hebrew word, not the English word. Also, notice how that same Grk./Heb. word is used throughout Scripture.

Use Strong’s numbers (or something similar) to discover the original meaning of the Greek/Hebrew word, not the English word. Also, notice how that same Grk./Heb. word is used throughout Scripture.

Use Logos Software, Strong’s numbers, or something similar to discover the original meaning of the Greek/Hebrew word, not the English word. Also, notice how that same Grk./Heb. word is used throughout Scripture.

f. Discover the relationship between clauses.

Discover the relationship between clauses.

i. Look for key words that tend to separate clauses like: for, because, therefore, so that, in order that, if, but, likewise, etc.

Look for key words that tend to separate clauses like: for, because, therefore, so that, in order that, if, but, likewise, etc.

ii. Ask what relationships the different clauses have to one another.

Ask what relationships the different clauses have to one another.

iii. Use these clauses to get the ‘big picture’. - Try to find the main point of the passage.

Use these clauses to get the ‘big picture’. - Try to find the main point of the passage.

g. Use commentaries, to raise questions that you hadn’t thought of originally, or to answer any questions you haven’t been able to resolve.

Use commentaries, to raise questions that you hadn’t thought of originally, or to answer any questions you haven’t been able to resolve.

h. Be willing to admit when the Bible doesn’t give a clear answer for one of your questions.

Be willing to admit when the Bible doesn’t give a clear answer for one of your questions.

Watch – Look at the Book –

(Do an exercise with who/what/where, etc. using )

Now you know how to ask questions. How do you answer them?

With information from surrounding context. (For example – why would Jesus say “Fear not little flock?” - That could be one question. Well, the answer is “Because they might be anxious about their food or clothing –where they are going to get these things. (From )

Use Bible Study Materials

2. Use Bible Study Materials

Give list of Bible Study Materials.

Another great resource is just knowing how to Google something.

Picture of How to Google it

C - CORRELATION – Connect Scripture together.

Look for other passages of Scripture that might relate to / shed light on your passage of study.

a. Use cross references in your Bible. These are often marked by superscripted letters and listed in a column next to the Scripture. (Note: remember that these cross-references are not inspired, and vary from translation to translation).

Use cross references in your Bible. These are often marked by superscripted letters and listed in a column next to the Scripture. (Note: remember that these cross-references are not inspired, and vary from translation to translation).

Search for certain people/places/things/terms that appear in your passage, using an online Bible or Bible study software.

b. Do word studies (think concordance sheets! – except do an online search of related words or topics)

Use a topical Bible resource or go to www.openbible.info/topics/ for other possible related topics.

Note that this site is entirely user-generated and may use verses that do not apply to the topic you are studying.

A - APPLICATION – Relate the Scripture to modern life.

Using what you’ve learned from the previous steps, determine applications from the passage.

Ask – is my passage meant to:

a. Ask – is my passage meant to:

i. Teach me an important truth…

Teach me an important truth…

ii. Impress upon my heart something that should stir my emotions or…

Impress upon my heart something that should stir my emotions or…

iii. Motivate me to action? (Each passage usually has only one of these primary functions)

Motivate me to action?

(Each passage usually has only one of these primary functions)

b. Examine once again what the main point of your passage is. Make sure your application is centered around it.

Examine once again what the main point of your passage is. Make sure your application is centered around it.

Examine once again what the main point of your passage is. Make sure your application is centered around it.

c. Think of how this passage applies to many different types of people – men, women, homeschool, public school, in relationship to others, in relationship to a job, for those who are spiritually mature, for those who are new to the faith, etc.

Think of how this passage applies to many different types of people – men, women, in school, in relationship to others, in relationship to a job, for those who are spiritually mature, for those who are new to the faith, etc.

d. Make sure your application follows from the text. (Don’t import your own ideas into the Bible, but allow the passage to speak for itself)

Make sure your application follows from the text. (Don’t import your own ideas into the Bible, but allow the passage to speak for itself)

Make sure your application follows from the text. (Don’t import your own ideas into the Bible, but allow the passage to speak for itself)

e. Apply the passage to yourself before you instruct others.

Apply the passage to yourself before you instruct others.

i.Pray about what you have learned. Ask God to change yourself before you think of other people ‘who need to hear/read this passage’

Pray about what you have learned. Ask God to change yourself before you think of other people ‘who need to hear/read this passage’

ii. Thank God in prayer for what you have learned!

Thank God in prayer for what you have learned!