Observation

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Week 2

Text:

Topic: Bible Study

Big Idea of the Message: (Observation) Reading Scripture within the context in which it was written helps us correctly interpret the meaning. Using the proper tools to find the intended meaning—without inserting our message into a passage—lets God’s message influence our lives.

Application Point: Rightly understanding the context and message of Scripture allows us to stand firm in our faith on a foundation of truth and to better understand God’s message and purposes.

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

1. Observation is the O in SOAP. As you lead your church through this portion of the SOAP method of Bible study, be sure to have Bible study tools available for them to use. Examples may include a concordance, Bible commentaries, Bible handbooks, varying versions of the Bible, a Bible dictionary, and/or biblical language helps. Spend time explaining the resources and when and why they are helpful.

Using Bible concordances

Ever wonder where a word is in the Bible or how often a word is used? This is where a concordance enters the equation. A concordance is an “index of words used by an author” (Encarta Dictionary). It’s probably the most common Bible study tool, outside of a Bible version itself.

The most well-known one is Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, which also assigns a number to each word (commonly recognized by other word study sources). One of the benefits of Strong’s Concordance is that it typically provides the pronunciation (or phonetic spelling) of the Hebrew or Greek word. Additionally, it spells the Hebrew or Greek word in English (a.k.a. transliteration). Another concordance that does this is Englishman’s Concordance. Strong’s also provides root words, enabling one to trace the origins of a word.

To demonstrate the benefits of a concordance, let’s consider

:

“And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people” (KJV).

Strong’s Concordance indicates that the Greek word for “Easter” is pascha (#3957), which is pronounced, “pas'-khah.” And it refers to “Passover.” All other places this word is used it is translated Passover. Therefore, the correct word for is also “Passover.” This is the rendering in the NKJV and most translations (whether word-for-word or thought-for-thought).

Types of Commentaries

Through a personal narrative, Bible commentaries provide deeper understanding and insight into the Bible, and can be used to assist both casual readers of the Bible and those who pursue serious study.

Bible commentaries are typically organized passage by passage (book, chapter, and verse) through the Bible. This system of analysis is called “versification” of the biblical text. Commentaries are meant to be used alongside the Bible text to offer deeper insight, explanation, illustration, and historical background. Some commentaries also feature detailed introductions to the books of the Bible.

In general, there are four types of Bible commentaries, each useful for the intended purpose to aid in the study of Scripture.

of Scripture.

Commentaries often analyze or expound on individual books of the Bible, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. Some commentary works provide analysis of the whole of Scripture. The earliest Bible commentaries contained narratives or historical accounts of the Scriptures.

Types of Commentaries

Through a personal narrative, Bible commentaries provide deeper understanding and insight into the Bible, and can be used to assist both casual readers of the Bible and those who pursue serious study.

Bible commentaries are typically organized passage by passage (book, chapter, and verse) through the Bible. This system of analysis is called “versification” of the biblical text. Commentaries are meant to be used alongside the Bible text to offer deeper insight, explanation, illustration, and historical background. Some commentaries also feature detailed introductions to the books of the Bible.

In general, there are four types of Bible commentaries, each useful for the intended purpose to aid in the study of Scripture.

Expository Commentaries

Expository commentaries are typically written by pastors and expository Bible teachers who teach verse by verse through the Bible. These commentaries usually include teaching notes, outlines, illustrations and practical applications of the authors' study and teaching on the books of the Bible.

Example: The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament

Exegetical Commentaries

Exegetical commentaries are typically written by Bible scholars and theologians. They are more technical or academic in nature, concentrating on the original languages, context or grammar of the text. These commentaries are written by some of the most knowledgeable theologians in church history.

Example: Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

Devotional Commentaries

Devotional commentaries are designed to enhance the readers' personal reflection and practical application of the Bible text. They are geared for times of soul-searching and listening for the voice and heart of God through the text.

Example: The 365 Day Devotional Commentary

Cultural Commentaries

Cultural commentaries are meant to help readers gain an understanding of the cultural background of the Bible text.

Example: The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament

Online Commentaries

The following websites offer a wide range of free online Bible commentaries:

BibleStudyTools.com

BibleGateway

Bible Hub

Blue Letter Bible

Christian Classics Ethereal Library

StudyLight.org

2. The primary tool in helping accurately interpret the Bible is an understanding of context. To understand the meaning of a passage it is important to know the basic background of what you are reading. Just as we don’t start a novel in the middle of a chapter, we shouldn’t treat the Bible that way. Encourage your congregation to learn the historical background of the text, who the author is, and to whom the author is writing. There are additional important factors when properly evaluating a passage: the cultural context, the genre of writing, and literal and figurative writing styles.

3. In the book of 2 Timothy, we know that Paul is writing specifically to Timothy, his young protégé. It is a loving letter to a friend and coworker, urging him to stay faithful to the gospel, even if things get hard. The letter is even more meaningful when we realize that Paul is speaking out of his own experience, writing this letter while imprisoned. The passage begins with an introduction of two people, Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have strayed from the truth and are spreading bad teaching (2:16–18), but Paul says, “God’s solid foundation stands firm” (v. 19). Even within the church, there can be bad theology. It is important for a believer to be discerning. While most pastors and teachers will work hard to teach truth, it is our personal responsibility to ensure that the things we believe, or are encouraged to believe, align with Scripture. The only way to know that is to know the Bible, the foundation of our faith.

Dr. William Evans, who pastored College Church from 1906–1909, was an unusually accomplished man. He had the entire King James Version of the Bible memorized as well as the New Testament of the American Standard Version. Dr. Evans also authored over fifty books. His son, Louis, became one of the best-known preachers in America and for many years pastored the eminent First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. When Dr. William Evans retired, he moved to Hollywood to be near his son, and when Louis was away he would substitute for him.

One unforgettable Sunday Dr. William, as he was affectionately called, spoke on the virgin birth. All were amazed when he raised his Bible and tore out the pages that narrate the birth of the Lord. As the tattered scraps floated down toward the congregation, he shouted, “If we can’t believe in the virgin birth, let’s tear it out of the Bible!” And then as he drove home his point, he tore out the resurrection chapters, then the miracle narratives, then anything conveying the supernatural. The floor was littered with mutilated pages.

Finally, with immense drama he held up the only remaining portion and said, “And this is all we have left—the Sermon on the Mount. And that has no authority for me if a divine Christ didn’t preach it.” After a few more words, he asked his listeners to bow for the benediction. But before he could pray, a man in that vast and sedate congregation stood and cried, “No, no! Go on! We want more!” Several others joined in. So Dr. Evans preached for another fifty minutes.

Dr. Evans was right. You cannot pick and choose from the Bible what you want to believe is inspired. The Bible does not present itself that way. Even more, the Bible will have no sustaining power for life if you make yourself the arbiter of what you will and will not believe about it.

Significantly, the text before us, containing the Bible’s most famous statement of the inspiration of Scripture, is set in the context of continuance—going on, remaining in the gospel. What Christians believe about the Scriptures has everything to do with their continuance and service in the faith.

Hughes, R. Kent, and Bryan Chapell. 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: To Guard the Deposit. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000. Print. Preaching the Word.

Scripture is inspired. Paul affirmed with elegant finality that “All Scripture is God-breathed.” You can hear the meaning in the transliteration of the Greek word Theopneustos (God-breathed—Theo = “God” and pneustos = “breath”). More literally, “All Scripture is breathed into by God.” When you speak, your word is “you-breathed”—your breath, conditioned by your mind, pours forth in speech. You breathe out your words. This belief that Scripture was “breathed into by God” perfectly expresses the view of the first-century Jews about the Old Testament writings.

Hughes, R. Kent, and Bryan Chapell. 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: To Guard the Deposit. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000. Print. Preaching the Word.

Scripture is useful. The apostle uses two pairs of words to flesh out Scripture’s usefulness—“and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (v. 16b). The first pair—“teaching, rebuking”—have to do with doctrine. Positively, all Scripture is “useful for teaching.” That is why the whole of both Testaments must be studied—not just Romans, not just the narratives of the Old Testament, not just the Gospels. All the didactic, poetic, narrative, apocalyptic, proverbial, and epical sections together are to make up the tapestry of our teaching. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching.”

And of course when this is done, there will also be “rebuking.” Those true to the Scriptures cannot escape this duty. Together the “teaching” and the “rebuking” produce the boon of sound doctrine. It is for want of both that the church has so often fallen into error.

The second pair—“correcting and training in righteousness”—have to do with conduct. “Correcting” comes from the Greek word for “straight,” which the New Living Translation helpfully renders, “It straightens us out.” God’s Word is useful in a practical way. Those who accept its reproof will begin to find their lives straightening out. Then they will be ready for the Word’s positive effect of “training in righteousness.” The righteousness that has come to the believer by faith is actualized by the training of God’s Word. In sum, the God-breathed Word is “useful” for all of life, all doctrine and all duty, all creed and all conduct—everything!

Scripture equips. Paul ends this section on the sufficiency of Scripture by saying, “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (v. 17). Though we cannot see it in English, Paul here uses two forms of the Greek word for equip (an adjective and a participle) to make his point. The man of God is super-equipped by the Word of God. The man of God is before all else a man of the Bible.

History records that John Calvin took the logic of this to heart. He believed that the Scripture was God-breathed and useful and thoroughly equipping. According to the recent Calvin translator and biographer T. H. L. Parker, commenting on the content of Calvin’s preaching, “On Sunday he took always the New Testament, except for a few Psalms on Sunday afternoon. During the week … it was always the Old Testament.” He took five years to complete the book of Acts. He preached forty-six sermons on Thessalonians, 186 on Corinthians, eighty-six on the Pastorals, forty-three on Galatians, forty-eight on Ephesians. He spent five years on his harmony of the Gospels. That was just his Sunday work! During the weekdays in those five years he preached 159 sermons on Job, 200 on Deuteronomy, 353 on Isaiah, and 123 on

All this because of what Calvin believed about the Bible. He believed that the whole of Scripture was the Word of God and must be mined by exposition. “We must not pick and cull the Scriptures to please our own fancy, but must receive the whole without exception,” wrote Calvin.

Hughes, R. Kent, and Bryan Chapell. 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: To Guard the Deposit. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000. Print. Preaching the Word.

4. Paul continues warning Timothy about the people who will say they are followers but show evidence to the contrary. He warns of more false teachers, those who will oppose truth, like the magicians who tried to undermine Moses in Exodus (, ; , ). So, Paul tells Timothy to follow his example and stay steadfast in what he has seen in Paul and what he knows to be true. Paul ends chapter 3 with a declaration on the authority and importance of handling the Word of God carefully and with accuracy, because “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (vv. 16–17). Paul’s charge to Timothy is just as applicable to our lives.

5. Biblical texts can seem confusing, so offer practical tips on how to work through a time of textual observation. Tips include the following: Try to create your own personal paraphrase as you read, and write down questions that arise. Don’t be afraid to look at different Bible translations to get a better grasp of what the author is expressing. Use a concordance, like Strong’s (available for free and linked to the text at Blue Letter Bible) when looking at original language and word meanings. Strong’s will give you the original word in its original language (and transliteration), the English translation, and all the places that same word has been used in Scripture. Use commentaries written by reputable biblical scholars to give explanation and interpretation of specific biblical books. It is easy to want to skip over things to get to the “good stuff” that is tweetable or that you have heard before, but as you study, try not to jump around too much or focus on individual verses out of context. Instead, concentrate on longer passages or entire books, or study a biblical theme or topic. Don’t get hung up on how much you are studying, though, but build the discipline of Bible study, even if it is just a few minutes daily or weekly.

Bible study is great for a personal devotional time, but much can be gleaned from studying with others. The Bible Project video on the public reading of Scripture highlights this point (https://youtu.be/BO1Y9XyWKTw). Remind your congregation that Bible study is just one aspect of a relationship with God and that it should not be a marker of how “spiritual” one is but of a committed and growing relationship with Jesus.

Application Point: Rightly understanding the context and message of Scripture allows us to stand firm in our faith on a foundation of truth and to better understand God’s message and purposes.