If the Bible is not the OBJECTIVE basis for belief we are left to erroneous human ideas. WHY? WE DO NOT AGREE! That is the proof humans are incapable of figuring it out – that’s precisely why we need GOD to tell us OBJECTIVELY.

If any part is suspect then the whole thing is suspect. Who determines what parts to keep; reinterpret or discard?

It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. Mark Twain (1835–1910)

A- Proper receptivity (Holy Spirit Relationship) Christ is the master; the Scriptures are only the servant. Martin Luther (1483–1546) don’t idolize the Bible; KJV Only, (which is Only-ism religion) as an example.

B- Proper research (Put in the effort) "I hear and I forget" "I see and I remember" "I do and I understand" Instead of studying resources about the Bible, inductive study focuses first upon the Bible. We want deductive study which looks at all the stuff and makes a specific conclusion – That’s the easy way and it’s wrong. Begin with God, move to His Word and then look outside.

Exegetically (Grammatical – Archeological)

Hermeneutically (What’s the point of this text today?)

C- Proper reflection (Pray and meditate on God’s Word)

D- Proper relating (Consult others in person and through books)

E- Proper response (Hear – take into your heart – DO!)

EXEGESIS: We place no premium on speculation, inventiveness or novelty in interpretation. We examine the text carefully from as many angles as possible, not adding, subtracting or distorting the intended meaning.

1.     Text. (Lower or Textual Criticism)

a) What was the original text? MIAS GUNAIKOS ANDRA

b) What’s the logical and original starting and ending point of the passage? 1 Timothy 3:1-7 also linked to 3:8-13

2.     Translation. One woman’s man

3.     Historical Context. (Archeology)

a) The backdrop Greek & Roman, Ephesus & Temple of Artemis

b) The foreground Church governance

c) The social setting Marriage geared for divorce & funeral words

d) Geographical Ephesus & Crete

e) Date About 64 E x 12, C x 30

4.     Literary Context.

a) The literary function (how it fills in, adds on, begins, completes, or balances the portion and/or book in which it occurs.

b) Examination of the placement of the text.

c) Analysis of the detail it provides.

d) Analysis of authors other uses or purposes. 1 Timothy 3:12 & 5:9 (5:14 remarry) plus Titus 1:6 ICB – NCV – NLT – NIV all have 5:9 a faithful wife, But NIV has: the husband of but one wife

5.     Form. Genres or types of written material – Instruction in the form of guidelines

6.     Structure. The structure is a guide to its logic – All are qualities & the verbs are present, active, continuous - today and each day.

7.     Grammar. Idioms, Hebraisms and syntactical structures – Anarthrous so, qualitative

8.     Lexical Analysis. Present context be given precedence over all other considerations – Cardinal #, female & male

9.     Biblical Context. Micro & Macro context & if quoted or alluded to – Guidelines for community leadership applicable in America today within the overall Biblical scope of Christian life
 

10.     Theology. Defined as the systematic study of revealed truth – Elder led Christianity

11.     Secondary Literature. Books, articles, grammars, commentaries, atlases, lexicons, etc – 1st century = no polygamy so sexual self-control, 2nd & 3rd = no remarriage at all, 4th - 16th = increasingly negative view of marriage, 17th – 19th no remarried divorce’, 20th & 21st full devotion to spouse

12.     Application. The primary goal of exegesis is the determination of the meaning of a passage to its original audience – Self-control in the area of sexual conduct (abstain from porneia) and an example of the Garden ideal.

 
Hermeneutics, the science of interpretation, attempts to bridge barriers that would prevent a modern understanding of a biblical text.

12. Application. Is Hermeneutics

1) A passage cannot mean now, what it could not have meant originally. Unlikely, but possible that no remarriage was in view

2) The same concepts cannot mean different things in different passages. Titus and Tim same thing

3) There can be no contradiction. The Bible is silent on remarriage as a sin except for Jesus’ own words. Jesus is speaking against divorce, not remarriage.

4) More weight is given to repetitive concepts.

5) The Devil, truly is in the details. Press in and make rules

6) Don’t press the text beyond the nature, area & scope of the intended application. Applies universally

(1) We make God’s Truth subjugated to our reason.

(Can’t be six literal days)

(2) We integrate God’s Truth with human wisdom.

        (Christian Psychology)

(3) We approach the Bible as lawyers sifting through a rule book.

        (Pastors must be married, but only once, but infidelity is okay)

(4) We take Scripture beyond its scope.

        (Jewish Christians and circumcision)

(5) We interpret and apply Scripture in light of our own culture.

(Women Pastors)

(6) We use Scripture selectively.

        (Predestination)

 (7) We refuse to see tension as good.

        (Forgiveness and tolerance)

(8) We interpret Scripture privately.

        (I have my own church)

(9) We misappropriate truth.

        (Homosexuality is okay if it is exclusive)

(10) We selectively deny biblical teachings or commands.

        (I don’t have to evangelize)

Chapter 1 – Build up the church in Ephesus

1 Timothy 1:3-17 ~

3As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

8But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Chapter 2 – A Call to Prayer ~ Women Instructed

Chapter 3 – Overseers and Deacons

1 Timothy 3:1-7 ~ It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Chapter 4 – Apostasy

1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

Chapter 5 – Honor Widows ~ Concerning Elders

 17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.

 20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.

22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
Chapter 6 – Instructions to Those Who Minister

A- Receptivity

Pray

Examine your heart motive through the Holy Spirit

Recognize God

B- Research Carefully (Exegetically & Hermeneutically)

Context, Context, Context

Inductive over deductive, Scripture then experience

Selflessness, God-centered & God honoring/elevating

Can’t be contradictory

The Devil is in the minutia – Puffing up arrogance

Don’t jump to a conclusion

Outside material is not Scripture

• \\ C- Reflection*

Pray & Meditate and look again

D- Proper Relating

Never look for the same response in others

Never ask human opinion when God has spoken

Kick it around and get other points-of-view

E- Response

When you understand take ownership in your heart and make it part of your existence.