Dig Deeper Chapter 2 The Author’s Purpose Tool
Notes
Transcript
Handout
A. Typical Bible Study
A. Typical Bible Study
1. How do people generally study the Bible? What are we looking for in the text? Use the example in the book from 2 Timothy 1:9-10
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
(a) Promises or Commands that are in the text
(b) 2 Timothy 1:9-10 - Saved by Grace, Jesus defeated death, etc
(c) We want to find the implications for us
(d) Look at the “what”, “what does the text say to me”
(e) What does the text mean for us today?
2. What do we leave out when we study the Bible this way?
(a) We fail to ask “why”. “Why has the author written this?”
(b) We may learn many truths, but miss the point the author was making. We will miss the Big Point that is being made.
3. If we miss the Author's Purpose for writing the passage have we really understood the passage?
(a) No
B. The Author's Purpose
B. The Author's Purpose
1. Purpose Given
1. Purpose Given
Have everyone turn to the verse and then have one person read it
(a) Read the following verses. What purpose does the author give for writing? John 20:30-31; Luke 1:1-4; 1 John 5:13
(1) John 20:30–31
Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
What is the Purpose Statement?
So that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ
That you may have life in his name
How can these purposes be summarized?
The purpose is to lead people to salvation in Jesus Christ
(2) Luke 1:1–4
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
What is the Purpose Statement?
So that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
What does this mean?
Luke wanted to provide an account to verify what Theophilus had been taught. It was written to verify the teaching.
(3) 1 John 5:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
What is the Purpose Statement?
So that you may know that you have eternal life.
How could this be summarized?
The purpose of the letter was to give its readers confirmation of their salvation, assurance of salvation.
(b) If the Author gives us his purpose for writing, what is the implication for our study of that book?
(1) We must let that purpose guide or inform our understanding of the rest of the book.
(c) What can happen if we don't let the Author's Purpose guide us in understanding a text from that book?
(1) We can be led to a wrong interpretation and a wrong application for our lives
(2) Read Example from 1 John on page 44-45 (page 29 in physical book)
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.
And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
What do these verses tells us?
These are several ways to test our faith, to determine if our faith is genuine. Do we love other Christians, do we obey God, do we admit our sin?
What application could we make from these verses?
These verses show what unbelievers look like. We can take these verses and make application that if you are guilty of these things you are not a believer.
We can make application to ourselves and have a crisis of faith becuase we fail so often.
What application should we make?
But this letter is written to believers.
It is written to believers to give them assurance of their salvation. To allow these truths to cause us to doubt our salvation goes against the very purpose of the letter!
Do we love other Christians? Not perfectly, but yes, we love other Christians. That is proof that your faith is genuine and that you have eternal life.
“Using 1 John to undermine your assurance is like using a kettle to make ice cubes-it’s the oppposite of what it was designed to do.” Dig Deeper, 29)
2. The Purpose Is Not Given
2. The Purpose Is Not Given
(a) What do we do when the Author of a Biblical Book does not explicitly state their purpose for writing?
(1) We must play detective
(2) We must familiarize ourselves with the book - read it several times.
(b) What questions must we ask to get to the Author's purpose? What are we looking for?
(1) Who is writing? Who is being written to?
(2) What is the situation of the Author, of the recipients?
(3) Are any problems given that need to be addressed?
(4) Are there any repeated themes or a repeated idea?
(c) What are some specific ways to get to the author's purpose when reading a Narrative (story)?
(1) What the author includes or leaves out of the story
(2) Does the author cover hundreds of years or give great detail?
(3) How can another account of the same story help us determine the Author's purpose? I.e, when we find the same story in Matthew, Mark and Luke or the same story in a book of Samuel and in a book of Chronicles?
a. What is included or left out helps us to understand why the author wrote his account of the story
b. We should be careful then about using other accounts to “fill in” details that are missing from the account we are studying. Those details were left out for a reason!
c. Example from Samuel and Chronicles - Chronicles leaves out David's adultery - purpose of Chronicles is to “celebrate what is best about the kings of Judah, in preparation for the greatest king of all, Jesus.” 2 Samuel however wants us to see that King David was a sinner in need of a Savior.
C. The Author's Purpose and Other Tools
C. The Author's Purpose and Other Tools
1. The Swiss Army Knife - The purpose of the other tools is to get to the Author's purpose.
D. Example - 2 Timothy
D. Example - 2 Timothy
1. Who is writing and to whom?
(a) Paul is writing
Paul is an apostle who speaks for Christ (1:1, 11)
(b) Writing to Timothy
they are close (1:1-7)
2. What are the Circumstances and/or Problems that need addressed?
(a) Paul has suffered (1:11-12; 3:10-11), in prison (1:8), deserted (1:15; 4:14-16), is likely going to die (4:6-8)
(b) “Timothy is a church leader (1:6; 2:2, 14). There are false teachers in his church who are distorting the true gospel (2:14–18, 22–26; 3:1–10, 13). Worse still, some in the church are eager to hear these false ideas (4:3–4).”
3. What are the repeated themes/ideas?
(a) “Paul spends most of his time encouraging Timothy to stand for the true gospel (1:8, 13–14), to teach it himself and train others to teach it also (2:2, 15; 3:14–17). He warns Timothy of the false teachers and instructs him how to deal with them (2:14–26; 3:1–10). He tells Timothy throughout that he must endure suffering (1:8; 2:3–13; 3:10–12). He continually reminds Timothy of the future—both the reward of heaven (e.g. 1:1, 10; 2:10; 4:8) and the sobering reality of judgment (2:12– 13; 4:1).”
4. What is Paul's purpose for writing?
(a) “Paul's purpose in writing to Timothy is to urge him to continue to stand for the true gospel despite the suffering that it will bring, in light of the glorious future that awaits him.”
5. What are the implications for understanding 2 Timothy 1:9-10?
(a) Paul is giving a description of the Gospel to Timothy, a gospel that Timothy already knows very well.
(b) “Given what we now know about the purpose of the letter, it all makes sense. Stick with the gospel, Timothy. The same old gospel. Keep on teaching it, even though people in your church don't always want to hear it, even though it's going to mean suffering and hardship. ”
(c) The point in writing these verses was not that we could simply look at these great truths and try to apply them to our lives in whatever way we want. They are meant to be an encouragement in times of difficulty.
(d) How then should we apply this text?
(1) We should remember the great truths of the gospel of our salvation anytime we face difficulties in our walk.
E. Dig Deeper - 1 Corinthians 13
E. Dig Deeper - 1 Corinthians 13
1. Read through 1 Corinthians 13
2. Write down what it means.
(a)Love is the most important trait, without it nothing we do matters
(b)The characteristics of love are what make it love.
(c)Love will continue even when everything else fails/ends.
3. Write down the main points you think the passage is making
(a)Love in this way and all that you do will have meaning and worth.
(b)The Characteristics of Love to be emulated
4. Look up the following verses and write down what they say about Pual’s purpose for writing.
(a)1 Corinthians 1:10-12
to stop division in the church
(b)1 Corinthians 3:1-4
to deal with spiritual immaturity that caused division
(c)1 Corinthians 4:6-10
to deal with their arrogance that led to division
(d)1 Corinthians 6:1, 6-8
to deal with their selfishness that led to division
(e)1 Corinthians 11:17-18
to stop division in the church
5. What do they say about Paul's purpose for writing?
(a) see above
6. How does this purpose change your understanding of 1 Corinthians 13?
(a) Rather than being a warm and fuzzy speech about love, it is clear that the text is a rebuke for their prideful, self-centered immaturity that was causing division. They were guilty of not loving one another and needed to heed Paul's teaching on love to bring about unity in the church.
F. Homework:
1. Read Chapter 3: The Context Tool
2. Work through the “Dig Deeper” Exercise at the end of Chapter 3