5 Keys to Interpretation

Why are you hear?

Psalm 119:34 ESV

Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

The psalmist understood that apart from understanding the meaning of the text, there could be no application to his life.

The psalmist was ready to act on the word of God

Are you? Is that your aim in coming to the Word of God? Life-change?

Content

this is going to come from your observation.

What you looked for

terms

structure

literary form

and atmosphere

what we asked

Who

what

where

when

why

wherefore

Also looked for

Things that are emphasized

repeated

related

alike

unlike

true to life

That is going to give you the content.

Context

what is context?

This is referring to what is right before it and right after it.

there are also other kinds of context

Literary context

The text an paragraph that it is in

historical context

What was taking place in history at that time.

cultural context

What did cutler look like

geographic context

What was the landscape or area where the passage was taking place?

theological context

How does it fit with the rest of the Bible

Comparison

here we compare scripture with scripture. Scripture cannot contradict itself

the need of a concordance. It will explain more about a word that might seem isolated. It will also show you where else that word is found.

Culture

When you study scripture you have to re create the culture and learn a lot about it to understand it better.

1 Corinthians 8 page 246

Consultation

This is when you start to use secondary resources.

We never want to become arrogant in the study process by thinking that we have all the answers.

concordance

Understand the word better

see how it is used in other passages

help you find a passage if you cant remember where they are found

Bible Dictionaries

Another way to look at different terms and words

Atlases

This will give you insight to the geography of the land

Bible Commentaries

Studying with and hearing from people who have spent their lives studying the bible and different passages.