HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE Course 2020Jul2

HOWTOSTUDYTHEBIBLEPage1

Copyright2011—J.ChristopherMcMichaelwww.podschool.org

HOWTOSTUDYTHEBIBLELesson1

HistoryAndOrganizationOfTheBible

• ThewordBiblecomesfromtheGreekwordbiblion,meaning“book.”• TheBibleisabookmadeupof66booksandisbrokenintotwotestaments,theOld

andtheNew.ThebirthofJesusChristsignifiedthebeginningoftheNewTestament.• Fortydifferentmenwrotethe66booksoftheBibleoveraperiodof1,600years,

through40generationsofmankind.• Thewritershadvariousbackgroundsandeducationalupbringings,includingkings,

priests,prophets,judges,shepherds,fishermen,scholars,statesmen,poets,andevenamedicaldoctor.

• TheBiblewasnotdividedintochaptersuntil1228A.D.• TheOldTestamentwasdividedintoversesin1488A.D.,followedbytheNew

Testamentin1551.(ThisisimportanttokeepinmindwhenyoustudytheBible,fortheBiblewasnotwrittenwithchapterheadings.)

TheBibleisnotarrangedchronologicallybutcategorically.TheOldTestamentcanbebrokendownintofivecategories:1.LAWThefirstfivebookswerewrittenbyMosesandarecollectivelycalledtheTorahbytheJews,orthePentateuch.ThesebookscoverthecreationofmantothegivingoftheLawtotheJews,orabout1600years.Theseinclude:

• Genesis-TheBookofBeginnings.ThisbookcoversfromthecreationofmanuntilIsraelsettlesandbeginstoflourishinEgypt.

• Exodus-ThisisacontinuationofthestoryofGod’speoplethatleftoffinGenesis.ExodusincludesboththehistoricalaspectsoftheExodusandthegivingoftheLawbyJehovahtoMosesonMountSinai.

• Leviticus-LeviticusestablishestherulesandregulationsforIsrael’sreligiousleaders,theLevitesandpriests.

• Numbers-TheBookofNumbersisahistoricalbookthatdocumentssomeoftheexperiencesofIsraelwhiletheywereinthewilderness.

• Deuteronomy-DeuteronomyisalsocalledtheSecondGivingoftheLaw.ItcanbethoughtofasarefreshercoursegivenbeforeMosesdies.

2.HISTORYThesebookscoverthehistoryofIsraelfromtheenteringintothePromisedLand,throughthetimesofthejudgesandkings,intoBabylonianCaptivity,andthenthepartialreturnfromthatcaptivity.About1,100yearsofhistoryarecovered.Thesebooksinclude:

• Joshua-TellsthestoryofJoshua’sleadershipasheledIsraelintothePromisedLand.



• Judges-CoversthelivesofthejudgesthatprecededJoshuaafterhisdeath.This bookcoversabout400yearsofhistoryandtheleadershipoftheTwelveJudgesas IsraelsettledCanaan,alsoknownasthePromisedLand.• Ruth-ThisbookisthehistoryofthefamilyofElimelechduringthetimeofthe

judges.IttellsthestoryofawidowwholeavesalltoservetheGodofIsrael.ThestoryofRuthisaforeshadowingofChrist’sredemption.

• I&2Samuel-ThesetwobookscoverthelivesofSamuel(thelastjudge),Saul(Israel’sfirstking),andDavid(Israel’ssecondandmostfamousking).

• I&2Kings-ThesetwobookscoverthehistoryofthekingsfromtheendofKingDavid’sreignuntiltheBabylonianCaptivity.

• I&2Chronicles-ThesetwobookscoverthehistoryofthekingsbeginningwiththeendofKingSaul’sreignuntiltheBabylonianCaptivity.

• Ezra-EzraandNehemiahareconsideredtobeonebookbytheJews.TheytellthestoryofthementhatbeganthereturntoJerusalemfromExiletobegintherebuildingofIsrael.EzrawasascribeandpriestwhobroughtbacksomeoftheIsraelitesfromcaptivity.

• Nehemiah-NehemiahreturnedfromExiletorebuildthewallaroundthenowcompletedTemplethatZerubbabelrebuilt.

• Esther-ThisbookcoverspartofthehistoryofIsrael’s70yearsofcaptivity.EstherwasaJewesswhowontheheartofthePersianKing,Xerxes,andbecamequeen.ThisbookrevealsGod’sfaithfulnesstoIsraelduringtheirexilefromIsrael.

3.POETRYThesearecalledthebooksofpoetrybecauseofsomeoftheirwritingstyles.Theyinclude:

• Job-JobistheoldestbookoftheBibleandrecordsthetragediesthatbefellJobatthehandofsatan.Intheend,Jobishealed,andhiswealthisrestored.JobwasnotanIsraelite.HeonlyknewGodbyHisname,“TheAlmighty.”

• Psalms-Thisisacollectionof“praises”thatwereoriginallysettomusic.DavidistheauthorofmostthePsalms;however,otherauthorsdidcontribute.StudyingthePsalmswillteachyouhowtorelatetoGod.

• Proverbs-Thisisacollectionofmaxims,parables,orproverbsgiventoproducewisdominthereader.Solomonwastheauthor.StudyingProverbswillfillyouwithwisdomandteachyouhowtorelatetopeople.

• Ecclesiastes-ThisacollectionofproverbsgivenbySolomonafterhislifefellapartinsin.ThesetendtohaveadarkertoneasSolomonwasreflectingonhownothinginlifereallymattersifyoudon’thaveGodinyourlife.

• SongofSolomon-AlsocalledCanticles,thisisapoeticbookthatdiscussesromanticloveandmaritalintimacy.

4.MAJORPROPHETSThesebooksrevealGodcallingHispeoplebacktoHimselfthroughHisprophets.Isaiahsucceeded,Jeremiahdidnot.EzekielandDanielprophesiedfromcaptivity.These



prophecieswerenotjustlimitedtotheirday.ManyoftheprophetsforesawthecomingMessiahandeventheChurchAge.Thesebooksinclude:

• Isaiah-Prophesiedfor40yearsduringthereignofKingHezekiah(740-701B.C.).• Jeremiah-Prophesiedfor40years,frombeforetheExileandintotheExile(626-

586B.C.).• Lamentations-TheseareJeremiah’sobservationsofandmourningforthe

ransackingofJerusalemaftertheinvasionsbyforeignarmies.• Ezekiel-Prophesiedfromcaptivityforabout22years(592-570B.C.).• Daniel-ProphesiedfromcaptivityasaprominentgovernorofBabylon.Hisvisions

andpropheciesforesawthousandsofyearsofhistorytocome.5.MINORPROPHETSThesebookscontinuetodemonstrateGod’sdesiretohaveHispeopleserveHim.Theseareconsidered“minor”prophetsbecausethebooksareshorterinlength,notbecauseoftheirsignificance.Theyare:

• Hosea-ProphesiedduringthetimeofKingJeroboamII(793-752B.C.).Heprophesiedagainstthenorthernkingdom’ssinandtheirmoraldecline.

• Joel-ThetimeofJoel’sprophecyisnotspecificallyknown,perhapsasearlyas850B.C.(KingJoash)orevenafterthereturnfromBabylon(500B.C.).

• Amos-ProphesiedduringthedaysofKingUzziah(750-740B.C.).• Obadiah-ProphesiedthefallofEdomduringthereignofKingJehoram(848-844

B.C.).• Jonah-ProphesiedduringthetimeofKingJeroboamII(793-752B.C.).Jonahwas

senttopreachrepentancetotheGentilecityofNineveh.JonahshowsusGod’slovefortheentireworld.

• Micah-ProphesiedduringthetimeofKingHezekiah(772-722B.C.).MicahprophesiedagainstsinandforetoldthejudgmenttobefallIsraelandSamaria.

• Nahum-ProphesiedagainstNinevehabout100yearsafterJonah(663-612B.C.).Ninevehapparentlyonlyrepentedforaseason.

• Habakkuk-ProphesiedduringthetimeofeitherKingJosiahorKingJehoiakim(about600B.C.).HeprophesiedagainstJudah’ssinandthatpunishmentwouldcomebythehandsoftheChaldeans.

• Zephaniah-ProphesiedduringthetimeofKingJosiah(639-608B.C.)oftheimpendingjudgmentcomingtoIsraelforhersins.

• Haggai-ProphesiedandpreachedduringthetimeofEzra(520B.C.)andencouragedZerubbabeltokeeprebuildingtheTemple.Haggaiiscalledaprophetofrestoration.

• Zechariah-ProphesiedandpreachedduringthetimeofEzra(520-518B.C.).Zechariahiscalledaprophetofrestoration.

• Malachi-Prophesiedabout550B.C.HismajorthemewashonoringGod.Malachiiscalledaprophetofrestoration.Afterhiswritings,theheavensweresealeduntilJesusChrist.



TheNewTestamentcanbebrokendownintofivecategories:1.GOSPELSThesearethebooksthatdocumentthelifeofJesusChrist,coveringapproximately33years.TheyincludeMatthew,Mark,Luke,andJohn.TheGospelaccordingtoSt.Matthewwasthefirsttobewritteninabout37A.D.MarkandLuke’sgospelswerewritteninabout60A.D.ManybelieveLuke’sgospeltobePeter’saccount.John’sgospelwaswrittenlastinabout90A.D.2.HISTORYActs(oftheApostles)istheonlyhistoricalbookintheNT.ItchroniclesthehistoryoftheearlyChurch,coversaperiodofapproximately30years,andwaswrittenbyLuke.3.PAULINEEPISTLESThesearelettersthatPaulwrotetothemanychurchesheestablishedandpastoredforaseason.ThebooksofTimothy,Titus,andPhilemonareepistleswrittentothoseindividuals.TheyestablishChurchdoctrine,protocol,prophecyaboutthelastdays,andteachuswhoweareinChristJesus.TheyincludeRomans,I&2Corinthians,Galatians,Ephesians,Philippians,Colossians,I&2Thessalonians,I&2Timothy,Titus,Philemon,andHebrews.4.GENERALEPISTLESTheseareepistleswrittenbyapostlesotherthanPaul.Theyalsoestablishdoctrineandincludesomepropheciesaboutthelastdays.TheyincludeJames,I&2Peter,I,2,&3John,andJude.5.PROPHECYTheRevelationisconsideredbysometobethemost“exciting”ofthebooksoftheBible,itcanalsobethehardesttounderstandbecauseonemusthaveagoodworkingknowledgeoftherestoftheBibleinordertosomewhatgraspwhatisbeingcommunicated.Donotbeoverwhelmed.ObeytheletterofPaultoyoungTimothyand“studytoshewthyselfapproveduntoGod,aworkmanthatneedethnottobeashamed...”(2Timothy2:15a).




Dispensationalism

Dispensationalismisthesystemofhistoricalprogression,asrevealedintheBible,consistingofasystemofstages(ordispensations)inGod’sself-revelationandplanofsalvation.JohnNelsonDarby(1800-1882),anIrishBibleteacher,isconsideredthefatherofdispensationalism.HisteachingswerethentakenandmadepopularinAmericabyCyrusScofieldintheScofieldReferenceBible,andlaterpropagatedbymodernfamedteachersHalLindseyandTimLaHaye.TheBiblecanbebrokendownintosevendispensationsoftime.ThesebreakdownsarebasedonGodrevealingHimselftomanandhowHeisinteractingwithman.Godneverchanges,buthowHehasdealtwithmanhaschanged.Eachdispensationismarkedbyaneventpreventingareturntotheformertimeframe.ItiscriticaltounderstanddispensationalismwhenstudyingtheBiblesothatscripturescanbekeptinpropercontextanddoctrinecanbeaccuratelydeveloped.POINTSOFINTEREST

• UnderstandingthevariousdispensationsiskeytodevelopingaccurateBibledoctrine.

• Dispensationalismwillhelptosortoutthevariouscommandmentswekeepanddon’tkeepandanswerquestionslike:HowcomeIsraelgottokilltheirenemiesandIhavetolovemine?Whydon’twehavetoofferupanimalsacrifices?HowcouldDavidhavemultiplewivesanditwasnotconsideredsin?

• Dispensationalismwillhelptokeepscripturesinpropercontext.Manyscripturescanbeeasilyinterpretedwhenyourealizewhoisbeingspokentoandinwhatdispensation.

THESEVENDISPENSATIONS

1. Innocence(Genesis1:1-3:21):Fromthecreationtothefallofman.Wedon’tknowhowlongthisperiodlasted.Mancouldnotdieuntilsinenteredin,soitmayhavebeendays,weeks,months,orevenyearsbeforeherebelled.Inthisdispensation,GodrevealedHisdesiretowalkwithmanandtofellowshipwithhim.HealsorevealedHisdesiretoworkwithmanandevendelegatetomanauthorityovertherestofcreation.Transition:OriginalSin.AdamandEvearekickedout.AnarmedangelpreventsAdamandEvefromreturningtothegarden.

2. Conscience/Antediluvian(Genesis3:22-7:33):1,656Years—Fromthefallofmantotheflood.Manbecameawareofhisnakednessandsinfulness.Here,GodbegantorevealHisplanforsalvation.TheconflictbetweensatanandGodovermanintensifiesandtheworldgrowsexceedinglywickeduntilGodmustsendafloodto



destroysinfulman.Man’sconsciousnessofsinisnotenoughtorestrainthesin.Hemusthaveasavior.Transition:Manbecomesexceedinglywicked.Thegreatflooddestroystheearth.ThereisnoformerworldforNoahandhisfamilytoreturnto.

3. HumanGovernment(Genesis8:20-11:9):429years—FromthefloodtoAbraham.Astheearthrepopulates,citiesandcommunitiesdevelopalongwithgovernmentsandsocieties.Babelisthemostnotable.TheearlyBabylonians,ledbyKingNimrod,decidedtoreachGodbyworks(aman-madetower).Godconfoundsthelanguages,andthepeoplearescattered.Transition:AbramiscalledoutfromtheworldandawayfromBabel’sinfluence.Heispromisedason.HeleavesUroftheChaldees.Abramcanneverreturntohisformerlife.

4. Promise(Genesis11:9-Exodus19):430years—FromAbrahamtothegivingoftheLaw.GodcallsamannamedAbramoutofacitycalledUrtofollowafterHim.HepromisestomakeAbramthefatherofmanynations.AbramobeysandIsaac,thepromisedson,becomesthebeginningofanewpeople:Israel,thelineagethroughwhichJesusChristwillcomeintotheearth.Asprophesied,Abraham’sseedbecomesagreatnationwhileincaptivity.IsraelcriestoGodfordeliveranceandMosesdeliversthem.Transition:Abraham’sseedflourishesinEgyptfor430years.MosesandIsraelfleeEgypt.Egyptisjudged.IsraelcrossestheRedSeaandcanneverreturntoslavery.

5. Law(Exodus20-Gospels):1,524years—FromthegivingoftheLawuntiltheresurrectionofJesusChrist.GodwantedIsraeltobedifferentamongthefallenworld,soHegavethemHisstandard—HisWord,intheformoftheLawandtheTenCommandments.GodrelatedtoHispeoplethroughtheLawofMoses.IsraelwentthroughmanycyclesofobeyingtheWordandthenobeyingidols.Eventuallytheyweretakencaptivebytheirenemies:theNorthernKingdombyAssyria,theSouthernKingdombyBabylon.Theyremainedinslaveryfor70years.UponreturninghometoIsrael,theybecamethesubjectsoftheRomanEmpireuntilwellaftertheresurrectionofJesus.Transition:Jesusisborn,crucified,andresurrected.Sinisjudged,theLawisfulfilled,andtheChurchisborn.WecannotgobackundertheLaw.

6. Grace/ChurchAge(Acts1-present):2,000years—FromtheResurrectionuntiltheRapture.TheGospelsofMatthew,Mark,Luke,andJohnaretransitionalbooks.TheytransitionmankindfromthedispensationoftheLawtothedispensationofGrace.JesusChristministeredasaprophetundertheLaw,butpreparedtheJewsfortheChurchAge.WearecurrentlyintheChurchAge,commissionedtogointoalltheworldandpreachtheGospelofSalvationtoeverycreature.WearenolongerundertheLaw,butundergrace.



Transition:TheChurchisrapturedawaytoHeaventobewiththeLORDandreceiveglorifiedbodies.TheChurchAgeends.TheWorldisjudgedbyGodthroughouttheTribulation.Wecannotreturn.

7. MillennialKingdom/ReignofChrist:1,000years—The1,000yearreignofChrist.ThisMillennialKingdomisChrist’sKingdom.HewillreignasKingfromJerusalem.Hisreignwillbedefinedbypeaceandrighteousness.ChristianswillplayvaryingrolesinHisKingdomasrewardsforhowtheylivedintheChurchdispensation.Transition:Satanisjudged,thelivingrebelsarejudged,andthewicked-deadarejudged.DeathandHellarecastintotheLakeofFire.The“agestocome”begin.Wewillnotgoback.

THETRANS-DISPENSATIONALQUALITIESOFGODThefollowingqualitiesandactsofGodcanbefoundineverydispensation,furtherprovingthatGoddoesnotchange,buthowHeinteractswithman,basedonhowHehasrevealedHimselftoman,doeschange:

• Mercy• Love• Forgiveness• Grace• Provision• Communionwithman• Hatredofsin• Healing• Deliverance• Salvation




StudyToolsAndHowToUseThem

ManytoolsareavailabletotheBiblestudent.Someyoumayuseonaregularbasis.Someyoumayonlyuseoccasionally.Someyoumayneveruse.Itisimportantthatyouarefamiliarwiththesetoolsandhowtousethem.BIBLEThemostimportanttoolisyourBible.

• Translations:KJV,NAS,NIV,NLT,Amplified,etc.Havingdifferenttranslationsinyourlibrarycanhelpyouunderstandwhatisbeingcommunicated.

• StudyBibles:TheseBibleshavenotesandcommentariesbuiltintothem.Commentariesareanotherman’sinterpretationandmaynotalwaysbeaccurate.SeveraldifferenttypesofstudyBiblesareavailable,e.g.,Scofield,Dake,Spirit-Filled,MacArthur,Prophecy,etc.

• ManyBiblescontainlimitedconcordancesanddictionariesandgazetteers(maps).• ManyBiblescontaincross-referencingmarginsandfootnotes.Makesureyouknow

howtousethesevaluabletools.

CONCORDANCEPerhapsthesecondmostvaluablestudytoolisagoodconcordance.AconcordanceisareferencebookthatliststhescripturaladdressesforallthewordsusedintheBible.ThistoolhelpsyoulocateanyverseintheBibleifyouknowthewordorwordsusedintheverse.Byfar,themostwell-knownconcordanceonthemarketisStrong’sExhaustiveConcordanceoftheBible.ItissetupfortheKJVoftheBible.ItalsocontainsanabbreviatedlexiconforboththeGreekandHebrew.LEXICONAlexiconisadictionaryofGreek,Hebrew,Aramaic,orotherancientlanguages.InthecaseofBibleLexicons,itisadictionarydefiningonlytheGreek,Hebrew,andAramaicwordsusedintheBible.TherewouldbenopurposeindefiningwordsthatarenotusedintheBible.AlexiconseparatefromStrong’sConcordancewouldbemorethoroughinitsdefinitionsandwouldthereforebeconducivetodeeperinsightintotheoriginallanguage.WhileStrong’swillgiveyouaparagraphofdefinitions,athoroughlexiconwouldbelikelytogiveyouapageortwoofdefinitions,etymology,andhistoricalusesoftheentryword.HALLEY’S/EERDMAN’SBIBLEHANDBOOKTheseBiblehandbooksincludeaconciseBiblecommentary,importantdiscoveriesin



archaeology,relatedhistoricaldata,churchhistory,andmaps.ItprovidesahistoricalbackgroundandsettingforeachbookoftheBible.ThehandbookcanbepurchasedforboththeKingJamesVersionandtheNewInternationalVersion.BIBLEDICTIONARYABibleDictionarywillgiveyoudefinitionsandevenpicturesofobjectsfoundintheBiblethatweasmodern-dayChristiansmayhavenoconceptof.What’sachariot?ABibledictionarywilltellyouandshowyoupicturesandevengiveyouBiblereferencestochariots.Cisterns?Fleshhooks?Tabernacles?Hart?Etc.MosthavepicturesanddescriptionstobetterillustratetheBiblenarrative.COMMENTARIESCommentariesarevolumesofbooksinwhichtheologianshavegiventheirinterpretationandexplanationfortheentireBiblenarrative.AcommentaryiscapableofhelpingaBiblestudent,butitisalsocapableofhurtingaBiblestudent.Muchcareshouldbetakenwhenreadingcommentariesfortheyareadmittedlyonlyman’sopinion,conjecture,andunderstanding.ManyarewrittenwaybeyondtheunderstandingofmostChristians.INTERNETMuchofChristendom’sunderstanding,theology,archaeology,andcommentaryarenowonlineoncountlesswebsites.StudentsoftheWordneedonlyaskGoogleanyquestionandthousandsofresultscanbefound.ONEMASSIVEWORDOFCAUTION:Justbecauseit’sontheInternetdoesn’tmakeittrue.BeverycarefulwhenusingtheInternettostudytheBible.UsefulonlinetoolsandappsincludeBlueLetterBibleandYouversion.Nowthatyouhavethetools,let’sstudytheBible!!




Hermeneutics(InterpretingTheBible)

Hermeneuticsisthetheoryorscienceoftextinterpretation.Inourcase,it’stheinterpretationofbiblicaltexts.HermeneuticscomesfromtheGreekwordhermeneuo,meaningtotranslateorinterpret.Thetermisoftenusedsynonymouslywithexegesisorbiblicalexegesis.Exegesisislimitedtoacriticalinterpretationorexplanationoftexts,whereashermeneuticsincludestheinterpretationofallformsofcommunication.Therearefivemajoranalysesthatcanbeusedinbiblicalhermeneutics:

• Lexical-SyntacticalAnalysis:Simpleinterpretationlooksatthewordsused(lexical)intheverseandhowtheyareused(syntax).ThiscanbeanadvancedtechniqueusuallylefttotheBiblelinguist.Asimplerstudycanbedonewithalexicontodeterminethefulldefinitionofaparticularword.

o Examples:! WordstudyonGreekwordsforlove:agape,philos,eros,etc.! WordstudyonGreekwordsforjudge:krino,diakrino,katakrino,

anakrino,krisis,etc.! Wordstudyonthetriunenatureofman:pnuema,psuche,soma;thena

furtherwordstudyonthedifferencebetweensomaandsarx.

• ContextualAnalysis:Youmustevaluateaverseinitscontexttofullyinterpretitsintention.Thismethodwillstudyeverythingbeforeandaftertheverseinquestion,andevenlookattheoverallthemeofthechapterandbook.Takingascriptureoutofcontextcanbeverydangerous,e.g.,“Whatyoumustdo,doquickly.”

o Examples:! Criticalforshortpassages:“AndJesuswept,”“RememberLot’swife,”

“Goanddolikewise,”etc.! Criticalforbuildingaccuratedoctrine:“Icandoallthingsthrough

Christwhichstrengthenme,”“Butifhe[thief]befound,heshallrestoresevenfold,”“...andbringethforth,someanhundredfold.”

• TheologicalAnalysis:Tocompletelyunderstandabiblicalsubjectandthereby

builddoctrine,youmustevaluatealloftheversespertainingtoit.

o ...Atthemouthoftwowitnesses,oratthemouthofthreewitnesses,shallthematterbeestablished. Deuteronomy19:15b

Thiscanalsobecalledthelawofwitnesses.ThisverseisquotedagaininNumbers35:30;Matthew18:16;John8:17;2Corinthians13:1;1Timothy5:19,andHebrews10:28.Theseversesteachusthatwecan’tbasedoctrineononlyone



verse.Wemusthavethewitnessofatleasttwoorthreetoestablishanywordordoctrine.Wearetobuilddoctrinalpremisesbasedupontext.Toooften,however,manydoctrinescanbedescribedasapremiseinsearchofatext.

o Examples:! Communion-7NewTestamentpassagestotaling35verses.

NumerousOldTestamentallusions(seeGenesis14:18).! WaterBaptism-7NewTestamentpassagestotaling16verses.No

OldTestamentexamples.! Tongues-1OldTestamentpassagewith5versesand15New

Testamentpassagestotaling110verses.

Everybiblicaldoctrineisabeautiful,multi-facetedgem.Eachfacet(scripture)ofthegem(doctrine)iscriticaltodefiningthegemandproducingtheradiancethatreflectsGod’sglory.

• Historical/CulturalAnalysis:Oftenthehistoricalorculturalsettingmustbe

understoodandaccountedfortofullyunderstandwhattheBibleistryingtocommunicate.Ifmisunderstood,cultures,customs,andsocialsettingscaninvariablyproduceerroneousdoctrines.

o Examples:! UnderstandingthefirstcenturyCorinthianculturecanhelpto

interpretPaul’sinsistencethatwomenpraywiththeirheadscovered.! UnderstandingthesocialstatusofapublicanorRomansoldiercan

helprevealtheheartbehindwhatJesussaidtothem.! UnderstandingtheLeviticalcodecanhelprevealthesignificanceof

DavidwalkingintotheHolyofHoliestoeattheshowbread;whileunderstandingtheregionalcultureofCanaancanhelponetoappreciatetheLeviticalcallfornoshavedheads,growingoutone’shairatthesides,andnotclippingthecornersofone’sbeard.

• LiteraryAnalysis:TheScripturesarewritteninseveraldifferentliterarystyles.

Thesestylesmustbekeptinmindwhenseekingtointerpretthetext.Thesestylesinclude:histories,prophecies,narratives,poetry,psalms,andletters.Furthermore,theseliterarystylesthemselvesincorporateallegory(parables),metaphors(underhiswingsthoushalttrust),similes(yourneckislikeanivorytower),figurativelanguage(theyounglionsandtheadders),andliterallanguage(Inmynametheyshallcastoutdevils).

SeeHenryA.Virkler’sHermeneutics:PrinciplesandProcessesofBiblicalInterpretation(1981)foradeeperstudyonBiblicalHermeneutics.



TrajectoryHermeneutics(**WARNING**)(AKA:Redemptive-MovementHermeneutics)TrajectoryhermeneuticsisanexegeticalapproachthatseekstointerprettheBiblevoiceasaprogressivetrajectorythat,intheend,requirestheScripturestobeinterpretedinlightofmodernculture.Inessence,thisapproachendeavorstocalculatethetrajectory(directionandvelocity)theBiblenarrativeanddoctrineswereheaded(read:evolving)whenthecannonwasclosedandthenextrapolatesitslandingsiteandpresumedtarget.Thecurrentendresultistheapprovalofmodernsin-fads.Initsinterpretivemethod,TrajectoryHermeneuticsistheoppositeofthehistoricalinterpretivedeviceknownasmodernismbutproducesthesameresult.Modernismerroneouslyendeavorstointerprethistoricaleventsandpeoplethroughthefilterandunderstandingofthecurrentculturalclimate.Modernismassumesman’sheartstaysthesame.TrajectoryHermeneuticsassumesGod’sheartchanges.Intheend,bothworktopromoteandjustifymodernperversion.Theyarebothpromotedbythespiritoftheworld.Trajectoryhermeneutics,or“redemptive-movementhermeneutics”asitissometimescalled,isthepredominantframeworkusedbythosewhowouldarguethatweshouldnotobeyallNewTestamentinstructions,sinceGod’s“ultimateethic”isbeyondwhatthetextactuallysays.Inessence,“weshouldwaittoseewherethisthingshallland.”StickwiththeBibleandstudyittoknowGod!!




TheNittyGritty

Firstandforemost,ourprimarymotiveforstudyingtheBiblemustbetoknowGod.

• StudytoshewthyselfapproveduntoGod,aworkmanthatneedethnottobeashamed,rightlydividingthewordoftruth. 2Timothy2:15

DonotbeintimidatedbytheBible.Oftenthesizeofitssheervolumecanbeoverwhelming.Questionslike“WheredoIbegin?,”“WillIbeabletounderstandit?,”or“WillIeverknowasmuchasthepreacher?”oftenhinderbelievers.Beencouraged!TheauthoroftheBible—GOD—livesinyouandHehaspromisedtoleadyouandguideyouintoalltruth.TheWordistruth,soyoucanexpectHimtoleadandguideyouthroughtheBibleandspeaktoyouthroughit.TheBibleisGodspeakingtous.LetusstudywhatHeisspeaking.StudyfornootherreasonbuttoknowGod.Studyingisdifferentfromreading.JustbecauseyouhavereadtheBibledoesnotmeanyouhaveactuallystudiedanyofit.

• Readingpassestime.Readingmakesyouwell-read.• Studyingtakestime.Studyingmakesyouaworkman.

THREENEEDFULINGREDIENTSEffectiveBiblestudytakesthreeelements:

1. MentalAssertion-Youcan’tjust“mindlessly”readthewordsonthepage.Youmustbeactivelyengagingyourmindintowhatyouarereading.Nodozingoff.

2. Self-Discipline-Onlyyoucandisciplineyourself.Improvementandadvancementcomesonedayatatime.Herealittle,therealittle.LetyourBiblestudybeasimportanttoyouaseating,sleeping,bathing,etc.

3. Time-Biblestudytakestime.Youmustmaketimeforit.IfyoudonotmaketimeforBiblestudy,theworldwillmakesureyouarealwaystoobusyforit.

STUDYTECHNIQUESTherearethreemainwaysinwhichyoucanstudytheBible:

1. Topically-ThismaybetheeasiestwaytostudytheBible.TostudytheBibletopicallymeansthatyouresearchaparticulartopicintheBiblesuchas:

o Doctrinaltopicslikesalvation,forgiveness,healing,demons,etc.o CharacterslikeKingDavid,Samson,Rahab,Paul,etc.



o EventsliketheExodus,theFlood,theconstructionoftheTemple,etc.

ThismethodofBiblestudycanhaveyousearchingtheentireBiblefordifferentscripturesrelatedtoyourtopicofinterest.Thiswillrequiretheuseoftheextra-biblicaltoolscoveredinLesson3.Thisstyleofstudycanmakeyouaveritableexpertonanygiventopic.Asyoustudymultipletopics,you’llbegintobuildyourknowledgedatabaseoftheheartofGodconcerningthethingsoflifeandgodliness.

2. Exegetically-Thisisafancywordthatsimplymeansthestudentstudiesapassageofscriptureandinterpretsit.Thepassagecouldbe:

o threeorfourversesinarowo awholechaptero awholebookoftheBible

Whenyou’redonewithanexegeticalstudy,you’llhaveagoodunderstandingofthatparticularpassageofscriptures,itscontext,itsmeaning,itssetting,etc.NewTestamentepistlesorportionsoftheepistlesmakeforgoodexegeticalstudies.

3. Textual-ThistypeofstudymeansthattheBiblestudentonlyfocusesononeverse.Perhapsacertainversereallyhasyoustumped,oryouperceivethere’smoretoitthanwhatyoucurrentlyunderstand.Youmaywanttostopandthoroughlystudythatoneverse.Youmayhavetodissectthewordsusedwiththehelpofalexicon,oryoumaybeabletofindasimilarverseandcomparethetwo.ThistypeofBiblestudyisoftenincorporatedintotheothertwotypes.

WHATISTHEGOAL?ThegoalofanyandallBiblestudyistogettoknowourGodbetterandtohaveHimrevealHimselftousbyHisHolySpiritthroughtheBible.WhenGodsupernaturallyrevealssomethingtousduringourBiblestudy,wecallthat“revelation.”PersonalrevelationistheactofGodrevealingtosomeonesomethingtheyhaveneverseenbefore.Wemayhavereadaparticularverse50timesbeforeandhadnever“seenit.”Butonthat51streading,alightcameonwithinus,andwesawsomethingwehadneverseenbefore.RevelationispartoftherewardofseekingGodandstudyingHisWord.NOTES,NOTES,ANDMORENOTESMakesureyouwritethingsdown.Takenotes.Writedownyourquestionswhenyoustudy.“WhoisTychicus?”“WhydidSaulsendthearkback?”GreatbiblicalinsightcomesfromaskingGodquestions.GoodBiblestudyproduceslotsandlotsofnotes.WHERETOBEGIN?TheGospelofJohn,Ephesians,or1Johnaregoodstartingplacesforthenewstudents.Afterthat,whattopicsinterestyou?Whatcharacters?LetGodleadyou.

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE Course 2020Jul2

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