Introduction to Bible Interpretation

& Bible Study Methods

Personal Disclaimer

I want to be very clear that I own anything in this seminar. The ideas you are going to be presented with are not my own. I have perused the best sources I know of to present to you some of the ideas that I – ONE: find to be faithful to the biblical message, and TWO: give the most practical advice to the novice.

Resources

• Living by the Book, Howard G. & William D. Hendricks (Highly Recommend)

• Basic Bible Interpretation, Roy B. Zuck • A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible: Playing by the

Rules, Robert H. Stein • Hermeneutics: Principles & Processes of Biblical

Interpretation, Henry Virkler • A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis, Craig Blomberg

and Jennifer Foutz Markley• Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, William W. Klein,

Craig L. Blomberg, Robert L. Hubbard Jr. • How to Read the Bible for all Its Worth, Gordon D. Fee and

Douglas Stuart

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OBJECTIVES

• Identify what benefits there is in studying the Bible

• Identify why Bible interpretation is important

• Discover the basics of the Inductive Bible Study Method

• Identify some basic Bible study tools to aid in Bible Study

I. Introduction: Why Study The Bible – 3 Benefits

A. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH (1 PETER 2:2)

• 1 Peter 2:2 “Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (3 Points to consider)

A. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH (1 PETER 2:2)

1. Attitude – as a newborn baby

2. Appetite (3 kinds of Bible students)

a) Nasty medicine b) Shredded wheat c) Strawberries and cream – Ps

19:10 (“sweeter than honey”)

3. Aim – to grow not just to know

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B. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY (HEB 5:11-14)

1 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. – Hebrews 5:11-14

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B. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY (HEB 5:11-14)

•Acquiring that taste (appetite) discussed above comes from maturity!

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C. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL EFFECTIVENESS (2 TIM 3:16-

17)

• “16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Tim 3:16-17

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C. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL EFFECTIVENESS (2 TIM 3:16-

17)

1. The Nature of Scripturea) Inspired – God-breathed b) Inerrant: result of inspiration

2. Function/Benefits of Scripture a) Teach doctrine (teachings) – what is right b) Reproof OR Rebuke – what is not right c) For correcting – how to make it right d) For instruction – how to keep it right

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C. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL EFFECTIVENESS (2 TIM 3:16-

17)

3. Purpose: To Equip – Give us a tool/equipment needed

a) One Weapon/tool – “Sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:10-17)

b) Jesus’ Temptation: Matt 4:1-11

II. WHY IS BIBLE INTERPRETATION IMPORTANT?

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II. WHY IS BIBLE INTERPRETATION IMPORTANT?

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• “Interpreting the Bible is one of the most important issues facing Christians today. It lies behind what we believe, how we live, how to get on together, and what we have to offer to the world.” – John Balchin, Understanding Scripture, pg. 8.

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A. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR UNDERSTANDING AND TEACHING THE

BIBLE PROPERLY

1. Meaning Then – Message Today a) The Bible can never mean what it never

meant – Fee & Stuart, Reading the Bible for all its Worth

b) Then and there before the here and now

2. Conflicting Interpretations: a) John 10:28 – eternal security (Once Saved

always Saved?) b) 1 Cor 15:29 – Baptism for dead relatives

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B. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR MOVING BEYOND OBSERVATION

1. Observation is discovering what is there, interpretation is deciding what it means

a) Ex: Should Christians drink milk? 1 Peter 2:2 compared to Hebrews 5:11

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ComparisonTo Drink Milk OR Not?

1 Peter 2:2

• “Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation”

Hebrews 5:13-14

• 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. – Hebrews 5:11-14

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B. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR MOVING BEYOND OBSERVATION

• Observation is discovering what is there, interpretation is deciding what it means

a) Ex: Should Christians drink milk? 1 Peter 2:2 compared to 5:11

b) Ex: Surgeon’s Observation (observes what is wrong – but interpretation leads to decision of treatment)

c) We must interpret with care - 2 Timothy 2:15 – “correctly handling” – from the Grk orthotomounta – (ortho) “straight” (tomeo) cut.

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B. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR MOVING BEYOND OBSERVATION

• Quote: “Because Paul is a tentmaker, he may have been using an expression that tied in with his trade. When Paul made tents, he used certain patterns. In those days tents were made from the skins of animals in a patchwork sort of design. Every piece would have to be cut and fit together properly. Paul was simply saying, “If one doesn’t cut the pieces right, the whole won’t fit together properly.” It’s the same thing with Scripture. If one doesn’t interpret correctly the different parts, the whole message won’t come through correctly. In Bible study and interpretation the Christian should cut straight. He should be precise . . . and accurate.” – John F. MacArthur – The Charismatics, 57.

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C. BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR APPLYING THE BIBLE

PROPERLY

1. Observation – Interpretation – Application

2. Heart appropriation not just head apprehension

a) Interpretation bridges the gap (1) What is there (Observation) – head/knowledge

(2) What we are to do (Application) – heart/action

b) Improper Interpretation – leads to error (1) Benign interpretation/Application (1 Cor 11:3-15,

hats in church)

(2) Deadly Interpretation/Application (Mk 16 handling snakes)

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III. Basic Terminology

A. DEFINING KEY TERMS

1. Hermeneutics a) Grk verb hermeneuo, and Grk noun

hermeneia b) Origin of term – Grecian mythology –

Hermes (messenger of the gods) c) Defn: art and science of biblical

interpretation (1) Science – based on an orderly system of rules (2) Art – communication is flexible (3) Not the interpretation itself – but method

used

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A. DEFINING KEY TERMS

2. Exegesisa) From two Greek words, εξ (“from, of, out

of) and αγω (“to lead”), referring to the process of leading out from a text its original meaning (Blomberg, xii).

b) Exegesis is the application of the principles of hermeneutics to arrive at a correct meaning of a text

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A. DEFINING KEY TERMS

3. Eisegesis a) (opposite of exegesis) – “eis” means “into”b) Eisegesis reads meaning into a textc) 2Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself

approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

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B. BARRIERS/CHALLENGES TO INTERPRETATION

1. Time Gap 2. Space/Geographical Gap

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B. BARRIERS/CHALLENGES TO INTERPRETATION

1. Time Gap 2. Space/Geographical Gap 3. Cultural Gap 4. Language Gap

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B. BARRIERS/CHALLENGES TO INTERPRETATION

1. Time Gap 2. Space/Geographical Gap 3. Cultural Gap 4. Language Gap 5. Literary Gap 6. Subjective Lens Gap

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IV. INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY METHOD

OVERVIEW – 3 STEPS

1. Observation – What does text say? 2. Interpretation – What does text

mean?3. Application – What do I do (How

does the text apply)?

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A. OBSERVATION

1. What and Why? a) Defn: “The action or process of observing

something or someone carefully in order to gain information” – Oxford Dictionary

b) Don’t Skip this step too soon (It may be the longest step, but worth it)

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A. OBSERVATION

2. Seeing does not = “observationa) How many steps are there in building you

use regularly?b) How many doors do you pass on your way

to your office at work?c) How many stoplights did you drive by on

the way here today? d) What was the color of the shirt your wife,

husband, friend, or co-worker wore yesterday?

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A. OBSERVATION

3. Observing the key facts (Historical & Cultural Factors)

a) Author b) Audience c) Date d) Location e) Main Theme f) Purpose

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A. OBSERVATION

4. Observe the Literary Genre

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A. OBSERVATION

4. Observe the Literary Genre a) Epistle/Exposition b) Narrative c) Wisdom Literature d) Prophecy e) Apocalyptic f) Genre within genre

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A. OBSERVATION

5. Observe by recording the following a) Things emphasized b) Things repeated c) Key & substantial terms d) Things related e) Things alike (similarities) f) Things unlike (contrasts) g) Things true to life

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A. OBSERVATION

6. Make a basic outline of book/section of passages

a) Summarize each section b) Supply sub-points under each section c) Remember – outline is tentative (subject to

amending and editing)

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B. INTERPRETATION

1. List your unanswered questions (key information) • Who, what, when, where, why, and how

2. Check other translations a) Helps to understand range of possible

meanings (semantic range) b) Types of translations

(1) Word for word accuracy – sometimes loses thought

(2) Thought for thought accuracy – sometimes loses precision

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B. INTERPRETATION

3. Unknown terms a) Word analysis – lexical-syntactical analysis

– study of meaning of individual words and how they are combined

b) To understand authors intended meaning (exegesis)

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Basic Bible Interpretation, Roy B. Zuck, pg. 99

• “Thoughts are expressed through words, and words are the building blocks of sentences. Therefore to determine God’s thoughts we need to study His words and how they are associated in sentences. If we neglect the meanings of words and how they are used, we have no way of knowing whose interpretations are correct. The assertion, ‘You can make the Bible mean anything you want it to mean,’ is true only if grammatical interpretation is ignored.”

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B. INTERPRETATION

4. Check related passages (cross-references) – study bible, concordance

5. Consult Secondary sources: a) Bible Handbookb) Atlasc) Commentaryd) Goal is not to be told what to believe, but to

see what others who have seriously studied the passage have discovered – something you may have missed

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C. APPLICATION

1. Is there an example to follow?2. Is there a sin to avoid?3. Is there a promise to claim?4. Is there a prayer to repeat?5. Is there a command to obey?6. Is there a condition to meet?7. Is there a verse to memorize?8. Is there an error to avoid?9. Is there a challenge to face?

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Questions & Answer?