Iron Works Foundations

Introduction

How to read the Bible

IntroductionHermeneutics is "the art and science of interpreting Scripture. It is an art because you get better with practice. It is a science because there are definite rules to follow."To that end, we are concerned to have a method of interpretation that enables us to engage in biblical, Christ-centered, faithful interpretation of the text of Scripture.

Key Text: Luke 24:27, 44-4527 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Some Introductory Considerations Preliminary Principles I. OT is Word of God about Christ:“The OT progressively reveals the redemptive plans of God which are fulfilled by Jesus Christ.”II. NT interprets OT: OT increases understanding of NT:"The New Testament is contained in the Old, and the Old Testament is explained in the New." Goldsworthy:- Gospel interprets OT by showing its goal/meaning. - OT increases understanding of Gospel showing what Christ fulfills

- Discuss implications of these things

Method:

1. Observation: What does the text say? 2. Interpretation: What does the text mean?3. Application: How does this text apply to my life?

- Prayer is key throughout each stage. Ask for the Spirit to help you understand.

I. Observation: What does the text say? What do I see?A. Basis for accurate interpretation/application

B. FOTO (focus on the obvious) – Answer questions whose answer is obvious:

5 W's and 1 H:1. WHO is author, audience, characters in the text?2. WHEN is it written, did events occur, etc.?3. *WHERE did/will this happen? 4. *WHAT genre, words, context, themes, actions? 5. *WHY is it written at that time to this audience?6. *HOW will what's spoken of happen? How is it to be done? How is it illustrated?

Example: Galatians 1:1-51 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for oursins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen

II. Interpretation: What does it mean?A. Context is King: immediate and broad.*B. Scripture interprets Scripture1. WCF 1.9: “The infallible rule of interp-

retation of scripture is the scripture itself… when there is a question about the true and full

sense of any scripture, it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly."

- Key: Interpret less clear in light of the clear.2. Seek full counsel of the Word: “The scope and significance of one passage is to be brought out by relating it to others.” Packer

C. Grammatical/historical: Literal (not wooden literal): grammar, history, genre, figures of speech.D. Redemptive Historical: The progressive outworking of God’s sovereign plan of redemption through periods of time.1. Every text understood in its context in redemptive history, and is connected to person/work of Christ.2. Structure: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation—Covenants 3. Promise/fulfillment4. Typology: A God ordained symbol (person, place, thing, ritual, event) fulfilled in Christ.

2. Christ and the Gospel is the “interpretive key”: The interpretive key that unlocks the door of the rich storehouse of Scripture and reveals all of the treasures that are to befound there. We might ask: “What does the Holy Spirit point us to in order that we might grasp more and more the meaning of the Bible?” The answer is: Jesus Christ and The Gospel.

“…proper interpretation of any part of the Bible requires us to relate it to the person and work of Jesus.” - Graeme Goldsworthy

E. Interpreting within Community: 1. Individual Christians part of larger body of Christ 2. Essential doctrines of faith are guardrails that

keep us from running off road of Christianity.

a. If our interpretation contradicts core doctrines, then we are on the wrong road.

b. If our interpretation strays far from what other capable voices throughoutthe history of the church have uniformly said about the text, we may be on the wrong road.

F. The hero of the story is not the biblical character. The hero of the story is the God of grace.

G. Key concerns/questions: 1. What do words mean? 2. What are theological truths/concepts?3. What is the significance/meaning of theme(s)?4. Unpack any obscurities.5. Note how parts fit together/discern structure6. What are key points being made?7. What is the main idea of the text?

Example: Galatians 1:1-51 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—2 and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for oursins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen

III. Application: How do I respond?A. Application always derives from text:

1. How did it apply to the original audience? 2. Now, how does it apply to me?

B. All application must be Gospel/Christ-centered.1. Indicative/imperative: we do because of

who we are in Christ, resting in His power by faith. 2. Obedience flows from our union with

Jesus.C. Application is not merely action, but can also refer to ways of thinking.

Example: Galatians 1:1-51 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for oursins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen

Typology

Old Testament Interpretation

Key Text: Luke 24:27, 44-4527 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Typology1. Typology is “the entire system of OT types and their fulfillment in Christ…The fundamental principle of typology is that of replacement: when the types are fulfilled, the types are discontinued.”2. A type is “a symbol (a real person, place, object, or event) that God ordained to act as a predictive pattern or resemblance of Christ’s person and work.” A God ordained symbol fulfilled in Christ.3. Anti-type: “in the place of the type.” This is the fulfillment of the type.

Fulfillment in Christ:Truth to which History of Revelation the symbol refers

RH Context Symbol (person, place, event, etc) Application -Symbol: what did the symbol in the text mean to the original audience at that time?-Truth :What is the truth/meaning that is represented by the symbol?-History of Revelation: what does the truth symbolized look forward to?-Fulfillment in Christ: The final truth. How does Christ fulfill the truth?-Type: In what way does the symbol clearly foreshadow the future work of Christ?- Application: How does that symbol apply to me now through Christ?

Type:

Legalistic Moralism

Allegory Moralism:

Significance:

Example

The Passover: “The Passover lamb was a type of Christ. The Passover was a real event. The truths of substitutionary sacrifice and redemption by blood were found in both the type and the antitype. These truths were enlarged, heightened, and clarified in theantitype. The antitype was the God-man–not just a lamb; and He redeemed from spiritual and eternal bondage – not just physical and temporary bondage.”

Example: Passover

Type:

Animal sacrifices picture/point to the sacrific

e of Christ

Truth: History of Revelation Fulfilled: Jesus Subs./redemption by blood lamb of God, takes

our place

Symbol: Christ only substitute/ sacrifice for sin.Passover lamb We partake by grace through faith

1 Sam 17 - David and GoliathTim Keller: “Without reference to Christ, the story may be (usually is!) preached as: “The bigger they come, the harder they'll fall, if you just go into your battles with faith in the Lord. You may not be real big and powerful in yourself, but with God on your side, you can overcome giants.”

But as soon as we ask: "how is David foreshadowing the work of his greater Son"? We begin to see the same features of the story in a different light…

David and Goliath cont’d“…The story is telling us that the Israelites cannot go up against Goliath….They need a substitute. When David goes in on their behalf, he is not a full-grown man, but a vulnerable and weak figure, a mere boy. He goes virtually as a sacrificial lamb.

But God uses his apparent weakness as the means to destroy the giant, and David becomes Israel's champion-redeemer, so that his victory will be imputed to them. They get all the fruit of having fought the battle themselves.”

David & Goliath: 1 Sam 17God Defeats His Enemies Christ the true Warrior

King Defeats Enemies (Satan, Death, etc)

1. Christ’s victory is imputed to us by grace

through faith. David Defeats Goliath 2. We are called to

rest in Christ for victory

Type: The Ideal King who defeats enemies