Meaning and ApplicationMeaning and Application

© John Stevenson, 2010

The The collections collections translatedtranslated

Each book Each book recognized recognized

as being as being from Godfrom God

Copies Copies made of made of

each bookeach book

The written The written book of the book of the

BibleBible

A thought in A thought in the mind of the mind of the authorthe author

A thought in A thought in the mind of the mind of

GodGod

ApplyApply

InterpretInterpret

ReadRead

• Literal / Grammatical / HistoricalLiteral / Grammatical / Historical

• ParablesParables

• PoetryPoetry

• Figurative / Symbolic / Typological Figurative / Symbolic / Typological / Spiritual Language/ Spiritual Language

• Numerology / GematriaNumerology / Gematria

Can a given passage have Can a given passage have more than one meaning?more than one meaning?

Passages normally have one Passages normally have one single meaningsingle meaning

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5).the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5).

• Narratives record what happened, Narratives record what happened, not necessarily what should have not necessarily what should have happened.happened.

• Narratives are not NormativeNarratives are not Normative

• The Word of God is Complete, but The Word of God is Complete, but not Exhaustivenot Exhaustive

• Narratives are not written to Narratives are not written to answer all our Theological answer all our Theological QuestionsQuestions

• Narratives are not always Narratives are not always ChronologicalChronological

• Inspiration does not Guarantee Inspiration does not Guarantee Truthfulness in SpeechTruthfulness in Speech

• Numbers are sometimes rounded Numbers are sometimes rounded off or approximatedoff or approximated

• Textual transmission occasionally Textual transmission occasionally results in numerical differencesresults in numerical differences

He struck down some of the men of Beth-He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck down of all the ark of the LORD. He struck down of all the

people, 50,070 men (1 Samuel 6:19).people, 50,070 men (1 Samuel 6:19).

• Numbers are sometimes rounded Numbers are sometimes rounded off or approximatedoff or approximated

• Textual transmission occasionally Textual transmission occasionally results in numerical differencesresults in numerical differences

Jehoiachin was Jehoiachin was eighteen years old eighteen years old when he became when he became

king (2 Kings 24:8).king (2 Kings 24:8).

Jehoiachin was Jehoiachin was eight years old eight years old

when he became when he became king (2 Chro. 36:9).king (2 Chro. 36:9).

• Numbers are sometimes rounded Numbers are sometimes rounded off or approximatedoff or approximated

• Textual transmission occasionally Textual transmission occasionally results in numerical differencesresults in numerical differences

• Genealogies are often stylizedGenealogies are often stylized

Matthew 1:1Matthew 1:1The book of the genealogy of

Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Introduction stating key

figures Abraham to David

David to Babylon Captivity

Return from

Babylon to Jesus

Conclusion and

summary of numbers

1:1 1:2-6 1:6-11 1:12-16 1:171:17

Actual Genealogy

Matthew 1:17Matthew 1:17Therefore all the generations from

Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the time of Christ fourteen generations

Names OmittedNames Omitted

JoramJoram

UzziahUzziah

JehoshaphatJehoshaphat

JothamJotham

AhazAhaz

Omitted NamesOmitted NamesAhaziahAhaziahAthaliahAthaliahJehoashJehoashAmaziahAmaziah

Hebrew Letters have Numeric Hebrew Letters have Numeric ValueValue

aa 11--

bb 22--

gg 33--

dd 44--

hh 55--

ww 66--

““David”David”

dwdwdd

MatthewBegins with Abraham and moves forward to Jesus

LukeRuns opposite way,

beginning with Jesus and going to Adam

Divided into three groups of 14

No divisions

Omits certain names to keep the pattern of 14

names

No omissions of which we are aware; Cainan added

from the Septuagint

Traces the line through David and Solomon

Traces the line through another of David’s sons

― Nathan

Genesis 5Genesis 5AdamAdamSethSeth

EnoshEnoshKenanKenan

MahalelMahalelJaredJaredEnochEnoch

MethuselahMethuselahLamechLamech

NoahNoahShem Ham JaphethShem Ham Japheth

Genesis 11Genesis 11ShemShem

ArphachshadArphachshadCainanCainanShelahShelahEberEberPelegPelegReuReu

SerugSerugNahorNahorTerahTerah

Abram Nahor HaranAbram Nahor Haran

11

22

33

44

55

66

77

88

99

1010

• Multiple people with the same Multiple people with the same namename

• Multiple names with the same Multiple names with the same personperson

• Royal titles (Pharaoh, Abimelech)Royal titles (Pharaoh, Abimelech)

Falling Falling ActionAction

ClimaxClimax

Rising Rising ActionAction

Creation complete: Heavens & earth created; God finished His work (1-3)

Man created: Formed from dust (4-9)

Trees & Rivers in garden given names (9-14)

Man assigned task of guarding & keeping the garden (15)

Forbidden fruit (16-17)

Man in need of a helper: not good to be alone (18)

Animals in garden are given names (19-20)

Woman created: Formed from rib (21-24)

Creation complete: Man & woman naked & unashamed in presence of God (25)

Abraham called to Faith: Promise of a Seed (12:1-9)

Sojourn in Egypt and denial of Sarai (12.10-20) • Lot serparates from Abram (13)

War on Sodom; Rescue of Lot by Abraham (14.1-24)

Covenant Ceremony: Animal Sacrifice (15)

Ishmael born (16)

Covenant Sign: Circumcision (17)

Destruction of Sodom; Rescue of Lot by Angels (18:1 - 19:38)

Sojourn in Gerar and denial of Sarah (20:1-8) • Ishmael separates from Abraham (21)

Abraham’s Faith Tested: Blessing of the Seed (22.1-19)

Laws of the Offerings (1-7)Laws of the Offerings (1-7)

Laws of the Priests (8-10)Laws of the Priests (8-10)

Laws of Purity (11-15)Laws of Purity (11-15)

Day of Atonement (16)Day of Atonement (16)

Laws of Holiness (17-20)Laws of Holiness (17-20)

Laws of the Priests (21-22)Laws of the Priests (21-22)

Appointed Times (23-25)Appointed Times (23-25)

Penalties and Vows (26-27)Penalties and Vows (26-27)

Systematic Systematic TheologyTheologyExegesisExegesis

How is God revealed How is God revealed in the Torah?in the Torah?

Jesus answered, Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is you, unless one is born of water and born of water and

the Spirit he cannot the Spirit he cannot enter into the enter into the

kingdom of God.” kingdom of God.” (John 3:5).(John 3:5).

““Truly I say to you, Truly I say to you, there are some of there are some of

those who are those who are standing here who standing here who will not taste death will not taste death until they see the until they see the

Son of Man coming Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28)(Matthew 16:28)

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

1 Peter 1 Peter 3:18-203:18-20

In which also…

He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,

Who…

once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark,

in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

Pick out four key words Pick out four key words from the passage on from the passage on which you are doing which you are doing

your ALP & look up the your ALP & look up the Greek word for eachGreek word for each

• Englishman’s Greek Concordance

• Kittel’s TDNT

• Colin Brown’s Dictionary of NT Theology