Bible & Gospel 2024 Bible Study Methods PDF

Bible and the Gospel BTGE-1725 Fall 2023 Dr. Timothy Cochrell  Biblical Theology “The whole Bible is one book inspired by one author with one story that culminates in one person, the God-Man Jesus Christ. Biblical theology is the attempt to read the Bible in this...

Bible and the Gospel BTGE-1725 Fall 2023 Dr. Timothy Cochrell  Biblical Theology “The whole Bible is one book inspired by one author with one story that culminates in one person, the God-Man Jesus Christ. Biblical theology is the attempt to read the Bible in this structurally and conceptually unified fashion.” (16–17) “Biblical theology gives us both of these–the big picture of the whole Bible and how its individual parts fit into that larger whole.” (17)  Biblical Theology “Biblical theology helps us to see how our particular point in the web (text) is connected to other parts of the web (canonical context) and contributes to the making of the whole web (biblical story).” (82)  Biblical Theology ° Unity in structure ° Grand narrative about Christ Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration ° One book, one author ° Trinitarian - reveals the God of the universe  The Story of Scripture ° On a blank sheet of paper write on a line graph ten of the most significant events of the Old Testament that carry the storyline. First work alone and then in groups. ° Also write 3 major themes of the Old Testament  Old Testament Story 1. God: Eternal, Powerful, Perfect, Trinity  Old Testament Story 2. Creation: God’s design was perfect  Old Testament Story 3. Humanity: Created in God’s image: relationship with God and responsible to God.  “Love the Lord your God... “ “Love your neighbor as yourself”  Old Testament Story 4. Fall: Temptation, Sin, Death, Judgment ° Darkness of the curse- Light of hope (Gen 3:15)  Old Testament Story 5. Covenant with Abraham: God calls particular people to follow him in faith for a missional purpose.  Old Testament Story 6. Exodus: God redeems from slavery so that they might serve him. Exodus is the central salvation event in the Old Testament  Old Testament Story 7. Law: Israel is called to live out their covenant relationship with God: Personal, Distinctive, and Missional.  Old Testament Story 8. Conquest: God demonstrates his faithfulness and calls the people to faith.  Old Testament Story 9. Judges: Rebellion and Disaster-cycle of sin, warning, judgment, and grace/salvation.  Old Testament Story 10. King: People reject God as their king. They want someone to be their protector and provider.  Old Testament Story 2 Samuel 7 God makes a covenant that a Davidic king would rule perfectly and permanently.  Old Testament Story 11. Pain and Punishment: The nation was divided, the people we unfaithful, and God’s judgment was severe.  Old Testament Story 12. Prophets: Servants of God who warned of judgment, called to repentance, and reminded of hope.  Old Testament Themes 1. Covenant: God’s initiative and promise of salvation 2. Brokenness: Humanity’s rebellion and unfaithfulness 3. Sacrifice: God’s holiness and the penalty of sin 4. Kingdom: God’s Mission: People who know and worship God in restored relationship (Kingdom)  New Testament Story 1. Incarnation: God became flesh and fulfilled the prophecies of the promised deliverer.  New Testament Story 2. Miracles: Jesus demonstrated his identity and displayed his power.  New Testament Story 3. Substitute: Jesus came as the lamb of God to absorb God’s wrath and be the perfect sacrifice.  New Testament Story 4. Cross: Jesus’ death provided payment for sin and his resurrection proved his victory.  New Testament Story 5. Spirit: The Holy Spirit is given to believers to empower, equip, illumine, and transform them.  New Testament Story 6. Church: God’s new covenant people live out their identity in community, making disciples of all nations.  New Testament Story 7. Multiplication: The church grows and plants new churches, inviting all people to trust Christ without distinction or discrimination.  New Testament Story 8. Restoration: Jesus returns to fully and finally accomplish salvation and judgment.  New Testament Themes ° New Covenant: Jesus fulfills his promise of salvation, not only averting our punishment but enabling our obedience. ° Perfect Prophet: Jesus lived a sinless life. As God in the flesh, he reveals God’s character and his will. ° Sacrificial Lamb: Jesus died a sacrificial death and became our priest who provides access to the Father. ° Coming King: Jesus establishes his kingdom, announcing its arrival, securing its victory through resurrection, and commissioning his ambassadors until he returns.  Scripture: A Unified Narrative “The whole Bible renders to us the story of God’s mission through God’s people in their engagement with God’s world for the sake of the whole of God’s creation.” (51) Mission means, “the committed participation of God’s people in the purposes of God for the redemption of the whole creation. The mission is God’s.” (67)  Biblical theology ° Recapitulation – structural unity in the stories (and patterns of stories) in Scripture “These repetitive, smaller stories build up and point to the climax of the one big story of the Bible, the person and work of Jesus.” (12) Echo, foreshadowing, pointing  Biblical theology ° Intertextuality – "passages that quote or allude to previous passages of Scripture.” (13) “Not only do the patterns of the stories match, but the authors of those books quote or allude to the similar stories in previous books.” (13) Narrative parallels Covenants Interpreting the Bible What are some influences on how you study and interpret the Bible? ° Parents ° Pastors ° Books ° Mentors ° Tradition ° Experience ° Culture  Biblical Interpretation We all interpret anything we hear or read. We interpret it through the lens of our experience, culture, expectations, and understanding of words. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15  Biblical Interpretation We need a process to build a bridge from the ancient text to our modern context. Proverbs 22:28 Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.  Biblical Interpretation 2 Timothy 3:16–17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Why do we study the Bible?  Biblical Interpretation ° Teaching: Teaching us what is right ° Reproof: Exposing what is wrong ° Correction: Revealing how to get back to God’s design ° Training: Encourage godly living The goal of Bible study is spiritual maturity.  Approaches to Biblical Interpretation 1. Analytical: Focused on the precise meaning of the text in order to have the right information. (Spreadsheet) This approach lists all of the details and the facts of the text. + Trains us to observe what the text says - Often misses the big idea  Approaches to Biblical Interpretation 2. Devotional: Focused on practical implications of God’s word in order to find help for what we are facing (Wishing Well) This approach comes to the Bible for answers to questions in life + Focused on practical application of the Bible - It easily can take texts out of context.  Approaches to Biblical Interpretation 3. Commentary: We rely on someone else to study the Bible and we adopt their insights and conclusions (Looking over the Shoulder) This approach uses the results of someone else’s work + Gain insight into the text by using highly qualified authors - There is no joy of personal discovery.  Approaches to Biblical Interpretation 1. Analytical: Focused on the precise meaning of the text in order to have the right information. 2. Devotional: Focused on practical implications of God’s word in order to find help for what we are facing. 3. Commentary: We rely on someone else to study the Bible and we adopt their insights and conclusions. ° Which one do you gravitate toward and why? What might be the danger of that approach?  Approaches to Biblical Interpretation We need an approach that has: ° Maximum accuracy (Complete information) ° Maximum application (Correct application) ° Joy of personal discovery ° Reasonable amount of time  Interpretation: What does it mean? Timeless Audience Time-bound Audience Contemporary Audience Ancient Audience Observation: Application: How What do I see? does it work?  Personal Preparation 1. Prayer and Faith: We believe the gospel and rely on the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14–16 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned... “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.  Personal Preparation 1. Prayer and Faith: We believe the gospel and rely on the Holy Spirit. 2. Reverence: When the Bible speaks, God speaks 3. Humility: We are easily self-deceived. We study to be rooted in truth, confronted with sin, and taught by the Spirit. 4. Objectivity: Be suspicious of your own assumptions, biases, and preferences. 5. Obedience: We study with our “yes” already on the table. We are committed to being doers of the Word (James 1:22-25) 6. Diligence: It is hard work and it takes time.  Timeless Audience Time-bound Audience Contemporary Audience Ancient Audience Observation: What do I see?  Survey Reading Get the big picture by skimming the entire book: ° What type of literature is this? (letter, historical, wisdom, prophetic) ° What seem to be the key themes? ° What is the tone of this literature? ° Form your initial impressions.  Historical Background Read the entire book without pausing for the things you don’t understand. ° Who was the author? ° Who is the audience and what was their situation? ° Use other resources to gather information on the author, recipients, setting, theme, purpose, and tone.  3 John Setting: Purpose: Theme: Author: Tone: Recipients  3 John Setting: Some of John’s missionaries had been rejected by Diotrephes who was a church leader. Purpose: Commend Gaius and others for their support, to warn about Diotrephes. Theme: Continue walking in the truth and support those who preach it. Author: John, disciple of Jesus who became a prominent leader in Jerusalem. Tone: Encouraging and warm, but with a strong warning.  Literary Context “So strange was the way in which he faded into silence, and so strange his fixed look when he had ceased to speak, that Darnay felt his own hand turn cold in the hand that slowly released and dropped it.” Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, pg. 141  Literary Context Study your text in its context, being careful to note how the material before and after your passage help you understand its meaning.  Luke 24:25-27 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. prophets  Literary Context When interpreting the Bible, the most important word is Context. Philippians 4:11–13 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Matthew 18:20- Where two or more are gathered, I am with them Matthew 7:1 Judge not that you be not judged 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray... Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have for you says the Lord... Matthew 7:7 Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find... Psalm 46:5 The Lord is in her and therefore she will not fall... Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him  Interpretation: What does it mean? Timeless Audience Time-bound Audience Contemporary Audience Ancient Audience Observation: Application: How What do I see? does it work?  Observations What can you observe just by reading the text? Slow down and take careful note of what the text actually says. Psalm 131:1 O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. ✓ David is praying to the Lord - David is transparent before the Lord  Observations Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” What did you learn about observations through this exercise?  Interpretive Questions What questions do I still need to answer in order to fully understand the text? ° Informational: “What does he mean by... ?” ° Inferential: “How is this connected?” “Why is this emphasized?” ° Applicational: “How did he intend them to put this into practice?”  Interpretive Questions Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Informational: What does he mean by “witnesses?” What kind of power will they receive? Inferential: How does the Holy Spirit empower or equip them to be witnesses? What is the relationship between Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the end of the earth? Applicational: What did Jesus expect them to do as his witnesses?  Interpretive Questions 2 Timothy 2:1–7 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Key Words  Key Words Focus a few words that seem most important, giving careful attention to what they mean and the tone they convey. ° Impatient vs. Eager ° Aroma vs. Stench ° Thin vs. Gaunt  Key Words “Put the trunks in the trunk” ° Main section of a tree ° Box used for storage ° Men’s swimsuit ° Luggage compartment of a car ° Nose of an elephant  Key Words Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Psalm 89:27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.  Word Study 1. Semantic Range: What could it mean? Look at all the different meanings that a word could convey. Consider the word “Key” ° Key to a door ° Key to his success ° Keys on my keyboard ° Key of C major ° Key of the Map ° Top of the Key ° Florida Keys  Key Words 1. Semantic Range: all the possible definitions of a word 1249 διάκονος [diakonos /dee·ak·on·os/] n m/f. Probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands, cf 1377); TDNT 2:88; TDNTA 152; GK 1356; 31 occurrences; AV translates as “minister” 20 times, “servant” eight times, and “deacon” three times. 1 one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister. 1A the servant of a king. 1B a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use. 1C a waiter, one who serves food and drink. Additional Information: For synonyms see entries 1402, douloo; 2324, therapon; and 5257, huperetes.See entry 5834 for comparison of synonyms.  Key Words 1. Semantic Range: all the possible definitions of a word Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant (diakanos) of the church at Cenchreae,  Word Study 2. Meaning: How is it Used in the Context? What clues are provided in the context and what definition fits those clues best? You can use different translations to see how translators have interpreted the original language.  Word Study 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  Word Study 1 John 2:15–16 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  Word Study Genesis 2:24- The two will become one flesh 1 Peter 1:24- All flesh is like grass 2 Cor 12:7- Thorn in the flesh Galatians 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other. Philippians 1:22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.  Word Study 3. Usage: What is the most likely meaning here?  Key Words Be careful to pay attention to what the author meant by a word, not just how we might use it. ° Hope ° Heart ° Servant/Slave ° Saints  Key Words Beware: ° Don’t assume everything a word can mean, it does mean in this context (illegitimate totality transfer) ° Don’t assume other English words taken from the Greek give us insight into the author’s meaning (dunamis) ° Don’t try to give words too technical a meaning if they are broad or overlapping (agape vs. phileo)  Word Study Resources ° Concordance – Shows all the times a word was used in the Bible and where they can be found. It helps with word studies, thematic studies, and helping us compare Scripture to Scripture. ° Bible Dictionary/Lexicon – helpful word and subject definitions for words used in the Bible with special attention to their theological significance ° Blue Letter Bible or Logos  Word Study Resources ° Concordance – Shows all the times a word was used in the Bible and where they can be found. It helps with word studies, thematic studies, and helping us compare Scripture to Scripture. ° Bible Dictionary – helpful word and subject definitions for words used in the Bible with special attention to their theological significance ° Blue Letter Bible  Grammar 1. Verbs and their tenses (Romans 8:30) 2. Pronouns and their referent (Phil 1:6) 3. Conditional statements (If/Then) (1 John 1:9) 4. Subject/Object of the verb. 5. Linking Words  Examples of Linking words 1. FOR: Reason or explanation is after the FOR. Do this action …. FOR (then gives the explanation). Ex: Hebrews 4:14–15 We are told what to do first, then we find the word FOR, then the reason. Because (the reason) comes after the linking word FOR  Examples of Linking words 2. THEREFORE: now this, do this, result, consequence First the reason is given, then the command or expectation. Because _______, THEREFORE do this________. Significance – theological basis for our actions. Ex: Phil 2:5–13 Ex: John 7:3–5 – leave, go let them see good works FOR (because, reasons) no one who wants to be known hides.  Examples of Linking words 3. IF, THEN: condition to something happens 2 Peter 2:1–3 – Fact, then vs. 4 gives multiple reasons 2 Peter 2:4–9 4. SO THAT: A. Purpose behind something. (1 John 2:1) B. Result (Luke 12:1) Context tells which  Literary Devices 1. Repetition: “His love endures forever” 2. Parallelism: The law of the Lord is perfect... The commands of the Lord are sure. 3. Contrast: Deeds of the Flesh and Fruit of Spirit (Galatians 5) 4. General to Particulars (Ps 23:1) 5. Particulars to General (Mark 1:30) 6. Cause and Effect: Tree planted by streams bears much fruit (Ps 1:3)  Cultural Background ° Who were the Samaritans? ° What did the word “dog” convey in that culture? ° What was the road like from Jerusalem to Jericho? ° What does it mean that Israel is a land flowing with milk and honey? ° What was a cistern and what was living water? ° What was footwashing and why was it a big deal?  Cultural Background Matthew 15:21-28 Genesis 26:17-22 Revelation 2:12-16  Cultural Background and Metaphors ° The Lord is your Shade: Ps 121:5 ° Matthew 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs” ° Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.  Cultural and Historical Tools Bible Dictionary: Gives background and meaning of key concepts in Scripture. Bible Encyclopedia: Usually more comprehensive than a Bible Dictionary, may include pictures and maps Bible Atlas: Specifically for geography this will show you towns, routes, and regions relevant to the passage you are studying.  Colossians 3:1–4 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Theological Tools Systematic Theology (Grudem or Erickson are both excellent): Look in the index to see if your passage is mentioned. This is especially helpful with difficult passages.  Pastoral Tools ° Study Bible: Be careful not to rely too much on these notes. ° Commentaries: Choose trusted commentaries to help answer your interpretive questions and safeguard you from misguided conclusions.  Pastoral Tools ° Use multiple commentaries ° Don’t just read their conclusions, understand how they arrived at them. ° Know the theology of the author ° Beware of the internet  Timeless Audience Time-bound Audience Contemporary Audience Observation: Ancient Audience Survey reading, historical background, literary context, observations, questions, grammar, words, and culture a short statement of the book’s purpose and thesis a one-paragraph summary for each of the six chapters five bullet point quotes you find helpful. (please include the page numbers and this is five bullet points for the whole book, not per chapter) five bullet point personal takeaways from the whole book (not per chapter).  Interpretation: What does it mean? Timeless Audience Time-bound Audience Contemporary Audience Ancient Audience Observation: Application: How What do I see? does it work?  Common Mistakes 1. Assuming Objectivity: We ignore the culture or context and interpret in light of our own assumptions or expectations.  Common Mistakes 2. Mistaking descriptive statements for prescriptive guidance. Prescriptive: Information that provides the reader with principles that they are to apply to their lives. Descriptive: Incidental material that describes the way something was done but is not necessarily meant to encourage the reader in the same action.  Common Mistakes 3. Building a theology on an isolated or obscure text. John 3:5 “Born of water and the spirit.” If you find something in a text that no one has ever found before, it is probably because it isn’t actually in there.  Common Mistakes 4. Allegory: Looking for hidden or secret meaning in images, characters, places, or events. This stands for...  Common Mistakes 5. Reading our assumptions into the Bible: We impose our theology on the text rather than allowing the text to speak for itself. Interpretation  Interpretation What is the author talking about- This is the Subject ° This is focused on the ancient author and his ancient audience  Interpretation What: The author is focused on a point of fact we need to know or understand. Matthew 28:16-20- What mission Jesus gave his disciples  Interpretation Why: The author is focused on the purpose or reason for a particular instruction. 1 Peter 2:11-15 Why Peter’s readers should submit to the government rulers, even when they were unjust  Interpretation How: The author emphasizes the process or manner we should do something. Matthew 5:38-48 How we should respond when we are sinned against or mistreated.  Interpretation Who: Identifies a person or people who have a specific responsibility or role. “Who is the greatest in the kingdom?” When: Focuses on time. “When will you establish your kingdom?” Where: Focuses on a place. Where will Satan and his demons spend eternity?  Interpretation 1. Don’t be too broad: “How should Christians live?” 2. Don’t be too narrow: “Why did Jesus heal the blind man in two phases.” 3. Make sure it captures the entire passage and the author’s focus. 4. Write down a few possible subjects before you decide.  Interpretation Philippians 2:1–4 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Interpretation What is the author talking about: Subject What is the author saying about what he is talking about: Complement ° Turn your subject into a question and answer it.  Interpretation Big Idea: Restate the subject and complement into a single and central idea. Philippians 2:1-4 What was necessary for the Philippians to have true unity? Or How can the Philippians experience and express true unity? The Philippians needed to be rooted in the gospel, growing in humility, and demonstrating selfless love. Christians demonstrate true unity when growing believers demonstrate loving behavior in selfless humility.  Interpretation ° Be as precise as you can to capture the passage’s uniqueness ° Be as concise as you can to capture the passage’s clarity ° Be as memorable as you can so that you can communicate this truth to others.  Interpretation Galatians 3:15-24 Subject: Why God gave the Jews the law. Complement: To expose and condemn their sinfulness and reveal their need for a savior. Big Idea: The law was never meant to save the Jews, but to point them to the Savior.  Interpretation Psalm 131:1-31 O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.  Colossians 3:1–4 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Subject + Complement= Big Idea Timeless Truth Timeless Audience Time-bound Audience Contemporary Audience Ancient Audience Observation: Survey reading, historical background, Application: How literary context, observations, does it work? questions, grammar, words, and culture  Theological Bridge 1. Compare Scripture against Scripture: Compare your passage to other passages that address the same themes. Always interpret the more difficult passages in light of the more clear passages. 1 Peter 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,  Theological Bridge 2. Consider the Theological Context of the Author: What did the author know about God, salvation, life after death, and how they were to relate to God? Psalm 51:11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Interpretation You must interpret your text in light of the context God’s progress of revelation.  Interpretation Jeremiah 29:10–14 “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.  Theological Bridge 3. Consider the Cultural Context: Is the basis for the command rooted in God’s character and creation design or in a culturally specific problem?  Theological Bridge 1 Corinthians 11:4–6 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.  Subject + Complement= Big Idea Timeless Truth Timeless Audience Time-bound Audience Contemporary Audience Ancient Audience Observation: Survey reading, historical background, Application: How literary context, observations, does it work? questions, grammar, words, and culture  Application Step 1: Analyze your audience. Our first audience of application should always be ourselves. ° Is the person a believer? ° What lies do they tend to believe? ° What substitute saviors are they prone to follow? ° What is their cultural/social situation?  Application Step 2: Determine the Degree of Transfer: “To what extent does the truth of this text apply to the life of this person?” The degree of transfer will range from 1 (no transferability) to 10 (complete transferability) What are the similarities and differences between the ancient audience and the modern audience?  Ancient Modern Modern Ancient Audience Audience Audience Audience Ancient Modern Modern Audience Audience Audience  Application “Do not boil a goat in its mother’s milk” “Nehemiah prayed to God and said to the King” “If food sacrificed to idols makes my brother stumble, then I won’t eat meat” “Do not be anxious about anything”  Application Step 3: State the Applicational Principle: This brings the timeless truth of the big idea into the daily reality of our lives. This is still a general principle. ° A truth to remember ° A sin to forsake ° An attribute of God the we should praise ° A command we need to obey  Application ° Serve with the gift you’ve been given ° Find a need and fill it ° Surrender your cares in prayer ° Submit to our government as our service to God ° We must not steal, but be generous instead. Psalm 131:1-3 O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Israel should humbly trust the care of God to enjoy the peace of God. Trust in God’s sufficiency, not your own solutions.  Application Step 4: Detailed Application: We come up with specific action- oriented application steps to put these truths into practice. ° Specific: not vague or general ° Measurable: clearly can gauge success ° Attainable: reasonable in its degree ° Realistic: realistic in its scope ° Timely: a clear time frame for the action Trust in God’s sufficiency, not your own solutions. - Identify 3 things I am anxious about and pray specifically about them this evening. - Journal about how God has cared for me in the past as a reminder of his sufficiency. - Identify at least two ways I am prone to be self-sufficient and confess those to God and at least one other person by Sunday. - Memorize Philippians 4:6 and recite it each morning as I walk to class. Love Your Enemies as God has loved you  Application: Errors to avoid 1. Stopping at interpretation and falling short of application. “Job suffered and his friends gave bad advice” Vs. “Not all advice you receive in times of crisis is from God. Be careful the counsel you receive and compare it to Scripture.” Merely describing or summarizing the text 2. Substituting superficial obedience for substantive life-change. Generic applications and general moral encouragements (Be loving, pursue holiness) 3. Having an emotional experience but no volitional decision. Initial reaction in the worship moment, but no long-term change  Application: Errors to avoid 4. We rationalize our situation and sin This doesn’t apply to me, it is for________. I am exempt from this application because ___________. 5. We jump too quickly to application before we understand the Scripture. 6. Our motivation for application is wrong. Legalism, moralism, works 7. We don’t pray or remember the Holy Spirit’s role as teacher and the one who convicts us.  Proclamation How does this text relate to someone else I will interact with this week? (Greater or lower degree of transfer) How can I use the truth in this text to encourage, comfort, or challenge that person? Introduce Bible Interpretive Worksheet  Interpretive Worksheet BIBLE How does the whole narrative of Scripture help us to interpret this particular book and text? Where does this story fit within the meta-narrative (big picture) of Scripture? (Think of the twenty OT and NT pictures from class, your reading in “The Story of Scripture,” and the themes of creation, fall, redemption, restoration). You answer should be 3-4 sentences.  Interpretive Worksheet BOOK Historical Background: Summarize the author, recipients, and occasion of this book. What is the overall purpose of the book? You need to take 15 minutes to flip through the book and read some other verses in the book. Look at the introduction and conclusion in particular. Consult a Study Bible, commentary, Bible Handbook, or an online resource that gives an outline or brief overview. After doing that, in your own words write 3-4 sentences to summarize the historical background.  Interpretive Worksheet Literary Context: How do these verses connect with the verses that come before and after? Briefly review the verses before (Phil 1:1-18) and summarize them in 2 sentences, then review and summarize the verses that come after (Phil 2) and summarize in 2 sentences. Finally, in 1-2 sentences describe how the surrounding verses connect to the main text you are studying. Genre: What is the genre (literary type) of the book and how does the author use this form to communicate meaning? How does knowing the genre impact your understanding of the author’s meaning?  Interpretive Worksheet Observations: What are your observations as you look at the compositional features of the focus text? Pay close attention to the text by marking up a copy, reading it many times, and asking questions of the text. Note 8-10 things that you notice in the text using the tools from Dig Deeper and the things we noted in class. Please use a variety of tools (grammar, linking words, structure, literary devices, etc) to help you understand the passage. Make sure to put the verse in parenthesis when you refer to a word or observation. This should be your longest answer.  Interpretive Worksheet Interpretive Questions: What are key questions that could help you interpret this text properly? List 5-7 questions and, when possible, provide answers to those questions based on your study or the resources you’ve consulted. Words: What are key or significant words in the focus text, and how do they relate to one another? List 5-7 words and give their definition and importance to understanding this passage.  Interpretive Worksheet Tools: What additional insight can you gain from pastoral or theological resources? Consult at least two scholarly resources (commentary, bible encyclopedia, systematic theology, etc) and list 5 additional observations you gathered from those resources. Make sure to list the resources consulted. How does this text point or bear witness to Christ?  Interpretive Worksheet Interpretation Subject: What is the author talking about? List 5 possible subjects (each should start with “what, how, why, when, who, or where) and then state which subject you believe is most likely and why. Your explanation should be at least 2-3 sentences.  Interpretive Worksheet Complement: What is the author saying about what he is talking about? Turn your subject into a question and then provide a clear answer to that question based on the entire passage you’ve studied. Big Idea: Summarize the main point of the passage by combining your subject and your complement. Work to make your big idea concise, precise, and memorable.  Interpretive Worksheet Theological Bridge: What are some of the theological or cultural factors that we should take into consideration as we build a bridge from the ancient text to our current context? How does God’s progress of revelation and Paul’s specific situation inform our interpretation of this text? Answer in at least 2-3 sentences with your answer and your reasoning.  Interpretive Worksheet Application: What is the Degree of Transfer? On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being complete transferability and 1 being no transferability, to what extent does the teaching of this text transfer to your personal cultural and theological context? Provide 2-3 sentences explaining your reasoning and noting the similarities and differences.  Interpretive Worksheet What is the Applicational Principle? Restate your Big Idea in a way that applies the principle to a modern context. This should still be a general principle. What are the Detailed Applications? List at least 3 practical applications of this text to your own life. Please make sure to show how your applications come clearly from the text. Applicati should not be generic moral responses or “Sunday School” answers. Remember that these applications should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.  Interpretive Worksheet Proclamation How can this truth best be proclaimed or shared? What is one thing you’ve observed in your study of this passage that you can share with someone else? Who can you specifically share this truth with or encourage with this Scripture in the next week? Understand that we have a responsibility to obey, but also to share truth with others.  Helps with interpretive worksheets ° Don’t rush your process. Take the time to really dig into the text ° Use some outside resources (dictionary, Bible handbook, Study Bible, commentary, online resource). Make sure to cite them in your paper ° Submit a file/picture of your outline (diagram, observation page). But also write out your observations. Have at least 10 bullet point observations. ° Make sure you have clear, relevant, and specific applications that come from the text ° I am primarily looking at your process (how you are thinking through the text) not the product (did you get the “right” answer)  Interpretive Worksheet Read through Habakkuk 1:1-11 ° 1 time quickly to get the general sense ° 1 time slowly to notice the details ° 1 time to mark up the text with pen/highlighter  Interpretive Worksheet ? – This raises a question for me * - Key verse or climax of the passage Circle- Key or repeated words Box in- Words I want to study further {Brackets} Figurative Language Underline- Parallel Phrases Make notes throughout (grammar, structure, etc)  Interpretive Worksheet Bible: How does the whole narrative of Scripture help us to interpret this book and text? ° Where does this book fit in the big picture of the Bible?  Interpretive Worksheet Book: Historical Background ° Read through the background summary provided ° How does this help you understand what you’ve read so far?  Interpretive Worksheet ° Judah ruled by sinful and selfish leaders- Josiah dies and Jehoiakim was focused on his agenda and reputation (Jer 26:13-19) ° Jehoiakim kills Uriah the prophet (Jer 26:20-23) ° Israel already taken captive by Assyria ° How could God allow priests and kings to use their power to do evil? (Jer 23:10-11)  Interpretive Worksheet Literary Context: Read the passage that follows Hab 1:1- 11. How does the context help us better understand our passage?  Interpretive Worksheet Genre: What type of literature is this and how does that help you interpret it?  Interpretive Worksheet ° Understand the historical context ° Foretelling (what God will do) and forthtelling (what the people should do) ° Figurative language: Poetic pictures and exaggerated images ° Foretelling- Look for its fulfillment  Interpretive Worksheet Observations: Note 8-10 observations using a variety of tools (grammar, literary devices, structure, repetition, etc)  Interpretive Worksheet ° Habakkuk is speaking directly to God, not about him ° 2 main questions: Why? and How long? ° “How Long” suggests Habakkuk has been crying out to God over a long period of time. ° Habakkuk is praying about violence and evil around him ° He does not say God cannot hear or save, he says he will not.  Interpretive Worksheet ° Habakkuk is struggling with what he believes to be true about God and what he is experiencing in the world. ° Habakkuk believes God sees everything that is happening and isn’t doing anything about it. ° The law and leaders are not addressing the evil and injustice around him. ° God is already working, even though it seemed he was inactive.  Interpretive Worksheet ° God was working, but in a way that no one expected ° God was going to use the Chaldeans to punish his people. ° The Chaldeans were violent and sinful people. ° God raised up nation to serve his purpose. He has sovereign control to accomplish his plan. ° The wickedness of the Chaldeans is described in great detail.  Interpretive Worksheet Interpretive Questions: What are key questions that could help you interpret this text properly? List 5-7 questions.  Interpretive Worksheet ° Is this prayer an example of faith we should imitate or a warning against anger or impatience before God? ° Who were the Chaldeans and what did the people of Judah know about them? ° Why would God use wicked pagans to punish the sinfulness of his people? ° What does it mean that justice and dignity go forth from themselves?  Interpretive Worksheet ° Why were the people going to be amazed? The severity of the punishment or the source of it? ° What was Habakkuk wanting or expecting God to do? ° What did Habakkuk actually “see” in his oracle? ° What does it mean “they gather captives like sand?”  Interpretive Worksheet Words: What are 5-7 significant words in the text that would be important to understand the passage?  Interpretive Worksheet ° Chaldeans ° Violence ° Cry ° Justice ° Wonder/Astounded ° Hear/Save ° Wicked/Righteous  Interpretive Worksheet Tools: What insight can you gain from other resources? ° In Act 13:41 Paul quotes from Habakkuk to warn the Jews about refusing to believe in Jesus. ° Deuteronomy 29:41- God had warned them of enemy invasion as a covenant curse.  Interpretive Worksheet ° This is a prayer of lament, where someone struggles with suffering while still trusting God’s sovereignty. ° The people in power (kings/priests) who were supposed to be protecting the people were exploiting them. ° The people would be surprised because they thought they could break their covenant without consequences (Jer 5:12, 6:14)  Interpretive Worksheet ° Isaiah 10:5 God had already described Assyria as the rod of punishment he was using on Israel. Judah saw this punishment but still didn’t respond.  Interpretive Worksheet How does this text point or bear witness to Christ?  Interpretive Worksheet ° Law is ineffective to restrain sin ° Human leaders were selfish and greedy ° Longing for God to save by dealing with evil among his people without destroying his people. ° Need for something to fully and finally address the brokenness around us and in us. ° Trust in God’s covenant promises to rescue and restore  Interpretive Worksheet Subject: What is the author talking about? List 5 possible subjects.  Interpretive Worksheet ° Why God allows the righteous to suffer and evil to go unpunished. ° What God’s people should remember when suffering and God seems silent. ° Why God uses sin and suffering to accomplish his plan ° How God’s people should respond when they are heartbroken about evil and wickedness.  Interpretive Worksheet Complement: What is the author saying about what he is talking about? How should God’s people should respond when they are heartbroken about evil and wickedness?  Interpretive Worksheet God’s people process their pain through lament, bringing their confusion and frustration to God with trust in his sovereignty and submission to his plan.  Interpretive Worksheet Big Idea: When God’s people struggle with hard questions and deep emotions, they pour out their pain in prayers of trust.  Interpretive Worksheet Theological Bridge: What theological and cultural factors do we need to take into account to build a bridge from the ancient text to our modern context?  Interpretive Worksheet ° Mosaic Covenant: Blessings and curses ° Theological explanation for suffering and circumstances- not every disaster or hardship is God’s punishment ° Habakkuk was still awaiting the deliverer: Did not have the hope we have through the sacrifice and victory of Christ.  Interpretive Worksheet Application: What is the degree of transfer? Similarities: We deal with suffering and injustice in the world We struggle with questions about why God allows some things We are able to bring our heartaches and questions to God  Interpretive Worksheet Differences: ° We are not prophets of God in the same way Habakkuk was. ° We are not facing punishment from Babylon as a covenant curse ° As believers in Jesus we have a different way of relating to God and more revelation about sin and suffering.  Interpretive Worksheet What is the applicational principle? Pour out your pain in prayers of trust  Interpretive Worksheet What are some detailed applications?  Interpretive Worksheet ° Write out my 3 biggest “why” questions and pray them out loud to God. ° Read Psalm 13 for an example of how to lament ° Write out a real and raw prayer about a current struggle without feeling like I need to edit out the emotion. ° Thank God for Jesus who made a way for God to deal with sin without destroying his people.  Interpretive Worksheet Proclamation: Who can you specifically share this truth with or encourage with this Scripture in the next week? ° Suffering believer who can cry out to God in pain ° Struggling unbeliever who is trying to make sense of how a good God could allow suffering.  Helps with interpretive worksheets ° Don’t rush your process. Take the time to really dig into the text ° Use some outside resources (dictionary, Bible handbook, Study Bible, commentary, online resource). Make sure to cite them in your paper ° Submit a file/picture of your outline (diagram, observation page). But also write out your observations. Have at least 10 bullet point observations. ° Make sure you have clear, relevant, and specific applications that come from the text ° I am primarily looking at your process (how you are thinking through the text) not the product (did you get the “right” answer)  Survey Reading Read through the text 1 time quickly for the tone and sense of the passage Read through the text 1 time slowly to notice details Read through the text 1 time with pen/highlighter to note things that stand out.  Observations Write out 10 observations from this psalm based on your careful reading and markup of the text. ° Linking words ° Grammar ° Structure ° Figurative Language ° Repetition  Interpretive Questions Write out 5 interpretive questions that would help you understand the meaning of this text.  Key Words Identify 5 words you would like to study more in-depth to better understand the text. Be ready to share why you chose those words.  Commentary Observations Read through the attached commentary on this Psalm. What insights were most helpful for you as you prepare to develop the Big Idea?  Subject As a group, brainstorm possible subjects for this Psalm. What is the author talking about? Choose one that you believe best captures the subject.  Complement Turn your subject into a question and answer it. What is the author saying about what he is talking about?  Big Idea What is the Big Idea? Work to make it concise, precise, and memorable.  Applicational Principle Taking into account the theological and cultural differences, what applicational principle would you draw from this text for a modern context?  Specific Application What are some specific ways a person could apply this principle? Remember to make it specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Bible Interpretive Worksheet  Genre 1. Helps us know how to properly interpret the text 2. Helps us know how to properly apply the text 3. Helps us understand the author’s intent  Genre Letters: written to individuals or congregations for encouragement and instruction as they live out their Christian identity in their local context. ° Pay attention to the historical background (author, recipients, situation) ° Consider the structure of the entire book and how your passage fits into the author’s flow of thought.  Genre Philemon 8-16 Philemon 17–20 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.  Genre Historical Narrative: Recount factual events from history in the form of stories. (about 60% of the entire Bible) ° Don’t mistake descriptive statements for prescriptive statements. ° Consider why the author includes the details he has and in the way he has. What does he want us to see or understand?  Interpreting Narratives ° All history is selective – authors are intentionally making theological points ° All history has a perspective. God’s Word is God’s perspective. ° All history is trying to make a point/argument. ° The historical record of the Bible is a crucial component.  Genre Historical Narrative: Ancient historians didn’t follow our ‘rules’ when recording history. Their goal was not to provide a transcript of conversations or exhaustive detail of every event. ° Hyperbole: John 4- All of Samaria came out to him (c.f. 2 Chron 1:15) ° Round Numbers: Lev 26:8 ° Editorial differences: The gospels record differences in numbers (Matt 8:28/Mark 5:2) and dialogue (Matt 8:26, Mark 4:39-40, Luke 8:24-25) Matthew 8:26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39–40 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Luke 8:24–25 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?”  Genre Compare the 4 gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection. Choose one account and compare it to the other 3. What does the author emphasize and how does the way they develop the narrative serve that purpose?  Genre Historical Narrative: General Guidelines ° Look at the context: How does this story fit into the bigger story? (Genesis 16) ° Editorial Comments/Clues: Who are the examples we should follow? How should we understand the person’s motive? (Judges 17:1-6) ° Look for repeated themes: You are looking for the thread(s) that tie the story together. (Mark 1:27,45; 2:12; 4:1)  Genre Prophecy: A prophet is someone sent by God and a prophecy is the message from God delivered by his messenger.  Prophecy Deuteronomy 18:18–22 (I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.  Prophecy Foretelling: Predicting events in advance with supernatural knowledge of God’s plan. Forthtelling: The prophet warns of judgments threatened and blessings promised by God.  Prophecy Principles of Interpretation ° Understand the historical and literary context ° Expect and interpret figurate language: Poetic pictures and exaggerated expressions.  Prophecy Habakkuk 1:8–11 Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand. At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”  Prophecy ° Understand the difference between conditional and unconditional prophecies (Gen 12:1-3 vs Jeremiah 18:7-10)  Prophecy Jeremiah 18:7–10 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. 9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.  Prophecy ° If the prophecy is foretelling, consider if or how it has been fulfilled. Direct: A specific event is predicted and it comes to pass. ° Micah 5:2 – Matt 2:5-6 ° Habakkuk 1:6 – Jeremiah 34 ° Isaiah 53 – Luke 22:35-38  Prophecy Near and Far Referent: An event in the immediate context that foreshadows a greater fulfillment Often the prophet spoke better than he knew. Isaiah 7:14 –Matthew 1:22-23 2 Samuel 7:11-13 – Ez 34:23-24 Psalm 22  Prophecy Typology: Jesus’s experience or pattern corresponds to something that happened in the past Matthew 2:14–15 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2:17–18 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”  Apocalyptic Apocalyptic (literally “revelation”) books are symbolic literature used to reveal God’s work in the present and his plans for the future (Daniel and Revelation)  Apocalyptic Daniel 2:31-45 Work with a partner to discuss what you see and what it means based on the interpretation provided in the context.  Apocalyptic Daniel 2:31-45  Apocalyptic Daniel 7:1-12 Revelation 13:1–2 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.  Apocalyptic Read Revelation 1:9-20. What are some of your biggest interpretive questions? ° Robe and Sash: Jesus is the exalted king and coming judge who will return to reign. ° White Hair: White hair is a picture of wisdom and honor that comes with age and experience. ° Blazing Eyes: His eyes are searching, penetrating, and revealing our hearts for what they are. ° Bronze Feet: He has the strength and purity to bring about judgment. ° Powerful Voice: The awesome voice of God thunders and silences all who hear it. ° Radiant Face: God’s presence is marked by glory and unapproachable light.  Apocalyptic Common Characteristics: ° Angelic Messenger ° Glimpse of the supernatural realm ° Highly symbolic visions or dreams ° Visions of final judgment ° Warnings of coming trials with a call to persevere  Apocalyptic General Principles for Interpretation: 1) This literature gives a general impression, not a detailed description Revelation 21:17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement.  Apocalyptic 2) Symbolism should not be taken too literally ° Figurative Language Revelation 9:7–10 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8 their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9 they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10 They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails.  Apocalyptic General Principles for Interpretation: 2) Symbolism should not be taken too literally ° Figurative Use of Numbers (Rev 21:9-22:9) 12 gates, 12 angels, 12 foundations  Apocalyptic General Principles for Interpretation: 3) Symbolism should not be interpreted too specifically: It is not our responsibility to determine “This refers to that”  Why do people often turn to the book of Psalms during times of hardship and struggle? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC  Poetry/Psalms Poetry is intended to express and evoke strong emotions. It conveys the sense and tone of the message, not just the bare facts.  Poetry/Psalms Types of Psalms: Lament is the largest (Psalm 22) Addressed to God in times of distress and plea for deliverance. They usually include a statement of confidence in God, his presence, and his ultimate rescue. 1) Problem/Predicament 2) Plea 3) Confidence/Expectation  Poetry/Psalms Types of Psalms: Thanksgiving (Psalm 18, 136, 117, 148) Celebrating God’s faithfulness with gratitude and joy Psalm 136:1–3 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.  Poetry/Psalms Types of Psalms: Wisdom (1, 73) These psalms contrast the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked in how they live and relate to God. Penitential (51, 32, 38, 130) These express sorrow over sin and spiritual failure and ask God for his forgiveness in response to repentance.  Poetry/Psalms Types of Psalms: Imprecatory (137, 35, 70, 109, 140) These are prayers calling down judgment on the psalmist’s enemies. ° Longing for God’s judgment, not personal vengeance/vindictiveness ° When wronged we are to leave the outcome in God’s hands (Rom 12:19)  Poetry/Psalms Types of Psalms: Royal Psalms (93-99) Celebrating God as King Pilgrimage Psalms- (120-134) Ascent to worship in Jerusalem  Interpreting the Psalms (poetry) (Köstenberger, 128ff) 1. Parallelism – “the practice of using similar language of approximately the same number of words and length, and containing a corresponding thought, phrase, or idea over succeeding lines.” (Köstenberger, 123) Similar Parallelism: Ps 19:1 Antithetical Parallelism: Prov 14:34; Prov 15:1 Progressive Parallelism: Psalm 57:1; 98:2  Interpreting the Psalms (poetry) (Köstenberger, 128ff) 2. Figurative Language Metaphor: Amos 4:1 “You cows of Bashan” Simile: Psalm 1:3 “Like a tree planted by streams of water” Merism (Bookends): Genesis 1:1 God created the heavens and the earth Personification: Is 55:12 Trees of the field clap their hands Anthropomorphism: 2 Cor 16:9 The eyes of the Lord range over the earth Idioms: Genesis 4:1 Adam knew his wife Eve Part for the whole: Romans 10:15 How beautiful are the feet...  Proverbs/Wisdom Literature Wisdom literature records the sayings and reflections of wise people so that we might live wise lives based on their insights and experiences (Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon) Proverbs: Wise advice in short memorable observations about the normal workings of life.  Proverbs/Wisdom Literature Biblical Proverbs are not a guarantee, but an observation about how things normally work. ° Proverbs 10:4 Lazy hands make a man poor ° Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool in his folly ° Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool in his folly lest... ° Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.  Parables Parables are stories that Jesus told to illustrate spiritual truths. We should not press the details of the story for allegorical meaning. Luke 15 ° The Father is gracious and forgiving ° The older brother is bitter and self-righteous ° The younger brother is wayward, humbled, and accepted  Parables Luke 16:1-13 Matt 18:21-35 Matt 25:1-13  Doctrine of Scripture ° What do we believe about the Bible? ° And if so, How should we then live? ° Authority and Assurance for all we have claimed so far rests on this doctrine This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY The Doctrine of Scripture addresses the Bible’s Origin Nature Worth Authority Truthfulness Accuracy Purpose Themes Cedarville University’s statement about Scripture “We believe that God has revealed Himself truthfully to humans through the inspired texts of the Scriptures. These canonical texts, Old and New Testaments, are inerrant, infallible, and reliable in detail and in theological content. The Bible, as the sufficient Word of God, has authority over the church and the Christian's life and thought. As divinely inspired texts, the meaning of the biblical authors is to be discerned through careful, textual interpretation guided by the Spirit.”  What is the Bible? The Bible is the Word of God, inspired by the Spirit, written for our understanding and submission. Why is the Bible necessary?  Psalm 119:89–112 In groups of 3, read these verses and write 3 convictions we should have about scripture.  Psalm 119:89–112 Word of God God’s word says what is true, right, and good. How should we feel about God’s word? 1. Delight 2. Desire 3. Dependence “The goal of this book [section of class] is to get us believing what we should about the Bible, feeling what we should about the Bible, and and to get us doing what we ought to do with the Bible.” p. 23  Inspiration What do we mean when we say the Bible is inspired?  Inspiration Definition: The supernatural work of the Holy Spirit to speak through human authors, so that they wrote what God intended to communicate about the truth and the gospel.  Inspiration 2 Timothy 3:16–17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  Inspiration ° Verbal: God inspired the very words, not just the concepts or big ideas. ° Plenary: Every single word is equally inspired by God.  Biblical Inspiration – Practical Implications ° To deny, disregard, edit, alter, reject or rule out anything in God’s word is to commit the sin of unbelief.” (DeYoung, 39) ° “You can [mis]use the word of God to come to wrong conclusions, but you cannot find any wrong conclusions in the word of God.” (DeYoung, 42) ° “God’s word is final; God’s word is understandable; God’s word is necessary; and God’s word is enough.” (DeYoung, 45)  Inspiration 2 Peter 1:20–21 Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Mark 12:36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’  Inerrancy Definition: The Bible is true and reliable. It does not contain any errors or affirm anything contrary to fact. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began  Inerrancy What are some reasons that some people might question the inerrancy of the Bible?  Inerrancy ° People assume that the unexplained is unexplainable ° People assume the Bible is wrong unless something proves it right. ° People confuse flawed interpretation with flawed revelation ° People assume a partial report is a false report ° People take verses out of their context. ° People ignore literary features and devices  Inerrancy When all the facts are known and understood properly in their contexts, the Bible will be proven completely true and never false.  Sufficiency Definition: The Bible contains everything we need to know and love God. It is enough to tell us who God is, how we can know him, and how we can please him. ° God told me that I should (or you should!) ° I’m waiting for God to show me ° If God wants me to... He will make it clear to me ° God has laid it on my heart ° God has called me to... ° God has opened this door so it is his will ° I’ve prayed about it and God is leading me to...  Sufficiency ° We don’t need new revelation from God or a fresh word from the Lord.  Sufficiency 2 Peter 1:3–4 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.  Sufficiency “The sufficiency of Scripture means that the Bible is rich in resources to address the problems in living we face in this fallen world. It means that God has told us what we need to live life in the midst of the various spiritual and emotional struggles we encounter. The sufficiency of Scripture is necessary to demonstrate that the Bible’s authority is relevant for our lives.” (Lambert, 125)  Sufficiency The Bible is our sufficient source of truth, but it is not the exclusive source of truth. All other truth claims must be filtered through and submitted to the truth of Scripture. What are some other sources of truth claims we might use as Christians? What are some dangers we need to be aware of ?  Scripture Experience Emotion Reason General Revelation Tradition  Clarity The Bible communicates truth so that we can understand the author’s meaning. It is accessible and knowable. Luke 24:44–45 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,  Biblical Clarity (Perspicuity) Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF 1.7) “All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due sense of ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.”  Biblical Illumination ° The Spirit-inspired nature of the biblical texts leads to the necessity of the same Spirit to grant illumination to what has been “spiritually” revealed (1 Cor 2:6–16; 14–16; Eph 1:16–18). ° “The Spirit helps the reader understand the pattern of meaning that the author willed and convinces the reader as to the truth of that teaching.” (Stein, A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible, 65)  Authority “The Bible carries the same authority as the God who speaks it and so has the right to say what is true and demand obedience. As Christians we want to live with God in charge of us, an in practice that means living in submission to the words of Scripture. (Dig Deeper, 22-23) “The last word always goes to the Word of God. We must never allow the teachings of science, or human experience, or of church councils to take precedence over Scripture.” (Deyoung, 44)  Roman Catholic View Back Experience Emotions General Revelation Reason Tradition Scripture Front Enlightenment/Scientific View Back Tradition Scripture Experience Emotions General Revelation Reason Front  Liberal View Back General Revelation Emotions Experience Reason Front Postmodern View Back Emotions Experience Front  Authority Sola Scriptura: Belief that Scripture is the final and only infallible authority for the Christian in all matters of faith and practice.  Sola Scriptura Back Experience Emotions General Revelation Tradition Reason Scripture Front  What sola Scriptura does not mean: ° That there are no other sources of authority in the life of a Christian. ° That each Christian is an autonomous interpreter of the Scriptures, being independent of the interpretive community of the body of Christ. ° That Tradition is not valuable for understanding matters of faith and practice. ° That there is no institutional authority at all to which believers must submit. Solo Scriptura Back Scripture Front  Authority ° My feelings are not authoritative ° My experiences are not authoritative ° My opinions are not authoritative We approach God’s word with a mind eager to understand and a heart willing to obey.  Authority ° What are some examples of issues that we might be tempted to ignore God’s authority?  Authorial Intention & Scripture ° The communion of divine and human authorship entails that to grasp what the Holy Spirit is saying in Scripture is to discern the human author’s intention. ° The author’s intention is communicated and discerned through literary forms and practices. ° To understand the biblical text, we assume the author has meant to say what his words say and mean. This directly denies that the reader gives meaning to a text. (Textual vs. reader-oriented approaches)  Necessity We need God’s word to know the gospel, understand God’s will, and be equipped to live in obedience to God. General revelation is not sufficient.  Necessity Romans 10:13–17 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.  Which of these characteristics do you believe is most under attack in our churches? “If authority is the liberal problem, clarity the postmodern problem, and necessity the problem for atheists and agnostics, then sufficiency is the attribute most quickly doubted by rank and file Christians. We can say all the right things about the Bible, and even read it regularly, but when life gets difficult, or just a bit boring, we look for new words, new revelation, and new experiences to bring us closer to God” (DeYoung, Taking God at His Word, 45-46)  Sufficiency 1. Sufficient for Evangelism 2. Sufficient for Spiritual Growth 3. Sufficient for Guidance 4. Sufficient for Transformation  How Did We Get Our Bible? 1. Canonization 2. Transmission 3. Translation  Canon Canon: A rule of measure that becomes a standard (yardstick). The 66 books of the Bible comprise one authoritative book from one divine author.  Canon Questions: How do we know the books that we have in the Bible are the right ones? Why do the Roman Catholics include extra books in their Bible? Who has the authority to determine what books can be called Scripture?  Canon Canonicity: The church’s recognition and affirmation of the inspired writings. The canon is determined authoritatively by God. It is simply recognized by man.  Canon Old Testament: Affirmed as a unit before Christ was born Does the New Testament attest to its authority? Do extrabiblical Jewish writers affirm it? Is the book consistent with other revelation? Was it written by a prophet or someone of divine authority? Did Christ attest to its authority?  Apocrypha Lit. “Hidden writings.” This describes the group of writings, mostly written in Greek during the intertestamental period (400–100 B.C.), that are contained in the Christian Septuagint and Latin Vulgate and accepted by Roman Catholics and some Eastern Orthodox as Scripture, but rejected by Jews and evangelical Protestants.  Categories within the Apocrypha Historical Religious Wisdom 1 Maccabees Tobit Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 2 Maccabees Judith Wisdom of Solomon Susanna Baruch Additions to Esther Prayer of Manasseh Bel and the Dragon Epistle of Jeremiah Prayer of Azariah  Apocrypha Arguments for Inclusion: It is alluded to in the NT and referenced by many early church fathers. It was affirmed by some church councils in the late 300’s It was discovered among the dead sea scrolls as well as early Greek copies of the Old Testament.  Development of the NT Canon Time of Apostolic Authority 40–100 Unwritten Tradition (Apostles’ teaching) Written Tradition (New Testament) Formulation A.D. 33 A.D. 100 A.D. 300 A.D. 400  Canon 1. The NT attests to other NT books being accepted as Scripture. 2 Pet. 3:15–16 “And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.”  Canon 2. The Writings of the New Testament are presented as the authoritative words of God. 1 Cor. 14:37 “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.”  Canon Tests of Canonicity: 1. Apostolic Origin: Written by an apostle or someone connected to an apostle. Matthew John Paul Mark (Peter) Luke (Paul) Hebrews (Hebrews 2:3-4)  Canon Tests of Canonicity: 2. Use and Recognition by Early Church: Dates to the apostles and widely circulated in the church. Scripture is self- authenticating. “Christ will establish and build his church by causing the church to accept just this canon and, by means of the assistance and witness of the Holy Spirit, to recognize it as his” (H.N. Ridderbos, Redemptive History and the New Testament Scripture, 37).  Canon Tests of Canonicity: 3. Sound Doctrine: It conforms to the teaching of the apostles and is congruent with other Scripture. Objectively it fits with the pattern of Scripture and subjectively it reflects the qualities of God: beauty, power, and unity. John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.  Canon Disputed Books: Hebrews James 2 and 3 John 2 Peter Jude Revelation 1400 B.C. Writing of OT Writing of the Septuagint (LXX) Canonization of OT (300–150) 400 B.C. Council of Jamnia confirms Writing of NT Hebrew canon (90) 100 A.D. Athanasius’ Easter Letter (367) Council of Hippo (393) Canonization of NT Council of Carthage (397) All confirm NT canon 400 A.D. RC Council of Trent declares deuterocanonical books canonical (1546) 1600 A.D. “One thing must be emphatically stated. The New Testament books did not become authoritative for the Church because they were formally included in a canonical list; on the contrary, the Church included them in her canon because she already regarded them as divinely inspired, recognizing their innate worth and generally apostolic authority, direct or indirect. The first ecclesiastical councils to classify the canonical books were both held in North Africa—at Hippo Regius in 393 and at Carthage in 397—but what these councils did was not to impose something new upon the Christian communities but to codify what was already the general practice of those communities.” —F.F. Bruce The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1994), 27  Revelation, Transmission, & Trustworthiness Questions: 1. How do we know that the Bible is the same as when it was written? 2. Did the scribes ever make mistakes when copying the Bible? 3. My Bible sometimes says that many manuscripts do not contain these verses (e.g., Mark 16:9–20). Why?  Revelation, Transmission, & Trustworthiness Through the Holy Spirit’s work, the biblical texts present God’s character and purposes. Since God is active in revealing himself in these texts, He guides, guards, and preserves their faithful transmission. Therefore, we trust they are inerrant, infallible, reliable, and accurate.  Basic Facts 1. The Old Testament was originally written in two languages, Hebrew and Aramaic (portions of Ezra and Daniel), from the years 1500 to 400 B.C. 2. The New Testament was originally written in Koine Greek from the years 40 to 100 A.D. 3. Manuscripts were subject to wear and tear, and it is therefore unlikely that any would survive. 4. We do not have any original writing (autographa).  Transmission The process by which a text is passed down through copying and recopying over the years. Among copies of biblical texts we sometimes have variants which are any difference in wording, spelling, or content among manuscripts.  Transmission Textual Criticism: The process of evaluating the variants and determining which reading is most likely original. It is both an objective and subjective process. Transmission  Unintentional Errors Similar-looking letters were sometimes interchanged. d 1. Mistaken Letter r (Hebrew) Q O (Greek). Substitution of similar-sounding words. Rom. 5:1 2. Homophony ecomen “We have.” Or ecwmen “Let us have.” A letter or word that was written twice rather than 3. Dittography once. Incorrect division of words. GODISNOWHERE 4. Fusion An omission caused by two words that have similar 5. Homoioteleuton endings. Reversal of order of two words. Christ Jesus, Jesus 6. Metathesis Christ.  Intentional Errors 1. Changes in grammar or Updating in languages (“Rameses,” Gen. 47:11). spelling and modernizations of language 2. Harmonization Often the scribe felt at liberty to change apparent discrepancies (Lk. 23:38 and Jn. 19:19). 3. Theological changes Comma Johanine (1 Jn. 5:7-8) and/or additions NAS KJV For there are three that bear record in heaven, 7 For there are three that the Father, the Word, and testify: the Holy Ghost: and these 8 the Spirit and the water three are one. And there and the blood; and the are three that bear witness three are in agreement in earth, the Spirit, agree in one. and the water, and the blood: and these three 4. Liturgical Additions Matt. 6:13 “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. ”  Transmission Acts 8:37 (KJV) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  Transmission Acts 8:37 (KJV) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  Transmission tc A few later mss (E 36 323 453 945 1739 1891) add, with minimal differences in wording, 8:37 “He said to him, ‘If you believe with your whole heart, you may.’ He replied, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’” Verse 37 is lacking in P ‫א‬A B C 33 614 vg sy co. It is clearly not a part of the original text of Acts. The variant is significant in showing how some in the early church viewed the necessity of a confession of faith. The present translation follows NA in omitting the verse number, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.  Transmission The majority of later mss (C Θ Ψ 078 ƒ M) add the following to 5:3: “waiting for the moving of the water. 5:4 For an angel of the Lord went down and stirred up the water at certain times. Whoever first stepped in after the stirring of the water was healed from whatever disease which he suffered.” Other mss include only v. 3b (A D 33 lat) or v. 4 (A L it). Few textual scholars today would accept the authenticity of any portion of vv. 3b-4, for they are not found in the earliest and best witnesses (P ‫א‬B C* T co), they include un-Johannine vocabulary and syntax, several of the mss that include the verses mark them as spurious (with an asterisk or obelisk), and because there is a great amount of textual diversity among the witnesses that do include the verses. The present translation follows NA in omitting the verse number, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.  Transmission Mark 16:8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.  Transmission Intentional Changes: Grammatical (Mark 6:39) Harmonize Parallels (Matt 19:17, Mark 10:18) Eliminate Discrepancies (Mark 1:2 compared to Mal 1) Strengthen Doctrinal Positions (1 John 5:7-8)  Transmission Unintentional Changes Incorrectly Dividing Words Skipping something because the words have similar beginning/ending Accidentally including or omitting a letter Including a marginal note  Transmission Principles of Textual Criticism: 1. Manuscripts must be weighed, not counted. 2. Determine the reading most likely to give rise to the others 3. The more difficult reading is preferable 4. The shorter reading is preferable 5. Determine which reading is more appropriate in its context.  Translation What is the best Bible translation? What translation should I use for study? Is The Message an acceptable translation?  Translation What translation do you use and why?  Translation Every translation involves interpretation. Decisions are made about what a word means, how it is used in the context, and what contemporary English word best captures that sense. 2 Samuel 23:5 “For not thus [is] my house with God(?)” For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant.... (ESV) If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant. (NIV) Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant. (KJV)  Translation Literal: Some translations stive to translate the original language in a literal, word for word format. This may help us see the structure of the language but may be wooden or difficult to read. Readable: Some translations strive to capture the flow and sense of the text by understanding the meaning and translating that into modern English. Translation Translation Cedarville University’s statement “We believe that God has revealed Himself truthfully to humans through the inspired texts of the Scriptures. These canonical texts, Old and New Testaments, are inerrant, infallible, and reliable in detail and in theological content. The Bible, as the sufficient Word of God, has authority over the church and the Christian's life and thought. As divinely inspired texts, the meaning of the biblical authors is to be discerned through careful, textual interpretation guided by the Spirit.” Be able to give short definition or at least recognize enough for a long matching section on the exam. Canon, tests for authenticity, Inspiration, inerrancy, infallibility, illumination, clarity, sufficiency, authorial Intent, authority, necessity. The Study Guide and the Full Class PowerPoint slides are available in the final Canvas module Any questions related to the Study Guide or Interpretive Worksheet for Joshua 7? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY  ° Know, love and share the gospel Vision for ° Look at the big picture view of the whole story of the Bible the class and ° Practical steps and habits for walking semester with God ° Practical tools for studying the Bible  1. That you know, love, and share the gospel. Also, that you see the continual relevance of the gospel in your life. 2. That you have a passion for the nations and see your part in the mission of God. Hopes and 3. That you develop healthy spiritual habits in the Word, prayer, meditation, and local church that will stay with you the rest of your life. prayers as we 4. That you have and maintain strong convictions about God’s revelation–Scripture. wrap up today 5. That you understand the grand redemptive story and how the parts of Scripture fit together. 6. That you handle God’s Word accurately, knowing how to read, observe, interpret, apply, and obey. 7. That you be willing to go anywhere and do anything that the LORD asks. That you love your Savior more and more. 8. I hope you made a friend that will last during your college years and beyond. Which did you see the most progress in? Which do you need the most right now? What have you learned, read, or been encouraged by this semester that you are