Introduction to Bible Interpretation
&
Bible Study Methods
Personal Disclaimer
I want to be very clear that I own anything in
this seminar. The ideas you are going to be
presented with are not my own. I have
perused the best sources I know of to present
to you some of the ideas that I – ONE: find to
be faithful to the biblical message, and TWO:
give the most practical advice to the novice.
Resources
• Living by the Book, Howard G. & William D. Hendricks (Highly
Recommend)
• Basic Bible Interpretation, Roy B. Zuck
• A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible: Playing by the Rules, Robert H.
Stein
• Hermeneutics: Principles & Processes of Biblical Interpretation, Henry
Virkler
• A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis, Craig Blomberg and Jennifer
Foutz Markley
• Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, William W. Klein, Craig L.
Blomberg, Robert L. Hubbard Jr.
• How to Read the Bible for all Its Worth, Gordon D. Fee and Douglas
Stuart
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OBJECTIVES
• Identify what benefits there is in studying the
Bible
• Identify why Bible interpretation is important
• Discover the basics of the Inductive Bible
Study Method
• Identify some basic Bible study tools to aid in
Bible Study
I. Introduction: Why Study The Bible –
3 Benefits
A. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL
GROWTH (1 PETER 2:2)
• 1 Peter 2:2 “Like
newborn babes, long
for the pure milk of the
word, that by it you
may grow in respect to
salvation” (3 Points to
consider)
A. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL
GROWTH (1 PETER 2:2)
1. Attitude – as a newborn baby
2. Appetite (3 kinds of Bible
students)
a) Nasty medicine
b) Shredded wheat
c) Strawberries and cream – Ps 19:10
(“sweeter than honey”)
3. Aim – to grow not just to know
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B. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL
MATURITY (HEB 5:11-14)
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard
to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For
though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have
need again for someone to teach you the elementary
principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to
need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who
partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of
righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for
the mature, who because of practice have their senses
trained to discern good and evil. – Hebrews 5:11-14
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B. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL
MATURITY (HEB 5:11-14)
• Acquiring that taste
(appetite) discussed above
comes from maturity!
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C. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL
EFFECTIVENESS (2 TIM 3:16-17)
• “16All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness; 17so
that the man of God may be adequate,
equipped for every good work.” – 2 Tim 3:1617
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C. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL
EFFECTIVENESS (2 TIM 3:16-17)
1. The Nature of Scripture
a) Inspired – God-breathed
b) Inerrant: result of inspiration
2. Function/Benefits of Scripture
a)
b)
c)
d)
Teach doctrine (teachings) – what is right
Reproof OR Rebuke – what is not right
For correcting – how to make it right
For instruction – how to keep it right
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C. BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL
EFFECTIVENESS (2 TIM 3:16-17)
3. Purpose: To Equip – Give us a
tool/equipment needed
a) One Weapon/tool – “Sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians
6:10-17)
b) Jesus’ Temptation: Matt 4:1-11
II. WHY IS BIBLE INTERPRETATION
IMPORTANT?
.
II. WHY IS BIBLE INTERPRETATION
IMPORTANT?
.
• “Interpreting the Bible is one of the most
important issues facing Christians today. It lies
behind what we believe, how we live, how to
get on together, and what we have to offer to
the world.” – John Balchin, Understanding
Scripture, pg. 8.
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A. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR UNDERSTANDING
AND TEACHING THE BIBLE PROPERLY
1. Meaning Then – Message Today
a) The Bible can never mean what it never meant –
Fee & Stuart, Reading the Bible for all its Worth
b) Then and there before the here and now
2. Conflicting Interpretations:
a) John 10:28 – eternal security (Once Saved always
Saved?)
b) 1 Cor 15:29 – Baptism for dead relatives
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B. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR MOVING BEYOND
OBSERVATION
1. Observation is discovering what is there,
interpretation is deciding what it means
a) Ex: Should Christians drink milk? 1 Peter 2:2
compared to Hebrews 5:11
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Comparison
To Drink Milk OR Not?
1 Peter 2:2
• “Like newborn babes, long
for the pure milk of the
word, that by it you may
grow in respect to
salvation”
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Hebrews 5:13-14
•
13 For
everyone who
partakes only of milk is
not accustomed to the
word of righteousness,
for he is an infant. 14 But
solid food is for the mature,
who because of practice
have their senses trained to
discern good and evil. –
Hebrews 5:11-14
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B. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR MOVING BEYOND
OBSERVATION
• Observation is discovering what is there,
interpretation is deciding what it means
a) Ex: Should Christians drink milk? 1 Peter 2:2
compared to 5:11
b) Ex: Surgeon’s Observation (observes what is wrong –
but interpretation leads to decision of treatment)
c) We must interpret with care - 2 Timothy 2:15 –
“correctly handling” – from the Grk orthotomounta –
(ortho) “straight” (tomeo) cut.
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B. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR MOVING BEYOND
OBSERVATION
• Quote: “Because Paul is a tentmaker, he may have been
using an expression that tied in with his trade. When Paul
made tents, he used certain patterns. In those days tents
were made from the skins of animals in a patchwork sort of
design. Every piece would have to be cut and fit together
properly. Paul was simply saying, “If one doesn’t cut the
pieces right, the whole won’t fit together properly.” It’s the
same thing with Scripture. If one doesn’t interpret correctly
the different parts, the whole message won’t come through
correctly. In Bible study and interpretation the Christian
should cut straight. He should be precise . . . and accurate.” –
John F. MacArthur – The Charismatics, 57.
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C. BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION IS ESSENTIAL
FOR APPLYING THE BIBLE PROPERLY
1. Observation – Interpretation – Application
2. Heart appropriation not just head
apprehension
a) Interpretation bridges the gap
(1) What is there (Observation) – head/knowledge
(2) What we are to do (Application) – heart/action
b) Improper Interpretation – leads to error
(1)
Benign interpretation/Application (1 Cor 11:3-15, hats in
church)
(2) Deadly Interpretation/Application (Mk 16 handling
snakes)
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III. Basic Terminology
A. DEFINING KEY TERMS
1. Hermeneutics
a) Grk verb hermeneuo, and Grk noun hermeneia
b) Origin of term – Grecian mythology – Hermes
(messenger of the gods)
c) Defn: art and science of biblical interpretation
(1) Science – based on an orderly system of rules
(2) Art – communication is flexible
(3) Not the interpretation itself – but method used
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A. DEFINING KEY TERMS
2. Exegesis
a) From two Greek words, ἐξ (“from, of, out of) and
άγω (“to lead”), referring to the process of leading
out from a text its original meaning (Blomberg, xii).
b) Exegesis is the application of the principles of
hermeneutics to arrive at a correct meaning of a
text
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A. DEFINING KEY TERMS
3. Eisegesis
a) (opposite of exegesis) – “eis” means “into”
b) Eisegesis reads meaning into a text
c) 2Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to
God as a workman who does not need to be
ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
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B. BARRIERS/CHALLENGES TO INTERPRETATION
1. Time Gap
2. Space/Geographical Gap
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B. BARRIERS/CHALLENGES TO INTERPRETATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
Time Gap
Space/Geographical Gap
Cultural Gap
Language Gap
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B. BARRIERS/CHALLENGES TO INTERPRETATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Time Gap
Space/Geographical Gap
Cultural Gap
Language Gap
Literary Gap
Subjective Lens Gap
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IV. INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY
METHOD
OVERVIEW – 3 STEPS
1. Observation – What does text say?
2. Interpretation – What does text mean?
3. Application – What do I do (How does the
text apply)?
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A. OBSERVATION
1. What and Why?
a) Defn: “The action or process of observing something
or someone carefully in order to gain information” –
Oxford Dictionary
b) Don’t Skip this step too soon (It may be the longest
step, but worth it)
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A. OBSERVATION
2. Seeing does not = “observation
a) How many steps are there in building you use
regularly?
b) How many doors do you pass on your way to your
office at work?
c) How many stoplights did you drive by on the way
here today?
d) What was the color of the shirt your wife, husband,
friend, or co-worker wore yesterday?
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A. OBSERVATION
3. Observing the key facts (Historical &
Cultural Factors)
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Author
Audience
Date
Location
Main Theme
Purpose
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A. OBSERVATION
4. Observe the Literary Genre
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A. OBSERVATION
4. Observe the Literary Genre
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Epistle/Exposition
Narrative
Wisdom Literature
Prophecy
Apocalyptic
Genre within genre
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A. OBSERVATION
5. Observe by recording the following
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
Things emphasized
Things repeated
Key & substantial terms
Things related
Things alike (similarities)
Things unlike (contrasts)
Things true to life
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A. OBSERVATION
6. Make a basic outline of book/section of
passages
a) Summarize each section
b) Supply sub-points under each section
c) Remember – outline is tentative (subject to
amending and editing)
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B. INTERPRETATION
1. List your unanswered questions (key
information)
•
Who, what, when, where, why, and how
2. Check other translations
a) Helps to understand range of possible meanings
(semantic range)
b) Types of translations
(1) Word for word accuracy – sometimes loses thought
(2) Thought for thought accuracy – sometimes loses
precision
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B. INTERPRETATION
3. Unknown terms
a) Word analysis – lexical-syntactical analysis – study of
meaning of individual words and how they are
combined
b) To understand authors intended meaning (exegesis)
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Basic Bible Interpretation, Roy B.
Zuck, pg. 99
• “Thoughts are expressed through words, and words
are the building blocks of sentences. Therefore to
determine God’s thoughts we need to study His
words and how they are associated in sentences. If
we neglect the meanings of words and how they are
used, we have no way of knowing whose
interpretations are correct. The assertion, ‘You can
make the Bible mean anything you want it to
mean,’ is true only if grammatical interpretation is
ignored.”
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B. INTERPRETATION
4. Check related passages (cross-references) –
study bible, concordance
5. Consult Secondary sources:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Bible Handbook
Atlas
Commentary
Goal is not to be told what to believe, but to see
what others who have seriously studied the passage
have discovered – something you may have missed
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C. APPLICATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Is there an example to follow?
Is there a sin to avoid?
Is there a promise to claim?
Is there a prayer to repeat?
Is there a command to obey?
Is there a condition to meet?
Is there a verse to memorize?
Is there an error to avoid?
Is there a challenge to face?
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Questions & Answer?