how to read the bible wk 1
DESCRIPTION
Week one from our class at SHUMCTRANSCRIPT
How to Read the BibleWeek 1
A Brave New World
1) Ripples of the Holocaust2) Jewish Homeland
3) Technology/Archaelogy4) $$$$$
5) Internet/Travel/Communicatio
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A Brave New World
Denominational Decline Hybrid Christians
More Extreme Fundamentalism
Greater Need for Discernment
What is the Bible?
What is the Bible?
What Kind of Materialis in the Bible?
What is the Bible?
What Kind of Materialis in the Bible?
Why These Certain Books?
Why Trust The Bible?
A. Predictive prophecy1. Isa. 9:1ff. (Galilee as focus of Jesus’ early ministry)2. Mic. 5:2 (cf. Matt. 2:4-6, the exact location of Jesus’ birth)B. Archaeology1. The same names (but not the biblical people) of Gen.11-12 are found in other second millennium B.C. texts from Mesopotamia (i.e. Mari and Nuzi texts).2. The Hittite civilization is mentioned in the OT (cf. II Kgs. 7:6, 7; II Chr. 1:17, possibly Heth in Gen. 10:15), but was unknown by documentary evidences until 1950's
Why Trust The Bible?3. Belshazzar (cf. Daniel 5) not listed in Babylonian Kings lists, but now known as the son of the last Neo-Babylonian king (Nabonidus) and co-regent in charge of the city of Babylon whenbesieged by Cyrus’ army)4. Nelson Glueck, Rivers in the Desert, p. 31, “No archaeological discovery has ever been made that contradicts or controverts historical statements of Scripture.”
Why Trust The Bible?C. Consistency of the message1. Written over a 1600 year period (dependingon the date of the Exodus).2. Written in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic,Koine Greek).3. Written by men of vastly different social status and cultural situations.4. Yet there is a unity of message!D. Permanently changed lives of hearers
Pre-Suppositions
A. I believe the Bible is the inspired self-revelation of the one true God. Therefore, it must be interpreted in light of the intent of the original divine author (the Spirit) through a human writer in a specific historical setting.
B. I believe the Bible was written for the common person—for all people! God accommodated Himself to speak to us clearly within a historical and cultural context. God does not hide truth—He wants us to understand! Therefore, it must be interpreted in light of its day, not ours.The Bible should not mean to us what it never meant to those who first read or heard it. It is understandable by the average human mind and uses normal human communication forms andtechniques.
Could be
Isn’tIs
C. I believe the Bible has a unified message and purpose. It does not contradict itself, though it does contain difficult and paradoxical passages. Thus, the best interpreter of the Bible is theBible itself.
D. I believe that every passage (excluding prophesies) has one and only one meaning based on the intent of the original, inspired author. Although we can never be absolutely certain we know the original author’s intent, many indicators point in its direction:1. the genre (literary type) chosen to express the message2. the historical setting and/or specific occasion that elicited the writing3. the literary context of the entire book as well as each literary unit4. the textual design (outline) of the literary units as they relate to the whole message5. the specific grammatical features employed to communicate the message6. the words chosen to present the message7. parallel passages
Inappropriate MethodsA. Ignoring the literary context of the books of the Bible and using every sentence, clause, or even individual words as statements of truth unrelated to the author’s intent or the larger context. This is often called “proof-texting.”
B. Ignoring the historical setting of the books by substituting a supposed historical setting that has little or no support from the text itself.C. Ignoring the historical setting of the books and reading it as the morning hometown newspaperwritten primarily to modern individual Christians.
Inappropriate Methods
D. Ignoring the historical setting of the books by allegorizing the text into a philosophical/theological message totally unrelated to the first hearers and the original author’s intent.E. Ignoring the original message by substituting one’s own system of theology, pet doctrine, or contemporary issue unrelated to the original author’s purpose and stated message. This phenomenon often follows the initial reading of the Bible as a means of establishing a speaker’s authority. This is often referred to as “reader response” (“what-the-text-means-to-me”interpretation).
Original Original Author’s IntentAuthor’s Intent
The Written The Written Text as Text as
ProducedProduced
The Original The Original Recipient Recipient
Original Original Author’s IntentAuthor’s Intent
The Written The Written Text as Text as
ProducedProduced
The Original The Original Recipient Recipient
The Holy The Holy SpiritSpirit
Later Later ReadersReaders
Textual Textual VariantsVariants
“The Bible throws a lot of light on commentaries.”
Approaches to Good Bible Reading - THE TEXT
We must be able to support our interpretations from the text itself. Three areas provide at least limited verification:1. the original author’sa. historical settingb. literary context2. the original author’s choice ofa. grammatical structures (syntax)b. contemporary work usagec. genre3. our understanding of appropriatea. relevant parallel passagesb. relationship between doctrines (paradox)
Approaches to Good Bible Reading - Application
Application must follow interpretation of the original author’s intent both in time and logic. We cannot apply a Bible passage to our own day until we know what it was saying to its day! A Bible passage should not mean what it never meant!
What the author meant;What the person heardWhat that meant to themHow does that affect us today...
Not...what “that” says to me is...
Approaches to Good Bible Reading - THE SPIRITUAL!
A. Pray for the Spirit’s help (cf. I Cor. 1:26-2:16).B. Pray for personal forgiveness & cleansing from known sin (cf. I John 1:9).C. Pray for a greater desire to know God (cf. Ps. 19:7-14; 42:1ff.; 119:1ff).D. Apply any new insight immediately to your own life.E. Remain humble and teachable.
Suggested Resources...
freebiblecommentary.org
logos.com
How to Read the Bible For All It’s Worth (Fee & Stewart)
The Blue Parakeet (McKnight)
The Drama of Scripture (Goheen & Bartholomew)
