 P.O. Box 280035 Tampa, FL 33682 info@tgsrm.org  Home Site Map What We Believe About The Founder About The Ministry Ministry Services How Do I Contribute How Do I Volunteer How Do I Participate Download Center Contact Us |
|
|||||
 There is no practice available to mankind that is
more rewarding, more beneficial, and more enlightening that the diligent study
of the Bible. Yet there seem to be fewer that are more consistently ignored,
all too often we who are Christians seem little prepared to properly perform
even the most elementary of studies and so miss out on the great good that may
be enjoyed as we become immersed in the Word of our God. The Bible has been
called the Christian’s sword, it is our primary tool in the proclamation and
defence of the Gospel of Christ, if we cannot use it with skill and dexterity
we are like a carpenter who is unable to properly use a hammer or saw.
Ineffectiveness in our handling of the Word will have the result of making us
less effective Christians. It is the purpose of this material to encourage each
of us to devote ourselves more thoroughly to Bible study and to set out some
basic principles by which we may put to better use the time that we will begin
to spend in Bible study. Various methods of Bible study will be introduced so
that a structured study may take place which will make use of study practices
that have been developed, tested, and found valuable by other Christians. When
properly done Bible study is an enjoyable and rewarding task that will not fail
to bring us nearer our God, it is my hope that this course will permit that joy
to enter into your study of God’s Word and help you to think the thoughts of
God. Much of the material in this outline is taken from an
introductory course in Bible interpretation taken at Reformed Bible College in
Grand Rapids, taught by William A. Shell, and also from the following books: Fee, Gordon D., Douglas Stuart, How to Read the
Bible for all Its Worth*, Academie Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1982. Smith, Bob, Basics of Bible Interpretation, Word
Books, Waco, Texas, 1997. Available
on the Internet here. Sterrett, T. Norton, How to Understand Your Bible*,
InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1974. Torrey, R. A., Methods of Bible Study.
Warren, Richard, with William A. Shell, 12 Dynamic
Bible Study Methods**, Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois, 1987. * Further and more detailed information may be found
about these publications at most Christian book stores. ** This volume is now out of print.  If the Bible is truly the revelation of God to His
people then it is not a book to be taken lightly. Since the internal testimony
of the Bible supports that it is the revelation of God to mankind: Jeremiah 36:2 - Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have
spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the
nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto
this day. Acts 28:25-27 - And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that
Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto
our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and
shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive. (quoting
from Isaiah 6:9-10) 2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God. and since the teaching of the Church throughout the
centuries has upheld this belief we can rest assured that the Bible is like no
other book that has, or will ever be printed for it has a source that is beyond
humanity. If we were to approach the text of the Bible as though it were the
equivalent of Homer, Shakespeare, or Milton, we do an injustice to the book
which, apart from all others, contains God’s words. All too often, because many
of us have grown up with its teaching, we tend not to be impressed by the words
that we are reading and/or hearing. No matter how familiar we become to some of
its contents we must continually understand that it is through the Bible that
we best come to know our God. Some will say that we need only to rely on the Holy Spirit
to teach us and that the Bible is supplementary. This seems as though it should
be true but we must realize that God has given us minds and that they are
intended to be used and that they are also capable of being deceived. We need
to learn and remember that the Bible is trustworthy and that through its proper
use we can evaluate what we believe we are being taught - either by the Holy
Spirit or by human teachers - and so to accept the teaching of God's good
ministers and also to refute the lies of our enemy as we lay hold of the truth
of our God.  This leads us to what is perhaps the best reason for
studying the Bible: Through the diligent study of the Bible we gain God’s
approval, learning how to properly handle the truth it contains: 2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Paul is comparing Timothy’s use of the Bible to a
workman’s use of his tools and encourages him to consider the embarrassment
that would occur if the workman were to use his tools improperly. Paul argues
further that Bible study is crucial for the proper spiritual development of all
Christians in all places and at all times: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works. We are encouraged to remember that the Bible is more
than just good literature, it is more than simply a detailed historical
document, it is even more than a general handbook on how to live a good life
and become a good member of society; it is the actual revelation of God to His
people. As His revelation to us the Bible takes on an importance far beyond any
other written material in the history of mankind. If we isolate all the
teachings of the Bible from the reality of the Bible as God’s revelation of
Himself to mankind we are left with a book that may still be worthy of study
but which gives us no coherent reason for our living as it teaches us to live.
The Bible is important not because it is a good book but because it is a good
book which was given to us by God. The reason that the Bible is worth studying
is that when we study the Bible we are actually studying God’s thoughts and
therefore Bible study is not merely an interesting intellectual exercise, it is
one of the chief methods by which we come to know God better.  Bible study is the process by which we dive deeply
into the text of the Bible in order to better understand what has been written
in its pages and why it is there. Bible study is an in depth analysis of the
Bible with the aim of allowing the Bible to teach us that we may be better able
to know God and to do His will and is not so much our hearing a someone expound
upon Biblical teachings as it our discovering those teachings on our own. The
best and most productive Bible study is inductive, meaning that we come to the
Bible as people who are willing to allow the Bible to speak to us rather than
looking in the Bible for support for our own ideas regardless of if they are
right or wrong. Bible study is for those who wish to think, not for wishful
thinkers. Our attitude should be one that would say: "I want to hear what
the Bible says" rather than: "I want the Bible to say this." We must also remember that we do not just study the
Bible and learn it to become experts at it, we are to study the Bible in such a
way that its teaching will make an impact upon our lives, changing us to become
ever more what God desires us to become. If in our Bible study we do not allow
God to speak to us by whatever means He chooses we have missed the best part of
it. Bible study is not simply an intellectual exercise to increase our
knowledge, it is a heart changing encounter with God through which we learn
more of He who is the goal of our lives and His perfect will for those lives.
Bible study should always be wrapped in the prayer that we will be able to hear
what God would say to us.  The best time for Bible study is when you have the
time available to do it and the attitude to do it properly. We may each have different
times of day when it is better for us personally to study the Bible but in
every case the Bible study cannot be profitable if we do not permit ourselves
to spend the time required to make it profitable. It is recommended to set
aside a predetermined amount of time for Bible study at regular intervals so
that Bible study can become a part of your way of life. A definite place in
which to study, where you can lay out your various resources and can study
without interruption is also a very good idea. These are not absolutely
essential and we understand that God will reward any who will diligently
approach Him in order to learn more of Him and His desires for our lives. But
every effort that is taken to ensure that the time spent in Bible study will lead
us to a personal encounter with God will be rewarded by God. The following
episode taken from the life of Daniel will illustrate the point: Daniel 9:1-4; 20-23 - In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of
the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In
the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the
years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would
accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face
unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and
sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my
confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant
and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments……And
whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my
people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the
holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man
Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly
swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me,
and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill
and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came
forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore
understand the matter, and consider the vision. All the information we have about Daniel indicates
that he was a man who sought after God and desired greatly to please Him in all
ways. In the above passage he discovers, through reading the prophecies of
Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11) that the captivity of Judah was to be of seventy
years duration. Whereupon he prays and God acknowledges his prayer and gives
him an understanding of the events to come. God rewarded Daniel's diligence and
He will do the same for each of us.
 The Importance of the Bible Cultural historians of the West place the Bible at
the foundation of Western thought and morality. The Bible has been variously
described by others as: literature, history, poetry, drama, logic, and myth (in
the sense of a traditional story accepted as truth). We who are Christian
believe that while it may be each of these in part it is also more than these
in the whole (certainly that it is never myth in the sense of an untrue tale of
an unknowable past). We believe that it
is in fact Truth as revealed by God to mankind over a period of several
thousand years. The Bible does contain history and it is used extensively to
date other historic events; it does contain poetry, some of the most beautiful
ever written; it is even literature, giving great insight into literary methodology
of cultures long vanished. But more than any of these the Bible is the one
document that relates the story of God’s interaction with and His vast and
glorious plan to fulfill His purpose within the created order and redeem
mankind from his sinful condition. The Bible does not present itself as an exhaustive
text on any one subject; but since it has been written under the guidance of
God, creator of all that is, where it touches on any subject it teaches the
absolute and unalterable truth. In a following sections we will discuss the four
stages of an inductive Bible study (observation, interpretation, correlation,
and application) with the intent of emphasizing the need that we treat the
Bible carefully. Why is it so important to treat the Bible with care? Because
it is the word of God. If we know anything about God it is that He is a life
changing God, it is His desire that we be turned from our ways of sin and
restored to the ways of life: Ephesians 4:17-24 - This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that
ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through
the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who
being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all
uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that
ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That
ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness. His will is that men and women no longer are slaves
to death but become His children and heirs of life eternal. 2 Peter 3:8-13 - But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with
the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not
slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering
to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be
burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and
hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire
shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless
we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness. The Structure of the Bible The Bible is comprised of 66 books which were written
over a period of roughly 1,500 years by various individuals as the Holy Spirit moved
them. The books themselves fall into different categories somewhat reflective
of their literary structure, these categories are as follows: Old Testament (39 books) Historical Genesis1 Exodus1 Leviticus1 Numbers1 Deuteronomy1 Joshua Ruth 1 & 2 Samuel2 1 & 2 Kings2 1 & 2 Chronicles2 Ezra Nehemiah Esther Poetical Job3 Psalms Proverbs3 Ecclesiastes3 Song of Songs4 Prophetic Isaiah5 Jeremiah5 Lamentations5 Ezekiel5 Daniel5 Hosea6 Joel6 Amos6 Obadiah6 Jonah6 Micah6 Nahum6 Habakkuk6 Zephaniah6 Haggai6 Zechariah6 Malachi6 1. These are also referred to as "The Law of
Moses," or "The Pentateuch." 2. The books of Samuel and Kings give the history of both
Israel and Judah from a moral standpoint, while the books of Chronicles give
the history of the kings of Judah alone to a restored nation from an idealistic
perspective. 3. Though poetical these are also known as "Wisdom
Literature" 4. Also called "The Song of Solomon" 5. Major prophets 6. Minor prophets Note that the major and minor prophets are not named
to signify their importance but to indicate the size of their prophetic
writings, both together are referred to as "The Prophets" by the
Jews. New Testament (27 books) Biographical Matthew1 Mark1 Luke1 John1 Historical Acts2 Teaching/Letters Romans3 1 & 2 Corinthians3 Galatians3 Ephesians3 Philippians3 Colossians3 1 & 2 Thessalonians3 1 & 2 Timothy4 Titus4 Philemon4 Hebrews3 James3 1 & 2 Peter3 1 & 2 &3 John3 Jude3 Prophetic Revelation5 1. Also called "The Gospels," biographical
accounts of the life of Jesus 2. The history of the early Church beginning at Jesus'
ascension, overlaps most of the letters 3. Letters to churches 4. Letters to individuals 5. An apocalyptic account of the end times and the
beginning of eternity  Translation is essentially bringing information from
one language into an other as accurately as possible, and must pay attention
not only the translation of the words themselves but also of their setting, or
context. A poem that has its words translated accurately but is no longer in
poetic form is not accurately translated. Effective Bible translation would
therefore bring the work of the original writers into a modern form that is
both readable and intelligible. In a sense, the process of translation is an ongoing
one. The KJV was the most modern version available in 1611 and has undergone
several revisions over the centuries. Now it is the NIV which is among the most
up to date version. In several years there may be an even more modern
translation made so that the text of the Bible can become current to the
readers of that day. All translations of the Bible fall into on of three categories,
each of which determines the value of the translation for a given use and each
of which has its own advantages and drawbacks. It is a good idea, especially if
you have reason to be concerned about the translation of a given passage, to
compare the translation of your preferred study Bible to that of an other
translation in order to determine how other scholars have dealt with the text.
Although there is today a great deal of dialogue concerning the value and
integrity of the translations replacing the King James Version it is a fact
that no modern translation disagrees with any other on any significant
doctrinal issues. Feel free during your study to compare the New International
Version to versions such as the American Standard Version, the King James
Version or others, in so doing you will at the very least satisfy yourself that
the passage being studied has been handled accurately. Below is a description
of the three major methods of Biblical Translation: ·
Complete Equivalence
- The translation is done in such a
way as to make the translated text most closely follow the literary structure
of the original languages (therefore it is also given the term Literal
Translation). In this category are the (New) King James Version, the American
Standard Version and the Revised Standard Version, among others. Though highly
accurate and praised for their literary beauty, translations of this style are
frequently difficult to read since the thought processes of the minds that used
Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek are conveyed as accurately as possible and are often
quite alien our own. ·
Dynamic Equivalence
- In this category are the New
English Bible, the New International Version, and several other modern
translations. The thrust of this type of translation is to translate the text
so that it has the same impact upon the reader today as the original did to its
readers of many years ago. Thus many idioms, figures of speech, locations, and
weights and measures will be updated to their modern counterparts. The danger
of this style of translation is that, although it is usually very readable and
coherent, the translated text has already undergone a level of interpretation
which may further remove the reader from the truest meaning of a given text. ·
Paraphrase – Probably the most readable of all translations the
paraphrase is also the least accurate and generally unable to hide the bias of
the translator. Some popular paraphrases of today are The Living Bible, and The
Phillips Bible. Where literal and dynamic equivalence translations are usually
done by a group of scholars commissioned for the task, paraphrases are often
the work of a single translator. While for general reading they are of some
value as they make apparently dry text seem more alive to the modern reader,
they should be avoided for Bible study. Even within the various categories of translation
there are differing viewpoints as to how the translating should be done. Some
will translate all measures into their modern counterparts and refer to all
geographic locations by their modern names, while others will make no attempt
to modernize these expressions. There are problems to be found in both schools.
If we are to modernize the ancient monetary terms to their modern counterparts
then we may find that we have devalued what was a not unreasonable sum of money
in ancient times. Likewise when we modernize locations we will find that on
occasion we are operating on assumption and local custom that may be incorrect.
Yet if the archaic terms are retained we will have difficulty putting what we
read into its proper context. Until it is interpreted for us into its roughly
equivalent modern terms we will have no idea what a shekel is. Yet, once we
assign a modern value to the shekel we link the ancient currency to our current
problems of inflation and monetary devaluation. By the same token if we tie
ancient locations to their modern counterparts we may actually relocate some of
them by great distances due to the difficulty in certainly identifying
geographic locations that are at least several thousand years in the past. It is also difficult to place a definite meaning on
some terms such as the cubit. There are at least three different lengths
assigned to the cubit (eighteen, twenty-one, and thirty-six inches) which makes
it almost impossible to understand how big Noah built the Ark or how large was
Solomon's Temple until we determine which cubit was in use at the time or
referred to in the narrative. Once we are aware which methods the translators
of our favourite study Bible have used in their work we can begin to better
understand what that translation is telling us.  At this point the question "Which translation of
the Bible should I use?" should be answered. Although there is a great
deal of discussion between the supporters of each of the various translations
the best answer is most likely this: As long as your main study Bible is a
trustworthy translation created with the aim of portraying as accurately as
possible, and as readably as possible, the thoughts originally presented in
Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic you cannot go far wrong. The King James Version remains quite popular and has
the significant advantage of having a great many study helps referenced to its text.
Three of the tools mentioned below (Young’s Analytical Concordance, Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance, and The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge) are themselves
most helpful when used with the KJV translation. The majestic structure of its
language lends a grandeur to the text to which many modern translations cannot
compare. It is quite literal and very specific in its use of English phrasing
and so is highly accurate. A drawback of this translation is that it contains
many words which, due to the changes in the English language since 1611 which
were not updated in the subsequent revisions, are obsolete or used in a
different manner than they were 400 years ago and thus require translating
themselves. It is also a difficult translation to read in public for the same
reason, although in general its sentence structure is easier to read than that
of the NIV. A worthy successor to the rich tradition of the King James Version
is the New King James Version, which updates much of the language but retains
the beauty of the text and accuracy of translation. An other fine translation is the American Standard
Version (an Americanized derivative of the Revised Standard Version). Though
not found in as wide a range of study Bibles the ASV is considered by many to
be one of the most literal translations available and maintains much of the
linguistic beauty of the KJV in more contemporary style of language. The New International Version is one of the more
popular translations of our day, much as the King James Version was in its day,
and it comes in a wide variety of formats and is accompanied by an ever growing
list of supplementary references. It is a good translation though not as
literal as some others and, as it was translated by a group of scholars from a
variety of Christian denominations. Coupled with the fact that most people read
regularly from the NIV and are familiar with its text makes it a natural choice
if you wish to share the results of your study with others and have them feel
comfortable with the manner in which the Bible is quoted. A significant
criticism of the NIV is that there is less of a sense of reverence when reading
the Bible and more of the sense of reading a newspaper. As well, and in common
with many other modern translations, many of its footnotes suggest that human
opinion is of sufficient authority to modify the reader’s understanding of the
text. An example of this occurs in the NIV footnote for Genesis 1:2: Genesis 1:1-2 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Now the earth was {2 Or possibly <became>} formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the
Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Here the word “became” is considered as a possible
translation of the word translated “was,” and is a concession to current
scientific thought by providing opportunity between these two verses for the
vast spans of time postulated by the theory of evolution. If you know where
errors of this nature occur in your Bible you can overlook them but over time
they may act as a detriment to Godly study. Each the preceding translations are available in most
of the current selection of study Bibles so your primary question will
eventually become: "Which set of study helps do I wish to have accompany
the Bible I use?" It is recommended that the study Bible you use for
yourself not be one of the special interest Bibles currently on the market such
as the Spirit Filled Life Bible, or others of its kind. While these Bibles will
contain worthwhile study helps they are generally concentrated along a narrow
topic of interest or doctrinal stance and may overlook other areas of study. Be
sure to look for a study Bible that has a proven history of limited bias, and a
conservative interpretation of doctrine. One drawback of many study Bibles with in text notes
(such as the NIV Study Bible, or the Life Application BIble) is that the notes
are often an abbreviated or condensed form of commentary and that there is a
great temptation to allow the textual notes, which are printed on the same page
as the verses to which they refer, to determine how the text itself is to be
interpreted. It is important to realize that any study notes, all chapter and
verse divisions, as well as all section headings were not originally part of
the Bible and have been added subsequently by human editors as study helps to
the reader. They are very often trustworthy and can enhance our understanding
of the text but they can never be placed on the same level as the text itself.
Remember that the purpose of inductive Bible study is to allow the Bible to
speak to us as we study, keeping in mind that the Holy Spirit will teach the
willing heart just as Jesus promised: John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  In order to get the most out of your Bible study you
should employ the correct tools. Just as a carpenter, or a doctor will make use
of tools to perform their tasks, the Bible scholar uses tools to assist and
enhance the study process. As you become skilled in the use of these tools you
will find that your Bible studies will yield ever increasing rewards. Listed
below are some of the more important tools: ·
The Bible - This may seem to need no mention but a trustworthy
translation of the Bible is essential if we are to be confident that we are as
close as possible to the original reading of the passage except that we are
reading it in English. A study Bible will not be essential but it will be a
tremendous asset as study Bibles usually include in one volume many useful
study helps such as: cross references, historical background information, book
introductions and outlines, etc. An other important type of Bible worth
purchasing is a parallel Bible, one that shows on one page several translations
side by side, making it easier to compare various translations of a passage.
Several of the more popular study Bibles are: ·
The Thompson Chain
Reference Bible which is still one of the standards by which other study
Bibles are measured and is one of the few study Bibles actually included in
readily available Bible study software. Over forty years of research and study
were spent in compiling the system of topical chains and references that allow
the Bible student to quickly come to an understanding of almost any area of
study. Extensive archaeological information is also printed for many places
referred to within the text of the Bible. As well it boasts a considerable
topical Bible, and a large concordance each of which enhances the ability of
the Bible student to easily locate specific teaching or verses in the Bible.
All in all there is very good reason why the Thompson Chain Reference Bible is
still one of the most popular study Bibles available. ·
The Open Bible
which contains a cyclopedic topical index, a concordance, book introductions
and analyses, and many other valuable helps and study guides. Although its
cross referencing system is not up to the standard set by other study Bibles
this lack is ably compensated for through its comprehensive topical dictionary.
The Open Bible also includes tools of value for Christian workers such as
answers to common objections to Christianity and basic Gospel presentation.
Although more difficult to obtain than previously it is an extremely useful
tool and is highly recommended. ·
The Life Application
Bible ~ Geared more toward applying the teaching of the Bible to the life
of the reader than toward explaining the text of the Bible. It is structurally
similar to the NIV Study Bible with text, commentary, and reference on the same
page. Commentary leads one deeper into the text and is designed in such a
manner as to guide the reader in applying the Bible’s teaching to real life
rather than to teach theology. As a consequence the notes do not attempt to
explain what is being read so much as they attempt to apply what is being read.
Many important people of the Bible are covered in numerous small biographies.
The cross referencing system is adequate, though not as extensive as that of
the NIV Study Bible. ·
The NIV Study Bible
which with its in text maps and historical notes is an excellent choice. Its
cross referencing system is also without peer as to quantity (about 85,000) and
usefulness. It also contains excellent book introductions, maps, and quite a
large concordance, as well as many other useful tools. The interpretive notes
frequently tend to ignore the power of God and attempt to give natural
explanations for supernatural events. Other notes, however, offer very useful
biographical, historical and cultural information in a very timely manner. Many other excellent study Bibles are available but
those listed above enjoy almost universal approval. Regardless of which study
Bible you make use of you must be aware of any apparent bias on the part of the
study helps incorporated into the Bible. Some study Bibles emphasize through
their notes and helps doctrinal opinions that are accepted by only a small
minority of believers and which can sometimes be at odds with the truth of the
Bible itself. Even several of today's standard translations will occasionally
exhibit a theological trend somewhat off the beaten path and of which the
student must be aware. When in doubt as to the value of a specific study
help remind yourself that any contradiction between human understanding of the
Bible and the true meaning of God’s word is always due to finite capabilities
of the human mind and its ability, regardless of level of education, to make
mistakes. 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 - For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when
that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a
child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see
through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then I
shall know even as also I am known. No set of notes will ever be perfect as each will be
the product of the human mind and will never be without a certain amount of
bias; all comments and reference notes must be compared against the Bible
itself. It is always a worthwhile task to review the editorial and copyright
information within any Bible you wish to purchase/use in order to determine the
nature of the bias present in that treatment of God’s word and be prepared for
when it appears during your studies. It is also a very good idea to ask if you
can preview any Bible before you purchase it and examine its notes on specific
issues. Pay specific interest to the notes relating to issues that would be of
concern, such as: creation, eschatology (study of end times), theology (study
of God), or soteriology (study of atonement). For those who interpret Genesis
literally the notes in most modern study Bibles will fall far short of their
ideal, having chosen to compromise the teaching of God with that of man by
interpreting the Bible in the light of evolutionist teaching. Also
controversial are modern translations that remove gender specifics in reference
to God, weaken the Bible’s authority on homosexuality and/or other morality
issues, or deny the interruption of the normal by acts of Gods’ power
(miracles). If no available study Bible meets your immediate needs perhaps a
combination of any or all of the tools below should be considered. Acts 17:10-11 - And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto
Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more
noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were
so. ·
Bible Dictionary or
Bible Encyclopaedia - Since the
Bible was written in a culture that no longer exists it is difficult for us to
place ourselves in a position to understand Biblical writing in a manner
similar to those to whom it was originally written. Many individuals, events,
and nations referred to in the Bible are completely unknown to the average
reader. These two tools are designed to reduce this difficulty and contain much
information to help us to feel as much as possible the impact that the text
would have had to its original recipients. At the very least they enable us to
participate to a small degree in the culture in which the Bible was produced
and come to some understanding of the times in which it was written. Some very
good Bible encyclopaedias and dictionaries are: Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (a
good, well rounded dictionary, predominately in text), The International
Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (a great deal of information on most items of
interest but with an occasional liberal tendency), and The Revell Bible
Dictionary (many illustrations and a comprehensive index). Other very good
dictionaries abound at a variety of levels of detail. ·
Concordance - such as "Young’s Analytical Concordance",
"Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance", or "Cruden’s Compact
Concordance." Each of these contains the location of every use of every
word of the Bible (or most major words in the case of "Cruden's Compact
Concordance") and are usually keyed to the King James Version. Most Bible
software include similar capabilities which are often extended to include
logical and phrase searches; greatly adding to the value already found in the
concordance. A sample entry from the book version of "Young's Analytical Concordance"
appears below: LOVE – 1. Love,
hbha, ahabah. Gen. 29:20 (but) a few days, for the love he had to
her 2 Sa. 1:26 thy love to me was .. passing the love . . . 5. Love, agaph, agapé Matt 24:12 because iniquity shall abound, the love of
As can be seen each word entry in this particular
concordance is catalogued by language. The first item above is one of the
Hebrew words for love, the second item is one of the Greek words for love.
Following each is the actual word in the original language prior to its
translation which is in turn followed by a transliteration showing how it
should be pronounced. Below each entry is listed a single line from each verse
that contains the word. Other concordances vary how the words are listed but
the basic concept is the same in that verses are listed which contain the word
being studied. ·
Lexicon - or word study such as "Vine’s Expository
Dictionary of New Testament Words" or the "Theological Dictionary of
the New Testament." Since the Bible we read today is a translation of
thoughts and ideas that were originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek,
such a tool is useful in determining the original intent of the author by
making available to the modern reader a detailed definition of the English
word(s) in the context of the original language word(s) used. Most lexicons
will also give detailed information as to how the original word(s) would have
been used by men and women alive at the time that the passage was written. ·
Interlinear Bible – simply put, an interlinear Bible is a Bible in which
each line of English text is interspersed by that same text as it would appear
in the original language. This allows you to actually see the structure of
thought in the original and gives you an extremely literal translation,
although very difficult to understand. A second advantage of using an
interlinear Bible is that you can determine at a glance the actual words used
by the original authors and how these words have subsequently been treated by
the translators of the English Bible. Most bookstores will have copies
available of some form of interlinear New Testament, and most computer Bible
programs will also have an interlinear New Testament. Interlinear copies of the
Old Testament are less practical as Hebrew was written from right to left and
therefore an exact English translation would be extremely difficult to read
unless the Hebrew original were to be reversed, which would somewhat defeat the
purpose of the process.
·
Parallel Bible - A parallel Bible contains two or more translations of
the Bible in the same language. This tool is useful when the student wishes to
compare how a passage has been translated by differing schools of thought.
Again, although the student may be tempted to accept on translation's treatment
over an other's, we must all remain open to the guidance of God's Holy Spirit
and allow Him to teach us what we need to be taught rather than choosing a
translation that appeals to our opinions or bends the Bible to our own will. As
the difference between even the two most divergent translation traditions (as
represented by the King James Version and the New International Version)
amounts at most to only 95% of the Bible, and as this difference in no way
affects any critical Christian doctrine, the parallel Bible is often less
important than the other Bible study tools. It does, however, allow the student
to easily determine where differences have occurred and perhaps note those
areas for further study. One problem with studying with a parallel Bible lies
in the uncertainty of which text to follow in the event of textual differences.
In the case where such differences occur it is recommended that you fall back
upon an alternate resource, such as “The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge”
(below) in order to determine what alternate passages of the Bible may have to
say regarding the passage being studied. ·
Cross Reference - A system of cross references )like those found in
most modern reference Bibles or in dedicated works such as "The New
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge," (which contains over 600,000 cross
references, several different indexes, and a comprehensive note system) can
refer you to other passages that relate to the one being studied. Cross
references are quite possibly the single most important and useful Bible study
tool available as they operate on the foundational principle of allowing the
Bible to be its own interpreter. When purchasing a study Bible it is a good
idea to review the type of cross referencing system it employs as well as the
quantity of references printed. Many of today’s study Bibles have an average of
50,000 cross references. A concordance, such as those mentioned above, is
useful in cross referencing specific words and phrases so that methods of usage
of a specific word sequence may be discovered but a good cross reference system
allows you to follow concepts and ideas throughout the Bible. Below is a portion of the entry for Genesis 1:1 taken
from "The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge," edited by Jerome H.
Smith: 1. beginning. Pr *8:22-24. 16:4. Mk 13:19. Jn
1:1-3. 15:27. Ac 1:1, 22. He1:10. 1 J 1:1. Re 3:14. God. Heb. Elohim.
S#430h. Ge 2:2 +19:29. Ex +2:24. Ps +45:6. 89:11, 12.Ep 3:9. Col *1:16, 17, 18.
He *1:2. Created. Ge 1:21, 27. 2:3… As you can see, there are entries keyed to each major
word (in bold text), allowing you to follow specific themes, ideas, and usage
through the entire Bible. In certain instances the Hebrew or Greek original
meaning is given (in italic text) and numerous topical entries are also
catalogued and extensive notes are included as well. A complex but
understandable system of symbols allows you to determine which cross references
you wish to follow. ·
Commentary - Although somewhat limited in value to inductive Bible
study (since it confines us to an other’s understanding of a given passage) a
good commentary can be beneficial in opening our minds to thoughts of a passage
that we may otherwise have neglected or not noticed. Most generally available
modern commentaries are reprints of such classics as that of Matthew Henry, as
well as compendiums of thought by (usually) trustworthy modern scholars. Such a
commentary can shed additional historical or theological light on the passage
being studied and we can gain great benefit from the knowledge of those who
have made it their life's work to make available further information pertaining
to the Bible. Used with care and prayer a commentary can significantly increase
the rewards of our Bible study. It is important to remember that in inductive
Bible study you are seeking your own interpretation of the Bible as guided by
the Holy Spirit, not necessarily that of a commentator, and so a commentary
should not be referred to until you are fairly certain that you understand the
passage in question and require the corroboration and/or further information
that a commentary can provide. Many modern study Bibles also include short, in
context commentary as a part of their system of helps, the NIV Study Bible and
the Life Application Study Bible are notable examples of this technique. ·
Background Resources
- Since we live in a time removed,
at best, by twenty centuries from that of the writers of the Bible it is almost
impossible for us to react to the Bible's teaching as did the early believers. Our
culture, our lifestyles, even our way of thought, all are radically different
from what was normal in the days when the Bible was being written. Some tools
that can help us to better understand what life was like back then and how the
Bible would have been received are books that tell us about the culture of the
day. Bible handbooks are a basic tool of this category and Bible dictionaries
and encyclopaedias are more advanced devices serving the same purpose. What are
really useful, however, are books that illustrate the way in which life was
lived back in Bible times as they can help bridge the gap of years and allow
you to, as much as possible, pick up on the finer points of ancient culture. ·
Computer Software - With the advent of inexpensive personal computers
many of the above tools have been migrated into software applications that can
take advantage of the incredible speed of information processing and retrieval
of these devices. Most Bible study programs come equipped with the tools
mentioned above but it is always a good idea to confirm this before you buy a
given product. A well designed Bible study program makes it possible to
perform an amazing amount of study in a much more efficient manner than would
be possible with books and paper. An added advantage of such software
lies in the ability to perform complex word and phrase searches such as finding
all verses that contain the word "Jesus" but do not contain the word
"Christ;" a capability that is very difficult to implement using any
other tools. Bible software can range from packages costing several hundreds of
dollars to those that may be distributed freely. o
My preferred Bible
study software is the "Online Bible" which consists of hundreds of
megabytes of material, most of which is free and of very high quality. This
program is constantly being improved for ease of use and additional modules are
freely available at a multitude of internet sites. o
An other free
electronic Bible of very high quality is "e-Sword" which contains a slightly
different set of features and user interface than the "Online Bible"
but which is equally functional. Many of its features are unique and truly
valuable. o
If you wish to have
your electronic resources available outside of the host program a good choice
would be "Bible Database." All textual material included with this
software can also be opened by any text editors and can generally be copied to
a single 1.44 Mb floppy for distribution. o
Logos is the name of a
commercial software package with an extremely good reputation and which is
available in several price ranges with a corresponding range of features. ·
The Most Essential
Tool - An open and willing heart.
Without this most important tool we will never profit from our study, no matter
how much we may learn. We must be willing to be taught when ever we approach
the Bible, allowing it to be an instrument of change in our lives rather than
bending it to support our treasured ideas. The word of God possesses
great power but only if it is studied honestly and with a willingness to allow
God to speak through it to us.  At even a casual reading it becomes evident that the
Bible is comprised of many different literary formats each of which is utilized
to a different end. Correctly identifying the various types of writing in the
Bible is a skill that will enhance your personal Bible study in allowing you to
properly interpret the words you are reading. Where the poetic passages allow
for incredible imagery, powerful expressions of thought, and great lyrical
beauty the narrative passages are better suited to the representation of
historic details and technical descriptions. The genealogical and prophetic
passages are also used to better present the material being presented by each.
Understanding how each genre is used will assist you as you seek to discover
the meaning of any passage being studied. Poetry - The
chief characteristic of Hebrew poetry is that it is written not to rhyme as is
our western poetry but rather as a progression of thought. This form of poetry
is called parallelism and refers to a style of writing that makes use of
couplets, two lines usually but sometimes three or four, that vary in their
relationship to each other. A tremendous asset of this style of poetry is that
it is translatable into a form that retains the splendour of the original since
it is not a system of rhyme and rhythm so much as a sequence of thought that is
being translated. Some of the various types of parallelism are: ·
Antithetic
parallelism - each line expresses
opposing, or contradictory thoughts. Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination
to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. ·
Synonymous
parallelism - each line expresses a similar
thought, the second repeating the first for purposes of emphasis or clarity.
The second line thus often sheds additional light on the first. Psalm 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the
judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. There are several variations of synonymous
parallelism, two of which are listed below: ·
Climactic
parallelism – the second line echoes
a portion of the first and adds to it. Psalm 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and
will look up. ·
Emblematic
parallelism - one line is literal
and the other is figurative or symbolic. Psalm 6:6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. ·
Synthetic
parallelism - the first line is
added to by the second which expresses a complimentary thought and often gives
the reason for the first. Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. | |||||
