.

[PapaZoom]

Listen to those who have come before you.

unless of course they were out to lunch theologically

 

[PapaZoom]

Before one picks up the Bible to read it, the first question which should be asked is "What is the primary purpose of the Bible?" And the answer is to bring humanity to salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. So while the Bible is a true and historical narrative, the focus must always be on the Gospel and on Christ. And the Gospel can be found on every page.

Secondly, the Bible is not merely to be read but to be (1) studied and (2) applied. Too many Christians are merely reading the Bible, and the spiritual confusion which is all around us is because few are personally studying and properly interpreting what is said. Allowing man-made doctrines to determine how we receive Bible truth is folly.

Thirdly, the Bible is not just words on paper but a living Word -- it is energized by the Holy Spirit and is meant to change hearts, minds, and attitudes. The Bible must have an impact on the soul and spirit. Therefore a sermon must have more Bible quotations than man's words (although the opposite is generally true).

I pretty much agree with everything you said. But I highlight in red where you are mistaken. Your post has not one Bible quote. Why is that? (rhetorical question) If I listen to an hour sermon, and I hear more Bible quotes but not explanations, illustrations, thoughts to ponder, etc, I'm going to be very bored. I'm guessing you mean something else.

If a sermon has an average 30 min length that is about 3200 words (3,200 words = 28-30 minutes). The NT has about 184,590 words. If one is preaching in Romans you'd have to read about 1/3 of the book of Romans to cover 28-30 minutes. Romans has 9716 word (approx) and there's no way you can quote more verses in your sermon that use your own words. If you think it can be done, explain how?

If I want someone to read the Bible to me, I'll use my iPhone. I have an app for that. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm not saying don't quote the Bible. I'm saying you're mistaken that in a sermon there should be more Bible quotes than a man's words. That's actually an impossibility and Paul never followed that in any of his talks or correspondence.

 

[pdudgeon]

Can you give one example where a verse seems to mean one thing, but in context it means quite another?

the parable of the Pearl of Great Price comes to mind.
we are familiar with this as the story of the love of Jesus for His church, and also of the love a Christian has for Christ.
But on another level it is also the story of what a Christian marriage should look like.

 

[W2L]

Yeah, don't bother addressing the substance of his arguments. Just call names.

I used his own words. The term snowflake is his, not mine. Did you read the post that I responded to? "Special little snowflake" is part of the substance in his post. I did respond to the substance too. I made a valid point.

 

[Winken]

Are there some general rules we can use to help us in our understanding of God's word?

Please share your thoughts.

Context
Audience
Applicability

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV, HCSB

 

[Victor E.]

Are there some general rules we can use to help us in our understanding of God's word?

Please share your thoughts.

Here are my deepest thoughts on Gods Word WITHOUT RULES that I don't share with just anyone. I read and understand Gods Word in His Spirit. There is a point where knowing the law, semantics, theology, and "bible study" becomes...boring and dry. My blog is very abrasive. Just a warning. It is very "prideful" and "arrogant" likely because I can't discuss it liberally with most people without getting slammed in the face with "HERETIC" or "BLASPHEMER". Only some might understand past all of the "abusive" language. The rest will dismiss it as prideful unorthodox mumbo jumbo. View at your own risk. It's definitely a Work in Progress. To many it will appear as "unscripturally sound". That's just how it has to be.

https://followerofjehovatsidkenu.wordpress.com/2016/08/05/living-in-the-spirit/

 

[Norbert L]

Are there some general rules we can use to help us in our understanding of God's word?

Please share your thoughts.

Here's another approach, less of an approach about how to read scripture, but more of an approach about how NOT to read scripture:

 

[Alithis]

Are there some general rules we can use to help us in our understanding of God's word?

Please share your thoughts.

if its a paper version .. i suggest holding it in your hand at a distance comfortable for your eyes to focus ,the concentrating on the words ,let your gaze follow the words in the normal sequenced of the words depending what language script it is written in. Then going and doing the over all message it is telling you once you have followed this technique throughout the entirety of it .

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

Can you give one example where a verse seems to mean one thing, but in context it means quite another?

that's an easy one.

1 Cor 1:14
4 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
NASU

I have it on the highest of authority that Paul also baptized the house of Stephanus, a legitimate member of the same church.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

.

 

[Deadworm]

(1) If you are studying Paul's epistles, compare what, say, 1 Thessalonians or 1 Corinthians or Philippians says with what the Book of Acts says about Paul's ministry to that city.

(2) When reading apocalyptic books like Ezekiel, Daniel, or Revelation, resist the common temptation to read them like a newspaper of current events. First ask yourself: what did that imagery mean to the author and his community? Seek out a good conservative modern commentary on the book in question to get the cultural background of the imagery. An Oxford Annotated Bible provides parallel texts and brief but helpful facts that can aid your understanding.

(3) Suppose you don't know the original languages. Then use both a modern paraphrastic translation like the New Living Bible (not the Good News Bible) and a more literal translation like the NIV or the NASB. Clarity of wording can make a big difference to spiritual benefit, and you'll find it useful to see if your 2 Bibles provide a slightly different nuance on the text. Also, the New Living Translation often includes Hebrew or Greek nuances omitted from the more literal translations.

(4) Mark is a Gospel source for both Matthew and Luke, but not for John. If you're reading Matthew or Luke, compare the text with Mark's wording, when their material is parallel, and ask yourself why Matthew or Luke changes or adds to Mark's wording. Your Bible should provide the cross-references.

 

[redleghunter]

Are there some general rules we can use to help us in our understanding of God's word?

Please share your thoughts.

Read some of the comments. I believe @PapaZoom has it right. He alluded to Biblical exegesis in his comments below.

The basics explained here:

http://www.gotquestions.org/Biblical-exegesis.html

I can suggest some theological works if interested.

If studying the Holy Scriptures I recommend looking at sermons from expository teachers like John MacArthur. His sermons can be found at gty.org

More on expository approach :

http://www.gotquestions.org/expository-preaching.html

John Piper is another great pastor theologian.

I use MacArthur's study Bible often.

Also highly recommend having a copy of John Gill's commentary and that of Matthew Henry.

 

[FireDragon76]

I would agree with the 4 senses approach, and the historical critical method. Though I think the historical-critical method is not as important as many mainline scholars would have us think, often times understanding the historical and cultural setting is necessary to the context of a passage (I can't tell you how many times I've basically heard somebody say that Jesus was rude to the Syrophoenician woman, just because they live in a northern European-based culture that doesn't comprehend a concept such as honor).

One thing I realized that the Widow's Mite story is often read out of context over the centuries. It's really a story, given the surrounding context, of Jesus criticizing the temple's practices, not Jesus saying it's a good thing to give all your money to religious causes. Yet I've heard far too many sermons on that text in the context of pledge drives and the goodness or beauty of giving (instead of going to the obvious cases, such as Barnabas). Sort of ironic because I think that misses the real point that Jesus was trying to make (remember him castigating the elders for devouring widows houses?). Jesus was executed for criticizing a state religion's practice, which was inherently political in his day. But when we read the text morally, we downplay that point.

I believe this tendency is because even many Protestants tend to not follow the literal text's obvious wider context as much as they think they do. There's always a traditional reading of the text, sometimes several, and sometimes that obscures other themes in the text. A lot of the early church fathers interpreted the text morally, as examples we should follow (they were highly ascetical at heart ,not a bad thing, but it can be overwrought), even when the text itself literally points in a different direction.

That's one reason I believe in delving into church history and early church fathers. Most of the readings that Christians take for granted comes from them. For instance, it doesn't literally say in Genesis that the snake is Satan, though its hinted at elsewhere, this isn't made explicit until the early Church (though its present as a theme in apocryphal stories even before the NT). The same is true for the story of Satan being a fallen angel named Lucifer, that came from a non-literal reading of the text.

 

[Philip_B]

I have a few thoughts on this matter.

One ways the best way to read scripture is to listen to it. It was for the most part written to be heard, probably mainly by people in group, and it is quite likely that most who heard it could not read it. If you can get hold of a copy of it on CD or Tape or on of the online streaming services, you often will find a different experience to what you expected. Prayerfully listen to the word being read.

The second thing is to try and avoid the trap of using scripture the way a drunk uses a lamppost - that is more for support than for illumination. Don't going finding the piece that supports your position, go rather and find the position that the passage supports.

Always remember that a text out of context may well be a con. Look at the context in terms of the text around the passage, to make sure you are seeing the complete picture. Think about the writer and the social position that gave rise to the passage, and as far as you can see it in the social and historical context in which the text finds its origins. And as far as possible make sure that what you are understanding is within the context of the whole of the Bible.

In terms of ongoing use try not to stick to your favourites. The structure and discipline of a lectionary is good, because over a period of time you will cover the breadth of the text, and have a much fuller understanding of the treasures that are there for you.

Whatever passage you read or listen to, make sure you have enough silence to let it speak to you.

 

[Razare]

Rules I learned (lifestyle hermeneutics) :

Step 0: Ask God for Wisdom - James 1:5

1) Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. - 2 Corinthians 13:1 ... This verse proves true, because it establishes itself with 3 witnesses or more. Deuteronomy 19:15 and Mark 14:56 ... so then with the 3 witnesses to this principle, we understand that it is true, and applicable to all of scripture.

No verse or assertion should be believed from scripture unless you can establish it by 1 or 2 other verses, preferably from outside the piece of material of the original verse. This requirement for scripture is mandated by scripture itself. Where this test fails in scripture, you do not have sound footing to believe an assertion you are making by scripture. You either need to do more research and learn the other verses from the Holy Spirit, or you cannot make the assertion because scripture rejects it by not providing multiple witnesses.

2) In Scripture God only Speaks His Word, and Christ is God and God's Word - See John 1 and Genesis 1.

3) God's law through Moses is not truth, but Christ is truth. - John 1:17

Important distinction, because the Law declares we are eternally dead in our sins. But this declaration is not truth. It is not truth, because God who gave the law, was always greater than the law. God who gave the law of condemnation and death, never ever wanted us to die under that law. The truth is, God always willed we live eternally with him, and so he sent his Son as a lamb to slaughter as an offering to redeem all men.

4) Living God's word in our lives is required to understand scripture. - James 1:22

5) Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit as fire and speaking with tongues and prophecy, understanding of scripture is drastically stunted and diminished. - John 14:26

6) Literally symbolic is a key idea to understand much of Biblical symbolism.

Something is symbolic, but it represents a real event. When scripture says Jesus turns water into wine, this was symbolic of him being Lord of Time. However, just because it was symbolic, this does not mean Jesus did not perform the miracle.

So extrapolating this idea correctly, when Revelation says a beast rises out of the water, and this is symbolic of a revived Babylonian empire arising from the nations of men to rule Earth. Just because it is symbolic of this occurring, does not mean this empire does not arise.

The symbolism is always intended to point to something real.

7) Many parts of scripture must be filtered through Love - 1 Corinthians 13

If God is love, and the greatest love ever was that a man might die for his friends, then to understand his word, you must understand love. And to understand love, you must live love because otherwise you are deceived and do not understand.

8) From love, Faith and Hope can manifest. - 1 Corinthians 13:13 and Galatians 5:6

Understanding scripture hinges upon these 3 things, because we must live all 3 not to be deceived. And they are the greatest, because all works of God operate upon them.

 

[High Fidelity]

A good book I bought has a pretty good approach;

• Who is the author of the passage?
• Whom is the author addressing? (God's people? A specific church? Unbelievers?)
• What is the most important term and/or concept of the passage?
• What are the main verbs?? What are the tenses of those verbs?
• Are there terms you need to define so you can better understand the passage?
• Are there people or places you need to identify?
• What do you already know about the people and places mentioned?
• Can you identify any cause-effect relationship in the author's writing?
• In what ways does the passage apply to your own personal life? (If there isn't an obvious application, is there a more subtle one?)
• What things from this passage might you want to study later in further detail?

Excerpt from Living By The Book: The Art and Science of Reading The Bible -- Howard G. & William D. Hendricks.

 

[High Fidelity]

I'm with you on that, brother. I didn't even know which way to hold my Bible until I got into a good Reformed church. No fruit loops, just rational intelligent people who love Christ and His word. I'm so grateful for many great teachers who I credit with "saving my life".

Having a great respect for scripture must certainly be the first step in understanding it properly.

I think it's also worth noting that our approach as Reformed Christians may be quite different to others.

It's not to disparage other Christians, but I've always felt Reformed Christians take a far more scholastic and academic approach to Scripture(which I love) and may differ quite significantly from how others read it.

 

[Job8]

I just read Peters sermon to double check. It does not have more Bible quotations than his own words; however, it's still an effective sermon, though.

Perhaps this should get you thinking in the right direction:

PETER’S SERMON ON THE DAY PENTECOST ACTS 2:14-41

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

JOEL 2:28-32
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

DEUTERONOMY 18:18,19
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

PSALM 22:1-18; ISAIAH 50:6-9; 53:1-12
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

PSALM 16:8-11
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

1 KINGS 2:10,11
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

PSALM 89:3,4; 132:11
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

PSALM 110:1
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

ISAIAH 49:6,7
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

JOEL 2:28,32
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.