Studying Suggestions...

[Imagine9718]

If anyone has any Bible Studying information or study suggestions, I am very curious to hear them. Thanks.

 

[MattMMMan17]

If you visit OBOB- The Catholic Congregation forum and ask this question there, you will be bombarded with so many great references you will not have the time to look through them all. Just from my POV, I would suggest a prayer first before ANY theological studies. I use this one written by St. Thomas Aquinas

O INFINITE Creator, who in the riches of Thy wisdom didst appoint three hierarchies of Angels and didst set them in wondrous order over the highest heavens, and who didst apportion the elements of the world most wisely: do Thou, who art in truth the fountain of light and wisdom, deign to shed upon the darkness of my understanding the rays of Thine infinite brightness, and remove far from me the twofold darkness in which I was born, namely, sin and ignorance. Do Thou, who givest speech to the tongues of little children, instruct my tongue and pour into my lips the grace of Thy benediction. Give me keenness of apprehension, capacity for remembering, method and ease in learning, insight-in interpretation, and copious eloquence in speech. Instruct my beginning, direct my progress, and set Thy seal upon the finished work, Thou, who art true God and true Man, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

And second, a good bible study site can be found at http://rtforum.org/study

Once, more I'd DEFINITELY suggest stopping by OBOB. Peace in Christ!

 

[filosofer]

Principles of Interpretation

1 Observe the Intended Meaning

The first principle is to take the words of Scripture in their normal, intended sense unless the context compels us to understand the words figuratively which then becomes the intended sense.

2 Let Scripture Interpret Scripture

This principle refers to the fact that passages dealing with the same topic can be used to explain and support each other. It means that the less clear and more difficult passages of the Bible are to be considered in the light of the clearer passages.

3 Observe the Law of Context

This principle warns the interpreter never to tear a passage out of the context in which it appears. Always explain the parts in the light of the whole.

4 Interpret Scripture in Harmony with Itself

This principle asserts that all of Scripture is a unity because God is the author of both the Old and New Testaments. No passage should be understood in a way that contradicts another clear statement of Scripture.

5 Interpret Scripture Christologically

This principle states that the entire Scripture must be seen in the light of God's redeeming activity in Jesus Christ. Christ is not only the center of Scripture, he is the purpose of Scripture.

 

[vinsight4u]

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[daveleau]

Principles of Interpretation

1 Observe the Intended Meaning

The first principle is to take the words of Scripture in their normal, intended sense unless the context compels us to understand the words figuratively which then becomes the intended sense.

2 Let Scripture Interpret Scripture

This principle refers to the fact that passages dealing with the same topic can be used to explain and support each other. It means that the less clear and more difficult passages of the Bible are to be considered in the light of the clearer passages.

3 Observe the Law of Context

This principle warns the interpreter never to tear a passage out of the context in which it appears. Always explain the parts in the light of the whole.

4 Interpret Scripture in Harmony with Itself

This principle asserts that all of Scripture is a unity because God is the author of both the Old and New Testaments. No passage should be understood in a way that contradicts another clear statement of Scripture.

5 Interpret Scripture Christologically

This principle states that the entire Scripture must be seen in the light of God's redeeming activity in Jesus Christ. Christ is not only the center of Scripture, he is the purpose of Scripture.

Well said. This is the only way to know God- by studying what He tells us in Scripture.

 

[filosofer]

You mentioned we should let scripture interpret scripture.

Here's an example/

Explaining the horses in Revelation?
I have yet to see anyone do that (other than myself) and use the horses in Zechariah 6.

I would suggest more reading, because you are not the first, nor only one, to do so.

And of course, the other aspect is this: is that the correct hermenuetic to use in this interpreting the this specific text?

 

[vinsight4u]

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[filosofer]

Oh, I have seen some say they may or might or even do go together. But then what do they tell people? False interpretations because they did not understand the horses in Zechariah 6.

If you are referencing what you can find on the web or some pastors might teach on TV, then you might get a mixed bag on interpretation.

My reference to reading more points toward the more substantial works of theology and interpretation and commentary, and whose works are not the result of the latest hip-end-times craze.

What does it take to understand the words in Zec. 6?
It takes prayer, it takes work, it takes putting scripture to support scripture.

Regarding the OP, your statement is reflecting what I wrote, and I would agree with this approach.

I also have never seen anyone even realize the mountains of brass.......means the empire of the Greeks.

I believe Zechariah chapter 6 is best understood by realizing the it hooks with the events just laid out in Zechariah chapter 5.

The approach is in the right direction (and that is the concern of this thread). But there are other issues involved that relate to the principles of interpretation - specifically how to deal with prophetic writings. How do we understand "future" from the reference point of the prophet? Future in the sense of 1) immediately; 2) in the lifetime of the prophet; 3) in the fulfillment of the nation of Israel in the OT; 4) in the sense of the time of fulfillment of Christ; 5) in the sense of the ultimate end of time (eschatology in the biblical sense of that word)?

Keep in mind that prophets sometimes had 1 or more, and in some case all 5, in mind within a short textual span. Consider Joel 2:28-29, Isaiah 55, etc.

 

[vinsight4u]

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[vinsight4u]

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[vinsight4u]

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[vinsight4u]

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[vinsight4u]

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[The Thadman]

Principles of Interpretation

1 Observe the Intended Meaning

The first principle is to take the words of Scripture in their normal, intended sense unless the context compels us to understand the words figuratively which then becomes the intended sense.

2 Let Scripture Interpret Scripture

This principle refers to the fact that passages dealing with the same topic can be used to explain and support each other. It means that the less clear and more difficult passages of the Bible are to be considered in the light of the clearer passages.

3 Observe the Law of Context

This principle warns the interpreter never to tear a passage out of the context in which it appears. Always explain the parts in the light of the whole.

4 Interpret Scripture in Harmony with Itself

This principle asserts that all of Scripture is a unity because God is the author of both the Old and New Testaments. No passage should be understood in a way that contradicts another clear statement of Scripture.

5 Interpret Scripture Christologically

This principle states that the entire Scripture must be seen in the light of God's redeeming activity in Jesus Christ. Christ is not only the center of Scripture, he is the purpose of Scripture.

IMHO, if you do that you put scripture in a vaccuum, completely removed from the culture to which it was intended.

How else would we be able to understand Paul's talk of circumcised people becomming uncircumcised if we did not have the historical context of epispasm?

How would we be able to properly understand the context of Jesus "turn the other cheek" saying without knowing disciplinary customs of the middle east in that timeperiod?

Without historical context, their meanings are very skewed.

Peace!
-Steve-o

 

[vinsight4u]

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[filosofer]

IMHO, if you do that you put scripture in a vaccuum, completely removed from the culture to which it was intended.

How else would we be able to understand Paul's talk of circumcised people becomming uncircumcised if we did not have the historical context of epispasm?

How would we be able to properly understand the context of Jesus "turn the other cheek" saying without knowing disciplinary customs of the middle east in that timeperiod?

Without historical context, their meanings are very skewed.

Peace!
-Steve-o

The third principles, the Law of Context, covers the historical context; but it is sometimes good to expand to avoid misunderstanding.