METHODICAL BIBLE STUDY
Question:
What is the importance of accurate Bible study?
Scripture:
2 Timothy 2:15
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
Answer:
We will be held personally accountable to God on the basis of whether or not we handled His word of truth correctly.
Therefore:
It benefits every Christian to learn how to correctly interpret, understand, and apply the Bible so that before God you may stand approved rather than ashamed.
Question:
How do I learn to accurately study the Bible?
In his book Methodical Bible Study, Traina observes that there are some intriguing similarities between a good detective and an efficient Bible student. A good detective must be skilled in certain techniques such as knowing where to look for clues and how to go about finding them. For example, he must be aware of the importance of such factors as finger printing and ballistics tests in relation to crime detection. After finding evidence, he must be able to interpret it properly, to piece it together to discover the pattern into which it falls, to evaluate it, and to draw valid conclusions from it. In all of this a good detective is systematic. He follows the clues to their logical conclusion, which he knows will best enable him to solve the mystery. By all means he avoids haphazardness, laziness, and carelessness because he knows that these are not conducive to efficient detection.
The effective Bible student follows much the same course, because in many ways he is a Scriptural detective. He too must be adept at knowing what to look for and how to discover those facts, which are necessary for understanding particular passages. He also must be able to ascertain the relations between the clues, to interpret them, to assess their worth accurately, and to make legitimate deductions. In carrying out these steps it is just as important for the Bible student, like the detective, be methodical and relentless.
Accurately piecing together the clues of a mystery even moments after it occurs is, by itself, hard enough taking considerable practice as well as constant perseverance. However, when you add several thousand years, a foreign culture, and several other languages into the equation-as seen with Scripture-the problems can seem practically insurmountable.
To use another analogy, there is a striking similarity between developing an accurate pattern of Bible study and developing a strong and healthy physical body. Both are accomplished primarily through actual practice. Also, both are gradual and consequently demand patient perseverance. So just as a strong body cannot be realized by merely reading a few health magazines, it is not expected that listening to a few lessons on studying the Bible will produce sermon level insight. Therefore, this lesson, in and of itself, is not the answer to the above question of, "how do I learn to accurately study the Bible."
If this lesson provides any real and lasting worth, it will be because of the desire it instills within its hearers to progress to the next level no matter what it takes to get there. Such a step will take proactive effort on the individual's behalf in order to learn how to correctly handle the word of truth. The reason for this is that most real learning occurs through self-motivation, self-discipline, and self-training.
While I am not trying to be negative, in order to become proficient in this process of accurate and effective Bible study, it will literally take years. There is no convenient shortcut to methodical Bible study, again, just as there is no easy shortcut to physical strength. However, though your growth will not be rapid, if you continually engage in the mental and spiritual calisthenics involved, you may be assured that under God your efforts will bear increasing fruit. Therefore, do not become discouraged with what at first appears to be a maze of complex ideas and a labyrinth of detailed information; just like learning any other skill it will take time before you become proficient. Don't give up for the rewards far outweigh the costs!
Question:
What are the qualifications for accurate Bible study?
Answer:
§ Saved-Without salvation there can be no correct or complete interpretation
of Scripture (1 Cor 2:14). This is an issue of relationship.
§ Surrendered-Without daily surrender to the will of God and the Holy Spirit's
leading there can be no complete interpretation of Scripture (Rom 8:5-8). This is an issue of fellowship.
§ Sound mind-Mental deficiencies or imbalances naturally result in deficient or
imbalanced interpretation.
§ Sense of curiosity-You must have a willingness to investigate, ponder, and
consider what a passage is truly saying regardless of prejudice.
§ Schooling-The broader the biblical education (formal and informal) the better
the interpretation.
§ Submission-You must have a willingness to submit to what the Bible
reveals. God does not reveal more of Himself until we first practice what we already know.
I. DEFINITION
Hermeneutics:
The science of interpreting Scripture
This refers to the principles related to interpretation
Exegesis:
The seeking out of interpretation in Scripture
This refers to the practice of interpretation
Whereas hermeneutics seeks to develop set principles thus establishing the presuppositions behind Bible study, exegesis actually applies these principles in order to determine the exact meaning of a text.
Simply put, hermeneutics provides the tools while exegesis provides the labor.
Examples of hermeneutical presuppositions:
The First Mention Principle
The Progressive Mention Principle
The Context Principle
The Repetition Principle
The Agreement Principle
The Literal Interpretation Principle
Examples of exegetical application of principles:
FMP: Gen 3-Satan's basic nature is that of a deceiver and destroyer
PMP: John 11:23-25; 1 Cor 15:12-58; 1 Thess 4:13-18-Resurrection
CP: Jer 29:11; Matt 18:19-20 [see CONTEXT ILLUSTRATION]
RP: Psalm 136-God's love endure forever; Eph 4:2-6-the church is one
AP: Ex 35:6; 1 John 4:8-God loves consistently throughout all Scripture
LIP: Gen 24-This chapter records Abraham sending his servant back to
his homeland to get a bride for his son Isaac not, as I have heard some pastor's preach, God sending the Holy Spirit into the world in order to get the church for Jesus. There is no "deeper" or "hidden" meaning, nothing symbolic, and nothing allegorical about this chapter.
Note: Some of these Principles-many of them for the sake of time and space have been left unlisted-compound upon or work with each other. An example of this would the First Mention Principle working in tandem with the Progressive Mention Principle.
From Gen 3 we know Satan's main character trait is deception. From 2 Cor 11:14 we now know that he appears as an angel of light. This tells the reader something else about Satan-he is not confined to the form of a serpent-but this new form still holds the old character trait of deception.
II. DICHOTOMY
Scripture has a two-fold structure:
Natural
Written by men in human language to men
Supernatural
Authoritative-reveals God's will through God's words
Trustworthy-Contains no error or untruth
III. DETAIL
Constant tension in dual nature:
Bible has eternal relevance-It is true and meets the needs of men in every
age
Bible has historical particularity-Each book was conditioned by the
language, time, and culture in which it was originally written
IV. DANGER
Unbalanced view of Scripture:
Ignore eternal relevance-The Bible becomes just another human history
book
Ignore historical particularity-The Bible becomes only a series of
commands to be obeyed
Question:
Where does hermeneutics and exegesis fall into the Christian life?
Answer:
Both occur low in the "theological pyramid" thus showing their foundational importance to the biblically sound Christian life.
Theological Pyramid
§ Practical Theology: How you apply or live out the Bible according to what you now know.
§ Systematic Theology: Grouping all information on one subject or topic together into one
place for easy reference. This is basically what a Theology book does.
§ Biblical Theology: All that the Bible has to say about one subject or topic.
§ Exegesis: The actual interpretation gained from the hermeneutical process.
§ Hermeneutics: The principles used in order to properly interpret the Bible's text.
§ Biblical Text: The actual words of the Bible. What it says absent from interpretation.
§ Basic Presuppositions: An already formed assumption or belief of what the Bible says.
A pyramid progressively gets larger as one travels down from the peak to its base. The reason for this is that the lower the level the more weight it must hold up and thus the more foundational to overall stability it becomes. The same principle is true of the "theological pyramid." If you picture each of these items as levels in a pyramid, Basic Presuppositions is the foundational level and Practical Theology is the apex. If the lowest "level" is cracked, flawed, or otherwise insufficient the entire structure will come crashing down. The same is also true for each progressive level. Therefore, if a person's Hermeneutics and Exegesis levels are flawed their Practical Theology-or how to act upon what the Bible says-will also be flawed. Again, this emphasizes the importance of these often misunderstood levels, Hermeneutics and Exegesis, to the overall stability of the Christian life. However, with all of this said, there is still more to the proper Bible study equation.
Let me share one final analogy with you: There is a similarity between the baker and the Bible student. When following a recipe the baker, if he wants to correctly reproduce the baked good, uses the exact same ingredients called for in the recipe. In addition, and just as important, he not only uses the same ingredients but he also mixes them together in the order that the recipe calls for them. Likewise, simply having the "ingredients" or Hermeneutical Principles for Bible study does not guarantee a wholesome and delicious "cake" when finished, you must also follow a set structure. The following "recipe," given by Traina in his book Methodical Bible Study, will provide, when followed, an accurate way to achieve "culinary" excellence:
I. Observation
II. Interpretation
III. Evaluation
IV. Application
V. Correlation
It is nearly impossible to have correct Interpretation if you first don't have correct Observation. Likewise without correct Interpretation there will, more than likely, be faulty Evaluation and with faulty Evaluation comes faulty Application and Correlation. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to follow this outline's progression and not bypass any of the individual steps.
Question:
I. What is Observation?
Answer:
Observation is the act of taking notice, which is the result of attentive contemplation. It transcends pure physical sight and involves exhaustive perception. It is the art of seeing things as they really are even after you have seen them many times over. The basis of this stage of Bible study can be summed up with the phrase, "The more you look the more you see." However, another important aspect in this phase of Bible study is to overcome, or at least place on hold, some of those before mentioned presuppositions because it is also true that, "You only see what you want to see."
Question:
What is required for good observation?
Answer:
§ Desire-without the will to observe you will not see past the surface
§ Exactness-without attention to detail you will miss or wrongly categorize
everything you do see below the surface
§ Persistence-without determination and discipline you will never break through
the thick barrier which covers everything below the surface
§ Time-without time observation becomes a short glace rather than a long stare
Question:
What makes observation so important?
Answer:
Scriptural selectivity. Selectivity deals with the "what" and "why" of the material included in the Bible. What I mean by this is that it's not just a matter of what was included in the Bible that makes it so important but also what was excluded. Therefore, what we do have is a specifically condensed version in which every word has infinite value in the mind of God. If you read John 21:25 you will see one example of all that could have been said but was not, thus, again, what we do have becomes that much more important considering all that was left unsaid.
Examples:
Genesis 1:16b vs Exodus 26-40
God only uses 5 words in passing to describe all of the billions of stars
that He created yet He gives nearly 15 chapters to the Tabernacle. It is not hard to see which one God is more concerned about. The reason why is that the stars have nothing to do with mankind's salvation while the Tabernacle is a prefigurement of Jesus Christ and what He must do.
Genesis 1-11 vs Genesis 12-50
God only takes 11 chapters to record thousands of years and almost as
many successive generations of mankind but then takes 38 chapters to focus in upon 4 men's lives. The reason why is that, beginning with Abraham, God records His building and protecting of the nation into which Jesus Christ will eventually be born.
Question:
What are some things to look for in this stage?
Answer:
§ Ask: who, what, when, where, why, and how
§ Be cognizant of: geographical and chronological movement (or lack of it)
§ Notice: promises, curses, blessings, prayers, people, places, problems, events, etc
§ Diagram verses: noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, etc
§ Observe literary type: narrative, wisdom, poetical, epistle, prophecy, etc
As you gather and examine facts during this stage be careful not to slip into the habit of interpretation though drawing conclusions. At times it is true that observation and interpretation are hard to separate. There is often an interplay between bordering steps which cannot and should not be totally avoided. Nevertheless, it is important for you to be able to distinguish and maintain a separation between the various steps or, again, the very purpose behind them shatters.
Additional Observations:
§ Comparison-the association of like things (Rom 5:12-21; Eph 5:22-33)
§ Contrast-the association of opposites (John 3:19-21)
§ Repetition-the reiteration of the same term or terms (Joshua 1:6-9; Eph 4:4-6)
§ Continuity-the repeated use of similar terms (Psalm 119; Luke 15)
§ Particularization and Generalization-the movement from general to the
particular, or from the particular to the general (Matt 6:1-18)
§ Causation and Substantiation-the progression from the cause to the effect, or
from the effect to the cause (Rom 1:18-32)
§ Absolutes-infinity statements such as: never, nothing, always, forever, etc
(Heb 13:5, 8; 1 Cor 15:58; Rom 3:23)
Observation Aids:
§ Use a pen or pencil to mark repetitions or other words/phrases which stand out
§ Get a good feel for the general before focusing in-depth upon the specific
§ Write down questions, comments, difficulties, etc
§ Try to outline-either generally or specifically-the section you are studying
§ Learn to set aside a large block of time for observation; it will pay of in the end
§ Write down things you think should/shouldn't have been said and why
§ What would the verse say if said in the negative rather than the positive, or vise
versa (Rom 8:31-If God is against us who or what can be for us?)
§ Note omissions or inclusions (James 1:5-why does it say here to only ask for
wisdom and not other things also? Why not peace, forgiveness, etc?)
§ Compare/Contrast verses, versions, etc
§ During observation keep interpretation to bare minimum and application absent
Once the components of a passage have been noted, which is the first step of induction, the next logical step is to determine their meaning. Thus the second phase of methodical Bible study is interpretation. This brings us to the next question.
Question:
II. What is Interpretation?
Answer:
Interpretation is basically re-creation. To re-create Scripture is to expound them in such a way as to cause the written word to become the living word. Thus the process of re-creation involves such a complete identification of the interpreter with the authors of the Bible that he relives the experience which were entailed in its writing. It means recapturing the attitudes, motives, thoughts, and emotions of its writers and of those concerning whom they wrote. When interpretation is done correctly the Bible will come alive with new life; however, note that even with "coming alive" interpretation should still try to be void of personal application.
One of the dangers in relation to interpretation is that, like observation, it tends to be incomplete; there is usually more to interpretation than what immediately meets the naked eye.
Another aspect that lends itself to interpretation difficulties is the vast amount of hermeneutical principles and exegetical applications which must be kept in mind. At first, they all seem to lump together and stay out of focus, however, with practice, they become the solid foundation for all accurate interpretation.
Question:
What are some of the principles that aid in interpretation?
Answer:
For the sake of space and time I will only list and explain three principles that the Bible student must use in order to gain proper interpretation; however, these are perhaps the three most important and foundational principles to understand. In Traina's book Methodical Bible Study, which much of this lesson is taken from, there is a larger list of at least 10 erroneous kinds of interpretation that can supplement my subsequent content.
v HISTORICAL-CULTURAL ANALYSIS
Due to the fact that every book of the Bible was written in a specific historical setting and culture and because they were addressed to those who also lived in a concrete historical-cultural situation, it is imperative that you utilize their historical background in order to correctly re-create and interpret the author's original intent for writing.
Again, all scripture was written at a specific point in history to a specific people with a specific culture dealing with specific issues. Therefore, a solid and immovable law of interpretation is that scripture cannot mean now that it never meant then! You open the Bible to speculation, spiritualization, and allegorization by lifting any part of it out of its historical-cultural setting. [See also Literal Analysis]
The historical and cultural background includes such things as: date, place, occasion of writing; identity of the author and the recipients; literature, customs, beliefs; and the social, political, geographical, and spiritual environment of the author and his recipients.
v CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS
When speaking of contextual analysis I am talking about the connection of thought that runs through a passage regardless of its size. In other words, context is the link that weaves itself through verses, passages, chapters, books, and testaments in order to make the entire Bible one unified thought of God.
In order to obtain correct interpretation the exegete must find this thread of thought that runs through the specific as well as the general parts of the passage being studied. Whenever this connection is accidentally missed or purposely avoided it is a good bet that the interpreter will miss the scope, end, purpose, and entire plan which motivated the author to write, thus, making any real interpretation impossible. [See also Literal Analysis]
A testimony to the absolute necessity and importance of contextual analysis is found in the very fact that no verse is without it! What I mean by this is that every verse in the Bible has additional scripture preceding and or following it, there are no exceptions. Everything from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is found within the context of other verses. Therefore, every verse MUST be studied in the light of its context. A text without a context may be a pretext!
Never take a verse out of its setting and give it a foreign meaning. The Bible can be made to prove anything when not studied in the light of its context. You can pick out a verse or part of a verse and use it to prove any theory you may want it to prove. However, by doing so you make it mean something God never intended it to mean (also known as eisegesis) and you will stand judgment for it. Needless to say, this is not proper study of Scripture. [see EISEGESIS VS. EXEGESIS]
When studying a small passage it is best to first discover the overall purpose, theme, or context of the book. This keeps the observer from wasting valuable time. What I mean by this is that many interesting things can be observed within a small section of scripture but all of the information gained could lead to a false conclusions if the overall theme or "big picture" is not kept in mind.
Therefore, good exegetical procedure dictates that the details be viewed in the light of the total context. Unless the exegete knows where the thought of the text begins and how that pattern develops, all the intricate details may be of little or no worth. This is commonly referred to as losing sight of the forest by only examining an individual tree.
Moyer, "Too many preachers prepare a message and then hunt a text to fit it. That is not a text, it is a pretext."
Context Pyramid, look at:
§ Immediate Context-surrounding verses, paragraphs, sections
§ Book Context-the book in question, other books by same author
§ Remote Context-New Testament, Old Testament
Context Clues:
§ A repeated term, phrase, clause, or sentence
§ Transitional conjunctions or adverbs such as then, therefore, wherefore,
nevertheless, but, meanwhile, etc.
§ A question, rhetorical question, or answer to a question
§ A change in the time, location, or setting
§ A deliberately shift of attention from one group or theme to another
§ A change in the tense or mood of the verb, subject, or object
v LITERAL ANALYSIS
The golden rule of Literal Analysis, and thus interpretation, is: When common sense makes good sense seek no other sense.
God says what He means and means what He says. We are to read the Bible just as we read any other piece of writing, not trying to force some allegorical, mystical, or figurative meaning into its plain statements. However, this does not mean that spiritual lessons cannot be derived from a passage of Scripture. The Bible is the Word of God and is therefore inexhaustible. In any case, we must apply to the Bible the same principles of common sense we would use in examining any other writing.
The ordinary or commonly acknowledged meaning of a word is the literal meaning of that word. When people write or speak to us we take their words at face value, even when they are using poetic language. We do not look for all kinds of hidden meanings buried beneath the surface of what they have to say. We read papers, magazines, journals, novels, and textbooks literally; why then not also the Bible? Before deciding that a passage of Scripture is figurative, we must first examine the literal meaning. Only when a literal interpretation proves to be either absurd or completely out of harmony with the context or the theme would we accept a figurative interpretation.
Common Terms and Definitions:
§ Allegory: a fictitious story in which every detail has a specific
representational value.
§ Allegorizing: treating a text as an allegory even when it does not present
itself as an allegory.
§ Spiritualizing: refers to interpreters who insist that the Bible has primary
meanings which do not correspond to the literal meanings of the words.
§ Rationalism: The mode of interpretation in which everything must be
reasonable to the modern mind. Therefore, anything supernatural must be denied or explained away.
§ Existentialism: The mode of interpretation where there is no objective
truth to discover. Therefore, experience is all that matters and since every man has different experiences the Bible will mean different things to different people.
§ Fundamentalism: The mode of interpretation that stresses the literal sense
of Scripture except when the passage was obviously figurative.
Martin Luther once said:
§ Allegories are empty speculations and as it were the scum of Holy
Scripture.
§ No single verse should be interpreted so as to contradict the teaching of
the whole body of Scripture.
Reasons for Choosing the Literal Method of Interpretation:
1. The literal meaning is the normal one in all languages.
2. All secondary meanings of documents, parables, or allegories depend for
their very existence on the literal meaning.
3. Most of the Bible makes good sense when interpreted literally.
4. The literal view does not blindly rule out figures of speech, symbols, or
allegories if the nature of the sentence demands it.
5. This method is the only safeguard against the imaginations of men.
6. This method agrees with the nature of inspiration.
Question:
III. What is Evaluation?
Answer:
To evaluate is to assess the worth of something, to appraise its excellence, relevance, and usefulness.
Traina, in his book Methodical Bible Study, observes that, "The primary task of evaluation is to analyze the statements of a passage in order to determine which of its truths are timeless and therefore of contemporary worth. This implies that because the books of the Bible were written at certain points in history and were adapted to their settings, some of their statements are local and therefore restricted in their value. A distinction must therefore be made between those truths which are local and those which are general. For to employ local truths as if they were general would be to invite trouble in the field of application."
With this in mind, after discovering the meaning of a passage (interpretation) there must first be an honest evaluation of its present-day "worth" before proceeding on to application, which would be living out the truth of a biblical passage. As stated in the Historical-Cultural Analysis, and then echoed here by Traina, there are certain local and specific items in Scripture that modern man has no business trying to apply to his life, however, there are also certain universal and general principles that do apply throughout all time to all mankind. These universal and general truths are what make the word of God is living, active, and sharper than any double-edged sword (Heb 4:12).
Examples:
Deuteronomy 27-30
In interpreting this passage one discovers its main message to be that physical and spiritual blessing will come to the Israelites if they obey God; on the other hand, if they disobey Him, they will receive physical and spiritual judgment.
Since this passage is found in the Old Testament, which has been transcended by the New Testament because it contains God's final and supreme revelation to man in Jesus Christ, you must appraise Deuteronomy 27-30 on the basis of the New Testament. When you do this you discover that some of the truths of this passage are local and restricted in nature for the NT believer is not promised both physical and spiritual prosperity because he becomes a disciple of Christ. On the contrary, the NT clearly teaches that often physical adversity will accompany discipleship and spiritual obedience (Matt 5:10-12; John 15:20-27; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Pet 1:6, 4:12). The NT thus makes a clear-cut distinction between physical and spiritual blessing which is not found in Deut 27-30, which would not have been understood by the people of OT times anyway.
A general truth of OT material, especially the Law, is that we keep the truth of the Law but not the ceremony of the Law. Therefore, it does not follow that because the NT separates physical and spiritual blessing, Deut 27-30 contains no general truth which is of value to our times. There was a reason for the association of the physical and spiritual blessings together in the OT. Physical blessings were tokens of spiritual blessings. Their presence was needed to teach the people that God keeps His word, and that obedience to Him is the secret of Israel's well-being. However, with the coming of Christ these symbols were no longer needed. The Incarnation itself became the Symbol by which men are taught that God is faithful to His promises, and that eternal life depends on your relation to Him.
Romans 14:1-15:13
If you examine this passage in Romans you will find that it concerns certain local problems in the Roman church, such as the quarrel between those who ate meat sacrificed to idols and those who did not. This specific problem as such has little relevance for most of our lives, however, in dealing with it Paul enunciates certain basic principles which in view of the whole NT are timeless and thus of great relevance to each of us. It could be said that when determining any course of action our decision should be guided by not only our faith-relation to God but also our concern for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Thus when you remove-or perhaps better stated "understand"-those practices or situations which have a local flavor in order to find that which is foundational, you discover the truths which have universal relevance and worth.
By now, if you at first thought that Bible study was simple you are probably feeling overwhelmed by just how complicated it all seems. Then again, you might have at first thought that Bible study was hugely complicated but have since realized that it is quite simple. Or, perhaps you as simply caught somewhere in-between and with each additional point you wavering back and forth between the two. While I understand that much of this probably new material, and thus overwhelming, I will say that the better you understand it and the more that you practice it the simpler and more natural it becomes; much like learning to ride a bike. Whatever the case may be, the main point of evaluation is that you must distinguish between those truths which are local and restricted in contrast to those which are timeless and general if application is to have a proper foundation.
Suggestions for Evaluation:
§ In the process of evaluation you should persistently abstain from snap judgments. Your evaluation should be characterized by deliberate decisions and careful judgment of all the facts. The safest policy in evaluating Scripture passages, then, is to be exceedingly slow in deeming them to be worthwhile or worthless.
§ As already mentioned in Observation, beware of any subjective element in evaluation because of presuppositions. It is possible that an evaluation may reflect your desire for or against something to be applicable in your life.
§ Be careful that once you have evaluated something as local or universal to not reverse your decision elsewhere, which produces conflicts and contradictions. This is not to say that after gaining further insight you cannot reevaluate and change your conclusion if you find the need to do so. What I am saying is that you should be consistent and not pronounce something good in a certain instance and then judge the same thing to be bad elsewhere under similar conditions.
§ During evaluation realize that Scripture never contradicts itself. A large proportion of the "discrepancies" of the Bible are traceable to one or more of the following things: the error of copyists in the manuscripts; the variety of names applied to the same person or place; different methods of reckoning times and seasons; and the individual purpose of each book in the Bible. Variations are not contradictions, and many variations arise from different methods of arranging a series of particular facts. The peculiarities of ancient oriental thought and speech often involved things very much foreign to Western culture and thinking.
Question:
IV. What is Application?
Answer:
To apply simply means to put into action. This is where biblical truth is no longer just concept but becomes deed. The applicatory step is that for which all else exists. It represents the final and ultimate purpose of Bible Study.
However tempting it may be-after observation, interpretation, and evaluation-to take some newly discovered Bible truth and apply it directly to your life, this cannot be done. After determining the universal elements of a passage through the process of evaluation, the next step is to discover the exact contemporary situation to which the passage is applicable. For though the truths you may have found are actually timeless, it does not follow that they can be applied indiscriminately to any circumstances. Thus, if you want to apply the truth of a passage, you must either analyze a specific modern situation to ascertain whether it falls within the bounds of the universal truths, or you must find a contemporary situation which does. It is therefore necessary to be certain that the modern situation belongs within the province of the passage being employed.
Another thing to watch out for is the scope of applicability. Does this truth apply to only one individual, a Christian, a non-Christian, to everyone, etc. Making an application too broad or too specific is much the same as making a faulty interpretation or evaluation. The Quakers often erred in this area by saying that all scripture was personally applicable to them, however, there are some things in scripture I want nothing to do with!
Traina, in his book Methodical Bible Study, says, "When you have discovered a modern situation to which the timeless truth of the passage is pertinent, then it is your duty to apply the truth, not only in concept but in deed. And you should apply it in whatever realm of life it is appropriate and regardless of the consequences. For in the last analysis one of the primary secrets of Scriptural application is the kind of abandon which causes one who has discovered a truth to follow it to its logical outcome, even if the road be hard and the tangible rewards few.
Question:
V. What is Correlation?
Answer:
Correlation is the practice of going from the specific to the general in order to see how the parts fit within the whole. Is it much like stepping back from observing an individual tree in order to view the entire forest. This phase also the concluding step of the inductive study of Scripture.
To be more specific, the goal of Scriptural study is the development of a vital Biblical theology resulting in a vital Christian philosophy of life. In order to accomplish this, you must do more than examine individual passages. You must coordinate your findings so as to evolve a synthesized concept of the message of the Bible as a whole. The temptation is to spend so much time and energy studying individual passages that you never correlate what you find and thus the Bible is nothing more than many pits and pieces bound together by one cover. Never correlating is like building a foundation but never building on it.
When and Why to Correlate:
§ Correlation, like all the other phases of inductive study, is ultimately tentative. There is always room for change if and when new data is discovered which warrants it. Thus, you need not refrain from correlation because of the fear of forming immutable or faulty conclusions.
§ Another benefit is that deductions made through correlation are able to assist in the study of the particulars.
§ The study of particulars ideally never ends. Therefore, correlation would never occur if it had to await the complete study of the particulars. After each particular study correlate-or examine the relationship between-what you have found with everything else that you already know about Scripture.
§ Correlation also helps prevent erroneous theology. Because the Bible never contradicts itself, if the conclusion or truth you have just gained through a particular study goes against what you know of the Bible as a whole, your conclusion therefore must be flawed and needs reexamining.
§ Because the process of correlation is such an enormous task, it is best accomplished bit by bit rather than all at once. Trying to understand the entire Bible in one sitting is much like a hard rain; some water is absorbed but because of the volume most of it just runs off.
What you have just read was a 5-step guide to Bible study through Observation, Interpretation, Evaluation, Application, and Correlation. For most all of this information was probably overwhelming but with practice and perseverance anyone can master methodical Bible study. The following list contains several reference books you can read through for further instruction and insight into the various aspects of Bible study. Some, such as Arthur's book How to Study Your Bible, are relatively simple and straightforward while others, such as Kaiser's Toward an Exegetical Theology, are more advanced. I would greatly recommend Fee & Stuart's book How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth as well as Phillips' Bible Explorer's Guide. If you have not already guessed it the majority of this lesson's content was obtained from Traina's book Methodical Bible Study. I wish every reader the best and pray that this lesson will help you to grow in your Christian walk through an increased understanding of how to approach God's Word.
Reference Books For Further Reading:
Fee & Stuart How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
Traina Methodical Bible Study
Arthur How To Study Your Bible
MacArthur How to Study the Bible
Kaiser Toward An Exegetical Theology
Greidanus The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text
Virkler Hermeneutics
Hartill Principles of Biblical Hermeneutics
Klein Introduction To Biblical Interpretaiton
To purchase any of these go to:
www.Christianbook.com
CONTEXT ILLUSTRATION: NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLE
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
This is arguably the most misquoted and taken out of context verse-by both pastor and layperson alike-in the entire Bible. More often than not it is quoted by well-meaning people participating in worship or prayer; however, such an interpretation poses a few problems.
First-if this verse is to be taken literally, as it should be-when one person decides to pray or worship God alone and by himself God would not there with him. Furthermore, if there was a group of four or more people coming together in His name to pray or worship, God would not be there either because this verse specifically says where two or three come together in His name. Therefore, if this verse were to be used in the environment of prayer or worship the Holy Spirit would have used less specific terms when guiding the writer.
However, when this verse is looked at in its context the reason for "two or three" being mentioned becomes quite clear. Observe:
Matthew 18:15-20
If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
After reading a larger section of Scripture you can clearly see that Jesus spoke verse 20 in the context of church discipline rather than prayer or worship. First, verse 20's "two or three" who are gathered together in Jesus' name speaks about the witnesses who are approaching the offender. If these two or three witnesses follow Jesus' instructions they are acting righteously and in order and thus He is there with them. This presence of Jesus is a symbol of His agreement with the verdict that is given, which is to treat the unrepentant offender as a pagan or tax collector. Secondly, the mention of, "agree about anything you ask for" in verse 19 is specifically referring to this judicial matter of church discipline not prayer in general. Therefore, as you can clearly see from the context, verse 20 should not be used in reference to general prayer or worship. There are plenty of other verses that convey the message much better and without interpretational error.
CONTEXT ILLUSTRATION: OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLE
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
This verse has often been misquoted and wrongly claimed by modern-day Christians as personally applicable to their lives. While it is still true today with New Testament believers as it was in the Old Testament with Israel that God does have a plan for them and this plan is not to harm them, but anyone claiming this verse today is ignoring the context completely. While this may seem like a harmless issue, it is actually quite serious. If an exception were to be made here to the rule of context why not elsewhere also, which would ultimately lead to the absence of all scriptural absolutes. Therefore, in the eyes of the divine Author this is not just a harmless little omission. Observe the context:
Jeremiah 29:10-14
This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
As you can clearly see from the context, this specific verse cannot apply to anyone who was not an Old Testament Jew taken into exile by Babylon! However, this verse can be properly interpreted and applied by the New Testament believer as an example of God's mercy in the Old Testament toward His people and since the attributes of God are eternal and unchanging this also means that God's mercy is present and active even today, which can then be further supported by additional New Testament scripture (Rom 12:1). With the inherent warning of 2 Timothy 2:15 in mind, be very careful of how you handle the Word of God so that you will not have to stand before Him ashamed. Again, be very careful about which verses you quote and claim because they may actually not apply to you.