Rules for Bible Study
See full series: 2024-sermons
Rules for Bible Study
Sermon by Thomas Thornhill Jr
Passage: 2 Timothy 2:15
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NOTE: There is no prerecorded material to accompany this lesson. I am dealing with a severe cold and to preserve my voice decided to not make the recording. I have posted the audio from the live service. TT
COMMUNICATING WITH GOD (37)
Bible Study (11)
Today we resume our theme and focus on Bible study. The Bible is our roadmap to heaven and thus as Christians, it is a fundamental tool and action that we must engage in. Thus far we have noted: Why we ought to study the Bible, an examination of authority, What Bible study and Bible reading are, and some proper attitudes that we need as we study the Bible.
We now want some practical observations to consider as we are studying our Bibles. Consider 2 Timothy 2:15 – this is our goal – to “rightly divide the word of truth”.
- We need to study with the intent of getting out of the text what was actually intended.
- Exegesis – means to lead out. The goal is to bring out of the text the intended meaning. The first thing we must remember as we study the Bible is we are trying to learn what God is actually telling us. We want to apply critical thought and methods to determining what a text actually says. The attitudes discussed in our last lesson reflect this.
- This is opposed to eisegesis which means putting INTO a text what you intend for it to say. The word is defined, “An interpretation, especially of Scripture, that reflects the personal ideas or viewpoints of the interpreter; reading something into the text that isn’t there.”[1] This is NOT how we ought to study God’s word.
- The “inductive method” of study is designed to accomplish this. This method involves 3 primary steps:
- Gather all the facts – read the text that you are studying. This is about familiarizing yourself with what is actually said. It is recommended that you read through the text a few times.
- Next, you want to determine what is the intended meaning of the text. This is where you engage in study and do research to determine what the meaning. In this lesson, we will notice several elements associated with this step.
- Finally, consider how does this text apply to me today? Is it teaching me something I need to do, or is giving me information about someone (perhaps God or Jesus), etc.? This is the ultimate intent of our Bible study.
- Luke 24:13-32 records the appearance of Jesus to 2 men on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection. Consider the inductive method.
- Jesus joins the 2 men on their journey. While they did not recognize Jesus, He asked about their conversation. They discussed who Jesus had presented Himself to be, how He had been crucified by the Jewish leaders and that women came and found the tomb empty along with others. These were the facts.
- Vs. 25, Jesus said, Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” The beginning with Moses and the prophets, Jesus interpreted the scriptures for them nothing that what had happened was God’s intent. Jesus present “the research” if you will.
- Jesus is revealed to them and then He is gone. They immediately return to Jerusalem and report what they had seen. They made application in their lives and took action.
- Nehemiah 8:8 – after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, Nehemiah helped the people dedicate themselves to God. Ezra and others taught the people the law (which they respected), So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. You have facts presented, the meaning explained, and following that they acted by observing “the Feast of Tabernacles” in such a way that it had not been done since the days of Joshua (Neh. 8:17), which was about 800 years.
- Acts 17:11, the Bereans were more noble minded in that they received the word with all readiness and searched the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
- We need to use reasoning, logic and proper usage of language.
- Hermeneutics – a word most of us are not familiar with. It is the science of interpretation. IOW, it is the study of HOW to properly interpret a document or something that is said. This is about principles that apply to ANY document. The word “interpret” means to explain something so that it is understood as the original author intended. I only mention this word now because, like our study of authority, I want us to understand that principles we use to interpret the meaning of scripture are practical and common. We have not created some supernatural formula that only applies to the Bible. IOW, use some sense. There are axioms (universally recognized truths, established rules or principles) that we must consider if we are to properly interpret what is said or written. Time will not permit a discussion of these in this lesson. But here’s a couple of these rules: 1) The usage of a word determines its meaning; 2) Two writers will not independently express thoughts the same way; 3) Writers are influenced by their environment; 4) When something is stated, only one thought is intended, etc.
- Studying with a mindset that you WANT to understand what is intended.
- Bible study takes mental effort and work. Philippians 4:8 calls for us to “mediate on these things”. The KJV renders this, “think on these things”.
- Recall how Paul instructed Timothy to give attention to reading, exhortation and doctrine… meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all… (1 Tim. 4:13-15). Yes, Timothy was an evangelist, but to some degree, IF we desire to know for sure that what we believe is what God says, we need to put forth the effort to learn it.
- Know that a passage of scripture has only one meaning.
- When a text was written, there was one meaning in mind by the author. That is why we need to be careful when start putting our personal interpretations into the wording.
- Example: Ephesians 3:3-4 Paul noted, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ). His point of the “mystery” was that salvation was available to all, including the Gentiles. That was the ONLY meaning.
- Whether we know what that meaning is or not, there is only one meaning. There are times where a passage may have more than one interpretation (e.g. Revelation 2:10) – but when such is the case, it is not an “either/or” situation, but a “both/and” situation. There are other rules that help us determine what is meant by a text. In many cases, it is about what is NOT meant while will leave only one valid conclusion.
- The Bible does NOT contradict itself.
- We must approach God’s word with the attitude that He is “not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – it is the inspired word of God.
- When there is what seems to be contradictory statements, there is always a plausible answer.
- Often times, finding that answer requires study (hint – start with the immediate context of each passage).
- Context!!!! Always interpret a passage in light of its context.
- Of all the rules of interpretation, this is one of the most important. It also is fundamental in solving most challenges you have with a passage of scripture. We need to keep a verse in its proper context, or else we will be guilty of “twisting it” (2 Peter 3:15-16).
- Of interest is to note there are several different contexts to consider.
- The immediate context – the words, phrases and information surrounding the passage.
- The section (whole story) – the word “pericope” is the entire passage in which a verse is found. In many of our Bibles, there are headings of sections that are named to help guide us through and divide a book by subject. That is the context in which a text is found. NOTE: Different versions of the Bible might have different section headings.
- The Book where the text is found – more on this in our next point.
- The remote context – the Bible as a whole. When we understand the Bible does not contradict itself, if there are other passages related to a particular text or subject, we consider those. Remember, the Bible does not contradict itself.
- The historical and cultural context – more on our next point
- Some examples of the importance of context:
- Romans 4:5 vs. James 2:24. Context helps us address a supposed contradiction. Romans 4 declares that one who believes and does not work is justified and accounted for righteousness. James 2:24 tells us that by works we are justified and NOT by “faith only.” When you study the contexts, you learn that Paul is dealing with those who sought to bind the LOM on everyone, but James is dealing with obedient belief.
- Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” This is used to advocate all one must do to be saved. BUT read the context. In vs. 32-34 we read, ‘THEN they spoke the word of the Lord to him…” Then they were baptized. Also it says, “he rejoiced, having believed.”
- Luke 10:27, a lawyer answering the question of Jesus about what to do saved mentions 2 things: 1) Love God with your all and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself? Who is our neighbor? That is what the lawyer asked and it prompted Jesus to tell the parable of the good Samaritan. IF we read only vs. 27, we might think that our neighbor is only the person who lives next door (or maybe our block). But the CONTEXT, as Jesus defined it for the lawyer, defines it for us as well – our neighbor is ANYONE we have the opportunity to help.
- Romans 12:19, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay’, says the Lord.” By itself one might argue that capital punishment is wrong. But if you keep reading the book, Romans 13:1-7 addresses the authority of government and includes the right to punish – Vs. 4 says, he does not bear the sword in vain. The context of Rom. 12:19 is about personal vengeance.
- Colossians 2:21, “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle.” WHAT is Paul talking about? Can we use this passage to tell someone they should not drink alcohol (or even touch it)? I can show you that in other places, but the context here is directly related to the binding of religious liberties.
- Preparing this, I heard a preacher say when someone presents a verse that seems to contradict the truth – read the 5 verses before and 5 verses after. In most cases, you will find at least a part of your answer.
- Consider the background of the text.
- Another important element of a text is its background.
- There are statements in scripture that are made that are false. For example: Genesis 3:4, where Satan told Eve, “You shall not surely die”. What the serpent said was a lie. We know that because of the context – WHO was speaking and to whom he was speaking.
- Paul in Titus 1:10 quoted an uninspired philosopher saying, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
- Why when references are being made about going to Jerusalem it always says, they went “up to Jerusalem”, even when they going south (Matthew 20:17-19)? The answer lies in the fact that Jerusalem is an elevated city.
- What about the mention of Herod in the gospels and Acts? A study of Roman history tells us there were several Herods – a family of leaders of influence in Palestine during the time of Jesus and the beginning of the church.
- It is often helpful to ask: Who was speaking in a text and to whom; Who wrote the book? What is the subject being addressed (the context); When was a text written? (Old or New Testament? What period of Bible history?, Etc.); Where was it written – e.g., Paul was writing Philippians from prison, yet he writes about rejoicing; Why was a particular book written? Background factors can be a tremendous help in understanding the context of a passage.
- What type of literature is it? know the difference between figurative and literal. Is something written as historical, poetic, instructional, law, etc.
- When I teach a book of the Bible, I always begin with a lesson addressing the background. We need to understand key factors to help us properly interpret what is being said.
- Understanding background is critical to properly interpreting a text. And there are many sources available to help us appreciate the background of a text. There are study Bibles that focus on background, commentaries that emphasize the background of a text, etc.
- Another important element of a text is its background.
- Consider the importance of principles – we addressed this as we studied authority. Much of what is written in scripture gives us principles that we can apply to our lives. As we study, we need to distinguish between an event and the principles that are being taught. For example: John 13:1-15 where Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. 15 (and the context) helps us to understand this is not an intended religious ritual, but an emphasis that we need to be willing to serve others when we can.
- When examining a subject, put together EVERYTHING about that subject. Most subjects are not only addressed in one passage. If you want to whole picture, you need to study everything about that subject. For example: Matthew 7:1 – judge not that you be not judged. There are numerous passages that deal with judging – who, when and how to judge. The context (a sermon, dealing with corruption in serving God, etc.) helps us understand that Jesus is referring to a specific TYPE of judging – prejudicial and hypocritical judging.
These are some rules to consider as we study the word of God. There are others we add to this list, but this is what we have time for now. It is my hope that what we have seen is that Bible study is very important, but for it to be effective there are rules we HAVE to respect, or our understanding will be skewed. Remember what our goal is – to “rightly divide the word of truth.” That will take work, but I can promise that the more work you put into it, the more you will get out of it. How are you handling God’s word in your life – both in what you learn and as you apply it? Think about it!
[1] Eisegesis; via https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/eisegesis