Understanding the Bible & Interpreting Scripture
THE GIFT OF BEING PRESENT
JOB 2:11-13
There is a world of difference between being “In Attendance” and “Being Present.” I fear that many no longer understand that. I fear that we’ve lost an entire generation to confusing one with the other. And yet, giving the precious “Gift of Being Present,” is priceless. Job had 3 friends who understood this, and who went to him, to give this immeasurable Gift. I invite you to take a few minutes and journey with me towards the “Gift of Being Present.” (Please forgive the poor lighting – but I had this on my heart & very much wanted to share it with you.)
WRONGLY, VERSUS RIGHTLY, INTERPRETING THE BIBLE
EPHESIANS 5:22-33
Does verse 22 Command Wives to allow Husbands to be Domineering, Dictators? I invite you to learn how to correctly interpret verse 22. If you understand the necessity of unpacking an entire Chapter or a Passage, rather than manipulating a single verse, then you will have learned a Key Principle; this one Principle is irreplaceable when it comes to Correctly Understanding The Bible & Correctly Interpreting All of Scripture.
INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE: 7 Key Elements
Before one can correctly Interpret Scripture, it’s important to acquire 7 Key Elements:
(1) AUTHOR
(2) AUDIENCE
(3) SETTING
(4) DATE
(5) TYPE OF WRITING and LITERARY STYLE
(6) THEME
(7) ORIGINAL INTENT
When we have acquired these, the path to correct interpretation becomes more certain.
For those who are willing to invest the time, I highly recommend a video by Dr. Voddie Baucham. I do not always agree 100% with Dr. Baucham, but his teaching on “How To Study The Bible” is excellent. The link is below.
(72) How To Study The Bible | Voddie Baucham | Adult Bible Class – YouTube
ACTS 2:42-47
UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE:
START WITH THE “30,000-FEET VIEW”
Those who are serious about understanding the Bible, need to begin with an overview of the Bible; we need to see it from the 30,000-feet view. Then, we can go deeper and develop a far richer understanding of Scripture.
The book mentioned in the video is “30 Days to Understanding the Bible,” by Max Anders. I highly recommend it! However, as I noted, I would only focus on the first half; this covers the 12 ERAS of the Bible. The second half is his view of Biblical “Doctrine,” and for a variety of reasons, my recommendation does not cover the Doctrinal part. The link is below.
30 Days to Understanding the Bible, 30th Anniversary: Max Anders: 9780785216186 – Christianbook.com>