Biblical Thinking...

Biblical Thinking:

How can I be a faithful and accurate steward of the Holy Scriptures in light of what the Scriptures teach about studying Scripture?

Adapted from Steve Triechler’s “BIBLICAL HERMANEUTICS” Sept. 1, 2011

Introduction – What is the issue at hand? -Bad Theology

PART ONE:

General Concepts:

Fun Words:

Perspicuity [PURSE pe cue ity] - Everyone has the ability to understand scripture.

Analogia Scriptura – scripture does not contradict other scripture, and there can be more buried in a text than the original author might think

Genre – different types of writing. Poetry, history, narrative, pericope

Two Word Pictures:

Progressive Revelation – as time goes on throughout the Bible God reveals more about himself.

Biblical Theology – Steve, how do we watch this thing unfold.

Ways to Study:

Hermeneutics [her ma NEW tics] – the study of the way we study

Exegesis [ex e GEE sus] – small a author. Let the author speak what they wanted to say the first time it was written.

Eisegesis [ice e GEE sus] – “Calling timeout right before our Lord and Savior kicks a field goal,” Cor Sept. 1, 2011. Taking an idea to the scripture and making it fit.

Other Good to Know Stuff:

Original Intent – What the original author wanted to say

Integration - take a piece of scripture and look back, then look forward.

Application – take this stuff to our lives.

PART TWO:

Biblical Hermeneutics: How do I do this? (Funnel Analogy)

1. EXEGESIS - Studying the Passage in the Original Context

a. WORD MEANING

i. What do the words mean?

ii. How are the words used in other places by the same author? Different author?

iii. Are their cultural factors to note so that it is clearing on what was said?

b. CONTEXT

i. Very important! What is the logical flow of the argument in what is being said? Think paragraphs – or better yet, think units of text.

ii. Nothing is random. Why is it there? What’s the point?

iii. What do you think the original hearers would have thought about this particular passage?

c. HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS

i. Are there historical considerations about geography, politics, religion, society, economics, etc. that can impact how they would have seen the passage’s meaning?

ii. How reliable is your source for this historical information? Eye of the Needle in Matthew 19:24 example.

2. ORIGINAL PRINCIPLE(S) – How would the original hearers have applied this passage?

a. Given what they new at the time, what would have been a reasonable application FOR THE ORIGINAL HEARERS?

b. Is there examples of this application anywhere else in Scripture, where the original readers would have applied this passage?

c. Is this something that seems consistent with the rest of Scripture? If not, one of two things is true. Either you have the wrong original principle or later development has disclosed the fullness of this passage now.

3. INTEGRATION [analogia Scriptura] – Seeing how the principle has further developments in later Scriptures

What we are doing here is looking for the “Pattern” or “Typology” that makes this passage fit in with the message of the Gospel. However, care MUST be taken not to do eisegesis. If this is not DIRECTLY a pattern to the gospel, then how can it feed a “feeder tributary” INDIRECTLY

a. Is this PASSAGE or CONCEPT ever quoted to in the rest of Holy Scripture?

b. Is there a direct usage of this passage and/or the accompanying principle(s) into the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

c. If not directly, how does this indirectly point us to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

4. FULFILLMENT PRINCIPLE(S)

a. Once you have figured out how this fits into the gospel, then we need to get out of the cultural and time-locked applications of this passage and start asking, “Why would the Holy Spirit put this passage into the story of the Gospel?”

5. APPLICATION – Allowing the Holy Spirit to ask you:

a. How am I prompted to lead a different life in action, heart, affection, and belief?

b. How can my life reflect the gospel in a similar way that this passage foreshadows/reflects the gospel?

c. What SPECIFICALLY am I going to do about this truth that I have learned?

d. Who will I share with in order to keep my flesh in check and keep me accountable with what I am learning

e. What areas of my flesh need to be “beaten” and defeated in order to seek the truth(s) I have learned?

f. What is God calling me to repent of?

g. How is the gospel of Jesus Christ directly related to this truth, and to how I apply it?

Example to clarify the point:

1. Isaiah 7:14

a. Isaiah 7:1

b. Isaiah 9:7

c. Isaiah 11:12-16

d. Isaiah 12:1-6

e. Matthew 1:23

TOOLS TO HELP: