HERMENEUTICS WK 6

BIBLE STUDY STEPS 1. PRAY TO THE LORD 2. FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD 3. READ THE BOOK/SECTION 4. MAKE OBSERVATIONS 5. MEDITATE ON THE BOOK/SECTION

BIBLE STUDY STEPS 6. STUDY THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 7. LOOK FOR FIGURES OF SPEECH AND STRUCTURAL PATTERNS

STEP 8 STUDY THE WORDS Words convey meaning, thus bringing understanding to the passage. The meanings should be understood within their original language.

The importance of words When doing a word study it is important to remember a few fundamental rules: Study the word to pursue the meaning intended by the author for his original audience. Words have a range of meanings. Words receive meaning from their context.

What words do I study? 1. Words whose English definitions are unclear. –EXAMPLE: “Vanity of vanities…” Ecc. 1:2 2. Words that have apparent antonyms and synonyms in the context. –EXAMPLE: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Prov. 13:20 3. Words that are used rarely or only once (hapox legomena)

What words do I study? 4. Words used figuratively. –EXAMPLE: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer…” Psalm 18:2 5. Words that are repeated or bear conceptual weight in the passage. –EXAMPLE: In John 1:1-18 “Word” used 4 times. “Light” used 6 times.

What words do I study? 6. Words used as figures of speech. –EXAMPLE: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 6:51

Which words would you study? “I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.” 2 John 4-6

How do I do a word study? Look it up! –Strong’s Concordance of the Bible –The Complete Word Study Dictionary: OT and NT –For a PC: sword.net/downloads.html –For a MAC: – –

Step 9 STUDY THE HISTORY AND CULTURE Examining the historical and cultural references within the passage. People, places, events, artifacts, political ideas, religious beliefs, economic ideas, legal systems, agriculture, architecture, clothing, household practices, military practices, social practices, etc. CAUTION: Do not allow the details to distract you from the main idea!

Step 9 “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, ‘Cornelius…send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, who house is by the sea.” Acts 10:1-6

Step 10 STUDY COMMENTARIES They enable the student to have conversation with other Bible students. Can provide validation or correction.

Good commentaries The Bible Knowledge Commentaries The John MacArthur Commentaries The Expositer’s Bible Commentary Warren Wiersbe’s Exposition Commentary

Step 11 COME TO AN INTERPRETIVE CONCLUSION After completing all previous steps and bridging all gaps, determine what the passage means. What is the main idea of the passage?

Step 12 APPLICATION Views the passage’s truths in the context of the Bible student. DON’T STUDY TO KNOW, STUDY TO DO! Always should come after interpretation. CAUTION: Incorrect application leads to incorrect living and theology.

How to apply Look for Biblical commands to follow Look for Biblical exhortations to follow Look for Biblical examples to learn from Look for Biblical promises to count on Look for Biblical principles to apply

How to apply Ask yourself, “What now?” What do I need to do? What specific steps do I need to take? What do I need to stop? What do I need to believe?

Final day options A full final exam study A mini study and then Creation movie Q & A and then Creation movie A class study through a passage

Preparation for creationism Purchase Dismantling Evolution by Ralph O. Muncaster