Methods of Bible Study Week 3

Genres of the New Testament And an Inductive Study of Colossians

GENRE: the GOSPELS CHALLENGES “Pericopes” = pronouncement stories Jesus did not write the gospels “Pericopes” = pronouncement stories Four gospels by four authors “synoptic” gospels = Matthew, Mark, Luke Different Christian communities They stand together: Facts about Jesus Teachings of Jesus Bear witness to Jesus

The Gospels continued GUIDELINES: 1st century Judaism Written about Jesus Written by 4 men Written to different audiences Historical Context- Culture & Religion Jesus 1st century Judaism Audience- disciples, crowds, opponents

The Gospels continued Authors Selectivity Arrangement Adaptation Matthew Mark Luke John

The Gospels continued PROCESS Observe- What do I see? Individual stories & discourses Who, What, Where, When, How Collective stories & discourses Connections, comparisons Literary forms Parable, hyperbole, proverbs, simile & metaphor, question, irony

The Gospels continued Interpret- What does it mean? How does it relate to Here and Now? Think horizontally- what do the other gospels say? Appreciate the distinctives Think vertically- How does this represent Jesus? Look for how Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecy Look for the eternal, cross-cultural, timeless truths

The Gospels continued Apply- What do I do? What is the timeless truth? Meditate, Practice Who should I be? How should I think? What should I do? Where should I go? Who will I teach? Remember: we live in the tension of already and not yet…

Genre: the PARABLES CHALLENGES Hard to understand Original audience Was Jesus trying to be obtuse? Original audience Hear what they heard = cultural context

The Parables continued GUIDELINES The point of the parable is crucial The purpose is to respond in a certain way Definitions: True parable is a story with an intended response Similitudes were illustrations taken from everyday life Allegory assigns separate meanings to all elements of the story and those become the point of the story

The Parables continued PROCESS Observe- What are the key points of reference? Read again and again Interpret- What was the point? Apply- What do I do? Translate the point into my cultural context All the parables in some way proclaim the Kingdom of God and the urgency of choosing Him

Genre: ACTS CHALLENGES Is it precedent or principle? Norm to be restored or ideal to be approximated? What is our purpose in reading? History Devotionally

Acts continued GUIDELINES Luke Gentile Holy Spirit inspired Hellenistic historiography = written to encourage, entertain, moralize, inform, offer an apologetic

Acts continued PROCESS Observe- What do I see? Read again and again! Who, what, where, when, how Repetition of words, themes Find the summary statements 1st = Acts 6:7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts continued Interpret- What does it mean? Apply – What do I do? Luke is demonstrating the movement of the gospel Not a theological treatise What is the point of each passage? Apply – What do I do? Principle? Timeless Truths, Luke’s intent What is explicit/ imperative? = primary Precedent? (All of us do this, but inconsistently!) What is implied, derived? = secondary

Genre: the EPISTLES CHALLENGES One-sided telephone call! Problem passages God’s word to THEM, not us Details may be difficult, but what is the bigger point? Humility Application There and Then coming to the Here and Now Cultural relativity

The Epistles continued GUIDELINES Occasional documents = written in 1st century to specific audience in a specific situation Not written to be theological treatises Caution: we may come asking questions they were not asking! “Task theology” Theology applied and directed to a specific need

The Epistles continued Common form: Introduction Author Audience Greeting Prayer of thanksgiving Body Conclusion Final greeting Farewell Etc.

The Epistles continued PROCESS Observe- What do I see? Read- entire letter at one time, out loud! Reconstruct- the big picture Who, what, where, when, why, how of their situation Repeat! For smaller sections and paragraphs

The Epistles continued Interpret- What does it mean? Paragraphs: What is the point? Series of Paragraphs: What is the point? Trace the answers to the question(s), paragraph by paragraph Timeless Truths – what is central to the message of all of Scripture? Consistently taught throughout all of Scripture? Inherently true in all situations?

The Epistles continued Apply- What do I do? Timeless Truths- find a parallel contemporary situation A text can never mean what it never meant Practice: Who should I be? How should I think? What should I do? Where should I go? Who will I teach?

INDUCTIVE METHOD COLOSSIANS Observe- What do I see? Interpret- What does it mean? Apply- What do I do?