HANDLE WITH CARE RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH An Equipping Class based on “How to Study Your Bible” © Precept Ministries International We’re so sorry!! But due to technical difficulties on Sunday we are unable to include the audio portion of the Feb. 1/15 lesson.

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OBSERVATION WHAT DOES IT SAY?

People Locations Events Key Words Expressions of Time Contrasts Comparisons Conclusions Warnings Exhortations Commands Ask Questions Make Lists Identify Chapter Themes

INTERPRETATION WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

PRINCIPLES FOR INTERPRETATION 1.Remember that context rules

REMEMBER THAT CONTEXT RULES When you interpret anything – a word, a verse, a teaching – it must be considered in light of: the surrounding verses and chapters the book in which it is found the entire Word of God BIBLE BOOK VERSE CHAPTER

CONTEXT RULES In Matthew 7... What did Jesus mean when He said, “Judge not?” Context says: It’s about a type of judgment It warns against a type of attitude It calls for a type of action 1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

PRINCIPLES FOR INTERPRETATION 1.Remember that context rules 2.Always seek the full counsel of the Word of God

ALWAYS SEEK THE FULL COUNSEL OF THE WORD OF GOD The Bible is the best interpreter and commentator of the Bible. A biblical teaching is one which is taught by the whole Bible. The more of the Bible you are familiar with the more accurate your interpretation will be.

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7 ESV) FULL COUNSEL Will God give us anything we ask for? Short answer: NO! Other biblical teaching on prayer shows the importance of: Abiding in Him Asking according to His will Asking with right motives

PRINCIPLES FOR INTERPRETATION 1.Remember that context rules 2.Always seek the full counsel of the Word of God 3.Remember that Scripture will never contradict Scripture

REMEMBER THAT SCRIPTURE WILL NEVER CONTRADICT SCRIPTURE ALL SCRIPTURE is inspired. All of it is God-breathed. All of it is God-breathed. If you find a contradiction then your interpretation of at least one passage is incomplete or wrong. And sometimes we need to humble ourselves and live with some “holy tension.”

PRINCIPLES FOR INTERPRETATION 1.Remember that context rules 2.Always seek the full counsel of the Word of God 3.Remember that Scripture will never contradict Scripture 4.Do not base doctrine on obscure passages of Scripture

DO NOT BASE DOCTRINE ON OBSCURE PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE An OBSCURE PASSAGE is one in which the meaning is not easily understood... even when proper principles of interpretation are used. Don’t use them for doctrine Doctrine should be based on clear repeated teachings in the Scripture

OBSCURE PASSAGES Beyond “believers baptism,” should we also be practicing “dead people baptism?” Short answer: Don’t think so

PRINCIPLES FOR INTERPRETATION 1.Remember that context rules 2.Always seek the full counsel of the Word of God 3.Remember that Scripture will never contradict Scripture 4.Do not base doctrine on obscure passages of Scripture 5.Interpret Scripture literally

INTERPRET SCRIPTURE LITERALLY The Bible is a SUPER-NATURAL book but not necessarily a MYSTICAL book. Take the Word of God at face value, in its natural, normal sense. Accept the usual, literal sense of the words unless you have reason to believe they are figurative or allegorical.

PRINCIPLES FOR INTERPRETATION 1.Remember that context rules 2.Always seek the full counsel of the Word of God 3.Remember that Scripture will never contradict Scripture 4.Do not base doctrine on obscure passages of Scripture 5.Interpret Scripture literally 6.Look for the author’s intended meaning of the passage

LOOK FOR THE AUTHOR’S INTENDED MEANING OF THE PASSAGE Always try to understand what the author had in mind when you interpret a portion of the Bible Put yourself in the writer’s sandals Put yourself in the writer’s sandals Set aside your preconceptions Recover the writer’s intent – including the ultimate Author of all Scripture

GO WITH THE AUTHOR’S INTENT Is “fleece setting” God’s intended means of seeking God’s will? Short answer: No The fleece wasn’t about determining God’s will but about testing God’s ways. “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Deuteronomy 6:16) 36 Then Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. (Judges 6:36-38 ESV)

PRINCIPLES FOR INTERPRETATION 1.Remember that context rules 2.Always seek the full counsel of the Word of God 3.Remember that Scripture will never contradict Scripture 4.Do not base doctrine on obscure passages of Scripture 5.Interpret Scripture literally 6.Look for the author’s intended meaning of the passage 7.Check your conclusions by using reliable commentaries

CHECK YOUR CONCLUSIONS BY USING RELIABLE COMMENTARIES Check your conclusions and interpretation with credible scholars and teachers. ValidatesEducatesSafeguards

PRINCIPLES FOR INTERPRETATION 1.Remember that context rules 2.Always seek the full counsel of the Word of God 3.Remember that Scripture will never contradict Scripture 4.Do not base doctrine on obscure passages of Scripture 5.Interpret Scripture literally 6.Look for the author’s intended meaning of the passage 7.Check your conclusions by using reliable commentaries

CHECKING YOUR INTERPRETATION YOUR INTERPRETATION OR CONCLUSION IS ON PRETTY SOLID GROUND IF: It is aligned to the context of the passage, the chapter, the book, the Bible It is aligned to the context of the passage, the chapter, the book, the Bible It is consistent with the general theme of the book It is consistent with the general theme of the book It is in agreement with what the author has said in other books of his writing It is in agreement with what the author has said in other books of his writing It is not in violation of other biblical truths It is not in violation of other biblical truths It is not “prejudiced” by one particular doctrine or school of theology. It is not “prejudiced” by one particular doctrine or school of theology.

NEXT WEEK... BREAKOUT GROUPS “STANDING FIRM” Week 1 review Week 1 review Day 7 Questions Day 7 Questions

HANDLE WITH CARE RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH