Going Deep in the Bible

What is the Bible? Two possible answers: Words of man about God? or Word of God

Word of God Revelation Authority Truth Wisdom & Guidance Comfort & Hope Correction Revelation not speculation. Authority not advice. True not full of mistakes.

Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi What’s in the Bible? Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua, Judges Ruth, Esther 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings 1 & 2 Chronicles Ezra, Nehemiah Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah (& Lamentations) Ezekiel Daniel Hebrews James 1 & 2 Peter Jude 1-3 John -- Revelation Hosea, Joel Amos, Obadiah Jonah, Micah Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi Matthew Mark Luke John -- Acts Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 & 2 Thess 1 & 2 Timothy Philemon, Titus

Getting to know the Bible It takes time Little and often Find a good reading plan youversion.com audio Bibles Daily reading notes

Richly Interconnected You can’t make sense of the NT without the OT OT is quoted 485 times in NT As many, if not more allusions “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:51 Cross-references and study Bibles esvbible.org

Bible Intertextuality

Richly Interconnected You can’t make sense of the OT without the NT And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:27 Jesus is the central character of the whole Bible

Richly Interconnected Many stories are told more than once Jesus’ birth in Matthew & Luke Paul’s conversion three times in Acts Resurrection in all four gospels and 1 Cor 15 Repeated words and phrases “Grace and peace” Do not be afraid

Psalm 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Meditation Devoting time to going deep in a passage Read it carefully, several times Read it in multiple versions Memorise it Print it out, make your own notes

Gaining Understanding Can we understand it by ourselves? Roman Catholics: Bible and church Evangelicals: Bible and studying Charismatics: Bible and the Holy Spirit

Psa 36:5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Translations Literal / Formal Equivalence Dynamic Equivalence e.g. ESV, KJV Dynamic Equivalence e.g. NIV Paraphrase e.g. NLT, Message

Translation Difficulties Idioms and euphemisms (e.g. Gen 4:1) Now Adam knew Eve his wife (ESV) Adam made love to his wife Eve, (NIV) Adam slept with Eve his wife (MSG) Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve. (NLT) Another example is Jer 4:4 – circumcise your hearts

Translation Difficulties Original words or modern equivalents (Col 1:2) “To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:” ESV “To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ:” NIV

Study Aids Concordance Expositions Commentaries Original Language Tools

Concordances Find all places where a word is used Study Bibles Online search biblegateway.com esvbible.org Bible Software www.logos.com www.e-sword.net

Expositions Explain and apply the Bible verse by verse Phil Moore “Straight to the Heart” Tom Wright “For Everyone…” Sermon Series

Commentaries Explain the original meaning in detail Leave the application to the reader Can be quite academic Often come in series Bible Speaks Today Pillar Commentaries New International Commentary Zondervan Exegetical Commentary NIV Application Commentary

Original Language Tools Greek and Hebrew word definitions Interlinear Bibles Bible software ESV Greek Tools biblewebapp.com

Summary Make it your life’s ambition to know the book It is key to knowing God Get a grip on the big picture Start to see the interconnections Choose shorter sections to go deep into Meditate on it Make use of the resources available to you