The Three Steps of Bible Study

[Van]

The first step - Interpretation - involves trying to determine what God's intended message was to the initial audience. This involves looking at the verse or passage in context and following the flow of thought, asking questions like "What point is the author making?"

The second step - principlization - involves trying to determine what timeless principles are being taught, applicable to the first audience and to us many years later. This is where we deal with difficult issues like "cultural accommodation" where something taught in the 1st century to deal with that culture, has no application now.

The third step - application - involves trying to determine how to apply the timeless principles to our lives. As a side note, a teacher or preacher would need to tread lightly in seeing how it might be applied to their life, and then attempting to apply it in the same light to others.

 

[Deacon]

I usually add observation as a first step.

Observe: collect the data, ask questions​

Observe
Interpret
Evaluate
Apply

Rob

 

[Van]

I usually add observation as a first step.

Observe: collect the data, ask questions​

Observe
Interpret
Evaluate
Apply

Rob

My memory is not as it once was, you can change "interpretation" to "observation"and fair seas are ahead.

 

[Van]

Using the historical method of observation/interpretation, key word studies will provide the range of meanings of those words. This is how the author and others used the word. For example, John usually used the word translated "world" to mean fallen mankind or the corrupt value system of fallen mankind. Thus if in context, one of those meanings fit, that is probably the intended message. One of the poor practices of observation would be to choose different meanings for the use by the same author using the same word. For example, claim that "all" means everything imaginable, but then clam the same word used by the same author means a limited subset of everything imaginable. Not likely. All means the subset of everything that the author had in mind.

Another key observation is the sentence structure. This of course is only helpful if the source language grammar has been translated using formal equivalence. The best choice for this facet of observation is the NASB. Another way to approach this facet of observation would be to use the NET bible, and its footnotes, free online. Dr. Wallace is a true expert in Greek grammar, and his interpretation of the meaning presented or required by the Greek grammar is as solid as one can find among fallible and biased commentators.

 

[Van]

One Pastor said, figure out what you want to say in your sermon, then look up verses of scripture to support your view. That is the "what this verse means to me" approach, which reduces bible study to a "anything goes" agenda. Anyone can make the Bible say what they want, but to make ourselves subject to what the bible says, that takes humility, study and prayer.

The actual message is not our view, but what the original author intended. To get there, we must have an appreciation of the history and culture of the author's original audience.

 

[Van]

Let's take quick look at a verse:
Acts 17:18 And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

Because of my limited and dubious education, the"bolded" phrase falls outside my kin. Here is where some tools for study come in. Next to a bible (NASB in my case) I need an English Dictionary and a Bible Dictionary. In them I can quickly get a handle on their beliefs, and understand better their observations in light of their view.

 

[MartyF]

The first step - Interpretation - involves trying to determine what God's intended message was to the initial audience. This involves looking at the verse or passage in context and following the flow of thought, asking questions like "What point is the author making?"

The second step - principlization - involves trying to determine what timeless principles are being taught, applicable to the first audience and to us many years later. This is where we deal with difficult issues like "cultural accommodation" where something taught in the 1st century to deal with that culture, has no application now.

The third step - application - involves trying to determine how to apply the timeless principles to our lives. As a side note, a teacher or preacher would need to tread lightly in seeing how it might be applied to their life, and then attempting to apply it in the same light to others.

I usually add observation as a first step.
Observe: collect the data, ask questions
Observe
Interpret
Evaluate
Apply

Rob

This reminds me of . . .

 

[HankD]

This reminds me of . . .

Marty would you say that the following passage MIGHT apply?

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I usually add observation as a first step.

Observe: collect the data, ask questions​

Observe
Interpret
Evaluate
Apply

Rob

Rob, I ask this only with respect for you. Why do you do the Bible studies rather than the pastor? I will qualify this by saying that in my own religious society we emphasize that the pastor does all the teaching and the family all listen to the sermon, teaching time etc

 

[HankD]

Rob, I ask this only with respect for you. Why do you do the Bible studies rather than the pastor? I will qualify this by saying that in my own religious society we emphasize that the pastor does all the teaching and the family all listen to the sermon, teaching time etc

"Small Group" study?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

"Small Group" study?

Why would you do that? Would that allow for full family participation?

 

[HankD]

Why would you do that? Would that allow for full family participation?

Its the newest fad, the newest man made solution.

It doesn't seem to be working overall but lets give it some more time.

My local church has 252 for kids, teen group.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Its the newest fad, the newest man made solution.

It doesn't seem to be working overall but lets give it some more time.

My local church has 252 for kids, teen group.

Easy target for the wolves I’m thinking.

 

[HankD]

Easy target for the wolves I’m thinking.

Most of the sheep are no matter what kind of fellowship groups they are involved with.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

even the men’s group meeting I sat in... they were studying from a book written by a atheist (if you could believe it)

 

[HankD]

even the men’s group meeting I sat in... they were studying from a book written by a atheist (if you could believe it)

Well, I could see that for an informational study if one is looking for an understanding of WHY God has been abandoned by so many people in 21st century America.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Well, I could see that for an informational study if one is looking for an understanding of WHY God has been abandoned by so many people in 21st century America.

I’d say the cornerstone to that in one word “Humanism”

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Most of the sheep are no matter what kind of fellowship groups they are involved with.

Not a PB church... they stress family, but we have discussed that before.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

Rob, I ask this only with respect for you. Why do you do the Bible studies rather than the pastor? I will qualify this by saying that in my own religious society we emphasize that the pastor does all the teaching and the family all listen to the sermon, teaching time etc

If the men of the church are not involved in Bible study, only the pastor, then that leaves no one to discern when the pastor may be led astray. Having a pastor lead everything solves nothing. Even entire churches can be led astray.

“In theory, theory is the same as practice, but in practice it ain’t.”

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

If the men of the church are not involved in Bible study, only the pastor, then that leaves no one to discern when the pastor may be led astray. Having a pastor lead everything solves nothing. Even entire churches can be led astray.

“In theory, theory is the same as practice, but in practice it ain’t.”

The elders are all there when the pastor teaches and preaches so if the pastor is messing up then they will jump in to correct and if need be to take over. This is not the pope like the the First Fundamentalist Baptist of Smalltown USA. It’s totally under control. Now if you don’t understand something the board of elders and /or the Pastor will work with you till it’s clear. You then pass it on to your family. All in the church and all in the family.