Author: hillturnfs

Bible study is so much more than just learning about God’s Word. It’s a life transforming process as we apply it to our lives. Application of what you’ve learned is the critical part of the inductive process. Once you know what a passage of Scripture says you are then responsible for living it. God will hold you to a higher bar than those who do not know the spiritual truths you have learned.

James 1:22-25 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Application flows out through observation and correct interpretation. Application begins with belief, which then results in doing. Application takes place as you are confronted with God’s truth and respond to it in obedience. The glorious end result of application is transformation. Transformation is sanctification by the Holy Spirit as you are made more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Application answers the following questions:

How does the meaning of this passage apply to me?

What truths am I to embrace, believe, or order my life by?

What changes should I make in my belief, in my life?

As verified in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we must apply Scripture in the light of its teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. God could not be clearer about this. These are key to the application of Scripture as instructions for our life. Scripture will never benefit your life if you don’t apply what you’ve learned.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

NOTE – My blog series on Bible study, Bible interpretation and Bible application relied heavily on the book “How to Study Your Bible” by Kay Arthur.

The Bible is a timeless book – it’s for all people for all time. The Bible is good literature because God employed good laws of composition when He wrote it. The intent was to make the Bible easily understood by the reader. Be aware of the following:

1. Preparation or introduction – The presentation of background information to prepare the reader for what follows.
2. Comparison – Comparing of things in order to show similarities. A comparison is the association of like things.
3. Contrast – Comparing things in order to show differences. Contrast is the association of opposites.
4. Repetition – Using the same word or phrase a number of times.
5. Progression – An extension of a specific theme throughout a portion of Scripture, sometimes with addition or amplification.
6. Climax – The high point built by a progression from the lesser to the greater (i.e. peak of intensity).
7. Pivotal Point – A changing or a turning in which the elements on each side of the point differ in some way.
8. Radiation – The central or single point from which or to which other truths point.
9. Interchange – The alternating, in sequence, of at least two main thoughts, subjects, or characteristics.
10. General to Particular – A move from the extensive or general to the specific. It could also be vice versa.
11. Cause and Effect – A move from the source to the consequence. It could also be vice versa.
12. Explanation or Analysis – The presentation of an idea or event followed by its explanation.
13. Interrogation – The presentation of a question, usually followed by its answer.
14. Summarization – Restating the main points, to sum up or to briefly restate particular truths.

In Bible study my first love has always been prophecy. It’s what drew me to the Bible in the first place. From Genesis to Revelation the Bible is filled with prophecy. The Bible is one third prophecy. The word prophecy is from the Greek and means to speak forth the mind and counsel of God. Predictive prophecy points to a future fulfillment and is of divine origin. God had two purposes for predictive prophecy. The main purpose is to affect the conduct of those who hear the prophecy. God wants us to know what will happen so we’ll be ready. The second purpose of prophecy is to prove God is who He says He is. As the author of history only Almighty God knows the end from the beginning.

Principle #1 – The prophets did not always indicate intervals of time between events, nor did they always write their prophecies in chronological order.

Principle #2 – Always approach a prophecy as literal unless it’s clearly figurative language or a literal interpretation violates common sense or is contrary to the Scriptures.

Principle #3 – When a prophetic passage cannot be taken literally, look for what the author is trying to convey through his figurative or symbolic language.

Principle #4 – Remember that often when a prophet refers to future events, he does not use the future tense.

Principle #5 – When you interpret Scripture, consider the historical context of that writing, remembering that God was delivering His prophecy to a particular people at a particular time.

Principle #6 – Remember that the meaning of a specific prophecy could not always be understood by the prophet or by the people who heard the message.

Principle #7 – Remember that many New Testament prophecies include Old Testament quotations and allusions (use cross-references).

Principle #8 – When you study prophecy, watch for phrases that indicate periods of time (i.e. “in the last days” or “at the end of the age.”).

ALLEGORIES: The Word of God contains allegories. An allegory is a story with an underlying meaning that differs from the surface facts of the story itself. It describes one thing by using the image of another. An allegory is a realistic or nonrealistic story created to teach one or more truths which may or may not be related. Two examples of allegories in Scripture; when Jesus refers to the vine and the branches; and the bond woman and the free woman (Hagar and Sarah). Follow these guidelines when interpreting an allegory:

1. List the features of the allegory.

2. Note any interpretation given within the text of the allegory.

3. Do not interpret an unexplained detail in an allegory in a way that would contradict the clear teaching of the Word of God.

4. Do not try to identify all the features of an allegory.

TYPES: A type is a prophetic symbol designated by God. A mark, impression or image that prefigures something to come. That which it prefigures is called an antitype, of which there is only one. For example, Adam was a type of Christ as indicated in Romans 5:14. In 1 Corinthians 15:45, Christ is referred to as “the last Adam.” In both examples Christ is the antitype. If something is a type you don’t have to guess because the Word will clearly designate it as such.

SYMBOLS: A symbol is a picture or an object that stands for or represents another thing. For example, the seven candlesticks mentioned in Revelation 1:20 represent the seven churches described in Revelation 2 and 3.

1. A symbol can symbolize different things in different passages. Water symbolizes the Word of God in Ephesians 5:26 and the Holy Spirit in John 7:37-39.

2. In a given passage a symbol is intended to have a single parallel.

3. Interpret symbols in light of the biblical setting and culture and not our own.

4. Symbols are timeless and can symbolize something past, present, or future.

A parable is a story designed to make one central point by teaching a moral lesson or truth. Parables amplify or affirm doctrine rather than establishing it, because parables are more obscure than clear doctrinal passages. Bible prophecy said the coming Messiah would teach in parables and Jesus was the fulfillment of that prophecy because Jesus often used parables in His teaching. Jesus used parable for two reasons, to reveal truth to believers and to hide truth from unbelievers.

Parable interpretation:

1. Determine why the parable was told.

2. Look for the explanation of the meaning of the parable by the speaker.

3. Identify the central or focal idea of the parable.

4. Identify the relevant and irrelevant details. A detail is relevant only if it reinforces the central point of the parable.

5. Interpret parables in the context of the culture of Bible times rather than the culture of today.

6. Parable should never be the primary or only source for establishing doctrine.

Studying the parables in the Bible will give you a much better understanding of God’s Word. There are 58 parables in the Old Testament and the New Testament contains 54 parables. No, I didn’t count them. I found a listing of all Bible parables in my Willmington’s Guide to the Bible. A good Bible guide is invaluable for studying God’s Word. I stumbled upon mine at Goodwill and paid a dollar for it but you can find one on on-line for $20-$30.

God gave us a Bible easy to read and understand. It was written in the language of the people with its various writing styles and including a variety of figures of speech. A figure of speech is a word, phrase, or an expression used in a figurative rather than a literal sense. We are to read the Bible literally if it makes plain sense unless it is clear the writer is using a figure of speech. Once it’s clear a figure of speech is being used you must identify the type of figurative language being used.

SIMILE – An expressed or stated comparison of two different things or ideas that uses the connecting words like, as, such as, or as….so.

Example: “His eyes were LIKE a flame.” “As the deer pants for the water brooks, SO my soul pants for You, O God.”

METAPHOR – An implied comparison between two things that are different. No connecting words are used.

Example: “I am the vine, you are the branches.” “The sword of the Spirit.”

HYPERBOLE – A deliberate exaggeration for effect or emphasis.

Example: “My soul is crushed with longing.” “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.”

PERSONIFICATION – Giving an object the characteristics or attributes that belong to people.

Example: The trees of the fields will clap their hands.”

SYNECDOCHE – A figure of association where the whole can refer to the part or the part can refer to the whole.

In the Bible we see the use of the term “the law” which can refer to the first five books of the Old Testament (Pentateuch), the Ten Commandments, or the whole Old Testament, depending on the context.

METONYM – A figure of association where the name of one object or concept is used for that of another to which it is related.

“All the country of Judea was going out to him.” Country obviously refers to the people rather than the region itself.

IRONY – A statement which says the opposite of what is meant and used for emphasis or effect.

God doesn’t exhaust a subject or truth in just one book. God has instead chosen to give us bits and pieces of truth about the same subject in different books throughout the bible. To get an accurate picture of what God is telling you about a particular truth you need to study all the places in the Bible where that particular subject is taught. This is called cross-referencing. A cross-reference is a reference to another Scripture that supports, illuminates, or amplifies the Scripture you are studying. You are comparing Scripture with Scripture, not only for confirmation and revelation, but also to ensure there is no discrepancy in the message.

If there is there’s a contradiction then there’s a problem somewhere because Scripture never contradicts Scripture. A concordance will list all cross-references to a particular Scripture. For serious Bible study you will also need Bible commentaries for both the Old and New Testaments. Before you begin your study of a particular book of the Bible read background information about the book in your commentary. It will give you an introduction to the book along with notes and the message and purpose of the book.

Bible commentaries also tell you who wrote the book along with the approximate date or dates the book was written and where the writing took place. If the book was written to a particular audience the commentaries will document it. You can pick Bible commentaries up in any Christian bookstore or on-line. I find it helpful to read historical books about how the people lived in and around Palestine during the time of Jesus. Understanding local customs and the geo-political system in place at that time gives insight as to why people thought and acted the way they did.

One valuable technique used in Bible study is studying words in their original languages in the Old and New Testaments. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek and some Aramaic and then translated into Greek and other languages such as English. The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew with some Aramaic and then translated into common Greek about 100 BC, which is referred to as the Septuagint. The New Testament was originally written in common Greek because it was the legal language at the time the New Testament was written. Greek fell into disuse after about 300 AD.

It’s often impossible to match the exact meaning of a word from one language to another. Sometimes the translator misunderstands the text he or she is translating. With verbs it’s sometimes hard to convey tense, voice, and mood when translated into another language. The purpose of word studies is to understand the meaning of a word or words in the context you are studying. Once you know the original meaning or use of a word, you can go back into the text and see how the original meaning enhances your understanding of the passage.

If you don’t know the original languages of the Bible you’ll need a concordance which shows where each word in a particular translation is used throughout the Bible. In addition, a concordance contains Hebrew and Greek dictionaries so you can look up the original meaning of words. The Bible I favor is the New King James Version (NKJV) so I use a Strong’s Concordance which is keyed to my old King James Bible (KJV). Every serious student of Bible study needs their own concordance. Another essential tool used for word study is an expository dictionary which gives more expansive definitions. There are several to choose from but I use Vine’s since it’s also keyed to the KJV Bible.

Principle #7 – Check your conclusions by using reliable commentaries

Analytical commentaries are better than devotional commentaries for inductive Bible study. Use commentaries that examine the text with integrity and give explanations and comments that are in keeping with the context. Make sure you use commentaries written be scholars who believe in the inerrancy of the Word. If possible, check out more than one commentary on the book you are studying so you can weigh the various interpretations against your own conclusions. No one person has a corner on all the truth. Always double check to make sure any commentator is handling the text correctly.

Don’t take as fact everything someone else says or writes just because they are called an “expert”. Some commentators simply borrow from others and don’t do the basics of inductive study themselves. Compare what you have discovered with what others say. Be wary if in your study you find something no one has seen before. God probably would not blind godly men to the truth for almost 2,000 years and suddenly reveal it to you. Use the following checklist when drawing conclusions from you interpretations:

1. Do not contradict the context of the book, chapter, or passage you are studying. Context is always king in interpretation; it rules. A text out of context is a pretext.

2. Do not violate the general theme of the book you are studying.

3. Check to see if your conclusions are in accordance or agreement with what others have said on the same subject.

4. Make sure your conclusions do not violate other biblical truths.

5. Make sure your conclusions are not “prejudiced” to one particular doctrine or school of theology, as this often distorts one’s interpretation.

Principle #4 – Do not base your doctrine on an obscure passage

An obscure passage is one in which the meaning is not understood easily. Because these passages are difficult to understand even when proper principles of interpretation are used, they should not be used as a basis for establishing doctrine. Doctrine should be based on the clean repeated teachings in the Scriptures.

Principle #5 – Interpret Scripture literally

God has spoken to us through His Word that we might know His truth. Therefore take the Word of God at face value in its natural, normal sense. Look first for the clear teaching of the Scriptures, not some hidden meaning. Understand and recognize figures of speech and interpret them accordingly. Consider what is being said in light of its literary style. Similes and metaphors are more prevalent in prophetic literature than in historical or biographical books. Proverbs is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Proverbs are wise sayings that are generally true for living a happy and productive life in service to God. However, proverbs are not doctrine and cannot be interpreted as prophecies or absolute promises from God for all people for all time.

Principle #6 – Look for God’s intended meaning in the passage

There is a reason God has placed every story in the Bible. Try to look past the story for the reason God included it in His Word. Every single word in the Bible is there for a reason. The Bible was written over a span of 1500 years by forty different writers moved by the Holy Spirit. Almighty God is the real author of all Scripture.