Living by the Book

An Introduction to Bible Study Methods

Week 2

Where have we been?

•Observation•Interpretation•Application•Correlation

Titus 3:3-8

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

Titus 3:3-8

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:3-8

This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.

Where are we going?

•Observation•Interpretation•Application•Correlation

Interpretation

Applying meaning to what has been observed.

Interpretation is perhaps the most difficult and time-consuming of these three steps [observation, interpretation, and application].

Basic Bible Interpretation by Roy Zuck

Interpretation

How wide is the divide?

Biblical World•Actual people•Actual places•Actual problems•Actual encounters

Today’s World•Actual people•Actual places•Actual problems•Actual encounters

Chronological

Geographical

Cultural

Linguistic

Literary

Supernatural

Interpretation

• Hazards to Avoid– Misreading the text– Distorting the text– Contradicting the text– Subjectivism– Relativism– Overconfidence

Interpretation

• Five Keys to Interpretation– Content– Context– Comparison– Culture– Consultation

Consultation

• Concordances• Bible dictionaries• Bible handbooks• Atlases• Bible Commentaries

Titus 3:3-8

• Content?• Context?

– Broaden scope

• Comparison?• Culture?• Consultation?

Titus 3:3-8

• Develop key learning from passage

• Surface secondary learning from passage

Next Week

•Observation•Interpretation•Application•Correlation