Agree or Disagree?

Agree or Disagree?

The Bible Is God’s Word, his perfect revelation to us.

The Bible is our guidebook in life.

We should obey everything the Bible commands us to do.

We should claim every promise in the Bible.

“This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old.”Exodus 29:38

“‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales ... you are to detest.”Leviticus 11:9-11

What about New Testament commands?

“Greet one another with a kiss of love.” 1 Peter 5:14

“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Mark 10:21


But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her head….” 1 Cor. 11:5

Agree or Disagree?

The Bible Is God’s Word, his perfect revelation to us.

The Bible is our guidebook in life.

We should obey everything the Bible commands us to do.

We ought to interpret the Bible “Literally”

“And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.”

Revelation 13:1

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”Isaiah 55:12

How to Read the BibleNOT

How to Read the Bible

Mark L. Strauss

Bethel Seminary San Diego

1. What the Bible is NOT:

a. The Bible is not a magic answer book.

But what if she had read:

Isaiah 33:20: Look upon Zion… a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its ropes broken.

Gail’s Verse: Luke 4:43: But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

“They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the LORD’s majesty.”

Isaiah 24:14

“Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD;exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.”

Isaiah 24:15

What the Bible is NOT:

a. The Bible is not a magic ANSWER BOOK.

Question: Does God speak through random verses taken out of context?

• Abortion• Euthanasia• Drugs abuse• Gambling• Child Abuse• Spousal Abuse

• Stem cell research• War and Pacifism• Genetic Engineering• Birth Control• Pre-marital sex

What does the Bible say about…?

The Bible does not even address many issues of current concern.


b. A list of COMMANDS to obey.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.Deuteronomy 6:5

We obey many commands in the Bible:

Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.Proverbs 31:6-7

“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son... Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you.”Deuteronomy 21:18-21

But what about these commands?

“For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.”Exodus 35:2

Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material. Leviticus 19:19


Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 1 Corinthians 11:14

Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 1 Corinthians 7:27


c. The Bible is not a list of PROMISES to claim.

Is “every promise” in the Book mine?

“Every promise in the Book is mineEvery chapter, every verse, every line”

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Jeremiah 29:11

Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and I will make them like figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them.” Jeremiah 29:17–19

The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity.Deuteronomy 28:11

Poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. Proverbs 6:11

The Problem:

The Bible was not written to us!

The Problem:

The Bible was not written to us!

The Problem:

The Bible was not written to us……But it was written for us!

2. What the Bible IS:

a. The Bible is God’s Word, his MESSAGE to humanity.

All Scripture is God–breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16–17

What the Bible IS:

b. The Bible is Human Words, delivered through human agents and circumstances.

“And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.”

Revelation 13:1

This is “Apocalyptic,” a literary form common in the first century.

USTHEM

Chasm of time, place, culture, and language

The Interpretive “Bridge”

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.1 Corinthians 10:31

“But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her head….” 1 Corinthians 11:5

A Letter:

What the Bible IS:

c. The Bible is THE STORY of God’s dealings with human beings.

The Divine Drama of Redemption

CREATION FALL REDEMPTION

THE STORY:

•Teaches us who God is and who we are

•Reveals how we ought to live in relationship to God and relationship to one another

•Gives us the framework to recognize God’s purpose and will

8 (Radically) Sensible Principles for Bible Reading

1. Don’t Study the Bible

….READ IT!!

2. Don’t Read “Books” of the Bible…

….READ STORIES, LETTERS, POEMS, PROVERBS…


Identifying the Genre (literary form) is essential for determining

both the MEANING and the APPLICATION

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”Isaiah 55:12

Genre?

Poetry

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:1

Genre?

Speculative Wisdom

Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead….”

Luke 10:30

Genre?

A Parable

Identifying the Genre (literary form) is essential for determining

both the MEANING and the APPLICATION

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.

Proverbs 26:4

Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:5

Genre?

Proverb

Proverbs are general truths providing guidance for godly living, not absolute

truths or promises to claim

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith.”1 Timothy 1:1-2

• Was this letter written to you?• Are the commands given to you?• Are the exhortations meant for you?

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to come to me quickly…When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

2 Timothy 4:13

3. Don’t read Chapters & Verses……READ

SENTENCES, PARAGRAPHS, AND SECTIONS


Problems with Chapters and Verses:

a. They create artificial and unnatural divisions. b. They obscure the literary form of the

document.

Which looks like poetry?

This:

1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers.2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which

yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4. The wicked are not so, But they are lid chaff which the wind drives away.5. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.6. For the LORD knows the way of the rightesou, But the way of the wicked will perish.

Or this: Psalm 1 Blessed are those

who do not walk in step with the wickedor stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers, but who delight in the law of the LORD

and meditate on his law day and night. They are like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

Not so the wicked!They are like chaffthat the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked will be destroyed.

Which looks like a letter?

This:

1¶ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 ¶ To Timothy my true son in the faith: ¶ Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 ¶ As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work — which is by faith.

5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 8 ¶ We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. would believe on him and receive eternal life.9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

Or This:Paul, to Timothy.

This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth. Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God. The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

Which looks like a story?

This:

9 Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city. 2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes.” 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? 5 “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and

walk’? 6 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He *said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he got up and went home. 8 But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He *said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.

Or this:

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home! Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.

Problems with Chapters and Verses:

a. They create artificial and unnatural divisions. b. They obscure the literary form of the

document.c. They encourage “micro reading” instead of

“macro reading”.d. They encourage people to take “verses” out of

context.

4. Don’t Look for YOUR meaning…

…FIRST LOOK FOR THE HISTORICAL AUTHOR’S MEANING


Don’t first ask,

What does this verse mean to me?

Ask,

What was the original author trying to communicate to the original readers?

• Paul tells us to glorify God in all that we do (1 Cor. 10:31)

• Paul tells women and wives to keep their heads covered in worship (1 Cor. 11:5)

We should say,

“Paul tells the Corinthians…”

• Peter tells us to abstain from sinful desires (1 Pet. 2:11)

• Peter tells us to greet one another with a kiss of love (1 Pet. 5:14).

We should say,

“Peter tells the believers in Asia Minor…”

• Peter tells wives not to braid their hair or wear gold jewelry (1 Pet. 3:3)

• Peter tells wives to submit to their husbands (1 Pet. 3:1)

We should first say,

“Peter tells first century Christian wives…”

Then we ask, “How does this apply today?”

5. Don’t read with 21st Century Eyes…

…ENTER THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE TEXT


The Biblical documents were written in a linguistic, historical, cultural, social and political context far removed from our own.

To understand them, we must enter that world.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this

continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the

proposition that all men are created equal…

• Authorship?• Date/Provenance?• Recipients?• Occasion?• Purpose?

Gettysburg, PA, Nov. 19, 1863

Abraham Lincoln, 16th US President

After bloodiest battle of Civil War

American public devastated by War

Unify and Inspire a Nation

• Authorship Paul the Apostle, Church planter

What is the historical context of 1 Corinthians?

• Date/Place

• Recipients

• Occasion

• Purpose

About A.D. 55, from Ephesus; Paul’s 3rd missionary journey.The immature, struggling church at Corinth Problems in the Church; Questions

To call the church to unity and maturity

6. Don’t claim (all) the Bible’s promises…

…SEEK GOD’S PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR CREATION


Ask questions like:

What does God’s promise to Abraham (Gen. 12, 15 ) tell us about his nature and his purpose for humanity?

What does God’s promise to Israel in their Babylonian captivity (Jer. 29:11) tell us about the possibility of redemption and restoration?

7. Don’t obey every command in the Bible…

…DISCOVER GOD’S WILL FOR HIS PEOPLE


Ask questions like:

What does God’s command to Israel to rest on the Sabbath teach us about his nature and desire for human beings?

What do God’s commands for men to lift their hands in worship and women to cover their hair teach us about his desire for Christian worship?

8. Don’t seek “quick answers” to your problems……LEARN TO WALK IN

STEP WITH THE SPIRIT.


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