HOW TO READ THE BIBLE EFFECTIVELY. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a...

HOW TO READ THE BIBLE HOW TO READ THE BIBLE EFFECTIVELYEFFECTIVELY

Do your best to present yourself to God Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth.correctly handles the Word of Truth.

2 Tim. 2:152 Tim. 2:15

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE

Who Wrote the Bible? Who Wrote the Bible? ManMan wrote it down- inspired by wrote it down- inspired by GodGod..

2 Pet. 2 Pet. 1:211:21 ““For prophecy never had its origin For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.””

2 Tim. 2 Tim. 3:16a3:16a ““All Scripture is given by the All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God.inspiration of God.””

More than More than 3030 different authors with their different authors with their own writing style.own writing style.The OT was written inThe OT was written in HebrewHebrew (some parts (some parts

are in Aramaic – ex. Daniel 2).are in Aramaic – ex. Daniel 2).The NT was written in The NT was written in Greek.Greek.

Many authors wrote the words with their Many authors wrote the words with their own writing style, but there was ONE mind own writing style, but there was ONE mind behind it all: behind it all: GOD.GOD.

We must seek the guidance of the We must seek the guidance of the Holy Holy SpiritSpirit when we read the Bible. when we read the Bible.

The Power of GodThe Power of God’’s Word s Word

Living and active (Living and active (Heb. 4:12 Heb. 4:12 For For the word the word of God of God is living and active. Sharper than any is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.) heart.)

A probing instrument – A probing instrument – ““judges the thoughts judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heartand attitudes of the heart””

The Power of GodThe Power of God’’s Word s Word

The Power of God (The Power of God (Rom. 1:16 Rom. 1:16 I am not I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile) Gentile)

The Power of GodThe Power of God’’s Word s Word

Power to Change PeoplePower to Change People’’s Lives (s Lives (Acts 2:37 Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, other apostles, ““Brothers, what shall we Brothers, what shall we do?do?””))

GodGod’’s way of s way of communicatingcommunicating with with mankind.mankind.GodGod’’s spoken Word.s spoken Word.Records the story of GodRecords the story of God’’s s salvationsalvation plan. plan.John John 20:3120:31, , ““But these are written that you But these are written that you

may believe that Jesus is the may believe that Jesus is the ChristChrist, the Son , the Son of God, and that by believing you may haveof God, and that by believing you may have lifelife in his name in his name..””

The Purposes of the BibleThe Purposes of the Bible

The Purposes of the BibleThe Purposes of the Bible

DoctrineDoctrine

To avoid personal opinion - Personal To avoid personal opinion - Personal opinion leads to heresy (2 Tim. 3:16b opinion leads to heresy (2 Tim. 3:16b ““....and is profitable for doctrineand is profitable for doctrine….….””))

To avoid misguided reliance on the Holy To avoid misguided reliance on the Holy Spirit.Spirit.

The Purposes of the BibleThe Purposes of the Bible

Instruction manual (to benefit our lives)Instruction manual (to benefit our lives)2 Tim.2 Tim. 3:16b 3:16b ““and is profitable for and is profitable for doctrinedoctrine, ,

forfor reproofreproof, for, for correctioncorrection, for , for instructioninstruction in in righteousness.righteousness.””

2 Tim. 2 Tim. 4:24:2 ““Preach the Word; be prepared in Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; season and out of season; correctcorrect,, rebukerebuke and and encourageencourage-- with great patience and -- with great patience and careful instruction.careful instruction.””

GodGod’’s Word is absolutely important in our s Word is absolutely important in our lives. lives. It has to be the highest It has to be the highest standardstandard in our lives. in our lives.

ThatThat’’s why we need to s why we need to read it, study it, and read it, study it, and obey itobey it. .

Jesus said that the most important Jesus said that the most important commandment is commandment is ““Love the Lord your God Love the Lord your God with all your with all your heart, soul, mind, and strengthheart, soul, mind, and strength”” (Mark. 12:30). (Mark. 12:30).

““Loving God with all yourLoving God with all your mindmind”” is a vital is a vital part of our relationship with God. part of our relationship with God. Your mind is included in loving God. Your mind is included in loving God. You can You can serveserve someone you don someone you don’’t know, but t know, but

you cannot you cannot lovelove someone you do not know. someone you do not know. God wants us to know him through His WordGod wants us to know him through His Word. .

Phil. 1:9 Phil. 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in love may abound more and more in knowledgeknowledge and and depth of insightdepth of insight..

The more you get to know God, the deeper The more you get to know God, the deeper you will get to experience His love. you will get to experience His love.

THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLETHE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

Old Testament: 39 books New Testament: 27 books

The Law (Torah, Pentateuch)Genesis to Deuteronomy

Gospels (4 books)Matthew to John

History (12 books)Joshua to Esther

History Acts

Poetry (5 books)Job to Song of Solomon

Pauline Epistles (13 letters)Romans to Philemon

Major Prophets (5 books)Isaiah to Daniel

General Epistles (8 letters)Hebrews to Jude

Minor Prophets (12 books)Hosea to Malachi

Apocalypse Revelation

ENGLISH TRANSLATIONSENGLISH TRANSLATIONSJohn Wycliffe: 1320-1384William Tyndale: 1530The Geneva Bible: 1560The King James Version (KJV): 1611The Revised Version: 1881-1885The American Standard Version (ASV): 1900-

1901The Revised Standard Version (RSV): 1952New American Standard Bible(NASB): 1971

ENGLISH TRANSLATIONSENGLISH TRANSLATIONSThe Amplified Bible: 1965The Living Bible: 1971New International Version (NIV): 1978New King James Version (NKJV): 1982The Message (Eugene Peterson): 1993New Living Translation: 1996Today’s NIV (TNIV): 2002English Standard Version (ESV): 2007New International Version 2011 (NIV 11): 2011

CONTINUUM OF BIBLE VERSIONS

Literal Dynamic Equivalence Free (Paraphrased)

KJV NASV RSV NIV NAB NLT LB

NKJV NRSV ESV TNIV NJ The Message

Dead Sea Scrolls Dead Sea Scrolls (Discovered in 1947)(Discovered in 1947)

Qumran (NW of the Dead Sea) Qumran (NW of the Dead Sea)

Qumran and the Dead SeaQumran and the Dead Sea

Qumran CommunityQumran Community

Climbing to Cave 1

Qumran Cave 1

Cave 1 with Kim and Kim

Qumran Cave 3-the Copper Scroll was found in the right niche-

Qumran Cave 4

Qumran Caves 4a and 4b

Qumran Cave 4 entrance

Back entrance to Cave 4

Inside Qumran Cave 4

Inside Cave 4

11stst Century Jar with Lid Century Jar with Lid

Leviticus ScrollLeviticus Scroll

Isaiah Scroll FragmentIsaiah Scroll Fragment

Isaiah ScrollIsaiah Scroll

The Bible and ExegesisThe Bible and ExegesisWhat is Exegesis?What is Exegesis?

DefinitionDefinition: the careful, systematic : the careful, systematic study of the Scripture to discover study of the Scripture to discover the the original, intendedoriginal, intended meaning meaning ((How to Read the Bible for All Its How to Read the Bible for All Its WorthWorth, 23). , 23).

GoalGoal: : to find out the original to find out the original intent of the words of the Bibleintent of the words of the Bible. .

What is Hermeneutics?What is Hermeneutics?DefinitionDefinition

Broad definition: the whole field of Broad definition: the whole field of interpretation, including exegesis. interpretation, including exegesis.

Narrower definition: seeking the Narrower definition: seeking the contemporary relevancecontemporary relevance of ancient of ancient texts.texts.

Goal of hermeneuticsGoal of hermeneutics: To ask the : To ask the questions about the Biblequestions about the Bible’’s meaning in s meaning in the the ““here and now.here and now.””

Proper hermeneutics begins with solid Proper hermeneutics begins with solid exegesis. exegesis.

Four Basic Principles of Bible ReadingFour Basic Principles of Bible Reading

1. Observation (Examination) 1. Observation (Examination)

2. Interpretation2. Interpretation

3. Assessment3. Assessment

4. Application4. Application

Four Basic Principles of Bible ReadingFour Basic Principles of Bible Reading

1. Observation1. Observation Always start with prayer. Ask the Holy Always start with prayer. Ask the Holy

Spirit to help you understand the text Spirit to help you understand the text youyou’’re about to read. re about to read.

Read the text carefully. Read the text carefully. Every word is important. Every word is important. Every story is important.Every story is important.John 21:25 John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as Jesus did many other things as

well. If every one of them were written down, I well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. have room for the books that would be written.

Put aside your bias, preconceived Put aside your bias, preconceived ideas that youideas that you’’ve acquired from ve acquired from movies, etc. movies, etc.

WhatWhat’’s Wrong with This Picture?s Wrong with This Picture?

Who is this? Who is this?

Were the Tablets that Big?Were the Tablets that Big?

Babylonian World MapBabylonian World Map

Did the slaves cry out to God? (Exo. Did the slaves cry out to God? (Exo. 2:23-25)2:23-25)

Did God curse Adam? (Gen.3:17)Did God curse Adam? (Gen.3:17)Did Jonah preach repentance? (Jonah Did Jonah preach repentance? (Jonah

3:4) 3:4) Did SaulDid Saul’’s name change to Paul upon s name change to Paul upon

conversion? conversion? ((Acts 13:9)Acts 13:9)

Four Basic Principles of Bible ReadingFour Basic Principles of Bible Reading

2. Interpretation2. Interpretation Consider the context in which the text was Consider the context in which the text was

written.written.Consider the authorConsider the author’’s intent. s intent. Wrong interpretations could lead to heresy. Wrong interpretations could lead to heresy.

3. Assessment3. AssessmentWhat does the text say about God (His What does the text say about God (His

attributes)?attributes)?What does the text say about man? What does the text say about man?

What does What does Exo. 2:23-25 Exo. 2:23-25 say about God? (and say about God? (and about man?) about man?)

What does What does Gen.3:17 Gen.3:17 say about God? (and say about God? (and about man?) about man?)

What does What does Jonah 3:4 Jonah 3:4 say about God? (and say about God? (and about man?) about man?)

4. Application4. ApplicationWhat does the text mean to me? What does the text mean to me? How should I live from now on? How should I live from now on?

NARRATIVE READINGNARRATIVE READINGSTRATEGY STRATEGY

Introduction Introduction A large section of the Bible is A large section of the Bible is

narrative narrative (More than one third of the (More than one third of the Hebrew Bible is narrative).Hebrew Bible is narrative).

Biblical narratives Biblical narratives ““are of the are of the highest highest artistic artistic quality, ranking quality, ranking among the foremost literary among the foremost literary treasures of the world (Bar-Efrat, treasures of the world (Bar-Efrat, Narrative Art in the BibleNarrative Art in the Bible, 9)., 9).

What is Narrative? What is Narrative?

““An account of An account of eventsevents.” .”

““Any work of literature that tells Any work of literature that tells a a storystory.” .”

““A text which includes A text which includes actionsactions and and actionaction-bearers.”-bearers.”

What is Narrative Criticism? What is Narrative Criticism? It is a process which examines It is a process which examines

texts texts ““with an eye to actions and with an eye to actions and their consequences, to the action-their consequences, to the action-bearers and the relations between bearers and the relations between themthem”” (Egger, 111). It closely (Egger, 111). It closely investigates the linguistic investigates the linguistic techniques that a narrator techniques that a narrator employs in the text. employs in the text.

Narrative Criticism Narrative Criticism pays attentionpays attention to the text (to the text (““close readingclose reading””). ).

Narrative Criticism asks Narrative Criticism asks whywhy the the text exists and text exists and what functionwhat function it it serves. serves.

Narrative criticism deals with the Narrative criticism deals with the development of the development of the plotplot and how it and how it relates to the larger cycle. relates to the larger cycle.

The Central Message of the The Central Message of the BibleBible

OT: OT: The coming of the Messiah The coming of the Messiah NT: NT: The Messiah The Messiah Luke 24:44 Luke 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told He said to them, "This is what I told

you while I was still with you: you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me written about me in the Law of in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."Psalms."

Components of Narrative ReadingComponents of Narrative Reading

PlotPlot Characterization Characterization

Components of Narrative CriticismComponents of Narrative Criticism

PlotPlot: “: “a sequence of a sequence of actionsactions, often explicitly , often explicitly connected in terms of connected in terms of cause and effect, leading cause and effect, leading from an initial from an initial situation, through situation, through complication, to some complication, to some sense of resolutionsense of resolution.”.”

Plot Plot consists of four stages: consists of four stages:

ExpositionExposition: setting, background : setting, background of the storyof the story

ConflictConflict: problem: problem

ClimaxClimax: the decisive moment: the decisive moment

Resolution: Resolution: the outcomethe outcome

CharacterizationCharacterization Characterization is the process of Characterization is the process of

shapingshaping the characters. the characters. Characterization is created by the Characterization is created by the

narrationnarration and the and the speechspeech of the of the characters within the narrative.characters within the narrative.

Characters are especially important Characters are especially important to the reader because they to the reader because they contribute to building the plot. The contribute to building the plot. The reader becomes aware of the reader becomes aware of the characters through their speech and characters through their speech and actions which set the stage for the actions which set the stage for the plot.plot.

CharacterizationCharacterization TypesTypes

Flat charactersFlat characters: are one-dimensional : are one-dimensional characters who possess a single trait characters who possess a single trait (Ex. Abel)(Ex. Abel)

Round charactersRound characters: are complex and : are complex and have more than one trait. Round have more than one trait. Round characters often change and develop characters often change and develop while flat characters remain static (Ex. while flat characters remain static (Ex. Cain)Cain)..

Two major traits: Two major traits: outward appearanceoutward appearance inner personalityinner personality

Outward appearanceOutward appearance SaulSaul: : “a head taller than any of the “a head taller than any of the

others” others” (1 Sam. 9:2)(1 Sam. 9:2) GoliathGoliath: : “He was over nine feet “He was over nine feet

tall” tall” (1 Sam. 17:4).(1 Sam. 17:4). SarahSarah: : Abram said to his wife, "I Abram said to his wife, "I

know what a beautiful woman you know what a beautiful woman you are” are” (Gen. 12:11).(Gen. 12:11).

Inner personalityInner personality

NoahNoah: : “Noah was a “Noah was a righteousrighteous man, man, blameless blameless in his generation; in his generation; Noah Noah walked with Godwalked with God” ” (Gen. (Gen. 6:9).6:9).

The men of SodomThe men of Sodom: : ““wicked wicked and and great sinners great sinners against the LORD” against the LORD” (Gen. 13:13).(Gen. 13:13).

Eli’s sonsEli’s sons: : “Eli’s sons were “Eli’s sons were wickedwicked men: they had men: they had no regard no regard for the Lordfor the Lord” ” (1 Sam. 2:12).(1 Sam. 2:12).

TechniquesTechniques RepetitionRepetition: The Hebrew Bible uses : The Hebrew Bible uses

repetition to gain the attention repetition to gain the attention of the audience and to emphasize of the audience and to emphasize important themes or motifs.important themes or motifs.

Duplication of incidents Duplication of incidents (Gen. 12, 20, (Gen. 12, 20, 26) 26)

Recurrence of keywords, phrases, or Recurrence of keywords, phrases, or clauses clauses (Jud. 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; (Jud. 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).21:25).

Repetition of synonyms Repetition of synonyms (Deut. 7:5, (Deut. 7:5, ““This is what you are to do to them: This is what you are to do to them: Break downBreak down their altars, their altars, smashsmash their their sacred stones, sacred stones, cut downcut down their Asherah their Asherah poles and poles and burnburn their idols in the their idols in the firefire..””))

TechniquesTechniques

Special patternsSpecial patterns

Consecutive verbs Consecutive verbs (Gen. 34:2, (Gen. 34:2, ““When Shechem son of Hamor the When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, Hivite, the ruler of that area, sawsaw her, he her, he tooktook her and her and violatedviolated herher.”).”)

Applying Narrative Reading Applying Narrative Reading StrategyStrategy

EXAMPLE 1EXAMPLE 1

1.1. Examination/Observation Examination/Observation Determine a unit (where does the text begin and end?) Determine a unit (where does the text begin and end?) PrayPray Read the text carefully (close reading).Read the text carefully (close reading). Pay attention to details.Pay attention to details. Watch for special patterns (repetition, synonyms, etc.) Watch for special patterns (repetition, synonyms, etc.) Study the historical, social, and cultural background of the Study the historical, social, and cultural background of the

text.text.

Applying Narrative Reading Applying Narrative Reading StrategyStrategy

PlotPlotExposition Exposition ConflictConflictClimaxClimaxResolutionResolution

CharacterizationCharacterizationOutward appearance: Outward appearance: Physical descriptionPhysical description Inward personalityInward personality

Applying Narrative Reading Applying Narrative Reading StrategyStrategy

2. Interpretation: 2. Interpretation:

Applying Narrative Reading Applying Narrative Reading StrategyStrategy

3. Assessment3. AssessmentWhat does the text say about God (His What does the text say about God (His

attributes)?attributes)?What does the text say about man? What does the text say about man?

4. Application4. ApplicationWhat does the text mean to me? What does the text mean to me? How should I live from now on? How should I live from now on?

ExampleExample

Unit: Unit: Gen. 4:1-16Gen. 4:1-16

PlotPlotExposition (vv.1-2)Exposition (vv.1-2)Conflict (vv.3-7)Conflict (vv.3-7)Climax (vv.8-14)Climax (vv.8-14)Resolution (vv.15-16)Resolution (vv.15-16)

ExampleExample Characters and CharacterizationCharacters and Characterization

Adam Eve Cain Abel Lord

Flat Flat * No physical description* Doesn’t say firstborn* Careless worshiper* Selfish priority* Angry* Jealous* Deceitful* Murderer* In denial* Rebellious* Irresponsible

* No physical description* doesn’t say 2nd born* True worshiper* Gave his best* Priority – God first

* Desires a faithful heart* Omniscient* Merciful* Gracious* Holds man accountable* Loving

AssessmentAssessmentWhat does the text say about God?What does the text say about God?

What does the text say about man? What does the text say about man?

Application Application ““So what? What does the story mean to So what? What does the story mean to

me?me?””

““How should I live from now on?How should I live from now on?””