Foundations: How to Read the Bible for all it’s worth

Foundations:Foundations:How to Read the BibleHow to Read the Bible

for all it’s worthfor all it’s worth

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What is the Bible?What is the Bible?

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Foundational Truth:Foundational Truth:

◦The Bible is both human The Bible is both human and divine; a collection and divine; a collection of books that is of books that is potentially potentially transformativetransformative

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Foundational Truth:Foundational Truth:

◦How I approach the Bible How I approach the Bible affects how I experience, affects how I experience, interpret and apply itinterpret and apply it

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What the Bible says about What the Bible says about itself:itself:

◦Above all, you must understand Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of never had its origin in the will of manman, but men spoke , but men spoke from Godfrom God as as they were carried along by the they were carried along by the Holy Spirit - 2 Peter 1:20-21Holy Spirit - 2 Peter 1:20-21

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Scripture claims to have Scripture claims to have God as its cGod as its causeause

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What the Bible says about What the Bible says about itself:itself:

◦All Scripture is All Scripture is God-breathedGod-breathed and is useful for teaching, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every thoroughly equipped for every good work- 2 Timothy 3:16-17good work- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

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Scripture claims to have Scripture claims to have God as its mGod as its meanseans

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The 2 Errors:The 2 Errors:

Human BookHuman Book

◦HistoryHistory◦Culture, Language, Culture, Language, ViewpointsViewpoints

◦All I miss is GAll I miss is Godod

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The 2 Errors:The 2 Errors:

Divine/Spiritual BookDivine/Spiritual Book

◦Hidden meaningsHidden meanings◦NumerologyNumerology◦All I miss is GAll I miss is Godod (learning via (learning via relationship to humankind)relationship to humankind)

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A Third Error:A Third Error:

““Our Daily Bread” Our Daily Bread” onlyonly

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The Scriptures:The Scriptures:

Written by God through man Written by God through man via the process of via the process of inspiration so as to pen what inspiration so as to pen what God wanted written without God wanted written without losing the personalities and losing the personalities and expressions of the human expressions of the human authorsauthors

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So What?So What?

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If I don’t approach scripture If I don’t approach scripture expecting to meet with expecting to meet with God, be challenged by the God, be challenged by the Holy Spirit and convicted Holy Spirit and convicted by Christ’s sacrifice for my by Christ’s sacrifice for my sin, I miss the point of the sin, I miss the point of the BibleBible

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Can We Trust the Scriptures?Can We Trust the Scriptures?◦1600 years1600 years◦+ 3 Continents+ 3 Continents◦+ 3 Languages+ 3 Languages◦+ Over 40 very different + Over 40 very different authorsauthors

◦+ Wide variety of + Wide variety of circumstancescircumstances

◦= ??= ??

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Can We Trust the Scriptures?Can We Trust the Scriptures?◦1600 years1600 years◦+ 3 Continents+ 3 Continents◦+ 3 Languages+ 3 Languages◦+ Over 40 very different + Over 40 very different authorsauthors

◦+ Wide variety of + Wide variety of circumstancescircumstances

◦= S= Supernaturalupernatural U Unitynity

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The Cyrus ProphecyThe Cyrus Prophecy

Isaiah 44-45 vs. 2 Chron.36, Isaiah 44-45 vs. 2 Chron.36, Ezra 1, 3, 4Ezra 1, 3, 4

150 years in advance…150 years in advance…

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Over 300 fulfilled Over 300 fulfilled prophecies concerning the prophecies concerning the coming Messiahcoming Messiah

Texas covered in silver Texas covered in silver dollars 2 feet deepdollars 2 feet deep

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Over 300 fulfilled Over 300 fulfilled prophecies concerning the prophecies concerning the coming Messiahcoming Messiah

Texas covered in silver Texas covered in silver dollars 2 feet deep= 8 dollars 2 feet deep= 8 specific propheciesspecific prophecies

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Apparent Contradictions:Apparent Contradictions:

Again the anger of the Again the anger of the LORDLORD burned against burned against Israel, and he Israel, and he incitedincited David David against them, saying, "Go against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and take a census of Israel and Judah"- 2 Samuel 24:1and Judah"- 2 Samuel 24:1

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SatanSatan rose up against rose up against Israel and Israel and incitedincited David to David to take a census of Israel- 1 take a census of Israel- 1 Chronicles 21:1Chronicles 21:1

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Jewish view of Jewish view of ssovereigntyovereignty= God is the = God is the ultimate causal agentultimate causal agent

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““Inerrancy of Illocution” Inerrancy of Illocution”

I am thankful that I did not I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized don't remember if I baptized anyone else)- 1 Cor. 1:14-16anyone else)- 1 Cor. 1:14-16

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Sola ScripturaSola Scriptura

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Sola Scriptura=Sola Scriptura=““Court of Highest Court of Highest

Authority”Authority”

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Challenges to Challenges to Understanding Scripture:Understanding Scripture:

TimeTimeDistanceDistanceLanguageLanguageCultureCulture

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Challenges to Understanding Challenges to Understanding Scripture:Scripture:

Holy Spirit (Closed Book)Holy Spirit (Closed Book)

The man without the Spirit does The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and are foolishness to him, and he he cannot understand themcannot understand them, , because they are spiritually because they are spiritually discerned- 1 Corinthians 2:14discerned- 1 Corinthians 2:14

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How to Understand the Bible:How to Understand the Bible:◦Choose a good translationChoose a good translation

Literal Dynamic Literal Dynamic ParaphraseParaphrase

Word for Word Word PLUS Word for Word Word PLUS Paraphrase Paraphrase

NASBNASB NIVNIV MessageMessage

(Wooden,(Wooden, (Subject to(Subject toMeaning Can be Lost,Meaning Can be Lost, Interpretation,Interpretation,But Accuracy)But Accuracy) But Readable)But Readable)

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How to Understand the Bible:How to Understand the Bible:◦Choose a good translationChoose a good translation

- CommitteeCommittee(Message)(Message)

- Early manuscripts Early manuscripts (KJV)(KJV)- Recent scholarshipRecent scholarship (KJV)(KJV)

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““Abstain from every Abstain from every appearance of evil”- 1 appearance of evil”- 1 Thess. 5:22 (KJV)Thess. 5:22 (KJV)

Coffee shops aloneCoffee shops aloneRestaurants that serve Restaurants that serve alcoholalcohol

Shopping on SundayShopping on Sunday

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““Abstain from every Abstain from every appearance of evil”- 1 appearance of evil”- 1 Thess. 5:22 (KJV)Thess. 5:22 (KJV)

……do not treat prophecies do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of good. Avoid every kind of evil- 1 Thess. 5:20-22 (NIV)evil- 1 Thess. 5:20-22 (NIV)

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Approach the Bible:Approach the Bible:

PrayerfullyPrayerfully

ExpectantlyExpectantly

Ready to ObeyReady to Obey

Application to Application to SelfSelf= = humilityhumility

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Approach the Bible Asking:Approach the Bible Asking:

““What does it tell me What does it tell me about God?”about God?”

““What does it tell me What does it tell me about me?”about me?”

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1. What was God trying to 1. What was God trying to say? (say? (IFIF God is speaking!) God is speaking!) [Job][Job]

2. What did the original 2. What did the original hearers believe was being hearers believe was being said?said?

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BToLBToL: The Bible/a verse : The Bible/a verse cannot mean what it cannot mean what it never meantnever meant

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3. What’s the context?3. What’s the context?

- Historical- Historical- Surrounding Verses and - Surrounding Verses and SituationSituation- Literary Genre- Literary Genre

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Richard Genre in Pretty Richard Genre in Pretty Woman?Woman?

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Genre:Genre:

- Poetry- Poetry - Law- Law- Historical Narrative - Historical Narrative - - ProphecyProphecy- Gospel - Gospel - Wisdom- Wisdom- Epistle- Epistle

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Genre:Genre:

◦Poetry= Praise, TruthPoetry= Praise, Truth

◦Law= Nature of GodLaw= Nature of God

◦Historical Narrative= No Historical Narrative= No ImperativeImperative Ananias and SapphiraAnanias and Sapphira

◦Prophecy= Symbols and Non-Prophecy= Symbols and Non-LiteralLiteral

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Genre:Genre:

◦Gospel= Recording Events + Gospel= Recording Events + Teaching (with Parables)Teaching (with Parables)+Miracles+Miracles

◦Wisdom= “Ought to be True”Wisdom= “Ought to be True”

◦Epistle= TeachingEpistle= Teaching

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It’s Raining Cats and DogsIt’s Raining Cats and Dogs

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Hotter than HadesHotter than Hades

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The Rising of the SunThe Rising of the Sun

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4. Are there similarities to 4. Are there similarities to my life/culture today? my life/culture today? What What principlesprinciples might might apply?apply?

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PerspicuityPerspicuity- Interpret - Interpret scripture with scripturescripture with scripture

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“…“…no weapon forged no weapon forged against you will prevail, against you will prevail, and you will refute every and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication this is their vindication from me," declares the from me," declares the LORD- Isaiah 54:17LORD- Isaiah 54:17

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“…“…no weapon forged against no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares vindication from me," declares the LORD- Isaiah 54:17the LORD- Isaiah 54:17

(Hebrews 11, anyone?)(Hebrews 11, anyone?)

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For I know the plans I have For I know the plans I have for you," declares the for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope plans to give you hope and a future”- Jeremiah and a future”- Jeremiah 29:1129:11

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

(With a side of “die in (With a side of “die in captivity”?)captivity”?)

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Beloved, I wish above all Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, prosper and be in health, even as thy soul even as thy soul prospereth- 3 John 2prospereth- 3 John 2

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Beloved, I wish above all Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, prosper and be in health, even as thy soul even as thy soul prospereth- 3 John 2prospereth- 3 John 2

(John the Apostle is God???)(John the Apostle is God???)

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From Here:From Here:

Pick a Bible book and a Pick a Bible book and a timetime

Bring a notebookBring a notebookRead regularlyRead regularlyPray before, during, afterPray before, during, afterMemorize/Learn versesMemorize/Learn verses

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Never forget- it’s about Never forget- it’s about Jesus, alwaysJesus, always

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Foundations: How to Read the Bible for all it’s worth