Grasping God's Word: Observing Biblical Texts - Lesson 3, Lecture notes of Law

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• LEARNING TO SEE PART

REVIEW

▸ Lesson 1

▸ What is the Bible?

A book that God inspired through human authors in various historical settings using the medium of language and literature. The Bible Is...

REVIEW

▸ Lesson 1

▸ What is the Bible?

▸ Lesson 2

▸ The Principles of Biblical Interpretation

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION

▸ #1: What did the text mean to the original audience?

▸ #2: What are the differences between the biblical audience and us?

▸ #3: Where does this text fit in the overall storyline of the Bible?

▸ #4: What are the timeless principles and universal realities found in this text?

▸ #5: How should we as Christians today live out the principles of this text?

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED...

"If you want to hear and understand some of the deep and wonderful truths that God has placed in Scripture for you — if you desire to pull out of God’s Word some of the serious “ meat ” that he has placed there for us to sink our teeth into — you will have to exert considerable effort. It takes work — hard work! And you, the reader, have to decide whether you are content with shallow “baby food” that comes from casual reading or whether you want to work for the “mature food” that comes from serious reading." (GGW p. 52) "Raking is easy but all you get is leaves, mining is hard work but you might find gold." (John Piper)

THE FIRST STAGE OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION ▸ The first stage of Biblical Interpretation is Observation ▸ The^ Distinctiveness^ of Observation ▸ Interpretation asks, "what does the text mean ?" Observations simply asks, "what does the text say ?” ▸ We are not yet solving the crime, we are just examining the crime scene.

THE FIRST STAGE OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION

▸ The^ Goal^ of Observation

▸ Our first step in grasping a biblical text is to observe as many details as

possible.

▸ The^ Practice^ of Observation

▸ We read the text over and over, noting the details of the text. There are

several basic features to look for which include repetition of words, contrasts, comparisons, lists, cause and effects, figures of speech, conjunctions, verbs, and pronouns.

LEARNING TO OBSERVE SENTENCES

▸ #1: Look for Repetition of Words:^ Look for words and phrases that repeat.

▸ 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless

it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5 ESV)

LEARNING TO OBSERVE SENTENCES

▸ #2: Look for Contrasts:^ Look for^ items ,^ ideas , or^ individuals^ that are contrasted

with each other.

▸ Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous

to the needy honors him (Proverbs 14:31)

LEARNING TO OBSERVE SENTENCES

▸ #3: Look for Comparisons:^ Look for^ items ,^ ideas , or^ individuals^ that are

compared with each other.

▸ What the true proverb says has happened to them:“The dog returns to its

own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:22 ESV)

LEARNING TO OBSERVE SENTENCES

▸ #4: Look for Lists:^ Note where the text mentions more than two items.

▸

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

LEARNING TO OBSERVE SENTENCES

▸ #5: Look for Cause and Effect:^ Note where you see cause-and-effect

relationships.

▸ A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.^ (Proverbs

15:1 ESV)

LEARNING TO OBSERVE SENTENCES

▸ #6: Look for Figures of Speech:^ Identify expressions that convey an image using

words in a figurative way.

▸ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.^ (Psalms 119:105 ESV)

LEARNING TO OBSERVE SENTENCES

▸ #7: Look for Conjunctions:^ Identify terms that join units of thought and what

specific things they are connecting.

▸

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 ESV)

LEARNING TO OBSERVE SENTENCES

▸ #8: Look for Verbs:^ Note the action that is taking place in the sentence, is it

active, passive, past, present, a command, or a statement, etc…

▸

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3 ESV)

LEARNING TO OBSERVE SENTENCES

▸ #9: Look for Pronouns:^ Be sure to identify to whom or to what each pronoun

refers.

▸

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (Ephesians 1:3-4 ESV)

YOUR MISSION SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT...

▸ Use this criteria to make as many observations as you can in Psalm 1