How to Effectively Study and Interpret of the Bible

[AW Bowman]

I really like your attempt to teach others in the way to understand the scriptures. While I just now came upon this thread, it didn't take me long to find the combative responses. Sadly, I have learned that this happens quite often.

Another thing you posted that I have found to be true is:

"
Things we need to know about the author and the book. Not in any particular order.

- The historical context of the time and place of the writing.
- The existing social and culture norms and practices.
- The religious principles and practices at the time.
- The language, as it communicates the collective worldview at that time.
- The purpose of the book, why was it written in the first place?
- What was the goal(s) the author wanted to achieve?
- How did the people react to the author’s words – where such reaction is noted?
- What is the genre of the book, historical, instructional, prophetic, poetic, a mixture, etc.?
- What did the author say about the same subject in the same book, and elsewhere (if he did)?
- What did other authors say about the same subject, if they did?
- Evaluate the context of the study subject within paragraph, if necessary, use the chapter, or the entire book, or if necessary the whole Bible, if required."

If we don't keep these in mind, we end up with eisegesis as a result. It is from these results that antagonistic threads appear.

Thanks for the time you spend in this discussion.

Thank you.

 

[AW Bowman]

Context is Everything

No doubt you have heard this before. When doing a Bible study, context identification can be a Bible study killer, if not taken seriously. This section might be a rather lengthy section, so it may take several days for me to put it together. I am anticipating putting this subject into a pdf format and attaching it to a post.

I am asking everyone to please be patient.

Added Note: I am pleased at the quality of the added discussions and information. We all have additional knowledge to receive and corrections to accept. Bible study is a personal and intense undertaking and the best results are most often achieved .when personal studies are shared and reviewed by others.

 

[amigo de christo]

I really like your attempt to teach others in the way to understand the scriptures. While I just now came upon this thread, it didn't take me long to find the combative responses. Sadly, I have learned that this happens quite often.

Another thing you posted that I have found to be true is:

"
Things we need to know about the author and the book. Not in any particular order.

- The historical context of the time and place of the writing.
- The existing social and culture norms and practices.
- The religious principles and practices at the time.
- The language, as it communicates the collective worldview at that time.
- The purpose of the book, why was it written in the first place?
- What was the goal(s) the author wanted to achieve?
- How did the people react to the author’s words – where such reaction is noted?
- What is the genre of the book, historical, instructional, prophetic, poetic, a mixture, etc.?
- What did the author say about the same subject in the same book, and elsewhere (if he did)?
- What did other authors say about the same subject, if they did?
- Evaluate the context of the study subject within paragraph, if necessary, use the chapter, or the entire book, or if necessary the whole Bible, if required."

If we don't keep these in mind, we end up with eisegesis as a result. It is from these results that antagonistic threads appear.

Thanks for the time you spend in this discussion.

What did God tell the jews concering the gentiles . And ye shall have the same law .
Gods words apply . times and cultures may change and differ
But the WORD and words of GOD should a man EMBRACE upon HIS heart as the apple of His eye .
We are here to serve HIM . My words shall endure . His words are as true today as they were back then .
And though times were different , and though even then cultures were
as they are now , IT IS GOD we ought to obey and not to twist his words
to suit a culture or the times . While it maybe true according to genealogy that i have jew in me
Even if i had no jewish blood in me , THEM WORDS apply .
I have seen many a change and many twistings of the holy inspired scrips
and excuses upon HOW its different today and how thus some of them teachings no longer apply .
NO SIR . EVERY WORD OF GOD BE PURE and it is to be held upon the heart
as we serve in complete adoration and love , HE WHO SAVED US . Not a word is to be twisted
to suit the ear of a generation or a people , or a person , or ourselves .
WE ought to have LOVED TRUTH . And in SPIRIT and in TRUTH , as the SPIRIT IS TRUTH
IS how we even worship GOD as HE desires . GOD never desired HIS words to be overlooked and shunned
changed or omitted to suit a generation , the changing times , the ear of a hearer .
The words of GOD , to me , are pure and beautfiful , words that are so wonderful , so pure
so divine and of course DIVINELY inspired , i cannot but help to embrace and love them words .
But then GOD did inspire them didnt HE . My concern aint what do men say about it
MY concern simply is , WHAT DID JESUS SAY . that alone is what matters to me .
And though i may be seen by many a scholar and many a man or woman
as being such a simple child . WELL i tell us all
Lest ye become as children ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of GOD .
This child has a motto upon its heart . And that motto is this , IF JESUS SAID IT , ITS MEANT FOR ME
to embrace it and hold to it as TRUTH . WELL , IT IS TRUTH . My heart
says , IF JESUS and later the apostels taught or said something , THEN its TRUTH
and every word is meant for my good , INCLUDING THE MANY WARNINGS TOO . Just a friendly reminder
from a simple child like simpton flea . Hey i may seem as a big dummby to a lot .
But by grace I DO KNOW WHOM I serve and i KNOW HIS EVERY WORD is GOOD FOR ME
and shall work good to my soul . But hey , what do i know right , i aint no scholar , no great wise man
Just a wee little flea . BUT BY GRACE I DO KNOW THAT . and what i do know by grace , THAT I KEEP HOLD ON .

 

[MatthewG]

Context is Everything

No doubt you have heard this before. When doing a Bible study, context identification can be a Bible study killer, if not taken seriously. This section might be a rather lengthy section, so it may take several days for me to put it together. I am anticipating putting this subject into a pdf format and attaching it to a post.

I am asking everyone to please be patient.

Added Note: I am pleased at the quality of the added discussions and information. We all have additional knowledge to receive and corrections to accept. Bible study is a personal and intense undertaking and the best results are most often achieved .when personal studies are shared and reviewed by others.

Absolutely, sounds interesting and there will be people interested in such. I believe that everything brought forth by the spirit should be taken into consideration and what we may insert by our flesh to be excluded in order that peace, mercy, and love in faith, hope and love is achieved for others.

 

[Marvelloustime]

 

[Marvelloustime]

 

[Marvelloustime]

Sorry. Wrong thread.

 

[Rita]

Really interesting thread. I recently started looking into the Hebrew and Greek but also embarked on a course to understand the torah and how it was put together. Also understand, and learning the patterns and themes within passages ( that’s been fascinating and really interesting ) Really getting to understand what the original culture would have meant. I originally was looking into understanding the Greek and Hebrew , and ended up embarking on so much more.
Wish I had done this years ago, and already I can see how much misunderstanding occurs because the original meanings are not considered and instead we look at things from our understanding.
I really am at the beginning of looking at scripture with fresh eyes

 

[JohnDB]

Really interesting thread. I recently started looking into the Hebrew and Greek but also embarked on a course to understand the torah and how it was put together. Also understand, and learning the patterns and themes within passages ( that’s been fascinating and really interesting ) Really getting to understand what the original culture would have meant. I originally was looking into understanding the Greek and Hebrew , and ended up embarking on so much more.
Wish I had done this years ago, and already I can see how much misunderstanding occurs because the original meanings are not considered and instead we look at things from our understanding.
I really am at the beginning of looking at scripture with fresh eyes

The cognitive biases and logical fallacies often used to interpret scripture can be bypassed IF YOU WANT TO....but it often requires a friend to help you.

Jewish society and culture was extremely regimented far more than your average person assumes based solely on the fact that it was at a minimum of 2,000 years ago. Some going as far as 5780 years ago.

But it was far from it.

Then there exists the discussions of the common translations of scriptures that existed in Jesus's day. The Targums, sifre, midrash, and the Septuagint (LXX)...and BOTH definitely had an effect on not only the composing of the New Testament but the modern translations as well. Which brings up the traditions that follow the journey of the English translation of scriptures.

However....that can (and should) create a sense of awe and wonder at the genuine miracle of the scriptures we so easily can read today. They are more accurate and complete and accessible than at anytime in history. Information used to exist in silos...all compartmentalized and separate. Only a world traveler could know much more than what was known locally. Today it's as simple as a mouse click to access all of this wealth of knowledge.

 

[amigo de christo]

Really interesting thread. I recently started looking into the Hebrew and Greek but also embarked on a course to understand the torah and how it was put together. Also understand, and learning the patterns and themes within passages ( that’s been fascinating and really interesting ) Really getting to understand what the original culture would have meant. I originally was looking into understanding the Greek and Hebrew , and ended up embarking on so much more.
Wish I had done this years ago, and already I can see how much misunderstanding occurs because the original meanings are not considered and instead we look at things from our understanding.
I really am at the beginning of looking at scripture with fresh eyes

fresh eyes . hmmm.
Or it is eyes that desired to always see that which man shall give it through their wise
council .
Now this question and remark is no attack . its not accusation against any of us here .
We should have just embraced every word as truth and loved and enjoyed it .
Men got this generation and that is nothing i can do to stop it .
Oh marvel not when they explain HOW torah was put together and marvel not when
these men makes claims about men during certain times , certain cultural etcs
And that how this changes and how things no longer apply .
Folks love what they love and , as i wrote afore in this response , There aint a darn thing i can do about it .
I aint God . i cannot give them the increase . I can do as the grace of GOD led me to do
and by that same grace TRY and get others back in that bible , TO JUST read it for themselves .
I promise us this . what i write next WILL OCCUR .
THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME . and many who thought they were sheep WILL WAIL
And that is a fact . but what do i know i just spend time in the bible daily
No worries they will happily explain it to you in a way you will love and many will join in unity under it .
These clowns wont be heeded by me though . I know exactly what they do .
They have come to give us an understanding that WILL OMIT some fundamental doctrine
in order to get us to just come together .
Original meanings . Now who do YE suppose can give us what is meant by what was wrote .
I SAY THE HOLY GHOST , these men say SCHOLARS . MANY Gonna wail on the day of LORD rita .
MANY .

 

[Rita]

Honestly amigo, has it ever occurred to you that it is The Holy Spirit that has guided me to this ……..
Who do you think ‘ They ‘ are in this equation - seeing as you presume to know so much about what I have shared!?
I am looking at scripture , just using the Greek and Hebrew to understand original meanings of the words, then looking at scripture again and studying it , in context.

 

[Johann]

Honestly amigo, has it ever occurred to you that it is The Holy Spirit that has guided me to this ……..
You have no info about how or where I am learning - but still the negatives arise.
Who do you think ‘ They ‘ are ?
I am looking at scripture , just using the Greek and Hebrew to understand original meanings of the words, then looking at Scripture - no other books.

Nothing wrong with that and encourage you to continue.

 

[Rita]

Nothing wrong with that and encourage you to continue.

Don’t worry, I intend to Johann X
I find it so sad that even when you post something that is just meant to encourage another member and the thread they have started that you get other members raising negatives.
It’s pathetic !

 

[amigo de christo]

Honestly amigo, has it ever occurred to you that it is The Holy Spirit that has guided me to this ……..
Who do you think ‘ They ‘ are in this equation - seeing as you presume to know so much about what I have shared!?
I am looking at scripture , just using the Greek and Hebrew to understand original meanings of the words, then looking at scripture again and studying it , in context.

Oh you can do that dear sister .
When honest men from a pure heart who serve The LORD and love the truth
have given out greek to better explain , DID YOU KNOW
that even without reading their greek i knew that point .
BUT the problem is MOST MEN who use greek , ARE USING some of the greek TO TWIST STUFF .
SO YOU hadbetter watch out . THEY are so many of them
and many commentaries and etc that are already cloaked with SOME deceptoin as to what this or that means.
OH they do have truths , but also errors .
Notice i did not say ALL MEN who use greek to explain . BUT MOST are already
and have already learned error by using this koine greek .
THEY DONT EVEN KNOW IT either sister .
But not all . BUT MOST . AND I MEAN ABOUT MOST ALL sister .
MOST ALL . SO WATCH OUT . cause they are many .

 

[amigo de christo]

Don’t worry, I intend to Johann X
I find it so sad that even when you post something that is just meant to encourage another member and the thread they have started that you get other members raising negatives.
It’s pathetic !

what is pathetic is that most have and had no real desire to spend time in the bible for just themselves .
and that year and year they sat under men who on a sunday or wednesday night maybe taught them some stuff .
BUT I dont see hardly anyone who just loves to read daily that bible for just themselves .
THEY had rather spend time watching TV , or doing this or that .
NOW that is not meant to accuse you or anyone else . BUT IT IS A FACT . TOO MANY are in love with this world
NOT WITH GOD , NOT WITH HIS WORDS , HIS TRUTH . and that IS A FACT .

 

[amigo de christo]

Don’t worry, I intend to Johann X
I find it so sad that even when you post something that is just meant to encourage another member and the thread they have started that you get other members raising negatives.
It’s pathetic !

So lets sum it up sister .
What do we spend our time doing .
OH i know we all work and stuff , but after work . what do we do
SIT DOWN and watch the BOOB tube and entertainment or talk about the world
and other stuff . And always make an excuse for maybe why we dont have time to spend in prayer AND BIBLE READING .
I See it all the time sister .
OH i dont have time , but this they say as they sit and watch an hour or two OF TV .
THEY dont fool me and they dont fool GOD .
SO how about this reminder . IF WE LOVE GOD , THEN LETS SPEND SOME TIME
putting HIM first , learning from HIM and stop being so darn entertained by this other junk .
One can tell me all day they love coke . But if they spend their time drinking pepsi
BUT ONLY pick up the coke every now and again , THEY DONT FOOL ME . WE should have LOVED GOD
WE should have PUT HIM FIRST . But many love the things of this world . AND THAT IS A FACT
not an accusation .

 

[Johann]

Oh you can do that dear sister .
When honest men from a pure heart who serve The LORD and love the truth
have given out greek to better explain , DID YOU KNOW
that even without reading their greek i knew that point .
BUT the problem is MOST MEN who use greek , ARE USING some of the greek TO TWIST STUFF .
SO YOU hadbetter watch out . THEY are so many of them
and many commentaries and etc that are already cloaked with SOME deceptoin as to what this or that means.
OH they do have truths , but also errors .
Notice i did not say ALL MEN who use greek to explain . BUT MOST are already
and have already learned error by using this koine greek .
THEY DONT EVEN KNOW IT either sister .
But not all . BUT MOST . AND I MEAN ABOUT MOST ALL sister .
MOST ALL . SO WATCH OUT . cause they are many .

Hey friend-I use the Koine Greek daily and the Hebrew Masoretic and not afraid to look up selective scholars to help me to understand the text and rightly divide-why so hard on @Rita?
Instead of rejoicing with her you slam-dunk her-we are ALL watching out so no need to continually warning believers in Christ Jesus but speak up and out to those you have a problem with.
It can get a bit tiresome.
Shalom
J.

 

[amigo de christo]

Hey friend-I use the Koine Greek daily and the Hebrew Masoretic and not afraid to look up selective scholars to help me to understand the text and rightly divide-why so hard on @Rita?
Instead of rejoicing with her you slam-dunk her-we are ALL watching out so no need to continually warning believers in Christ Jesus but speak up and out to those you have a problem with.
It can get a bit tiresome.
Shalom
J.

I didnt slam dunk rita . What i said is true . .
And i can prove this when i start asking us questions .
cause i bet almost all here on this site are already under the influence of THE LIE .
But in fairness lets start asking each other questions .
Lets start with a real simple one .
DO you think we ought to try and find common ground with false relgions .
lets just start with that .
You see i watch people my friend . I see the direction that most are headed already .
and i know the heart of man and how there is way that seems so darn right but is so darn wrong .
Or really the better question is
HOW and what should the true men do concering sin and error in the church .
HUG and get along and judge not , OR actually DO as JESUS instructed and later the apostels did and taught the church to do .
SO if a brother or sister is in a sin
What should we do and if they hear not , SHOULD WE EVEN EAT with such a one . OR ITS THAT JUDGMENTAL and hateful
like ninety nine percent of christendom now thinks it is . WE GETTING DUPED JOHANN .
I IS STAYING IN THE BIBLE . but lets ask each other and all questions . That sounds like a real good idea .

 

[amigo de christo]

Hey friend-I use the Koine Greek daily and the Hebrew Masoretic and not afraid to look up selective scholars to help me to understand the text and rightly divide-why so hard on @Rita?
Instead of rejoicing with her you slam-dunk her-we are ALL watching out so no need to continually warning believers in Christ Jesus but speak up and out to those you have a problem with.
It can get a bit tiresome.
Shalom
J.

Should a woman lead a church .
that is another question .
One which so many greek scholars seem to try and justify .
But in all fairness to you , what says you .
OR how about remarriage .
Ever wonder why i have never remarried johann . CAUSE IF JESUS SAID SOMETHING I BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING
to be absolute truth .
GOD showed me somethinga long , long time ago johann .
HE showed me why there are so many twisted teachings and odd ideas .
HE said GO and ask them questions about THE teachings of JESUS and the apostels
AND YE SHALL SEE THEY TWIST AND OMIT SOME . and johann , HE WAS RIGHT ,
of course GOD is right . but this is why we got the madhouse we see today .
ITS NOT the bible that was the problem
IT was not that people did not know KOINE greek
IT was that men who TWISTED JESUS SAYINGS , Got up and taught this people their own stuff .

 

[Johann]

I didnt slam dunk rita . What i said is true . .
And i can prove this when i start asking us questions .
cause i bet almost all here on this site are already under the influence of THE LIE .
But in fairness lets start asking each other questions .
Lets start with a real simple one .
DO you think we ought to try and find common ground with false relgions .
lets just start with that .
You see i watch people my friend . I see the direction that most are headed already .
and i know the heart of man and how there is way that seems so darn right but is so darn wrong .
Or really the better question is
HOW and what should the true men do concering sin and error in the church .
HUG and get along and judge not , OR actually DO as JESUS instructed and later the apostels did and taught the church to do .
SO if a brother or sister is in a sin
What should we do and if they hear not , SHOULD WE EVEN EAT with such a one . OR ITS THAT JUDGMENTAL and hateful
like ninety nine percent of christendom now thinks it is . WE GETTING DUPED JOHANN .
I IS STAYING IN THE BIBLE . but lets ask each other and all questions . That sounds like a real good idea .

Off topic-if YOU have a problem with false religions or members under the influence of a lie-YOU go to that person and rebuke-Rita and myself enjoy the Scriptures as it stands written in Koine Greek and Hebrew and not shy to use Scholars to help US rightly cutting straight the Scriptures.

You have a LOT to say about people using this form of studying the Scriptures, Grammar and Morphology so here's my advise, cool down, have a cup of coffee and relax.

Thanks
J.