Biblical Genres and the Inductive Bible Study Method

1. Summer 2009 Biblical Genres and the Inductive Bible Study Method

2. THE inductive Bible Study method

3. How and Why to Read Books • The Bible is a special book • Divinely inspired, living and active • Studying literature vs. studying the Bible • English Scholars have many methods and can have many purposes for interpretation • Good Bible Scholars have many methods, but one purpose • German Higher Criticism – 19th century (Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834), David Friedrich Strauss (1808-74), and Ludwig Feuerbach (1804-72))

4. What is Scripture useful for? “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” - II Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

5. Deduction vs. Induction

6. Deductive, or Synthetic Study • Gathers propositions from Scripture • Arranges them in formal arguments • Reasons towards necessary doctrinal conclusions which may not otherwise have been stated in the Bible • Function: building Biblical doctrine

7. What Deductive Bible Study Looks Like • Involves examining preselected Biblical texts • Purpose: gather up propositions which prove a doctrine (e.g., the deity of Christ) • Topical in nature; requires someone to choose the texts and arrange them to make a case

8. What Deductive Bible Study Looks Like • Basic: student examines a selected series of Bible texts, then answers questions which will draw out the logical inferences • Advanced: student personally builds and applies Biblical doctrine – also known as research Bible study

9. Deductive, cont’d • Strengths: inexperienced Bible students can quickly grasp the essential doctrines of the faith; saves time and effort of assembling the texts on one’s own • Weaknesses: places a great deal of trust in teacher/study preparer; can be susceptible to rigidity/dogma

10. Inductive, or Analytical Study • Examines larger passages of Scripture in detail • Goal is to understand passages in context • Function: building a general understanding of the Bible and finding applications

11. What Inductive Bible Study Looks Like • Involves examining a particular Biblical passage or book • Purpose: to build basic knowledge and understanding, rather than formulate doctrine • Textual in nature; requires time and careful examination of continuous passages

12. What Inductive Bible Study Looks Like • Basic: student chooses a large passage to examine word by word and phrase by phrase, answering a series of “W” questions • Advanced: student gathers information to find patterns or trends in the Bible – also known as theoretical Bible study

13. Inductive, cont’d • Strengths: can be done independently of a teacher; facilitates application of scripture to our lives • Weaknesses: the student can become so focused on the details of the text and immediate application that larger picture is lost; may even overlook or disparage doctrine

14. The goal of inductive Bible Study: to let the text speak for itself • Therefore, we do not presuppose what the passage says before we study it

15. So What? • Clearly, the two go hand in hand • Inductive study supplies analytical Bible knowledge and understanding necessary to deductively build doctrine • Deductive study researches and builds doctrine which informs inductive study, enabling the latter to draw out even more meaning from the text • (Harvey Bluedorn, “Inductive and Deductive Bible Studies,” http://www.triviumpursuit.com)

16. How to do Inductive Bible Study

17. Step One: Prayer

18. Why is prayer important? • All the study and preparation in the world does no good if the Holy Spirit is not moving! “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” - John 14:26 (NIV, emphasis mine) “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. “ - John 16:13 (NIV)

19. The Three Steps of the Inductive Method • Observation • Interpretation • Application Which is the most important?

20. Observation • Begins by asking, what does the text say? • Examines the following components of any passage: • Terms – the meaning of specific words • Structure – the parts of speech of sentences; development of paragraphs • Literary Forms –the structure of different literary genres (more on this later!) • Atmosphere – the historical context

21. Interpretation • Begins by asking, what is the point of the passage? • Only one true interpretation of any passage of scripture (more on this after lunch!) • Examines the following questions of any passage • What did the author mean? • What principle was the author trying to communicate? • What is the key point of the passage to the original readers?

22. Application • Begins by asking the question, what does the principle of the passage mean to me? • Knowing the Bible is not enough – we must live it out!

23. The importance of “application” • Head knowledge without heart change is not useful. • Our goal then, is not only that we study the Bible, but that the Bible studies us. • There are several types of questions to ask in order to do this well.

24. Application questions: focus of the passage • Is the teaching local or universal? • Is the teaching temporary or timeless? • What area of experience can this be applied to? • In what areas of life should this truth be applied? • Answer: II Timothy 3:16

25. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” - II Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

26. Four areas of application • Teaching: What is this passage teaching me? • Rebuke: What am I believing or doing that must change? • Correct: What should I believe or do instead? • Training in Righteousness: What specifically can I do to live out the truth?

27. True learning is learning through discovery and experience • People learn best when they discover things by themselves (with, maybe, a little help). • People remember things best when they can immediately apply them to their lives.

28. Understanding the Biblical Library Biblical Genres

29. Importance of Genres • The Bible is actually a library of 66 books • Each is part of a different literary genre, or, type • Understanding the basis for each genre is critical to interpreting the text

30. Overview of Biblical Genre

31. Historical Narrative • While made up of different genres, the entire Bible is one grand story • Thus, not surprising that historical narrative comprises nearly half of the Bible • Do not directly teach doctrine, though they might illustrate it – hence, not a primary source for determining theology

32. Contributions • Primary: to provide us with an understanding of God’ s eternal plan and how he works in history. • Secondary: to provide us with positive and negative examples of people in relationship with God

33. Books • OT: Genesis, most of Exodus and Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Rush, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah. In addition, many of the prophetic books include sections of historical narrative • NT: Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and Acts

34. How to read • Begin first by asking how the story fits within the full scope of the Biblical narrative • That is, “How does each story fit within the eternal plan of God and His salvation story”

35. Then, look to see how the account fits into the story of God’s people • What impact does this story have on the nation of Israel or the church? • What development or foundations are being laid in the story of Israel or the church?

36. Finally, look at the story of each individual • What examples are being provided for us? • Is the example good or bad? • Remember: the real hero of the story is not the individual, but God – emulate him, not his servants

37. The Law • OT law was given to Israel as foundation of political and religious constitution • Not given as a means to salvation, but as regulations for the Israelite community of the 15th century BC • Thus, many situations not relevant to 21st century Christians

38. Contributions • Primary: to explain the holiness of God and the standard of holiness God desires for His people • Secondary: to provide an illustration of the ethical and moral guidelines for His people

39. Books • Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus and Deuteronomy

40. How to read • The purpose of the Law to us today is not to be obeyed to the letter • However, the essence of the law was indeed renewed • That is, the ten commandments, the greatest commandments • Thus, begin by asking what principle the Law was designed to reveal

41. The Law provides a broad understanding of who God is and, broadly, how he wants his people to live • Next, ask yourself if these principles apply to our own lives

42. Furthermore, the Law is used to illustrate both our sinfulness, and the impossibility of living up to any standard • Thus, we read the books of the Law with humility, in thankfulness of God’s grace, while striving to become more like Christ through his strength

43. Wisdom Literature • Proverbs are generalized statements about common-sense issues in life • They are not promise, per se • Rather, observations about what is true in life • Example: “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”

44. Job, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon present one singlepoint per book • The bulk of both Job and Eccl. present alternative viewpoints to the author’s real point • Only in the closing sections is the truth expressed

45. Contributions • They directly (Proverbs) or indirectly (Job, Eccl. SoS) tell us how to make wise choices in real life situations

46. Books • Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiates and Song of Solomon

47. How to read • With proverbs, simply try to glean the wisdom and apply it • In Job, Eccl. and Song of Solomon, remember that there is one point only • Thus, be careful not to pull things out of context, or the reader will be reading a false viewpoint, and not the main point • Make certain to read the whole book before drawing conclusions

48. Therefore, ask: “what does the proverb or book tell me about general patterns of living which will be beneficial to me?”

49. Prophecy • OT prophets were messengers of God, calling on Israel (and Judah) to remember and keep their covenant with God • They enforced God’s covenant, and served as God’s direct representative and messenger to the people • Thus, they addressed a specific situation in the history of Israel

50. In addition to “forth telling,” prophets were also often “fore telling” the future • This foretelling has the condition of “double-fulfillment” • Most prophecies have both a near term fulfillment and a later, greater fulfillment • For example, in Isaiah 7, he foretells that “the virgin shall be with child” – this was fulfilled first when Isaiah’s wife gave birth and was also fulfilled in a fuller sense when Christ was born