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HOW TO READ THE BIBLE EFFECTIVELY. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth. 2 Tim. 2:15. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE. Who Wrote the Bible? Man wrote it down- inspired by God .
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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth. 2 Tim. 2:15
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE • Who Wrote the Bible? • Manwrote it down- inspired by God. • 2 Pet. 1:21“For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” • 2 Tim. 3:16a“All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God.”
More than 30 different authors with their own writing style. • The OT was written inHebrew (some parts are in Aramaic – ex. Daniel 2). • The NT was written in Greek.
Many authors wrote the words with their own writing style, but there was ONE mind behind it all: GOD. • We must seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit when we read the Bible.
The Power of God’s Word • Living and active (Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.) • A probing instrument – “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”
The Power of God’s Word • The Power of God (Rom. 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile)
The Power of God’s Word • Power to Change People’s Lives (Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”)
The Purposes of the Bible • God’s way of communicating with mankind. • God’s spoken Word. • Records the story of God’s salvation plan. • John 20:31, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
The Purposes of the Bible • Doctrine • To avoid personal opinion - Personal opinion leads to heresy (2 Tim. 3:16b “..and is profitable for doctrine….”) • To avoid misguided reliance on the Holy Spirit.
The Purposes of the Bible • Instruction manual (to benefit our lives) • 2 Tim. 3:16b “and is profitable for doctrine, forreproof, forcorrection, for instruction in righteousness.” • 2 Tim. 4:2“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct,rebukeand encourage-- with great patience and careful instruction.”
God’s Word is absolutely important in our lives. • It has to be the highest standard in our lives. That’s why we need to read it, study it, and obey it. • Jesus said that the most important commandment is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Mark. 12:30).
“Loving God with all yourmind” is a vital part of our relationship with God. • Your mind is included in loving God. • You can serve someone you don’t know, but you cannot love someone you do not know. God wants us to know him through His Word. • Phil. 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. • The more you get to know God, the deeper you will get to experience His love.
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS • John Wycliffe: 1320-1384 • William Tyndale: 1530 • The Geneva Bible: 1560 • The King James Version (KJV): 1611 • The Revised Version: 1881-1885 • The American Standard Version (ASV): 1900-1901 • The Revised Standard Version (RSV): 1952 • New American Standard Bible(NASB): 1971
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS • The Amplified Bible: 1965 • The Living Bible: 1971 • New International Version (NIV): 1978 • New King James Version (NKJV): 1982 • The Message (Eugene Peterson): 1993 • New Living Translation: 1996 • Today’s NIV (TNIV): 2002 • English Standard Version (ESV): 2007 • New 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
Qumran Cave 3 -the Copper Scroll was found in the right niche-
The Bible and ExegesisWhat is Exegesis? • Definition: the careful, systematic study of the Scripture to discover the original, intendedmeaning (How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, 23). • Goal: to find out the original intent of the words of the Bible.
What is Hermeneutics? • Definition • Broad definition: the whole field of interpretation, including exegesis. • Narrower definition: seeking the contemporary relevanceof ancient texts. • Goal of hermeneutics: To ask the questions about the Bible’s meaning in the “here and now.” • Proper hermeneutics begins with solid exegesis.
Four Basic Principles of Bible Reading 1. Observation (Examination) 2. Interpretation 3. Assessment 4. Application
Four Basic Principles of Bible Reading 1. Observation • Always start with prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the text you’re about to read. • Read the text carefully. • Every word is important. • Every story is important. • John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Put aside your bias, preconceived ideas that you’ve acquired from movies, etc.
Did the slaves cry out to God? (Exo. 2:23-25) • Did God curse Adam? (Gen.3:17) • Did Jonah preach repentance? (Jonah 3:4) • Did Saul’s name change to Paul upon conversion? (Acts 13:9)
Four Basic Principles of Bible Reading 2. Interpretation • Consider the context in which the text was written. • Consider the author’s intent. • Wrong interpretations could lead to heresy.
3. Assessment • What does the text say about God (His attributes)? • What does the text say about man? • What does Exo. 2:23-25 say about God? (and about man?) • What does Gen.3:17 say about God? (and about man?) • What does Jonah 3:4 say about God? (and about man?)
4. Application • What does the text mean to me? • How should I live from now on?