Levi's coming of age adventure.

Book review on Living by the Book by author Howard Hendricks

Hendricks book titled Living by the book, equips those who want to read the bible more effectively with strategies aimed at the main goal of Life change

Hendricks stresses that bible study requires a stringent method, with the goal of consistent personal encounters with God through the process of observation, interpretation and application.[1]

According to Hendricks observation is not naturally intuitive but requires intentional development. The first step in observation is to answer the question “What do I see?” In order to answer that question, the student is to begin with looking for terms, people involved, cause-effect relationships, define the terms, notice the location, then relate the verse itself to the entire book. In a very practical fashion, the author address barriers like insufficient reading skills, and outline ten strategies to first-rate reading. Hendricks instructs us to read thoughtfully repeatedly, patiently, selectively, prayerfully, imaginatively, meditatively, purposefully, acquisitively and telescopically. This section of the book was incredibly helpful as it offered the student ten distinct directions they can take in order to be able to more effectively encounter God in scripture.

Next, the author provides the reader with six things to look for within the text being studied. These are: things that are emphasized, repeated, related, alike, unalike and true to life. Particularly helpful, though, are the examples given and the practicum sections where the reader is encouraged to experiment with the method being presented.  The final section within observation relates to how the student can handle the vast amount of data that they have just collected through graphing or chart their results.

The second step in the effective method of bible study as defined by the author is interpretation. Put another way, it is the answer to the second question, “Do you understand what you are reading?”[2] Interpretation is a critical part of bible study because there are huge barriers that exist due to time, location, communication, literary, translation and culture that we need to address in order to be certain that our understanding of scripture is as accurate as possible. It is altogether too easy to misinterpret the bible, so the admonition to be careful, thorough and responsible is a warning to be taken seriously. The keys to careful interpretation are to deeply understand what kind of literature you are reading, whether it is narrative, biographical, parable, poetry, wisdom, or prophecy. The second key is to study content, then context, followed by comparison, culture, consultation, using tools like concordances, and walking through figurative literature.

The final of the three keys to effective bible study is application. This step is the differentiating step between knowing and doing. It is answer to the question of whether we will live what we are reading. Failure to apply scripture is common, and dangerous. In fact, the author admonishes us to avoid substituting things like interpretation, rationalization or emotions for application.  Really, there is no substitute for application, because applying God’s word to our lives will transform us.[3] Application leads to conviction in our hearts and ultimately a change of desires produced by the power of the Holy Spirit.[4] Next, God begins to convince us of his ability, availability, intentions and provision.  As we are convinced of God’s character, we begin to change into the person God intends us to be.[5]

There are four steps to application: know (the text and yourself), relate, meditate and practice. Essentially, the final chapters are the bow on this beautiful gift. Why do we do all of this? We do this so that the Word of God will transform us and then in turn use us to transform others so that the power of God can be released to a world that has viewed God and the Bible as either irrelevant, boring, false or powerless. This challenge is to do more than establish a method of effective study, more than just how to read a book, but it is a manual on how to meditate and study diligently while allowing the bible to create something inside of you as it unleashes a very real power.

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[1] Hendricks 40

[2] Ibid., 199.

[3] Ibid., 301

[4] Ibid., 302

[5] Ibid., 309

Bible Commentaries - exegetical or expository

Good bible study and message development requires a decent commentary. Trust me not all commentaries are equal, authors write based on the prism they view the world through, so you need to find a good commentary that aligns with your doctrine and theology. Good commentaries should be exegetical or expository in nature. My favorite is the Expositors Bible Commentary, my mentor prefers the IVP series. Find an author that you connect with and use it. Here are some good examples:

Expositor’s Bible Commentary

IVP New Testament Commentary Series

Word Biblical Commentary

New American Commentary

Tyndale New Testament Commentary

New International Commentary on the New Testament

Early Church Commentary

Bible Study tools - Text Analysis

Text Analysis

Raising Questions about the Text

Liberty University - Greek Language Tools, Class, NGRK 506

            Much of good exegesis is simply a matter of raising the right kinds of questions.  Remember how in the first module we looked at the method of exegesis?  Part of that method involves raising certain kinds of questions about the text.  Let’s look at this same material again in more detail:

• Bombard the passage with questions.  Insight often is the result of careful observation of things others overlook.  Ask the Who, What, How, and Why questions that the passage naturally raises.

·      Let your sentence flow outline be the basis of some of your questions.  You should want to know why certain ideas are linked as they are.  (Why does Paul see something as being a result of salvation, or why does the author see something as happening after something else?  Write all these questions down.

• You should raise questions that you believe you know the answers to, questions that perhaps seem obvious.  Writing these down will help fix them in your memory and associate them with the passage.  Many times, when we go to preach or teach on a scripture passage, we have gone so deeply into obscure matters that we neglect to teach what is right on the surface.  The surface matters are often the most important.  Don’t neglect them simply because they are so obvious.  You’ve probably heard the story about the guy who ruined his car because he did an oil change, and forgot to put the drain plug back into the oil pan.  Don’t do that with Bible teaching.
• Raise the following questions as well, and write them down.  What is the immediate context?  What is the larger context of the book?  Who is the author? Who are the original readers?  What is their situation at the time of writing? You may want to write down preliminary answers to these questions, but remember that your commentary study will answer these in detail.
• Look for these things in the passage:

ü  Key words -- What words are especially important in this passage?

ü  Imperative words -- Are there commands in the passage?  Any promises or warnings?

ü  Reasons or results -- Does the passage contain words like "because," "so that," "if . . . then"?   Later we will look at types of clauses and you will gain more skill in dealing with these.

ü  Comparisons/contrasts -- Does the writer use these to bring out his ideas?  Does he use illustrations?  What kind?  Why those?

ü  Are there any metaphors, images, or similes in the passage?  In writing to Timothy, Paul likens Christian service to being a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer (2 Tim 2).  These images each highlight a different aspect of serving Christ.  A good sermon might be built on an analysis of these images alone.

ü  Repetition and progression of ideas -- Watch for repeated words and phrases.  Are there lists of ideas or items?  Do they have any apparent significance in their order?  They won’t always be significant and you want to avoid forcing a significance onto a list which it doesn’t have, but you must raise the question.

ü  Are there Questions -- Does the writer use them to introduce a topic, summarize an idea, or challenge someone's thinking? Paul does this all the way through Romans—almost as if he is engaging in an imaginary debate.

ü  Connecting words -- "But," "if," "however," and "therefore" are just a few of the connecting words that often tip off how ideas are related to one another.

ü  Grammatical constructions -- What about the verb tenses?  Are they past, present, or future?  What do the pronouns refer to?  We will examine this in detail in later modules.

ü  Atmosphere -- Is the passage marked by joy, sorrow, rage, remorse, caution, or something else?  Do emphatic statements tips off the writer's mood?  Is the writer joyful? Angry (Paul in Galatians)?  Serious?  Fatherly (Paul to Timothy)?

ü  General structure -- How do ideas fit together?  Sometimes an author states a general principle, then gives specifics.  Other times he gives a list, then a summary statement.  Paul often writes several chapters of doctrine and then offers numerous applications.  (This is a lesson for us in itself—application never stands alone—it is always the application of sound doctrine—never teach/preach applications only for months at a time.  Like Paul’s churches, the people you minister to need good doctrine regularly.)

You should print out this sheet and keep it with you whenever you study the Bible, until it all comes naturally to you.

Method of Exegesis

Method of Exegesis

Liberty University - Greek Language Tools, Class, NGRK 506

Part 3 of 3  

            This outlines the basic method of exegesis which you will use in this course.  In this lesson we will use some of the matters laid out in step one.  Later lessons will utilize other steps.  As you learn more about using Greek resources all of the steps will become clearer to you.  For now, just read through this document so you will be familiar with the steps.

Step 1:  Choosing a Text

o   Choose a complete text, selecting a genuine, properly translated text.  Usually this will be a complete paragraph, though in some cases a single sentence will work.  Do not choose just a phrase or clause.  This is too small a unit and will lead you into preaching or teaching topical rather than exegetical messages.

o   Choose the text with an open mind, willing to be stretched and taught by the text.  If a text disturbs your thinking on a spiritual matter, it may be well to study it closely for your own spiritual benefit, even if you do not plan to preach on it any time soon.

o   Seek to identify where a passage of Scripture begins and ends.  Look for a complete unit of thought.  Remember that chapter and verse divisions are relatively recent additions to the Bible.  The original manuscripts had no such divisions.  Often a verse begins or ends right in the middle of a sentence.

o   Check the paragraphing.  (The New American Standard Bible indicates a new paragraph by boldfacing the verse number or the first letter in a new paragraph. Many Bibles merely indent the beginning of a paragraph as in most books. Your software Bible may offer you the choice of dividing the text into verses or paragraphs. Some older Bibles indicate a new paragraph with the symbol ¶ at the start of the verse.)

o   Look for literary clues that often mark units of thought: introductory statements; indications of time, place, or location; and concluding summary statements.  These will be indicated by the word “Now” or “Finally” or “Having come to Capernaum” or something such as that.  Learn to be alert to these statements.  Many times they will introduce a whole section that will contain multiple preachable/studyable texts.  You should never have such a turning point right in the middle of a passage you are studying, however.

o   Look for thematic elements that hold a unit of text together and set it off from surrounding verses. That is, look for a key word (“Abide” in John 15, or “Faith” in Hebrews 11) or a theme or idea such as “Joy,” “Prayer,” “the Supremacy of Christ,” etc.  A theme treated through much of a chapter will be too long for exegesis, but you may plan to exegete several passages from a chapter over a period of time, especially for a sermon series or Bible study unit.

o   Look at Context:  That is consider how what goes before and after your text influences the interpretation of your text.  Would broadening the scope of your text by a verse or two in either direction alter your understanding of the text?  (Eph. 5, Col. 2, 1 Pet. 5).

                                                                             

Step 2:  Exploring the Text

o   Read the passage repeatedly from one or more of the more literal translations: New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Williams New Testament, New International Version, or King James Version. Note any significant differences in translation for future investigation.

o   Read the passage aloud at least once, preferably several times.

o   As you do these first several readings, jot down quickly whatever observations, questions, initial impressions, and related thoughts come to mind.  Do not worry about evaluating them now.  Just record them.  Think, feel, and imagine.  Listen to the text without concern for "getting up a sermon" or writing an "A" paper. Ask God to speak to you through it.  Do not bring in commentaries and reference books yet.  Let them wait until after you have spent considerable time exploring the passage yourself. 

Step 3:  The Analytic Method

Then you will want to engage in a deeper analysis of the text: This is called analytic Bible study.

The Methodology of Analytic Bible Study

o   Make a “block outline” of the passage.  Copy the passage on a sheet of paper, arranging it in outline form by its component clauses. (How to do this is discussed later).

o   Bombard the passage with questions.  Insight often is the result of careful observation of things others overlook.  Ask the “who,” “what,” “how,” and “why” questions.  Let your sentence flow outline be the basis of some of your questions. You should want to know why certain ideas are linked as they are.  For example, “Why does Paul see something as being a result of salvation?” or “Why does the author see something as happening after something else?”  Write these questions down.

o   Raise the following questions as well, and write them down.  What is the immediate context?  What is the larger context of the book?  Who is the author? Who are the original readers?  What is their situation at the time of writing?  If you know the answers to some of these already, make note of those answers, at least sketchily.

o   Look for these things in the passage:

ü  Imperative words -- Are there commands in the passage? 

ü  Any promises or warnings?

ü  Reasons or results -- Does the passage contain words like "because," "so that," "if . . . then"?

ü  Comparisons/contrasts -- Does the writer use these to bring out his ideas? 

ü  Does he use illustrations?  What kind?  Why those illustrations?

ü  Repetition and progression of ideas -- Watch for repeated words and phrases.  Are there lists of ideas or items? 

ü  Questions -- Does the writer use them to introduce a topic, summarize an idea, or challenge someone's thinking? (Paul does this often in Romans).

ü  Connecting words -- "But," "if," "however," and "therefore" are just a few of the connecting words that often tip off how ideas are related to one another.

ü  Atmosphere -- Is the passage marked by joy, sorrow, rage, remorse, caution, or something else?  Do emphatic statements tips off the writer's mood?

ü  General structure -- How do ideas fit together?  Sometimes an author states a general principle, then gives specifics.  Other times he gives a list, then a summary statement.

Step 4:  Seeking answers to your questions

            Now you are ready to begin research.  You want to take your questions now and find appropriate answers to them. Some of them will be answered directly from the Bible itself. For example the immediate context should be clear from reading the larger portion of scripture from which your passage comes.

            Other questions will require use of reference tools or a commentary, or other resources. The introductory section of a commentary will give you insight into the author, the readers, the cultural setting and other factors that may influence the meaning of the passage.

            You will want to focus early on those questions the Greek reference tools will help you with.  You will likely have questions like “What does ‘justification’ mean here?”  “What does Paul mean by ‘old things have passed away’?” etc.  Many times the answer hinges on the grammar and word meanings in the passage.

            As you study the passage you will try to answer as many of your questions as you can, using every resource available to you.  Sometimes you will answer several questions at once.  You may find the answers to some questions while researching others.

            You may find that many of your questions can be grouped together.  That is, you may have noted that your questions regarding grammar (verb tenses etc.) and content in the same place, are closely related.  One answer may cover all of that.

Step 5: Interpretation

            Now that you have answered so many questions, you will want to write out an interpretation of the passage.  Describe in a few paragraphs what the passage means. Take into account the author, the readers, the situation, and the context in interpreting the passage.

            Is there one main point the author seeks to make?  Does he illustrate, explain, or define something?  How does what he says relate to salvation, morals, the nature and attributes of God?  Does the passage say, or assume something about mankind, or sin, or evangelism, or the life of the church?  Does it say, or assume something about the Bible, or about sin?  Don’t read into the passage more than is there, but be aware of what really is there.

Step 6: Application

            See if you can find specific applications of the passage for modern Christians.  It may apply to individuals, or to the congregation as a whole, or to families.  You should look for theological applications as well as life applications.  That is, you should look for applications in terms of truths to believe, as well as things to do.

            After you have done this kind of study of the passage, you are ready to write a sermon or a Bible study lesson based on the passage of Scripture.