Welcome Back! Let’s continue our with our series titled
“How to Study the Bible”
for our Christian walk with our Lord Jesus Christ…
How to Study the Bible (Part 5)
Interpreting the Bible ~ Bridging the Gaps
Here are a few important “gaps” to negotiate when interpreting the Biblical text…
Bridging the Gaps
To interpret the Bible properly we have
four main “gaps” to negotiate:
Language:
We
primarily speak English today. But the Bible was written
in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic (similar to Hebrew). Many of the Bible
translations available today are excellent, but no translation can get
across
everything that the original language conveys. For example, the Apostle Paul says:
Let a man regard us in this manner, as ministers of Christ – 1 Corinthians 4:1
When we think of the English word “minister,”
we think of a prime minister or a minister of defense. It is indeed a lofty term. However the Greek word translated "minister" –
huperetes –
originally spoke of a
third-level galley slave. Hardly a lofty concept! Paul wanted it to be said of him that he was nothing more than a “third-level galley slave” for Jesus Christ. We would never get that understanding out of the English term.
That's why we need to bridge the language gap!
There are some excellent tools available to assist us in this challenge. W. E. Vine's
An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
is helpful for someone who doesn't know Greek. In addition, there are several language helps that are keyed to
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible,
which
has a numerical code to English definitions of all the Greek, Hebrew,
and Aramaic words in the Bible. You'll learn to trace how a particular
word is used throughout
the entire Bible – or just in the passage you are studying.
Bridging the language gap will bring you to a new level of understanding!
Culture:
Parts of the Bible have been written as long as four
thousand years ago. Times have certainly changed since then! If we don't understand the
culture of the time in which our passage was written, we'll never understand its
true meaning.
For example, the Apostle John says:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God – John 1:1
Why didn't John just simply say, "In the beginning was Jesus"? By studying
the culture of the time, we discover that the Greek term "the Word" – ho logos
– was highly significant to both Greek
and Hebrew culture. To the Greeks, it was a philosophical
term representing the sum total of cosmic energy or that which
causes everything to exist. To the Hebrews, “the Word” of the Lord was
the
personal expression of God Himself.
John drew in both audiences by describing Jesus Christ as the personal manifestation of the Almighty Creator – Brilliant!
Similarly,
if we don't know anything about the Pharisees, the Sadducees the
Sanhedrin, the Zealots or the Essens as well as other aspects of Jewish
culture or the religion of Judaism itself, we won't understand the
Gospel of Matthew. And if we don't know anything about the false teaching of
Gnosticism, we won't understand the New Testament epistle to the Colossians.
Some books to help bridge the culture gap are:
The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah
by Alfred Edersheim and Eerdmans's varying handbooks on
Bible culture.
Geography:
There are also many
geographical references in Scripture. For instance, we read of going
down
to Jericho and going
up to Jerusalem as well as other such references.
For instance, the Apostle Paul says of the Thessalonians:
For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth – 1 Thessalonians 1:8
From other portions of Scripture, we learn that Paul was just recently in Thessalonica.
Knowing something about the geography of the area explains how the Word of God had "sounded forth" and spread so fast
– "gone forth"
– in the first century! Also, the Ignatian Highway – the main concourse between the East and West – ran through the
middle of Thessalonica. Whatever happened there was passed down all along the way...
Do you see how an understanding of geography can enrich your
comprehension of the text? Consult a good Bible atlas or geography text and reap these wonderful benefits!
History:
Knowing the
historical background of the text also enriches our understanding. For example, in the
Gospel of Matthew we learn about the interplay between Pontius Pilate and Jesus
Christ:
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor – Matthew 27:1-2
Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly – Matthew 27:11-14
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified – Matthew 27:15-26
The key to understanding this tragic false-sentencing of Jesus
Christ is knowing what happened at this time – historically.
When
Pontius
Pilate was first assigned to the jurisdiction of Judea, he infuriated
the Jewish population by trying to force pagan culture and emperor
worship upon them. There
were several such incidents and Rome was displeased with
Pilate's inability to keep the peace. Pilate was afraid of what the
Jewish leaders might instigate at this illegal “hearing.” He already had
a rotten track record with the Jews and his job was
on the line
–
That's why he allowed Jesus Christ be crucified!
Do you see the importance of
historical context pertaining to our study of God’s Word?
To assist us with this challenge, Bible dictionaries are good sources for historical background…
Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued investigation
of How to Study the Bible…
May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love,
mercy and grace!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
