Getting all we can from Scripture

Session 3Consider the author’s situation

Men’s Bible Study at Park View

April 21, 2015

Getting all we can from Scripture

Getting all we can from Scripture

Seven disciplines that help us read God's ideas out of the biblical text (rather than read our ideas into the text)

Discipline #1 - Prepare my heartDo I open myself hear God in the text?

Discipline #1 - Prepare my heartDo I open myself hear God in the text?

Discipline #2 - Consider the context Does what is written before and after the text shed light on the text?

Discipline #3 - Consider the author’s situation

Discipline #3 - Consider the author’s situationAre there any historical or cultural facts that help explain the text?

Discipline #3 - Consider the author’s situationAre there any historical or cultural facts that help explain the text?

Matthew 5:13 - You are the salt of the earth

As we read the Bible, we ask “what would someone in the original situation be meaning by those words?”

As we read the Bible, we ask “what would someone in the original situation be meaning by those words?”

Mark 7:1-5

As we read the Bible, we ask “what would someone in the original situation be meaning by those words?”

Mark 7:1-5 - ...saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.

As we read the Bible, we ask “what would someone in the original situation be meaning by those words?”

Mark 7:1-5 - ...saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.

Explanation of the historical and cultural background is generally not in the text because the audience already knew it

Where can we find these unspoken historical and cultural facts?

Where can we find these unspoken historical and cultural facts?

• Dictionary/ Encyclopedia

Where can we find these unspoken historical and cultural facts?

• Dictionary/ Encyclopedia• Study Bible eg. NIV Study Bible

Where can we find these unspoken historical and cultural facts?

• Dictionary/ Encyclopedia• Study Bible eg. NIV Study Bible, ESV Study Bible

Where can we find these unspoken historical and cultural facts?

• Dictionary/ Encyclopedia• Study Bible eg. NIV Study Bible, ESV Study Bible

• commentaries

Where can we find these unspoken historical and cultural facts?

• Dictionary/ Encyclopedia• Study Bible eg. NIV Study Bible, ESV Study Bible

• commentaries• online Bible study helps eg. biblegateway.com

Where can we find these unspoken historical and cultural facts?

• Dictionary/ Encyclopedia• Study Bible eg. NIV Study Bible, ESV Study Bible

• commentaries• online Bible study helps eg. biblegateway.com

Where can we find these unspoken historical and cultural facts?

• Dictionary/ Encyclopedia• Study Bible eg. NIV Study Bible, ESV Study Bible

• commentaries• online Bible study helps eg. biblegateway.com

• thought-for-thought translations

Where can we find these unspoken historical and cultural facts?

• Dictionary/ Encyclopedia• Study Bible eg. NIV Study Bible, ESV Study Bible

• commentaries• online Bible study helps eg. biblegateway.com

• thought-for-thought translations eg. NLT

Luke 18:9-14 - ...the tax collector...beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Luke 18:9-14 - ...the tax collector...beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Luke 18:9-14 - ...the tax collector...beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Luke 18:9-14 - ...the tax collector...beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Luke 14:27 - whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 18:9-14 - ...the tax collector...beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Luke 14:27 - whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 15:11-32

Luke 18:9-14 - ...the tax collector...beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Luke 14:27 - whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 15:11-32 - …‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’

Luke 18:9-14 - ...the tax collector...beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Luke 14:27 - whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 15:11-32 - …‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’

...hired himself out…to feed pigs.

Luke 18:9-14 - ...the tax collector...beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Luke 14:27 - whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 15:11-32 - …‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’

...hired himself out…to feed pigs. …he ran to his son…

Luke 18:9-14 - ...the tax collector...beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Luke 14:27 - whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 15:11-32 - …‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’

...hired himself out…to feed pigs. …he ran to his son…

When the text is a command, this Discipline is especially important

When the text is a command, this Discipline is especially important

2 Tim. 4:9 - Do your best to come to me quickly

When the text is a command, this Discipline is especially important

2 Tim. 4:9 - Do your best to come to me quickly

Many commands in the Bible were intended for a specific situation

When the text is a command, this Discipline is especially important

2 Tim. 4:9 - Do your best to come to me quickly

Many commands in the Bible were intended for a specific situation

2 Cor 13:12 - Greet one another with a holy kiss. (also Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 1 Thes. 5:26, 1 Pet. 5:14)

1 Timothy 5:23 - No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

What do we do with commands that were given to life situations different from ours?

What do we do with commands that were given to life situations different from ours?

1) Ignore them?

What do we do with commands that were given to life situations different from ours?

1) Ignore them?

2) Start them up again?

What do we do with commands that were given to life situations different from ours?

1) Ignore them?

2) Start them up again?

3) Discern the (timeless) principle behind the specific (timebound) instructionand how to how to best express that principle in our culture.

Eg., the intent or principle behind the holy kiss (“show warm affection to fellow believers”) is perhaps best achieved in our culture by a holy hug or firm handshake.

Deuteronomy 22:8 - When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof.

Is this biblical command still in force for us today exactly as articulated on the page?

Or only in part or in a modified fashion through its underlying principle?

Is this biblical command still in force for us today exactly as articulated on the page?

Or only in part or in a modified fashion through its underlying principle?

"Do not . . . put tattoo marks on yourselves" (Lev 19:28).

Is this biblical command still in force for us today exactly as articulated on the page?

Or only in part or in a modified fashion through its underlying principle?

"Do not . . . put tattoo marks on yourselves" (Lev 19:28).

Is this biblical command still in force for us today exactly as articulated on the page?

Or only in part or in a modified fashion through its underlying principle?

"Do not take interest of any kind from your countryman" (Lev 25:36).

Is this biblical command still in force for us today exactly as articulated on the page?

Or only in part or in a modified fashion through its underlying principle?

"Praise God with tambourine and dancing,...praise him with the clash of cymbals" (Ps 150:4-5).

Is this biblical command still in force for us today exactly as articulated on the page?

Or only in part or in a modified fashion through its underlying principle?

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor" (Lk 12:33).

Is this biblical command still in force for us today exactly as articulated on the page?

Or only in part or in a modified fashion through its underlying principle?

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet" (Jn 13:14)