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Approaching the Biblical Text Why Start with This Woman in the Kingdom of God Lecture 1: Approaching the Biblical Text E4N School of Ministry Instructor: Kimberly Witkowski, MRE Spring 2020 [email protected] ​ Why start with this subject when our course subject is women and the Kingdom? Because this is the map to a ______________ shift. Remember this: The key to growth is to adapt yourself to the text and not the text to yourself. The Basics of Study: 1. Start with the ________. Adapt study habits to personal needs and preferences ​ ​ for the most successful study time. ​ ​ 2. Know ___________! ​ ​ 3. Do I study _______ in the morning or in the evening? (Or perhaps at lunchtime?) ​ ​ 4. Do I gain more when I study for one ________ period of uninterrupted time or ​ ​ several shorter periods of time? 5. Do I ______________ more information visually or orally (books/ebooks vs. ​ ​ audio books and lectures.) 6. Studies show that “doodling” while taking notes helps one retain and recall ​ ​ information. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090226210039.htm https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/39941/making-learning-visible-doodling-helps-memories -stick 7. __________ _________ are important for the enjoyment of study. Be in a ​ comfortable place; with snacks, drinks or music that you enjoy. 8. A useful way to aid in the internalization of concepts and information is to teach another what you’ve ___________. ​ ​ APPROACHING THE BIBLICAL TEXT 1 Approach the Text as an Act of Worship: 9. On a spiritual level, Study is an act of __________. In ancient times it was ​ ​ ​ considered to be the highest form of worship. The Jewish mindset sees it as an all-encompassing act. We _________ ourselves in the act of study. “True spiritual learning is an incredibly meaningful experience. It draws one close to God in ​ openness and praise. It builds character and obedience; it strengthens us to stand firm against sin and worldly influence as our minds dwell upon his ways with clarity. Furthermore, the one who is deeply rooted in the Word, the Scriptures, and the Son who is the Word become flesh, will be a blessing to all those surrounding him; he will be a wellspring of love, peace, and truth. He will be strengthened to spread the kingdom and its justice in the world, preparing the way for what is to come” (Boaz Michael 2017). https://ffoz.org/discover/the-bram-center/learning-is-worship.html 10. In Hebrews 4:12 the _________ tells us “For the Word of God is living and ​ ​ powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing of the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Judaism regards the scripture as a ________ ___________, and not ​ ​ just words on a page, or a set of laws. “Law must express the structure and the preconception of a _______ community and ​ cannot, nay, must not, be permanent or stagnant. It must preserve a flexibility which renders it adaptable to new conditions and thus enables it to assure the vitality of a continually developing society” (Talmon 1979). 11. With that in mind, we approach the text as living organism, and _________ with ​ ​ it. “… it is the interactive, dynamic spirit of Torah and commentary, of exchange and response that accounts for the richness of the classic texts.” (Holtz 1984). Approach the Text With Curiosity and Wonder: ​ 12.Treat study like a _________ _______; you are searching for treasure that ​ ​ reveals the character and nature of the Creator of the Universe. 13.Approach the text as a _________ might approach an investigation. Scrutinize ​ ​ what is written. And what is missing. APPROACHING THE BIBLICAL TEXT 2 “How is one to know when words are purposefully omitted, left out by chance, or not left out at all? My perspective does not allow for the possibility of chance or accident in this brilliant author’s work; what wordsmith uses, or fails to use, a word by mistake?... Is meaning added by positing something missing? Does the rest of the story support that interpretation?...” - Pamela Tamarkin Reis “Reading the Lines" 14. Tamarkin also suggests that one be attentive to “gaps, redundancies, and seemingly ________________.” ​ ​ 15. Ask “_________.” Every word in the text matters. We are given the words of life ​ ​ in the fewest words possible! So examine the words, actions, even the smallest details given. They are telling you a story. Why is this information in the Scripture? Why is a detail given, or why might it be omitted? The missing details can often tell us as much as those that are present in the text. 16.Pay attention to the ______________. ​ ​ 17. Approach the text having laid aside preconceived ___________ and ​ ​ confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is defined as the tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions. This leads to __________. ​ Note of warning: Often times the most difficult Bible stories or portions of text to ____________ are the ones we think we already _________. ​ ​ ​ 18. Approach the text as a partnership with _______ ________ to gain knowledge ​ ​ and wisdom, and a deeper love for God. When a portion of text evades your understanding, or doesn’t “sit well,” then ask for ________. Approach the Text With Delight: ​ ​ More to be desired are they [God’s commandments] than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psalm 19:9,10 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103 In Judaism the study of Torah is associated with ___________. It was a ​ ​ common practice in ancient times to smear honey on a wax board and have the student lick the honey after he/she had finished a lesson in the Torah. 19.“Study of Torah is compared to _______ and __________: just as these are ​ ​ ​ ​ sweet throughout, so are the words of the Torah. - Midrash Rabbah APPROACHING THE BIBLICAL TEXT 3 20.As we _______ through study, we ________ God. According to the Westminster Catechesm, this is a part of our purpose. Westminster Shorter Catechesm: 21.Question 1: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to Him forever. ​ ​ (1 Corinthians 10:31, KJV) (Psalms 73:25-26, KJV). 22.Question 2: What rule hath God given to direct us how we may ________ and enjoy him? Answer : The Word of God, which is _________ in the Scriptures of the Old and ​ ​ New Testament, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. 23. And are built upon the _____________of the apostles and prophets, Jesus ​ ​ Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; (Ephesians 2:20, KJV). 24. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2Timothy 3:16, KJV). 25. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1John 1:3, KJV). 26. Question 3: What do the Scriptures principally teach? ​ Answer: The Scriptures principally teach what man is to concerning ​ ​ God, and what ________ God requires of man. (2Timothy 1:13, KJV). ​ ​ ​ ​ http://www.freepres.org/wcfshort.htm 27. Approach the text with ____________. God will reveal Himself; He wants to be found. “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.” Proverbs 25:2 28. Finding the ________ treasure God has stored up for us in His word causes wonder, and allows us to join the chorus of Heaven and cry “Holy, holy, holy!” Approach the Text With Hebraic Thinking: APPROACHING THE BIBLICAL TEXT 4 29.“The Bible…is a _________ book. It cannot be read and understood and expounded unless we are prepared to become Jews with the Jews.” - Karl Barth 30.____________ thought has developed on the basis of the ________ ​ mindset. We need to adopt an Hebraic mindset to identify with and best interpret the Biblical text. The Jewish people were entrusted with the Words of God to be transmitted to all of mankind. “Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.” - Romans 3:1,2 ​ “This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.” - Acts 7:38 A comparison of Hebrew thought vs. Greek thought: ​ 31. Hebrew thought is _________; while Greek thought is _________. Greek ​ ​ ​ thought has been influenced by Stoicism and much emphasis is placed on the idea of being and essence. Hebrew thought is passionate and vigorous. As a ​ ​ point of reference, in the Hebrew language the verb often precedes the noun in a sentence. Marvin Wilson, in Our Father Abraham(1989), points out that the ​ ​ reader is confronted with action even before the subject is designated. Conversely, Thorleif Boman notes that only being which stands in inner relations ​ ​ ​ with something active and moving is reality to a Hebrew; only __________ ​ (motion) has reality (Boman 1960). 32. Hebrew logic utilizes ______ logic. Greek logic involves ______ logic. In Greek ​ thought one moves from premises to conclusion via a closely knit, rational and logical path. Block logic concepts exist in self-contained units (or blocks of thought), that essentially stand alone, but yet are often connected.
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