Accurately Handling the

CCS

Women’s Bible Study REVIEW

– We all have a worldview. – We can be grounded in our faith. – We can reasonably know the Bible is trustworthy and reliable. – We can study Church history and early Church fathers’ writings as “guides” for sound doctrine. God has revealed Himself in two ways…

GENERAL REVELATION SPECIAL REVELATION (Romans 1:19-20) (2 Peter 1:20-21) – How God shows Himself in nature: – How God shows Himself in physical nature, human nature, Scripture (the Bible) history – Contributes to Christian theology – God has disclosed something and sets the norm for Christian specific about Himself and His thought relationship to His Creation – God is revealed as Redeemer and – God is revealed as Creator and His plan for salvation Sustainer NOW WHAT? God’s special revelation

The Bible “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

HEBREWS 4:12 Why do we need to know how to accurately handle the Word of God? “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 Seek the Lord with our hearts and mind (1 Chronicle 22:19) and love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30)

“The heart cannot love what the mind does not know…the path to transformation runs from the mind to the heart, and not the other way around.” –Jen Wilkins

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” --Romans 12:2 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”

2 PETER 2:1 Do we know the Good Shepherd’s voice?

John 10:1-5 FIRST THINGS FIRST…

1. Pray

2. Understand Who the Bible is about • About God, not us FIRST THINGS FIRST…

3. Acknowledge your own presuppositions • Context rules, not experience

4. If use commentaries, books, devotions, etc., understand the author’s background, doctrinal beliefs and philosophy (worldview). Three steps to accurately handling the Bible

OBSERVATION- Examine what the text says

INTERPRETATION- Understanding what the text means

APPLICATION- Adjusting our lives in accordance to what the text says OBSERVATION Examine what the text says

1. Observation helps build CONTEXT…

• Basis for accurate interpretation and correct application

2. Read through in one or two sittings to gain familiarity with the text, not necessarily for knowledge sake. OBSERVATION Examine what the text says

3. What kind of literary style is it?

Historical (Acts) Prophetic (Revelations) Proverbial (Proverbs) Biographical (Luke) Poetic (Psalms) Epistle/letter (Timothy) Didactic/teaching (Romans) Song of Solomon Chapter 4 OBSERVATION Examine what the text says

4. Ask questions of the text:

Who, What, Where, When, Why, How WHO? Who is speaking? To whom? Who is this about? Who are the main characters? WHAT? What is the subject or event covered? What do you learn about the people, event or teaching from the text? What instructions are given? WHEN? When do or will the events occur? (time period…establishes progression of events) WHERE? Where did or will this happen? Where was it said? WHY? Why is something being said or mentioned? Why would or will this happen? Why at this time? Why this person? HOW? How will it happen? How is it being done? INTERPRETATION Understanding what the text means

A. Base interpretation/doctrine on 1) The entire Bible and only the Bible 2) The clear repeated teaching of the Word 3) A sound evaluation of each text a) Not tradition b) Not experience c) Not silence d) Not extra-biblical sources INTERPRETATION Understanding what the text means

B. Context rules 1) Context means “that which goes with the text” 2) To understand context, must be familiar with the full scope of God’s Word a) Immediate context (surrounding verses) b) Remote context (whole chapter, whole book, the NT/OT, the Bible) c) Historical and cultural context INTERPRETATION Understanding what the text means

C. Questions to ask yourself: 1) Is my interpretation consistent with the theme, purpose and structure of book? 2) Is my interpretation consistent with other Scripture on the same subject? 3) Am I considering the historic and cultural context of what is being said? 4) Am I looking to discover what the author is saying and not adding to his meaning. INTERPRETATION Understanding what the text means

D. Remember 1) Scripture does not contradict Scripture/The best interpretation of Scripture is Scripture 2) The obscure does not do away with the clear • Do not base your convictions on an obscure passage of Scripture • Look first for the clear teaching, not a hidden meaning 3) Interpret literally (unless obvious literary style) • Understand and recognize literary styles APPLICATION Adjusting our life

– What was revealed about God? – How does this revelation affect the way I view myself? – How am I to respond in my daily living? 2 Timothy 3:16-17

– All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable – for teaching (doctrine) – for reproof (exposes wrong thought/actions) – for correction (confession and forsaking what is wrong), and – for training in righteousness (how to live life correctly) that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Tools

Enriching Your Bible Study Time Figure out a method that works best for YOU STRUCTURING

– Breaking down long or difficult passages into smaller segments based on dependent and independent clauses. – Especially useful in letters/epistles that deal with doctrine – Helps reader “see” writer’s flow of thought Paul, a servant of Christ , called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus, To those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: (ROMANS 1:1-7) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Word Studies + Commentaries

– Blue Letter Bible – Free – Desktop and Mobile App – Blueletterbible.org – Logos Bible Software (logos.com) – Starter Base Package $66.55 (includes 97 books, buy only the books you want to add) – Desktop and Mobile App – Logos.com “…who was descended from David according to the flesh…” (Romans 1: 3b)

“the flesh” Strong’s #: G4561 Greek word: σάρξ Transliteration: “sarx” (sa’ rks) Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: 2b. Used of natural or physical origin, generation, relationship…Born by natural generation Word Studies (blueletterbible.org)

1. Go to blueletterbible.org (or open app on mobile device) 2. “Search the Bible” box: enter verse, word, topic 3. Select translation 4. Click on “Tools” box by Romans 1:3 5. Go down to “the flesh” and click on Strong’s number Commentaries

– The Bible Knowledge Commentary – World Biblical Commentary (volumes) – New International Commentary (volumes) – Tyndale New/ Commentaries (volumes) – The New American Commentary (volumes) – Expositor’s Bible Commentary (volumes) Study

– ESV /Life Application Bible – Systematic Theology Study Bible – MacArthur Study Bible/MacArthur Study Bible Handbook – Cultural Background Study Bible – The Apologetic Study Bible – The Evidence Bible – The Case for Christ Study Bible Study Resources

– Holman Quicksource Bible Atlas – Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Timelines – Then and Now Bible Maps – Discover the Bible Yourself (Arthur), Women of the Word (Wilkin), Dig Deeper (Beynon and Sach), Why Do You Believe That? (Sharp) – Topical Memory System (NavPress) – The Daily Walk Bible (Tyndale) – So What’s the Difference? (Ridenour) Apps

– If (Going through Church History now) – First Five (Proverbs 31 Ministry) – She Reads Truth/He Reads Truth – The Daily Walk Bible – New City Catechism – Blue Letter Bible – Logos Systematic Theology

– Biblical Doctrine (MacArthur, Mayhue) – Systematic Theology (Geisler) – Systematic Theology (Grudem) – Christian Theology (Erickson) – Evidence That Demands a Verdict (McDowell, McDowell) “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Acts 17:11