TABLE OF CONTENTS - Free Bible Commentary

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abbreviations Used in This Textbook and the Commentaries ..........................................................1 A Word From the Author: A Brief Summary of This Interpretive Method ......................................3

INTRODUCTION

I. A Word About the Trend in Biblical Interpretation Toward Specializations...........................5 II. The Author's Experiences in Teaching Hermeneutics..........................................................10 III. The Issue of Authority ..........................................................................................................12 IV. The Need for Non-technical Hermeneutical Procedures ......................................................14

A. Apathy Among Believers B. Dogmatism Among Believers V. Basic Presuppositions About the Bible.................................................................................16 VI. General Statements About the Contextual Method...............................................................17 VII. Some General Comments to the Reader...............................................................................18

THE BIBLE

I. The Canon ............................................................................................................................19 II. Claims of Inspiration ............................................................................................................21 III. The Bible's Purpose..............................................................................................................22

A. Not a Rule Book B. Not a Science Book C. Not a Magic Book

IV. Author's Presuppositions About the Bible ...........................................................................24

V. Evidence for a Supernatural, Inspired, and Authoritative Bible ...........................................24 A. Predictive Prophecy B. Archaeological Discoveries C. Consistency of Message D. Permanently Changed People

VI. Problems Related to Our Interpretation of the Bible ............................................................26

VII. The Major Textual Sources of Our Modern Bible................................................................27 A. Old Testament B. New Testament C. Brief Explanation of the Theories of Textual Criticism D. The Basic Tenets of Textual Criticism E. Some Examples of the Problem of Hand-copied Manuscripts F. The Problem of Translating From One Language to Another G. The Problem of Human Languages in Describing God

BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

I. Author's Presuppositional Definition ...................................................................................40 II. The Need for Verifiable Interpretation .................................................................................41 III. Examples of Interpretative Abuse.........................................................................................42

THE INTERPRETER

I. Presuppositional Conditioning..............................................................................................44 II. Some Examples of Evangelical Conditioning ......................................................................45 III. What Can Be Done? .............................................................................................................46 IV. The Responsibilities of the Interpreter..................................................................................47

THE COMMON SENSE METHOD OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION

I. The History and Development of Hermeneutics ...................................................................48 A. Jewish Interpretation B. The Alexandrian School C. The Antiochian School D. The Antiochian School's Basic Tenets

II. Interpretive Questions...........................................................................................................54 A. What did the original author say? (textual criticism) B. What did the original author mean? (exegesis) C. What did the original author say elsewhere on the same subject? (parallel passages) D. What did other biblical authors say on the same subject? E. How did the original hearers understand the message and respond to it? F. How does this truth apply to my day? G. How does this truth apply to my life? H. The Interpreter's Responsibility I. Some Helpful Books

SOME POSSIBLE INTERPRETIVE PITFALLS

I. Need for Both a Logical Process and a Textual Focus in Interpretation...............................86 A. The Literary Context B. The Historical Context C. The Literary Genre D. The Grammar/Syntax E. The Original Word Meanings and Connotations F. Appropriate Use of Parallel Passages

II. Examples of Abuse of the First Five Interpretive Questions ................................................87

PRACTICAL PROCEDURES FOR INTERPRETATION

I. The Spiritual Aspect ..............................................................................................................93 A. Pray for the Spirit's help B. Pray for personal cleansing C. Pray for a greater knowledge and love for God D. Apply new truth to your personal life immediately E. Suggested readings

II. Logical Process......................................................................................................................94 A. Read it in several translations B. Read the entire book or literary unit at one sitting C. Write down your observations 1. main purpose of the passage 2. genre of the passage D. Check other Bible study resources on these points E. Re-read the entire book or literary unit and outline the major literary units (i.e., truths) and look for historical issues (i.e., author, date, recipient, occasion) F. Fourth reading G. Check other Bible study resources H. Check the significant parallel passages I. Eastern people present truth in tension-filled pairs J. Systematic Theology K. Use of parallel passages

III. Proposed Order for the Use of Research Tools......................................................................104

SAMPLE CATEGORIES FOR NOTE TAKING

I. Reading Cycles......................................................................................................................106 II. Exegetical Procedures ...........................................................................................................109 III. Basic Procedures for a NT Academic Word Study...............................................................111 IV. Brief Summary of Hermeneutical Principles ........................................................................112

A SELECTED LIST OF RECOMMENDED RESEARCH TOOLS BY CATEGORY

I. The Bible .................................................................................................................................... 114

II. How to do Research ..............................................................................................................114

III. Hermeneutics.........................................................................................................................114

IV. Exegesis.................................................................................................................................115

V. Basic Introductions to Biblical Books...................................................................................115

VI. Bible Encyclopedias and Dictionaries...................................................................................115

VII. Commentary Sets ..................................................................................................................116

VIII. Word Studies .........................................................................................................................116

IX. Cultural Settings....................................................................................................................117

X. Theologies .............................................................................................................................118

XI. Apologetics............................................................................................................................118

XII. Bible Difficulties ...................................................................................................................119

XIII. Textual Criticism...................................................................................................................119

XIV. Lexicons ................................................................................................................................119

XV. Bob's Favorite Authors

120

XVI. Web sites to Buy Discounted Books .....................................................................................120

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