A. Truthfulness.
Truth is found in the Bible, understood rightly.
(In addition to just saying what the Bible says, it’s important that what
is said, as far as it is pragmatically possible, …
1. Is seen to be from the Bible. This prevents the shift of authority from Scripture
to speaker.
2. Is seen to be rightly derived from the Bible. This prevents a teacher misusing
the Bible and empowers listeners to rightly read the Bible for themselves and
to guard against false teaching.)
3 Factors behind Bible interpretation.
i. The Spirit’s authorship and inspiration.
ii. Meaning is determined by emphasis and by context.
Words in isolation carry or convey little, if any, meaning. Meaning is
conveyed by the inter-relation or context of words. Ignoring the context
is changes the meaning. Awareness of context prevents misreading our
own ideas onto a passage, & provides greater depth & sharpness
to the application.
Similarly, emphasis is part of meaning. Changing the emphasis changes the meaning. Emphasis is determined by context.
‘A text without a context is a pretext for a proof-text!’
iii. The main or overall point is primary: The whole is greater
than the sum of the parts.
Like a house made of bricks, the arrangement of the bricks together creates
something new and bigger than the bricks themselves. Bringing words and
ideas together form an overarching or integrating point of the passage,
which is its main point, as opposed to some incidental point that happens
to strike you.
(The Spirit authored and inspired Scripture with a context which conveys meaning and forms an overarching point. A passage’s meaning and main point as determined by its context is the Spirit’s meaning and main point for that passage.)
1. The Bible ® the point,
not the point ® the Bible.
That is, derive the point of the talk from the Bible, not place some
predetermined point you want to make on a Bible verse.
2. The main point.
i. Identify the passage’s structure. Sometimes this follows a neat
sequence, sometimes it’s more interwoven threads. Biblical writings
sometimes follow a ‘chiastic’ structure.
ii. Identify sub-points & then how they interrelate to form a whole.
iii. Ask: What
the writer is driving at, why & how does he get there? What applications
or instructions are given?
3. Context.
Scripture was given for us but not directly to us but indirectly through
original recipients. Modern readers are eves droppers. Appreciating
context identifies what it meant then, that is, what the author intended & the
original readers understood, before concluding what it means for us
now.
a. Cultural background
Research original meanings of words & practices.
i. Words are to be understood within their original semantic range, not
according to our modern usage of English word translations, eg church & worship.
ii. Symbols & many practices also must be understood according to
their cultural setting and meaning, eg head coverings.
iii. What did the words and phrases, actions and practices mean then.
b. Historical circumstances.
The original particular historical situation of the writer and readers
shaped what was written.
Understanding this then adds depth and cutting edge of impact & application.
Carefully note what is indicated both explicitly & implicitly.
Ask: What is the writer driving at & why?
c. Literary Style.
i. Not all the Bible’s writings are meant to be taken literally.
Some parts are poetic etc.
ii. Passages often conform to (then) common and recognisable writing
forms, eg Deuteronomy is a covenant (treaty), Revelation is apocalyptic.
iii. Ask what sort of writing is this.
d. Literary Surrounds.
i. Carefully consider how each smaller part relates to its surrounding
larger part. Understand each word within its sentence, each sentence
within its paragraph, each paragraph within its section and each section
with the whole book.
ii. Identify how the combination of the various parts builds an overarching
whole (see Main Pt).
iii. Ask: Why is this phrase or passage there? What does it provide to
the greater whole? What if it wasn’t there? What if it was somewhere
else?
e. Biblical or theological.
i. Identify where a passage or book comes within the whole and ultimately
the Bible's unfolding and developing story and history of salvation.
ii. The OT & the Gospels must be read through the cross.
iii. Notice the differences:
*Many characters featured in the Bible, e.g. Moses, David etc, are not
primarily patterns for the ordinary believer but anticipations of Christ.
*Features of many Gospel and Acts stories are tied to the peculiar situation
of Jesus’ or the apostles’ ministries.
*Many passages simply describe what happened without prescribing these
things as a pattern for believers.
4. Gospel & wider NT conformity.
The preached Word (the gospel) & the written Word (Scripture) are
one and interdependent. The gospel is the message which produced the
Scriptures and now the Scriptures ultimately define the gospel. The gospel
then is the core which binds Scripture and the key to rightly understanding
it in part and in whole.
i. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Don’t interpret one part contrary
to another.
ii. Use simpler more straight forward passages to set some parameters
for possible interpretation.
iii. Don’t, however, simply read the meaning of one passage onto
another. Allow them to say different, but not contradictory, things.
iv. Leave room, however, for reasonable tension of concepts.
B. Clarity.
1. Explicitly identify the big idea of
the talk from the main or overall point of the passage.
(An idea is made up of a subject or question (what we’re talking
about) and a complement or answer (what we’re saying about it).)
2. Determine the talk’s aim.
i. Work from the applications & instructions of the passage.
ii. Ask: What is the writer driving at? What was he (dis)encouraging?
iii. Put it in terms of hearers subsequent behaviour.
iv. Understand the audience.
3. Come up with a catch phrase, a pithy statement that encapsulates the big point or aim.
4. Determine a talk structure.
i. This should be a logical, easily followed and memorable ordering and
flow of points.
ii. Where possible follow the passage’s structure.
5. Use illustrations.
6. Attain simplicity not complexity. Avoid complicated explanations.
7. Use everyday or street language not jargon.
i. Many Bible words need to be explained and given in everyday language.
ii. Most church & religious words need not to be used.
iii. Beware assuming background knowledge.
iv. Use spoken, not written, English.
C. Perceived Relevance.
1. Give applications throughout not just at the end.
2. Make applications positive.
3. Address a contact point, some matter of underlying human need or issue or interest.
4. Decide introduction & conclusion last.
Use the contact point to hook people.
5. Be personal and personable.
Use personal examples.
6. Be enthusiastic.
i. Humbly & thoughtfully come under the passage first.
ii. Love the people.
iii. Care about what is happening and being said.
iv. Don’t be afraid of emotion & passion. Don’t force
it. Don’t be artificial or manipulative with it.
D. Pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steps:
1. The passage’s main point from interrelated sub-points, appreciating
context(s).
2. The talk’s big idea.
3. Aim.
4. Contact point.
5. Catch phrase.
6. Structure.
7. State - illustrate - text - explain - apply.
8. Introduction and conclusion.
* Prayer before and after every step.