#: index.docbook:19 msgid "The Biblestudy HowTo" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><authorgroup><author><firstname> #: index.docbook:23 msgid "Bob" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><authorgroup><author><surname> #: index.docbook:24 msgid "Harman" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><authorgroup><author><surname> #: index.docbook:28 msgid "The BibleTime team" msgstr "" #. TRANS:ROLES_OF_TRANSLATORS #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo> #: index.docbook:34 msgid "" "<copyright> <year>2001-2008</year> <holder>The team of &bibletime; " "(info@bibletime.info)</holder> </copyright>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><legalnotice><para> #: index.docbook:41 msgid "" "This document was originally created by Mr. Bob Harman and is licensed under " "the terms of the license <link url=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-" "sa/3.0/\"> \"Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike\"</link>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><legalnotice><para> #: index.docbook:47 msgid "" "Scripture quotes are from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise " "indicated." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><abstract><title> #: index.docbook:52 msgid "Abstract" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><abstract><para> #: index.docbook:54 msgid "" "The <application>Biblestudy HowTo</application> is a guide for studying the " "Bible." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><abstract><para> #: index.docbook:56 msgid "" "It is the hope of the &bibletime; team that this HowTo will provoke the " "readers to study the scriptures to see what they say. This particular study " "guide has been chosen as it takes care not to advocate any particular " "denominational doctrine. We expect you to read and study the scriptures to " "understand what they say. If you start with the attitude that you want to " "have the Lord sow his word in your heart He will not disappoint you." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><keywordset><keyword> #: index.docbook:66 msgid "Bible" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><keywordset><keyword> #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: index.docbook:67 how2-basics.docbook:49 msgid "Study" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><keywordset><keyword> #: index.docbook:68 msgid "HowTo" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:1 msgid "Bible Study Basics" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:4 msgid "Our Purpose as we Approach the Bible" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para><blockquote><attribution> #: how2-basics.docbook:6 msgid "Jn.5:39-40" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para><blockquote><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:6 msgid "" "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal " "life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come " "to Me, that you may have life." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:12 msgid "" "The chief purpose of the book is to bring us to the Person. Martin Luther " "said <quote>we go to the cradle only for the sake of the baby</quote>; just " "so in Bible study, we do it not for its own sake but for fellowship with God." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><attribution> #: how2-basics.docbook:17 msgid "" "John R.W. Stott, <emphasis>Christ the Controversialist</emphasis>, " "InterVarsity Press 1978, pp.97, 104." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:19 msgid "" "The Jews to whom Jesus spoke [...] imagined that to possess Scripture was " "tantamount to possessing life. Hillel used to say, "He who has gotten " "to himself words of Torah has gotten to himself the life of the world to " "come." Their study was an end in itself. In this they were grievously " "deceived. [...]" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:24 msgid "" "There is neither merit nor profit in the reading of Scripture for its own " "sake, but only if it effectively introduces us to Jesus Christ. Whenever the " "Bible is read, what is needed is an eager expectation that through it we may " "meet Christ." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:31 msgid "Approaches to God's Word" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:32 msgid "" "Hearing and reading provide a telescopic view of the scripture while study " "and memorization provide a microscopic view of scripture. Meditating on the " "scriptures brings hearing, reading, studying and memorization together and " "cements the word in our minds." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:37 msgid "Hear" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:38 msgid "" "Lk.11:28 <quote>blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it.</" "quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:42 msgid "Read" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:43 msgid "" "Rev.1:3 <quote>Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this " "prophecy [...]</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:45 msgid "" "1 Tim.4:13 <quote>give attention to the public reading of Scripture [...]</" "quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:50 msgid "" "Acts 17:11 <quote>Now these were more noble-minded than those in " "Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the " "Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:54 msgid "" "2 Tim.2:15 <quote>Be diligent [KJV `Study'] to present yourself approved to " "God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the " "word of truth.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:59 msgid "Memorize" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:60 msgid "" "Ps.119:11 <quote>Thy word I have hid in my heart, that I may not sin against " "Thee.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:64 msgid "Meditate" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:65 msgid "" "Ps.1:2-3 <quote>But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he " "meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by " "streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does " "not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:71 msgid "" "The Navigators illustrate this by saying that as the thumb can touch all the " "fingers, we can meditate on the Word as we do any of the first four. " "Meditation is a key to revelation. A new Christian needs to hear and read " "the Bible more than they need to study and memorize it. This is so that they " "become familiar with the overall message of the Bible." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:79 msgid "Types of Bible Studies" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:80 msgid "Topical Study" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:81 msgid "" "Pick out a certain topic and follow it through, using cross-references or a " "concordance." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:85 msgid "Character Study" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:86 msgid "" "Studying the life of a Bible character, e.g. Joseph's life in Gen.37-50." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:90 msgid "Expository Study" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:91 msgid "Studying a certain passage: paragraph, chapter, or book." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:95 msgid "Basics of Correct Interpretation" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:97 msgid "Content" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:98 msgid "" "What does it say? What does it say in the original language? Be careful with " "definitions. Don't read into it what it doesn't say." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:102 msgid "Context" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:103 msgid "" "What do the verses around it say? "Context is king" is the rule -- " "the passage must make sense within the structure of the entire passage and " "book." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><orderedlist><listitem><formalpara><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:107 how2-interpretation.docbook:26 msgid "Cross-reference" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:108 msgid "" "What do other verses about this subject say through the rest of the Bible? " "God doesn't contradict Himself, so our interpretation needs to stand the " "test of other scriptures." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:113 msgid "An Expository Study of Matthew 6:1-18" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:114 msgid "" "Let's study together Mt.6:1-18. Read it to yourself, first looking for the " "key verse, the verse that sums up the whole passage. Think you have it? " "Test it by picking different places in the passage and asking yourself if " "they relate to the thought of the key verse. Once you find it, write it as " "Roman numeral One of your outline:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:119 msgid "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:122 msgid "" "What does <quote>practicing your righteousness</quote> mean? Does the " "passage give any examples? What area of our lives is being addressed? " "<emphasis>Our motives!</emphasis> What sub-headings develop this thought?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:126 msgid "When you give" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:127 msgid "When you fast" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:128 msgid "When you pray" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:131 msgid "" "Now fill in the outline with specific instructions of how to avoid wrong " "ways of practicing our righteousness:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:137 msgid "" "don't sound a trumpet. (how might someone <quote>sound a trumpet</quote> " "today?)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:138 msgid "do it secretly." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:139 msgid "etc." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:135 msgid "When you give <placeholder type=\"orderedlist\" id=\"0\"/>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:145 msgid "Worksheet: How to Use a Concordance" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:147 msgid "To Find a Particular Verse" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:149 msgid "Pick out a key word or most-unusual word of the verse." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:150 msgid "Turn to this word alphabetically." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:151 msgid "Go down the column of listings until you find your verse." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:156 msgid "<quote>Faithful are the wounds of a friend</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:157 msgid "<quote>We are ambassadors of Christ.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:158 msgid "The story of the rich man and Lazarus." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:154 msgid "Find these verses: <placeholder type=\"orderedlist\" id=\"0\"/>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:163 msgid "To Do a Topical Study" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:164 msgid "" "Let's say you wanted to do a study of the word "redemption." First " "you would look up that word in the concordance and look up references listed " "for it. Then you could look up related words and references listed for " "them, e.g. "redeem, redeemed, ransom," even "buy" or " ""bought."" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:170 msgid "To Clarify Word Meanings in the Greek and Hebrew" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:171 msgid "" "What if you noticed a contradiction in the KJV between Mt.7:1 <quote>Judge " "not lest you be judged</quote> and 1 Cor.2:15 <quote>He that is spiritual " "judgeth all things.</quote> Maybe there are two different Greek words here, " "both being translated "judge" in English? (We're using Strong's " "from here out.)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:175 msgid "Look up "judge"." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:176 msgid "" "Go down the column of entries to Mt.7:1. To the right is a number, 2919. " "This refers to the Greek word used. Write it down." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:178 msgid "Now look up "judgeth"." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:179 msgid "Go down the column to 1 Cor.2:15 . . . . . 350." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:180 msgid "" "Turn in the back to the Greek dictionary. (Remember, you're in the NT so " "the language is Greek, while the OT is Hebrew.) Compare the meaning of 2919 " "with the meaning of 350 and you have your answer!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:185 msgid "To Find Meanings of Names" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:186 msgid "" "By the same process we can find the meaning of a name in the Greek or Hebrew." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:187 msgid "Look up these names and write down their meaning:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:189 msgid "Nabal" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:190 msgid "Abigail" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:191 msgid "Joshua" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:192 msgid "Barnabus" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:1 msgid "Importance of God's Word" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:2 msgid "" "Understanding God's word is of great importance to all who call on God's " "name. Study of the Bible is one of the primary ways that we learn to " "communicate with God." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:6 msgid "A Book that is Unique" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:7 msgid "The Bible stands alone in many ways. It is unique in:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:12 msgid "" "popularity. Bible sales in North America: more than $500 million per year. " "The Bible is both the the all-time and year-to-year best seller!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:18 msgid "" "authorship. It was written over a period of 1600 years by 40 different " "authors from different backgrounds, yet reads as if written by one." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:24 msgid "" "preservation. F. F. Bruce in <emphasis>Are New Testament Documents Reliable?" "</emphasis> compares New Testament manuscripts with other ancient texts:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:30 msgid "Comparison of New Testament manuscripts with other ancient texts." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:34 msgid "Work" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:35 msgid "When Written" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:36 msgid "Earliest Copy" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:37 msgid "Time Lapse" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:37 msgid "Number of Copies" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:41 msgid "Herodotus" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:42 msgid "448-428 B.C." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:42 how2-importance.docbook:52 #: how2-importance.docbook:57 msgid "900 A.D." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:43 msgid "1300 years" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:43 msgid "8" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:46 msgid "Tacitus" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:47 msgid "100 A.D." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:47 msgid "1100 A.D." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:48 msgid "1000 years" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:48 how2-importance.docbook:58 msgid "20" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:51 msgid "Caesar's <emphasis>Gallic War</emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:52 msgid "50-58 B.C." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:53 msgid "950 years" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:53 msgid "10" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:56 msgid "Livy's <emphasis>Roman History</emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:57 msgid "59 B.C. - 17 A.D." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:58 msgid "900 years" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:61 msgid "New Testament" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:62 msgid "40 A.D. - 100 A.D." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:62 msgid "130 A.D. Partial manuscripts 350 A.D. Full manuscripts" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:63 msgid "30 - 310 years" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:63 msgid "5000 Greek & 10,000 Latin" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:66 msgid "" "Ten copies of Caesar's <emphasis>Gallic War</emphasis> exist, the earliest " "of which was copied 900 years after Caesar wrote the original, etc. For the " "New Testament we have full manuscripts dating to 350 A. D., papyri " "containing most of the New Testament from the 200s, and a fragment of John's " "gospel from 130 A. D. How many manuscripts do we have to compare to each " "other? 5,000 in Greek and 10,000 in Latin!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><attribution> #: how2-importance.docbook:72 msgid "" "Textual critic F. J. A. Hort, \"The New Testament in the Original Greek\", " "vol. 1 p561, Macmillan Co., quoted in <emphasis>Questions of Life</emphasis> " "p. 25-26" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:74 msgid "" "\"In the verity and fullness of the evidence on which it rests, the text of " "the New Testament stands absolutely and unapproachably alone among other " "ancient prose writings.\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:79 msgid "A Book that God Breathed" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:80 msgid "" "<emphasis>Heb.4:12 </emphasis>\"<emphasis>For the word of God is living and " "active... </emphasis>\" Jesus said <emphasis>(Mt.4:4),</emphasis> " "\"<emphasis>It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every " "word that proceeds [lit., is proceeding] from the mouth of God.</emphasis>\" " "As we read the Bible, God's Spirit is there to speak it to our hearts in a " "continually-fresh way." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:86 msgid "" "2 Tim.3:16 declares, \"<emphasis>All scripture is inspired by God [lit., God-" "breathed].</emphasis>\" Do you believe this? Before you answer, consider " "Jesus' attitude toward the Scriptures." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><attribution> #: how2-importance.docbook:89 msgid "" "John R.W. Stott, <emphasis>Christ the Controversialist</emphasis>, " "InterVarsity Press 1978, pp.93-95" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:90 msgid "" "He referred to the human authors, but took it for granted that behind them " "all was a single divine Author. He could equally say 'Moses said' or 'God " "said' (Mk.7:10). He could quote a comment of the narrator in Genesis 2:24 as " "an utterance of the Creator Himself (Mt.19:4-5). Similarly He said, 'Well " "did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written', when what He went " "on to quote is the direct speech of the Lord God (Mk.7:6 & Is.29:13). " "It is from Jesus Himself that the New Testament authors have gained their " "conviction of the dual authorship of Scripture. For them it was just as " "true to say that 'God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets' (Heb.1:1) " "as it was to say that 'men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God' (2 " "Pe.1:21). God did not speak in such a way as to obliterate the personality " "of the human authors, nor did men speak in such a way as to corrupt the Word " "of the divine Author. God spoke. Men spoke. Neither truth must be allowed " "to detract from the other. ..." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:105 msgid "" "This, then, was Christ's view of the Scriptures. Their witness was God's " "witness. The testimony of the Bible is the testimony of God. And the chief " "reason why the Christian believes in the divine origin of the Bible is that " "Jesus Christ Himself taught it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:110 msgid "" "2 Tim.3:16 goes on, \"<emphasis>and profitable for teaching, for correction, " "for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped " "for every good work.</emphasis>\" If we accept that the Bible really is God " "speaking to us, it follows that it will be our authority in all matters of " "faith and conduct." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:117 msgid "A Book that Works" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:119 msgid "" "What will studying the Bible do for you? 1 Thess.2:13 says that the Bible " "\"<emphasis>performs its work in you who believe.</emphasis>\" Beside each " "scripture, write down the work the Word performs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:125 msgid "What does Bible study do for Christians?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:129 msgid "Reference" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:130 msgid "Action" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:135 msgid "Eph. 5:26" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:137 msgid "" "cleanses -- \"...having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:142 msgid "Acts 20:32" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:145 msgid "" "builds up -- \" ...the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and " "to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. \"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:154 msgid "Rom. 15:4" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:157 msgid "" "encourages -- \"that through perseverance and the encouragement of the " "Scriptures we might have hope.\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:164 msgid "Rom. 10:17" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:167 msgid "" "gives faith -- \"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of " "Christ.\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:175 msgid "1 Cor. 10:11" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:178 msgid "" "instructs -- \"Now these things happened to them for an example, and they " "were written for our instruction\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:186 msgid "Mt. 4:4" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:189 msgid "" "nourishment -- \"But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not " "live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of " "God.'\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:200 msgid "A Book that Liberates" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:202 msgid "" "Jn.8:32 \"<emphasis>and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make " "you free.</emphasis>\"This is usually quoted by itself. Is this a " "conditional or unconditional promise? Would it apply to all kinds of " "knowledge? Find the answers by examining the first half of the sentence, in " "v.31. \"<emphasis>If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of " "Mine... </emphasis>\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:208 msgid "" "We see that this is a conditional promice, specifically speaking of the " "truth of God's word." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:210 msgid "" "The Greek word for \"wind\" used in Eph.4:14 means a <emphasis>violent wind." "</emphasis> \"<emphasis>As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed " "here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine...</" "emphasis>\"One thing studying the Bible does for us is to ground us in the " "truth, with the result that we won't be easily \"blown away.\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:216 msgid "" "<emphasis>But Jesus answered and said to them, </emphasis>\"<emphasis>You " "are mistaken [KJV Ye do err], not understanding the Scriptures, or the power " "of God.</emphasis>\"Mt.22:29" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:218 msgid "What 2 things do we need to know to be kept from error?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:220 msgid "God's word" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:221 msgid "God's power" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:225 msgid "A Book that Wars" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:227 msgid "Eph.6:10-18 is one picture of our spiritual armament." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:229 msgid "Spiritual Armor" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:233 msgid "Question" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:234 msgid "Answer" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:237 msgid "How many of the weapons listed here are defensive weapons?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:237 msgid "5" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:238 msgid "How many are offensive?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:238 msgid "One" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:239 msgid "Which one(s)?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:239 msgid "the word - <foreignphrase>rhema</foreignphrase>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:243 msgid "Exhortations" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:245 msgid "" "2 Tim.2:15 (KJV) \"<emphasis>Study to show thyself approved unto God, a " "workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.</" "emphasis>\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:249 msgid "" "Col.3:16 \"<emphasis>Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you; with " "all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and " "spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.</emphasis>" "\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:253 msgid "If you're rich in something, how much of it do you have?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:256 msgid "Not a little!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:259 msgid "" "Eccl.12:11-12 \"<emphasis>The words of wise men are like goads, and masters " "of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one " "Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is " "endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.</emphasis>" "\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:265 msgid "Appendix: \"Once for All\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><attribution> #: how2-importance.docbook:268 msgid "" "John R. W. Stott, <emphasis>Christ the Controversialist,</emphasis> " "InterVarsity Press 1978, pp.106-107" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:269 msgid "" "The truth regarding the finality of God's initiative in Christ is conveyed " "by one word of the Greek Testament, namely the adverb <foreignphrase>hapax</" "foreignphrase> and <foreignphrase>ephapax</foreignphrase>. It is usually " "translated in the Authorized Version once, meaning once for all. It is used " "of what is so done as to be of perpetual validity and never need repetition, " "and is applied in the NT to both revelation and redemption. Thus, Jude " "refers to the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), " "and Romans says, \"<emphasis>Christ also died for sins once for all</" "emphasis>\" (Rom.6:10, see also 1 Pe.3:18; Heb.9:26-28)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:279 msgid "" "Thus we may say that God has spoken once for all and Christ has suffered " "once for all. This means that the Christian revelation and the Christian " "redemption are both alike in Christ complete. Nothing can be added to " "either without being derogatory to Christ... These are the two rocks on " "which the Protestant Reformation was built -- Gods revealed word without the " "addition of human traditions and Christ's finished work without the addition " "of human merits. The Reformers great watchwords were <foreignphrase>sola " "scriptura</foreignphrase> for our authority and <foreignphrase>sola gratia</" "foreignphrase> for our salvation." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:290 msgid "Supplement: Bible Reading Programs" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:291 msgid "" "Here are some easy programs to systematically read your Bible. You can do " "more than one at a time if you like, for instance #1 with #4, or #2 with " "#5. Vary the program from year to year to keep it fresh!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:296 msgid "New Testament in a Year: read one chapter each day, 5 days a week." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:298 msgid "" "Proverbs in a Month: read one chapter of Proverbs each day, corresponding to " "the day of the month." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:300 msgid "" "Psalms in a Month: read 5 Psalms at intervals of 30 each day, for instance " "on the 20th you read Ps.20, 50, 80, 110, & 140." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:302 msgid "" "Psalms & Proverbs in 6 months: read through Psalms and Proverbs one " "chapter per day." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:304 msgid "" "Old Testament without Psalms & Proverbs in 2 years: if you read one " "chapter a day of the Old Testament, skipping over Psalms & Proverbs, you " "will read the Old Testament in 2 years and 2 weeks." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:1 msgid "Rules of Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:2 msgid "" "We already learned about the \"3 Cs\": content, context, cross-reference. " "We want to expand that now by delving briefly into biblical hermeneutics, " "whose goal is to discover the meaning intended by the original author (and " "Author!). While many applications of a passage are valid, only one " "interpretation is valid. The scripture itself says this by saying that no " "scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Pe.1:20 KJV <quote>Knowing " "this first, that no prophesy of scripture is of any private interpretation.</" "quote>). Certain rules are helps toward discovering the correct meaning; by " "ignoring these rules people have brought much trouble on themselves and " "their followers. 2 Pe.3:16 <quote>...in which are some things hard to " "understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the " "rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:11 msgid "" "How do we go about discovering the intended meaning of a passage? Let's say " "your attention has been drawn to a particular verse whose meaning is not " "clear to you. How do you study it out? Keep these rules in mind:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:14 msgid "Rule 1 - Interpret according to the exact meaning of the words." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:15 msgid "" "The more precise we can be with the exact, original meaning of the words the " "better our interpretation will be. Try to find the exact meaning of the key " "words by following these steps:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><orderedlist><listitem><formalpara><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:20 msgid "Definition" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><orderedlist><listitem><formalpara><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:21 msgid "" "Look up the definition in a Greek or Hebrew dictionary. For verbs, the verb " "tense is also crucial." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><orderedlist><listitem><formalpara><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:27 msgid "" "Compare scripture with scripture. Seeing how the same Greek or Hebrew word " "(not the English word) is used in scripture may clarify or throw new light " "on the definition. How does the same author use this word elsewhere? Other " "authors? Your reference tools may give you uses of the word in non-biblical " "documents, as well. Why do we have to go to the original languages; why " "isn't the English word good enough? <emphasis>Because more than one greek " "word may be translated into the same english word, and the greek words may " "have different shades of meaning.</emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:37 msgid "Example 1A" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:38 msgid "" "Jn.20:17 <emphasis>\"Touch me not\"</emphasis> (KJV) sounds harsh, doesn't " "it? Sounds like Jesus doesn't want to be touched now that He is risen, that " "He is too holy or something. But that doesn't seem right, so let's look it " "up in Spiros Zodhiates' <emphasis>The Complete Word Study New Testament</" "emphasis> (AMG Publishers, 1991)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:42 msgid "" "Definition: Turning to John 20:17, above the word \"Touch\" we see \"pim680." "\" The letters give us a code for the part of speech, and the number refers " "to Strong's dictionary reference. Let's look up the definition (p. 879). " "\"680. Haptomai; from hapto (681), touch. Refers to such handling of an " "object as to exert a modifying influence upon it... Distinguished from " "pselaphao (5584), which actually only means to touch the surface of " "something. \" Now look up \"pim.\" The grammar codes in Zodhiates come right " "after Revelation; on p. 849 we see that pim stands for \"present imperative " "active (80)\". On p.857, \"Present Imperative. In the active voice, it may " "indicate a command to do something in the future which involves continuous " "or repeated action or, when it is negated, a command to stop doing " "something. \" This is a negative command, so it is to stop doing something " "that is already occuring. So, what have we found?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:50 msgid "" "<emphasis>Mary is already clinging to Jesus, and he is saying to stop " "holding him!</emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:53 msgid "Example 1B" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:54 msgid "" "In James 5:14, <emphasis>Elders are told to pray and anoint someone who is " "sick</emphasis>. What is this anointing?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:55 msgid "" "Definition of aleipho (218) - \"to oil\" (Strong's); but we also have " "another Greek word translated \"anoint\", chrio (5548) - \"to smear or rub " "with oil, i.e. to consecrate to an office or religious service" "\" (Strong's). Since it's a verb, consider the tense also, \"apta\" aorist " "participle active. \"The aorist participle expresses simple action, as " "opposed to continuous action...When its relaitonship to the main verb is " "temporal, it usually signifies action prior to that of the main verb." "\" (Zodhiates p.851)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:64 msgid "Mt.6:17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:65 msgid "Mk.16:1 [the women] brought spices that they might come and anoint Him." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:66 msgid "" "Mk.6:13 And they were...anointing with oil many sick people and healing them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:67 msgid "Lk.7:38 [...] kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:68 msgid "" "Jn.12:3 Mary [...] anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:62 msgid "" "Cross-references for aleipho: <placeholder type=\"orderedlist\" id=\"0\"/>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:74 msgid "" "Lk.4:18 <quote>The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me " "to preach [...]</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:75 msgid "Acts 4:27 Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:76 msgid "Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and power" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:77 msgid "2 Cor.1:21 Now He who...anointed us is God" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:72 msgid "Cross-references of chrio: <placeholder type=\"orderedlist\" id=\"0\"/>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:82 msgid "" "So what's the difference between aleipho and chrio? Look back over the cross-" "references and the definitions, and sum up the difference: <emphasis>"" "aleipho" is a practical use of oil and "chrio" is a " "spiritual</emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:85 msgid "" "As an illustration (although the word is not used) of the practical use of " "oil at that time, when the good Samaritan cared for the man beat up by " "robbers he poured oil and wine in the wound. So oil had a medicinal use in " "Jesus' day." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:89 msgid "" "Now let's apply what we just learned by this word study to James 5:14 " "<emphasis>\"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the " "church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of " "the Lord.\"</emphasis> Is \"anointing\" spiritual or practical? Practical!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:93 msgid "" "And the tense in Greek, the aorist participle, would be better translated " "\"having anointed,\" so the order is the anointing first, then the prayer " "(\"in the name of the Lord\"refers to the prayer, not the anointing). James " "5 is saying that the elders should give the sick person medicine and pray " "for him in the name of the Lord. Doesn't that express a beautiful balance " "of practical and spiritual in our God!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:103 msgid "Rule 2 - Interpret within the biblical context" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:105 msgid "" "Interpret scripture in harmony with other scripture. What do the verses on " "each side say? What is the theme of the chapter? the book? Does your " "interpretation fit with these? If not, it is flawed. Usually, the context " "supplies what we need to correctly interpret the passage. Context is key. " "If confusion remains as to the meaning after we have interpreted the text " "within its context, we have to look further." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:110 msgid "Example 2A" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:111 msgid "" "In a previous lesson we considered Jn.3:5 <emphasis>\"born of water and the " "Spirit.\"</emphasis> In context, what is the water under discussion here?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:113 msgid "" "Water baptism is not under discussion here, which would be a big switch from " "the subject being discussed by Jesus and Nicodemus. Watch out for a sudden " "change of topic, it may be a clue that your interpretation has been " "derailed! The water is the amniotic fluid, \"born of water\" = natural birth." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:117 msgid "Example 2B" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:118 msgid "" "1 Cor.14:34 <quote>Let the women keep silent in the churches</quote> has to " "be taken within the biblical context of 1 Cor.11:5 <quote>every woman [...] " "while praying or prophesying [...]</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:121 msgid "Example 2C" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:122 msgid "" "Acts 2:38 <quote>And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you " "be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins " "[...]"</quote>. Is this teaching baptismal regeneration? If this was " "the only verse of scripture we had, we would have to conclude that. But in " "the light of the clear teaching elsewhere that regeneration happens by faith " "in Christ, we have to interpret it otherwise. Peter is urging baptism as a " "way for his hearers to respond to the gospel. If baptism were the pathway " "to being born again, how could Paul write 1 Cor.1:17 <emphasis>\"For Christ " "did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel\"</emphasis>?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:134 msgid "Rule 3 - Interpret within the historical and cultural context" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:136 msgid "" "At first we are not asking <quote>What does it mean to me?</quote> but " "<quote>What did it mean to the original readers?</quote>; later we can ask, " "<quote>What does it mean to me?</quote>. We have to take into account the " "historical and cultural background of the author and the recipients." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:139 msgid "Example 3A" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:139 msgid "" "<quote>3 days & 3 nights</quote> (Mt.12:40) have led some to come up " "with a \"Wednesday crucifixion theory,\" esp. the cult of Armstrongism. How " "could Jesus die on Friday afternoon and rise Sunday morning yet \"be raised " "on the third day\" (Mt.16:21)? Exact meanings of \"three\" or \"days\" won't " "help explain the apparent contradiction." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:144 msgid "" "We need an historical tidbit: Jews counted any part of a day as a full day, " "as we would count buckets of water (if there were six and one-half buckets " "of water, we would say there were 7 buckets of water even if one was only " "partly full). So to the Jewish mind, any part of a day counted as a full " "day, and days started at 6 p.m. and ended at 6 p.m. Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 " "p.m. = day 1. Friday 6 p.m. to Saturday 6 p.m. = day 2. Saturday 6 p.m. to " "Sunday 5 or so a.m. = day 3. Interpreting within the cultural context keeps " "us out of trouble." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:151 msgid "Example 3B" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:151 msgid "" "Gen.15:7-21. The historical context is that cutting animals in two and then " "walking between the pieces was the normal way of entering a contract in " "Abraham's day. Both parties walked between, taking the pledge that " "dismemberment would happen to them if they didn't live up to their part of " "the contract. But in this case only God goes thru, making it a unilateral " "covenant." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:159 msgid "Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in language" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:160 msgid "" "Let literal language be literal and figurative language be figurative. And " "watch out for idioms, which have special meanings." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:163 msgid "Example 4A" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:164 msgid "<quote>evil eye</quote> in Mt.6:23." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:165 msgid "" "Rule 1, definition of \"evil\" and \"eye\" - no help here. Rule 2, context: " "seems to confuse us even more. It doesn't seem to fit with what goes before " "and after! This should tip us off that we aren't understanding it rightly!!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:168 msgid "" "What we have here is a Hebrew idiom, <quote>evil eye</quote>. Let's look up " "other uses of this idiom: Mt.20:15 \"<emphasis>Is it not lawful for me to do " "what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious [lit.\"evil\"] " "because I am generous [lit. \"good\"]?</emphasis>\" We find that having an " "\"evil eye\" is a Hebrew idiom for being stingy or envious. Now go back to " "Mt.6 and notice how this understanding ties in so perfectly to the context." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:174 msgid "Example 4B" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:175 msgid "Is.59:1 <quote>The Lord's hand is not short;</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:176 msgid "Deut.33:27 <quote>Underneath are the everlasting arms.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:178 msgid "" "References to body parts of God are used by Latter-Day Saints to prove that " "God was once a man just as we are. Once they convince people of that, they " "go on to teach that we can become God just like He is! At a lecture he was " "giving, a group of Mormon elders challenged Walter Martin (author of " "<emphasis>Kingdom of the Cults</emphasis>) with an enumeration of verses " "like these. Dr. Martin then asked the Mormons to read one more scripture: " "Ps.91:4 <quote>He will cover you with His feathers; And under His wings " "shalt thou trust</quote>. W.M. said, <quote>By the same rules of " "interpretation that you just proved God to be a man, you just proved that He " "is a bird</quote>. The Mormons had to laugh as they realised the " "ridiculousness of their position." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:189 msgid "" "Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the difference between a " "parable and an allegory" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:190 msgid "" "An allegory is: <emphasis>A story where each element has a meaning.</" "emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:191 msgid "Every parable is an allegory, true or false?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:193 msgid "" "Some parables are allegories, for instance, the parable of the sower is an " "allegory: the seed is the word of God, the thorns are worries and greed, " "etc. But most parables are not allegories but simply stories to illustrate " "one point. It's dangerous to get our doctrine from parables; they can be " "twisted to say all sorts of things. We need to get our doctrine from clear " "scriptures that lay it out; then if a parable illustrates that, fine." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:198 msgid "Example 5A" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:199 msgid "" "The parable of the widow with the unrighteous judge in Lk.18:1-8. This story " "illustrates one lesson: boldness in prayer. If we draw it into an allegory, " "what do we have?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:201 msgid "" "All sorts of violence happens to the meanings: God is reluctant to protect " "the rights of widows, prayer \"bothers\" Him, etc." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:204 msgid "Example 5B" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:205 msgid "" "The parable of the unrighteous steward in Lk.16:1-9. What is the point of " "the parable? Is it an allegory?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:207 msgid "" "The steward is commended for only one thing, his shrewdness in using what he " "had to prepare for a time when he wouldn't have it. But he is not commended " "for his unethical behavior in cheating his master." msgstr ""

# SOME DESCRIPTIVE TITLE # Copyright (C) YEAR Free Software Foundation, Inc. # This file is distributed under the same license as the PACKAGE package. # FIRST AUTHOR , YEAR. # #, fuzzy msgid "" msgstr "" "Project-Id-Version: PACKAGE VERSION\n" "POT-Creation-Date: 2021-07-07 22:29+0000\n" "PO-Revision-Date: YEAR-MO-DA HO:MI+ZONE\n" "Last-Translator: FULL NAME \n" "Language-Team: LANGUAGE \n" "Language: \n" "MIME-Version: 1.0\n" "Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8\n" "Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\n" #. type: Content of the bibletime entity #: index.docbook:3 msgid "BibleTime" msgstr "" #. type: Content of the kapp entity #: index.docbook:4 msgid "&bibletimehandbook;" msgstr "" #. type: Attribute 'lang' of: #: index.docbook:16 msgid "&language;" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: #: index.docbook:19 msgid "The Biblestudy HowTo" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><authorgroup><author><firstname> #: index.docbook:23 msgid "Bob" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><authorgroup><author><surname> #: index.docbook:24 msgid "Harman" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><authorgroup><author><surname> #: index.docbook:28 msgid "The BibleTime team" msgstr "" #. TRANS:ROLES_OF_TRANSLATORS #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo> #: index.docbook:34 msgid "" "<copyright> <year>2001-2008</year> <holder>The team of &bibletime; " "(info@bibletime.info)</holder> </copyright>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><legalnotice><para> #: index.docbook:41 msgid "" "This document was originally created by Mr. Bob Harman and is licensed under " "the terms of the license <link url=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-" "sa/3.0/\"> \"Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike\"</link>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><legalnotice><para> #: index.docbook:47 msgid "" "Scripture quotes are from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise " "indicated." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><abstract><title> #: index.docbook:52 msgid "Abstract" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><abstract><para> #: index.docbook:54 msgid "" "The <application>Biblestudy HowTo</application> is a guide for studying the " "Bible." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><abstract><para> #: index.docbook:56 msgid "" "It is the hope of the &bibletime; team that this HowTo will provoke the " "readers to study the scriptures to see what they say. This particular study " "guide has been chosen as it takes care not to advocate any particular " "denominational doctrine. We expect you to read and study the scriptures to " "understand what they say. If you start with the attitude that you want to " "have the Lord sow his word in your heart He will not disappoint you." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><keywordset><keyword> #: index.docbook:66 msgid "Bible" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><keywordset><keyword> #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: index.docbook:67 how2-basics.docbook:49 msgid "Study" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <book><bookinfo><keywordset><keyword> #: index.docbook:68 msgid "HowTo" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:1 msgid "Bible Study Basics" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:4 msgid "Our Purpose as we Approach the Bible" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para><blockquote><attribution> #: how2-basics.docbook:6 msgid "Jn.5:39-40" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para><blockquote><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:6 msgid "" "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal " "life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come " "to Me, that you may have life." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:12 msgid "" "The chief purpose of the book is to bring us to the Person. Martin Luther " "said <quote>we go to the cradle only for the sake of the baby</quote>; just " "so in Bible study, we do it not for its own sake but for fellowship with God." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><attribution> #: how2-basics.docbook:17 msgid "" "John R.W. Stott, <emphasis>Christ the Controversialist</emphasis>, " "InterVarsity Press 1978, pp.97, 104." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:19 msgid "" "The Jews to whom Jesus spoke [...] imagined that to possess Scripture was " "tantamount to possessing life. Hillel used to say, "He who has gotten " "to himself words of Torah has gotten to himself the life of the world to " "come." Their study was an end in itself. In this they were grievously " "deceived. [...]" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:24 msgid "" "There is neither merit nor profit in the reading of Scripture for its own " "sake, but only if it effectively introduces us to Jesus Christ. Whenever the " "Bible is read, what is needed is an eager expectation that through it we may " "meet Christ." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:31 msgid "Approaches to God's Word" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:32 msgid "" "Hearing and reading provide a telescopic view of the scripture while study " "and memorization provide a microscopic view of scripture. Meditating on the " "scriptures brings hearing, reading, studying and memorization together and " "cements the word in our minds." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:37 msgid "Hear" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:38 msgid "" "Lk.11:28 <quote>blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it.</" "quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:42 msgid "Read" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:43 msgid "" "Rev.1:3 <quote>Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this " "prophecy [...]</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:45 msgid "" "1 Tim.4:13 <quote>give attention to the public reading of Scripture [...]</" "quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:50 msgid "" "Acts 17:11 <quote>Now these were more noble-minded than those in " "Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the " "Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:54 msgid "" "2 Tim.2:15 <quote>Be diligent [KJV `Study'] to present yourself approved to " "God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the " "word of truth.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:59 msgid "Memorize" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:60 msgid "" "Ps.119:11 <quote>Thy word I have hid in my heart, that I may not sin against " "Thee.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:64 msgid "Meditate" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:65 msgid "" "Ps.1:2-3 <quote>But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he " "meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by " "streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does " "not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:71 msgid "" "The Navigators illustrate this by saying that as the thumb can touch all the " "fingers, we can meditate on the Word as we do any of the first four. " "Meditation is a key to revelation. A new Christian needs to hear and read " "the Bible more than they need to study and memorize it. This is so that they " "become familiar with the overall message of the Bible." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:79 msgid "Types of Bible Studies" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:80 msgid "Topical Study" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:81 msgid "" "Pick out a certain topic and follow it through, using cross-references or a " "concordance." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:85 msgid "Character Study" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:86 msgid "" "Studying the life of a Bible character, e.g. Joseph's life in Gen.37-50." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:90 msgid "Expository Study" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:91 msgid "Studying a certain passage: paragraph, chapter, or book." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:95 msgid "Basics of Correct Interpretation" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:97 msgid "Content" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:98 msgid "" "What does it say? What does it say in the original language? Be careful with " "definitions. Don't read into it what it doesn't say." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:102 msgid "Context" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:103 msgid "" "What do the verses around it say? "Context is king" is the rule -- " "the passage must make sense within the structure of the entire passage and " "book." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><orderedlist><listitem><formalpara><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:107 how2-interpretation.docbook:26 msgid "Cross-reference" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:108 msgid "" "What do other verses about this subject say through the rest of the Bible? " "God doesn't contradict Himself, so our interpretation needs to stand the " "test of other scriptures." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:113 msgid "An Expository Study of Matthew 6:1-18" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:114 msgid "" "Let's study together Mt.6:1-18. Read it to yourself, first looking for the " "key verse, the verse that sums up the whole passage. Think you have it? " "Test it by picking different places in the passage and asking yourself if " "they relate to the thought of the key verse. Once you find it, write it as " "Roman numeral One of your outline:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:119 msgid "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:122 msgid "" "What does <quote>practicing your righteousness</quote> mean? Does the " "passage give any examples? What area of our lives is being addressed? " "<emphasis>Our motives!</emphasis> What sub-headings develop this thought?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:126 msgid "When you give" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:127 msgid "When you fast" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:128 msgid "When you pray" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:131 msgid "" "Now fill in the outline with specific instructions of how to avoid wrong " "ways of practicing our righteousness:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:137 msgid "" "don't sound a trumpet. (how might someone <quote>sound a trumpet</quote> " "today?)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:138 msgid "do it secretly." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:139 msgid "etc." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:135 msgid "When you give <placeholder type=\"orderedlist\" id=\"0\"/>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:145 msgid "Worksheet: How to Use a Concordance" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:147 msgid "To Find a Particular Verse" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:149 msgid "Pick out a key word or most-unusual word of the verse." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:150 msgid "Turn to this word alphabetically." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:151 msgid "Go down the column of listings until you find your verse." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:156 msgid "<quote>Faithful are the wounds of a friend</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:157 msgid "<quote>We are ambassadors of Christ.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:158 msgid "The story of the rich man and Lazarus." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:154 msgid "Find these verses: <placeholder type=\"orderedlist\" id=\"0\"/>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:163 msgid "To Do a Topical Study" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:164 msgid "" "Let's say you wanted to do a study of the word "redemption." First " "you would look up that word in the concordance and look up references listed " "for it. Then you could look up related words and references listed for " "them, e.g. "redeem, redeemed, ransom," even "buy" or " ""bought."" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:170 msgid "To Clarify Word Meanings in the Greek and Hebrew" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:171 msgid "" "What if you noticed a contradiction in the KJV between Mt.7:1 <quote>Judge " "not lest you be judged</quote> and 1 Cor.2:15 <quote>He that is spiritual " "judgeth all things.</quote> Maybe there are two different Greek words here, " "both being translated "judge" in English? (We're using Strong's " "from here out.)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:175 msgid "Look up "judge"." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:176 msgid "" "Go down the column of entries to Mt.7:1. To the right is a number, 2919. " "This refers to the Greek word used. Write it down." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:178 msgid "Now look up "judgeth"." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:179 msgid "Go down the column to 1 Cor.2:15 . . . . . 350." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:180 msgid "" "Turn in the back to the Greek dictionary. (Remember, you're in the NT so " "the language is Greek, while the OT is Hebrew.) Compare the meaning of 2919 " "with the meaning of 350 and you have your answer!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><title> #: how2-basics.docbook:185 msgid "To Find Meanings of Names" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:186 msgid "" "By the same process we can find the meaning of a name in the Greek or Hebrew." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:187 msgid "Look up these names and write down their meaning:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:189 msgid "Nabal" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:190 msgid "Abigail" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:191 msgid "Joshua" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><sect2><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-basics.docbook:192 msgid "Barnabus" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:1 msgid "Importance of God's Word" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:2 msgid "" "Understanding God's word is of great importance to all who call on God's " "name. Study of the Bible is one of the primary ways that we learn to " "communicate with God." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:6 msgid "A Book that is Unique" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:7 msgid "The Bible stands alone in many ways. It is unique in:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:12 msgid "" "popularity. Bible sales in North America: more than $500 million per year. " "The Bible is both the the all-time and year-to-year best seller!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:18 msgid "" "authorship. It was written over a period of 1600 years by 40 different " "authors from different backgrounds, yet reads as if written by one." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:24 msgid "" "preservation. F. F. Bruce in <emphasis>Are New Testament Documents Reliable?" "</emphasis> compares New Testament manuscripts with other ancient texts:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:30 msgid "Comparison of New Testament manuscripts with other ancient texts." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:34 msgid "Work" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:35 msgid "When Written" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:36 msgid "Earliest Copy" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:37 msgid "Time Lapse" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:37 msgid "Number of Copies" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:41 msgid "Herodotus" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:42 msgid "448-428 B.C." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:42 how2-importance.docbook:52 #: how2-importance.docbook:57 msgid "900 A.D." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:43 msgid "1300 years" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:43 msgid "8" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:46 msgid "Tacitus" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:47 msgid "100 A.D." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:47 msgid "1100 A.D." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:48 msgid "1000 years" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:48 how2-importance.docbook:58 msgid "20" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:51 msgid "Caesar's <emphasis>Gallic War</emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:52 msgid "50-58 B.C." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:53 msgid "950 years" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:53 msgid "10" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:56 msgid "Livy's <emphasis>Roman History</emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:57 msgid "59 B.C. - 17 A.D." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:58 msgid "900 years" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:61 msgid "New Testament" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:62 msgid "40 A.D. - 100 A.D." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:62 msgid "130 A.D. Partial manuscripts 350 A.D. Full manuscripts" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:63 msgid "30 - 310 years" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:63 msgid "5000 Greek & 10,000 Latin" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:66 msgid "" "Ten copies of Caesar's <emphasis>Gallic War</emphasis> exist, the earliest " "of which was copied 900 years after Caesar wrote the original, etc. For the " "New Testament we have full manuscripts dating to 350 A. D., papyri " "containing most of the New Testament from the 200s, and a fragment of John's " "gospel from 130 A. D. How many manuscripts do we have to compare to each " "other? 5,000 in Greek and 10,000 in Latin!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><attribution> #: how2-importance.docbook:72 msgid "" "Textual critic F. J. A. Hort, \"The New Testament in the Original Greek\", " "vol. 1 p561, Macmillan Co., quoted in <emphasis>Questions of Life</emphasis> " "p. 25-26" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:74 msgid "" "\"In the verity and fullness of the evidence on which it rests, the text of " "the New Testament stands absolutely and unapproachably alone among other " "ancient prose writings.\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:79 msgid "A Book that God Breathed" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:80 msgid "" "<emphasis>Heb.4:12 </emphasis>\"<emphasis>For the word of God is living and " "active... </emphasis>\" Jesus said <emphasis>(Mt.4:4),</emphasis> " "\"<emphasis>It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every " "word that proceeds [lit., is proceeding] from the mouth of God.</emphasis>\" " "As we read the Bible, God's Spirit is there to speak it to our hearts in a " "continually-fresh way." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:86 msgid "" "2 Tim.3:16 declares, \"<emphasis>All scripture is inspired by God [lit., God-" "breathed].</emphasis>\" Do you believe this? Before you answer, consider " "Jesus' attitude toward the Scriptures." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><attribution> #: how2-importance.docbook:89 msgid "" "John R.W. Stott, <emphasis>Christ the Controversialist</emphasis>, " "InterVarsity Press 1978, pp.93-95" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:90 msgid "" "He referred to the human authors, but took it for granted that behind them " "all was a single divine Author. He could equally say 'Moses said' or 'God " "said' (Mk.7:10). He could quote a comment of the narrator in Genesis 2:24 as " "an utterance of the Creator Himself (Mt.19:4-5). Similarly He said, 'Well " "did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written', when what He went " "on to quote is the direct speech of the Lord God (Mk.7:6 & Is.29:13). " "It is from Jesus Himself that the New Testament authors have gained their " "conviction of the dual authorship of Scripture. For them it was just as " "true to say that 'God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets' (Heb.1:1) " "as it was to say that 'men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God' (2 " "Pe.1:21). God did not speak in such a way as to obliterate the personality " "of the human authors, nor did men speak in such a way as to corrupt the Word " "of the divine Author. God spoke. Men spoke. Neither truth must be allowed " "to detract from the other. ..." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:105 msgid "" "This, then, was Christ's view of the Scriptures. Their witness was God's " "witness. The testimony of the Bible is the testimony of God. And the chief " "reason why the Christian believes in the divine origin of the Bible is that " "Jesus Christ Himself taught it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:110 msgid "" "2 Tim.3:16 goes on, \"<emphasis>and profitable for teaching, for correction, " "for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped " "for every good work.</emphasis>\" If we accept that the Bible really is God " "speaking to us, it follows that it will be our authority in all matters of " "faith and conduct." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:117 msgid "A Book that Works" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:119 msgid "" "What will studying the Bible do for you? 1 Thess.2:13 says that the Bible " "\"<emphasis>performs its work in you who believe.</emphasis>\" Beside each " "scripture, write down the work the Word performs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:125 msgid "What does Bible study do for Christians?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:129 msgid "Reference" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:130 msgid "Action" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:135 msgid "Eph. 5:26" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:137 msgid "" "cleanses -- \"...having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:142 msgid "Acts 20:32" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:145 msgid "" "builds up -- \" ...the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and " "to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. \"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:154 msgid "Rom. 15:4" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:157 msgid "" "encourages -- \"that through perseverance and the encouragement of the " "Scriptures we might have hope.\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:164 msgid "Rom. 10:17" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:167 msgid "" "gives faith -- \"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of " "Christ.\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:175 msgid "1 Cor. 10:11" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:178 msgid "" "instructs -- \"Now these things happened to them for an example, and they " "were written for our instruction\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:186 msgid "Mt. 4:4" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:189 msgid "" "nourishment -- \"But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not " "live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of " "God.'\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:200 msgid "A Book that Liberates" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:202 msgid "" "Jn.8:32 \"<emphasis>and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make " "you free.</emphasis>\"This is usually quoted by itself. Is this a " "conditional or unconditional promise? Would it apply to all kinds of " "knowledge? Find the answers by examining the first half of the sentence, in " "v.31. \"<emphasis>If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of " "Mine... </emphasis>\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:208 msgid "" "We see that this is a conditional promice, specifically speaking of the " "truth of God's word." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:210 msgid "" "The Greek word for \"wind\" used in Eph.4:14 means a <emphasis>violent wind." "</emphasis> \"<emphasis>As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed " "here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine...</" "emphasis>\"One thing studying the Bible does for us is to ground us in the " "truth, with the result that we won't be easily \"blown away.\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:216 msgid "" "<emphasis>But Jesus answered and said to them, </emphasis>\"<emphasis>You " "are mistaken [KJV Ye do err], not understanding the Scriptures, or the power " "of God.</emphasis>\"Mt.22:29" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:218 msgid "What 2 things do we need to know to be kept from error?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:220 msgid "God's word" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:221 msgid "God's power" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:225 msgid "A Book that Wars" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:227 msgid "Eph.6:10-18 is one picture of our spiritual armament." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:229 msgid "Spiritual Armor" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:233 msgid "Question" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><thead><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:234 msgid "Answer" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:237 msgid "How many of the weapons listed here are defensive weapons?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:237 msgid "5" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:238 msgid "How many are offensive?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:238 msgid "One" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:239 msgid "Which one(s)?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><table><tgroup><tbody><row><entry> #: how2-importance.docbook:239 msgid "the word - <foreignphrase>rhema</foreignphrase>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:243 msgid "Exhortations" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:245 msgid "" "2 Tim.2:15 (KJV) \"<emphasis>Study to show thyself approved unto God, a " "workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.</" "emphasis>\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:249 msgid "" "Col.3:16 \"<emphasis>Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you; with " "all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and " "spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.</emphasis>" "\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:253 msgid "If you're rich in something, how much of it do you have?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:256 msgid "Not a little!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:259 msgid "" "Eccl.12:11-12 \"<emphasis>The words of wise men are like goads, and masters " "of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one " "Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is " "endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.</emphasis>" "\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:265 msgid "Appendix: \"Once for All\"" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><attribution> #: how2-importance.docbook:268 msgid "" "John R. W. Stott, <emphasis>Christ the Controversialist,</emphasis> " "InterVarsity Press 1978, pp.106-107" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:269 msgid "" "The truth regarding the finality of God's initiative in Christ is conveyed " "by one word of the Greek Testament, namely the adverb <foreignphrase>hapax</" "foreignphrase> and <foreignphrase>ephapax</foreignphrase>. It is usually " "translated in the Authorized Version once, meaning once for all. It is used " "of what is so done as to be of perpetual validity and never need repetition, " "and is applied in the NT to both revelation and redemption. Thus, Jude " "refers to the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), " "and Romans says, \"<emphasis>Christ also died for sins once for all</" "emphasis>\" (Rom.6:10, see also 1 Pe.3:18; Heb.9:26-28)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><blockquote><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:279 msgid "" "Thus we may say that God has spoken once for all and Christ has suffered " "once for all. This means that the Christian revelation and the Christian " "redemption are both alike in Christ complete. Nothing can be added to " "either without being derogatory to Christ... These are the two rocks on " "which the Protestant Reformation was built -- Gods revealed word without the " "addition of human traditions and Christ's finished work without the addition " "of human merits. The Reformers great watchwords were <foreignphrase>sola " "scriptura</foreignphrase> for our authority and <foreignphrase>sola gratia</" "foreignphrase> for our salvation." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><title> #: how2-importance.docbook:290 msgid "Supplement: Bible Reading Programs" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:291 msgid "" "Here are some easy programs to systematically read your Bible. You can do " "more than one at a time if you like, for instance #1 with #4, or #2 with " "#5. Vary the program from year to year to keep it fresh!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:296 msgid "New Testament in a Year: read one chapter each day, 5 days a week." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:298 msgid "" "Proverbs in a Month: read one chapter of Proverbs each day, corresponding to " "the day of the month." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:300 msgid "" "Psalms in a Month: read 5 Psalms at intervals of 30 each day, for instance " "on the 20th you read Ps.20, 50, 80, 110, & 140." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:302 msgid "" "Psalms & Proverbs in 6 months: read through Psalms and Proverbs one " "chapter per day." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><sect1><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-importance.docbook:304 msgid "" "Old Testament without Psalms & Proverbs in 2 years: if you read one " "chapter a day of the Old Testament, skipping over Psalms & Proverbs, you " "will read the Old Testament in 2 years and 2 weeks." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:1 msgid "Rules of Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:2 msgid "" "We already learned about the \"3 Cs\": content, context, cross-reference. " "We want to expand that now by delving briefly into biblical hermeneutics, " "whose goal is to discover the meaning intended by the original author (and " "Author!). While many applications of a passage are valid, only one " "interpretation is valid. The scripture itself says this by saying that no " "scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Pe.1:20 KJV <quote>Knowing " "this first, that no prophesy of scripture is of any private interpretation.</" "quote>). Certain rules are helps toward discovering the correct meaning; by " "ignoring these rules people have brought much trouble on themselves and " "their followers. 2 Pe.3:16 <quote>...in which are some things hard to " "understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the " "rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:11 msgid "" "How do we go about discovering the intended meaning of a passage? Let's say " "your attention has been drawn to a particular verse whose meaning is not " "clear to you. How do you study it out? Keep these rules in mind:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:14 msgid "Rule 1 - Interpret according to the exact meaning of the words." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:15 msgid "" "The more precise we can be with the exact, original meaning of the words the " "better our interpretation will be. Try to find the exact meaning of the key " "words by following these steps:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><orderedlist><listitem><formalpara><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:20 msgid "Definition" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><orderedlist><listitem><formalpara><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:21 msgid "" "Look up the definition in a Greek or Hebrew dictionary. For verbs, the verb " "tense is also crucial." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><orderedlist><listitem><formalpara><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:27 msgid "" "Compare scripture with scripture. Seeing how the same Greek or Hebrew word " "(not the English word) is used in scripture may clarify or throw new light " "on the definition. How does the same author use this word elsewhere? Other " "authors? Your reference tools may give you uses of the word in non-biblical " "documents, as well. Why do we have to go to the original languages; why " "isn't the English word good enough? <emphasis>Because more than one greek " "word may be translated into the same english word, and the greek words may " "have different shades of meaning.</emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:37 msgid "Example 1A" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:38 msgid "" "Jn.20:17 <emphasis>\"Touch me not\"</emphasis> (KJV) sounds harsh, doesn't " "it? Sounds like Jesus doesn't want to be touched now that He is risen, that " "He is too holy or something. But that doesn't seem right, so let's look it " "up in Spiros Zodhiates' <emphasis>The Complete Word Study New Testament</" "emphasis> (AMG Publishers, 1991)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:42 msgid "" "Definition: Turning to John 20:17, above the word \"Touch\" we see \"pim680." "\" The letters give us a code for the part of speech, and the number refers " "to Strong's dictionary reference. Let's look up the definition (p. 879). " "\"680. Haptomai; from hapto (681), touch. Refers to such handling of an " "object as to exert a modifying influence upon it... Distinguished from " "pselaphao (5584), which actually only means to touch the surface of " "something. \" Now look up \"pim.\" The grammar codes in Zodhiates come right " "after Revelation; on p. 849 we see that pim stands for \"present imperative " "active (80)\". On p.857, \"Present Imperative. In the active voice, it may " "indicate a command to do something in the future which involves continuous " "or repeated action or, when it is negated, a command to stop doing " "something. \" This is a negative command, so it is to stop doing something " "that is already occuring. So, what have we found?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:50 msgid "" "<emphasis>Mary is already clinging to Jesus, and he is saying to stop " "holding him!</emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:53 msgid "Example 1B" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:54 msgid "" "In James 5:14, <emphasis>Elders are told to pray and anoint someone who is " "sick</emphasis>. What is this anointing?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:55 msgid "" "Definition of aleipho (218) - \"to oil\" (Strong's); but we also have " "another Greek word translated \"anoint\", chrio (5548) - \"to smear or rub " "with oil, i.e. to consecrate to an office or religious service" "\" (Strong's). Since it's a verb, consider the tense also, \"apta\" aorist " "participle active. \"The aorist participle expresses simple action, as " "opposed to continuous action...When its relaitonship to the main verb is " "temporal, it usually signifies action prior to that of the main verb." "\" (Zodhiates p.851)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:64 msgid "Mt.6:17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:65 msgid "Mk.16:1 [the women] brought spices that they might come and anoint Him." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:66 msgid "" "Mk.6:13 And they were...anointing with oil many sick people and healing them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:67 msgid "Lk.7:38 [...] kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:68 msgid "" "Jn.12:3 Mary [...] anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:62 msgid "" "Cross-references for aleipho: <placeholder type=\"orderedlist\" id=\"0\"/>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:74 msgid "" "Lk.4:18 <quote>The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me " "to preach [...]</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:75 msgid "Acts 4:27 Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:76 msgid "Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and power" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para><orderedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:77 msgid "2 Cor.1:21 Now He who...anointed us is God" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><itemizedlist><listitem><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:72 msgid "Cross-references of chrio: <placeholder type=\"orderedlist\" id=\"0\"/>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:82 msgid "" "So what's the difference between aleipho and chrio? Look back over the cross-" "references and the definitions, and sum up the difference: <emphasis>"" "aleipho" is a practical use of oil and "chrio" is a " "spiritual</emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:85 msgid "" "As an illustration (although the word is not used) of the practical use of " "oil at that time, when the good Samaritan cared for the man beat up by " "robbers he poured oil and wine in the wound. So oil had a medicinal use in " "Jesus' day." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:89 msgid "" "Now let's apply what we just learned by this word study to James 5:14 " "<emphasis>\"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the " "church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of " "the Lord.\"</emphasis> Is \"anointing\" spiritual or practical? Practical!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:93 msgid "" "And the tense in Greek, the aorist participle, would be better translated " "\"having anointed,\" so the order is the anointing first, then the prayer " "(\"in the name of the Lord\"refers to the prayer, not the anointing). James " "5 is saying that the elders should give the sick person medicine and pray " "for him in the name of the Lord. Doesn't that express a beautiful balance " "of practical and spiritual in our God!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:103 msgid "Rule 2 - Interpret within the biblical context" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:105 msgid "" "Interpret scripture in harmony with other scripture. What do the verses on " "each side say? What is the theme of the chapter? the book? Does your " "interpretation fit with these? If not, it is flawed. Usually, the context " "supplies what we need to correctly interpret the passage. Context is key. " "If confusion remains as to the meaning after we have interpreted the text " "within its context, we have to look further." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:110 msgid "Example 2A" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:111 msgid "" "In a previous lesson we considered Jn.3:5 <emphasis>\"born of water and the " "Spirit.\"</emphasis> In context, what is the water under discussion here?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:113 msgid "" "Water baptism is not under discussion here, which would be a big switch from " "the subject being discussed by Jesus and Nicodemus. Watch out for a sudden " "change of topic, it may be a clue that your interpretation has been " "derailed! The water is the amniotic fluid, \"born of water\" = natural birth." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:117 msgid "Example 2B" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:118 msgid "" "1 Cor.14:34 <quote>Let the women keep silent in the churches</quote> has to " "be taken within the biblical context of 1 Cor.11:5 <quote>every woman [...] " "while praying or prophesying [...]</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:121 msgid "Example 2C" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:122 msgid "" "Acts 2:38 <quote>And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you " "be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins " "[...]"</quote>. Is this teaching baptismal regeneration? If this was " "the only verse of scripture we had, we would have to conclude that. But in " "the light of the clear teaching elsewhere that regeneration happens by faith " "in Christ, we have to interpret it otherwise. Peter is urging baptism as a " "way for his hearers to respond to the gospel. If baptism were the pathway " "to being born again, how could Paul write 1 Cor.1:17 <emphasis>\"For Christ " "did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel\"</emphasis>?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:134 msgid "Rule 3 - Interpret within the historical and cultural context" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:136 msgid "" "At first we are not asking <quote>What does it mean to me?</quote> but " "<quote>What did it mean to the original readers?</quote>; later we can ask, " "<quote>What does it mean to me?</quote>. We have to take into account the " "historical and cultural background of the author and the recipients." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:139 msgid "Example 3A" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:139 msgid "" "<quote>3 days & 3 nights</quote> (Mt.12:40) have led some to come up " "with a \"Wednesday crucifixion theory,\" esp. the cult of Armstrongism. How " "could Jesus die on Friday afternoon and rise Sunday morning yet \"be raised " "on the third day\" (Mt.16:21)? Exact meanings of \"three\" or \"days\" won't " "help explain the apparent contradiction." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:144 msgid "" "We need an historical tidbit: Jews counted any part of a day as a full day, " "as we would count buckets of water (if there were six and one-half buckets " "of water, we would say there were 7 buckets of water even if one was only " "partly full). So to the Jewish mind, any part of a day counted as a full " "day, and days started at 6 p.m. and ended at 6 p.m. Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 " "p.m. = day 1. Friday 6 p.m. to Saturday 6 p.m. = day 2. Saturday 6 p.m. to " "Sunday 5 or so a.m. = day 3. Interpreting within the cultural context keeps " "us out of trouble." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:151 msgid "Example 3B" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:151 msgid "" "Gen.15:7-21. The historical context is that cutting animals in two and then " "walking between the pieces was the normal way of entering a contract in " "Abraham's day. Both parties walked between, taking the pledge that " "dismemberment would happen to them if they didn't live up to their part of " "the contract. But in this case only God goes thru, making it a unilateral " "covenant." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:159 msgid "Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in language" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:160 msgid "" "Let literal language be literal and figurative language be figurative. And " "watch out for idioms, which have special meanings." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:163 msgid "Example 4A" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:164 msgid "<quote>evil eye</quote> in Mt.6:23." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:165 msgid "" "Rule 1, definition of \"evil\" and \"eye\" - no help here. Rule 2, context: " "seems to confuse us even more. It doesn't seem to fit with what goes before " "and after! This should tip us off that we aren't understanding it rightly!!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:168 msgid "" "What we have here is a Hebrew idiom, <quote>evil eye</quote>. Let's look up " "other uses of this idiom: Mt.20:15 \"<emphasis>Is it not lawful for me to do " "what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious [lit.\"evil\"] " "because I am generous [lit. \"good\"]?</emphasis>\" We find that having an " "\"evil eye\" is a Hebrew idiom for being stingy or envious. Now go back to " "Mt.6 and notice how this understanding ties in so perfectly to the context." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:174 msgid "Example 4B" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:175 msgid "Is.59:1 <quote>The Lord's hand is not short;</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:176 msgid "Deut.33:27 <quote>Underneath are the everlasting arms.</quote>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:178 msgid "" "References to body parts of God are used by Latter-Day Saints to prove that " "God was once a man just as we are. Once they convince people of that, they " "go on to teach that we can become God just like He is! At a lecture he was " "giving, a group of Mormon elders challenged Walter Martin (author of " "<emphasis>Kingdom of the Cults</emphasis>) with an enumeration of verses " "like these. Dr. Martin then asked the Mormons to read one more scripture: " "Ps.91:4 <quote>He will cover you with His feathers; And under His wings " "shalt thou trust</quote>. W.M. said, <quote>By the same rules of " "interpretation that you just proved God to be a man, you just proved that He " "is a bird</quote>. The Mormons had to laugh as they realised the " "ridiculousness of their position." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:189 msgid "" "Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the difference between a " "parable and an allegory" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:190 msgid "" "An allegory is: <emphasis>A story where each element has a meaning.</" "emphasis>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:191 msgid "Every parable is an allegory, true or false?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:193 msgid "" "Some parables are allegories, for instance, the parable of the sower is an " "allegory: the seed is the word of God, the thorns are worries and greed, " "etc. But most parables are not allegories but simply stories to illustrate " "one point. It's dangerous to get our doctrine from parables; they can be " "twisted to say all sorts of things. We need to get our doctrine from clear " "scriptures that lay it out; then if a parable illustrates that, fine." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:198 msgid "Example 5A" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:199 msgid "" "The parable of the widow with the unrighteous judge in Lk.18:1-8. This story " "illustrates one lesson: boldness in prayer. If we draw it into an allegory, " "what do we have?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:201 msgid "" "All sorts of violence happens to the meanings: God is reluctant to protect " "the rights of widows, prayer \"bothers\" Him, etc." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><title> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:204 msgid "Example 5B" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:205 msgid "" "The parable of the unrighteous steward in Lk.16:1-9. What is the point of " "the parable? Is it an allegory?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <chapter><section><section><para> #: how2-interpretation.docbook:207 msgid "" "The steward is commended for only one thing, his shrewdness in using what he " "had to prepare for a time when he wouldn't have it. But he is not commended " "for his unethical behavior in cheating his master." msgstr ""