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LIVING BY THE BOOK

The Art and Science or Reading the Bible

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By Howard G. Hendricks William D. Hendricks

Moody Publishers

Copyright © 2007 Howard G. Hendricks William D. Hendricks
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8024-9538-9

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Contents

Preface............................................................................9 PART 1 Observation Start with Observation 1. Observing a Passage of Scripture................................................15 2. Observing a Verse (Psalm 93:1)..................................................17 3. Observing a Verse (1 John 3:12).................................................19 4. Reading the Bible as for the First Time.........................................21 5. Reading the Bible as for the First Time (Luke 15:11-32).........................23 6. Reading the Bible as a Love Letter (Isaiah 55)..................................25 7. Reading the Bible as a Love Letter (John 3:16-17)...............................27 8. Reading Thoughtfully (Genesis 5:21-31; 7:11)....................................29 9. Reading Thoughtfully (Luke 17:11-19)............................................31 10. Reading Repeatedly (Exodus 20:1-21)............................................33 11. Reading Repeatedly (Romans 5)..................................................35 12. Reading Patiently..............................................................37 13. Reading Selectively(Genesis 11:27-12:9).......................................39 14. Reading Selectively (Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:1-40)..............................41 15. Reading Prayerfully (Jonah 2)..................................................43 16. Reading Prayerfully (Ephesians 3)..............................................45 17. Reading imaginatively (Daniel 6)...............................................47 18. Reading Imaginatively (John 2:1-11)............................................49 19. Reading Meditatively (2 Samuel 6:1-8)..........................................51 20. Reading Meditatively (Romans 8:28-39)..........................................53 21. Reading Purposefully (Jeremiah 38).............................................55 22. Reading Purposefully (Colossians 1:15-29)......................................57 23. Reading Acquisitively..........................................................59 24. Reading Telescopically (Lamentations 3:22-33)..................................61 25. Reading Telescopically (Hebrews 12:1-13).......................................63 26. Working with a Paragraph (Jonah 4:5-8).........................................65 27. Working with a Paragraph (2 Corinthians 4:7-12)................................67 28. Looking for Things That Are Emphasized (Proverbs 31:10-31).....................69 29. Looking for Things That Are Emphasized (Luke 15)...............................71 30. Looking for Things That Are Repeated (Joshua 1)................................73 31. Looking for Things That Are Repeated (Romans 7:7-25)...........................75 32. Looking for Things That Are Related (Numbers 21:4-9)...........................77 33. Looking for Things That Are Related (John 3:1-21)..............................79 34. Looking for Things That Are Alike (Isaiah 66:1-16).............................81 35. Looking for Things That Are Alike (Matthew 23:23-39)...........................83 36. Looking for Things That Are Unlike (Numbers 13:25-14:31).......................85 37. Looking for Things That Are Unlike (Acts 4:32-5:11)............................87 38. Looking for Things That Are True to Life (1 Kings 11)..........................89 39. Looking for Things That Are True to Life (2 Timothy 1).........................91 40. Working with a Segment of Scripture............................................93 41. How to Study a Section of Scripture............................................95 42. Making a Start with Your Chart.................................................97 43. Working with a Segment of Scripture (Exodus 7-12)..............................99 44. Working with a Segment of Scripture (Revelation 2-3)...........................101 PART 2 Interpretation From Observation to Interpretation 45. Why Do We Need Interpretation?.................................................107 46. Aids to Interpretation.........................................................109 47. Hazards to Avoid...............................................................111 48. Literary Genres of the Bible...................................................113 49. Examining the Content (Habakkuk 3:17-19).......................................115 50. Looking for Context (Habakkuk 3:17-19).........................................117 51. Making Relevant Comparisons (Habakkuk 3:17-19).................................119 52. Considering the Culture (Habakkuk 3:17-19).....................................121 53. Doing Further Consultation (Habakkuk 3:17-19)..................................123 54. Coming to Terms (Book of Habakkuk).............................................125 55. Figuring Out the Figurative....................................................127 56. Figuring Out the Figurative (Judges 9:9-15)....................................129 57. Figuring Out the Figurative (Revelation 17)....................................131 PART 3 Application From Interpretation to Application 58. Nine Questions to Ask..........................................................137 59. Asking the Right Questions (Ezekiel 33:1-10)...................................139 60. Asking the Right Questions (1 Thessalonians 5).................................141 6l. Truth That Transforms (Psalms 51)..............................................143 62. Truth That Transforms (Hebrews 4:12-16)........................................145 63. A Transformed People (Exodus 31:1-11; 1 Kings 6)...............................147 64. A Transformed People (Ephesians 2:11-22).......................................149 65. The Process of Application (Ecclesiastes 3:1-14)...............................151 66. The Process of Application (Galatians 5:16-26).................................153 67. Customized Christianity (Jeremiah 36)..........................................155 68. Customized Christianity (Philippians 4:1-9)....................................157 69. Cultures in Context (Genesis 25:19-34; 27; 1-46)...............................159 70. Cultures in Context (Mark 1:21-45).............................................161 71. Stating Principles from Scripture (Leviticus 16)...............................163 72. Stating Principles from Scripture (2 Peter 3)..................................165 73. A Process of Life-Change.......................................................167 PART 4 Putting It All Together Introduction 74. Book of Ruth...................................................................172 75. Book of James..................................................................203

Chapter One

Observing a Passage of Scripture "What makes one person a better Bible student than another? He can see more, that's all. The same truth is available to both of them in the text" (p. 51).

If you want to get more out of Bible study, it helps to know what you're looking for. Use the following list of questions to help guide you in your search of Scripture. You probably won't use every question for each passage you study, but at least they provide a good starting point. The more completely you can answer these questions, the better you will observe God's truth, which then provides a strong foundation for interpretation and application.

Who is the author of the passage? Whom is the author addressing? (God's people? A specific church? Unbelievers?) What is the most important term and/or concept of the passage? What are the main verbs? What are the tenses of those verbs? Are there terms you need to define so you can better understand the passage? Are there people or places you need to identify? What do you already know about the people and places mentioned? Can you identify any cause-effect relationships in the author's writing? In what ways does the passage apply to your own personal life? (If there isn't an obvious application, is there a more subtle one?) What things from this passage might you want to study later in further detail?

NOTE

You might want to make a copy of this page to place in each of the Bibles you use.

Chapter Two

Observing a Verse

TODAY'S PASSAGE: Psalm 93:1

TIME COMMITMENT: 30 minutes

"Remember, in Observation your main concern is, What do I see? Pay special attention to terms and grammatical structure. Also look at the context" (p. 65).

Let's try observing Psalm 93:1. Since we're choosing a psalm, the context of what comes before and afterward may not be as important as in a narrative passage. However, the more you read the psalms, the better you can detect similarities and contrasts.

But for now let's turn our attention to this single verse:

"The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved."

Begin by going through the questions on the "Observing a Passage of Scripture" sheet (p. 15). Not all of them will apply, of course. But note the present tense of the verbs. If the psalmist wrote in present tense, does that mean the verse is now past tense? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

What would you say is the main theme of this verse? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

Forget about religious language for a moment. What then comes to mind when you think about a "lord"? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

In addition to the questions already provided, here are a few additional things to observe to get you started:

What words or phrases are repeated? Why do you suppose they are so emphasized? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

God is described by the terms "majesty" and "strength." What connection, if any, do these terms have? (Does one necessarily suggest the other?) __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

Why did the author suddenly move from describing "the Lord" to writing about "the world"? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ We all know the earth is turning on its axis. So what does it mean that the world "will not be moved"? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

Does this verse evoke any positive feelings for you? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Might this verse cause less positive emotions for some people (fear, anxiety, etc.)? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

What other observations can you make from this single verse? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Three

Observing a Verse

TODAY'S PASSAGE: 1 John 3:12

TIME COMMITMENT: 30 minutes

"Whenever you study any verse of Scripture, be sure to place it in its context. See it both in terms of what goes before and what follows" (p. 58).

First John 3:12 should provide ample opportunity for you to practice your observation skills. Here is the verse, with space provided for your notations:

"not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous."

Here are a few suggestions:

Again, begin by using the questions on the "Observing a Passage of Scripture" sheet (p. 15). This time you should find more significance in the author, the context, and the people mentioned. (Regarding context, any time a verse begins in midsentence, you have a clear mandate to take note of what precedes it.) __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Read the story the writer refers to (Genesis 4:1-16). What new insight does this shed on the verse? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Determine why this verse is dropped into the center of a chapter focusing on God's love. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

Try to think of examples in your own life in which you see a contrast between righteous and evil actions and the consequences that result. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

When, in your own life, have you acted as Cain did (to a lesser extent)? When have you suffered as Abet did? How does this verse speak to each of those situations?

What other observations can you make about this verse? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Four

Reading the Bible as for the First Time

TODAY'S PASSAGE: (See below)

TIME COMMITMENT: 30 minutes

"It helps to read the Bible in different versions. If you've been reading the same translation for years, try something fresh and contemporary for a change" (p. 69).

Today's assignment might require a trip to the library or a nearby Christian bookstore. Or perhaps you can borrow some Bibles from friends or your church. But be prepared to find several different translations/paraphrases of the Bible to read and compare.

One of the best ways to read the Bible as for the first time is to look up portions of Scripture that are most familiar to you. But if you don't have a particular passage in mind, try one or more of the following:

The creation story (Genesis 2:4-25)

Psalm 23

A prophecy about the coming Messiah (such as Isaiah 9:6-7)

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)

Paul's conversion (Acts 9:1-19)

Select one or more passages and read the same account from four different Bible versions. Some readings are likely to be quite similar. But if you contrast the King James Version with The Living Bible, for example, be prepared for a significant difference. In each case, try to put aside what you already know and let the text speak to you freshly, as if it were the first time you were reading it.

NOTE

any discoveries or insights in the space below. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Five

Reading the Bible as for the First Time

TODAY'S PASSAGE: Luke 15:11-32

TIME COMMITMENT: 30 minutes

"It is often said that familiarity breeds contempt. Well, something else it breeds is ignorance. The moment you come to a passage of Scripture and say, 'Oh, I know this one already,' you're in trouble. Instead you need to come to every text as if you'd never seen it before in your life" (p. 69).

Frequently the passages that are most in danger of being overlooked are those that are most familiar. So let's take a look at one of the best-known portions of the Bible: the parable of the prodigal soil. It's found in Luke 15:11-32.

Read the parable as if you were an eight-year-old hearing the story for the first time. What questions or comments would you have? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

Read it again from the following perspectives, each time noting the questions you might be likely to ask:

A person from a foreign country (and different religious culture) hearing this story for the first time __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

A person who is skeptical about the authority of the Bible __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

A parent whose child has rebelled and left home __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Someone who has allowed the harsh situations of life to distance him or her from God __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

As you read through the eyes of these various people, the text might reveal a number of fresh insights you had not yet noticed. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Six

Reading the Bible as a Love Letter

TODAY'S PASSAGE: Isaiah 55

TIME COMMITMENT: 30 minutes

"The way to come to the Word of God [is to] read it as though it were His love letter to you" (p. 71).

Sometimes we perceive the writings of the prophets to be some of the least "loving" of the Scriptures. The prophets brought messages from God, and much of what they had to say pointed to what people could expect as the consequences of their sins. But God also sprinkled the prophetic books with promises and reasons for confident hope among His people.

Isaiah wrote to alert the people of Judah that they would eventually be taken into captivity by the Babylonians. Much of what he had to say was harsh, direct, and to the point. But equally to the point was what they could expect beyond their captivity.

Put yourself in the place of someone who had been carried away by an enemy army, or left amid the ruins of a once-grand city. You would remember that Isaiah had warned about such a future, but you might also recall something else. Your world is crumbling around you as you locate a scroll containing Isaiah 55. Read the text, then consider the following questions.

How would you feel upon reading this passage, in light of your present sufferings? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

What would this text tell you about God? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ What would be your attitude about the future? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

As you look back to see God's involvement with His people in the past, what can you determine about your own future? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

Assignment for another day:

It's a simple matter to note the depth of God's love in such passages as Isaiah 55. A greater challenge is to learn to detect His love in passages that forecast judgment and suffering. However, if God's nature does not change, wouldn't it be true that God's discipline of sin is motivated by love just as is His outpouring of blessing? The next time you read a somber passage of Scripture, try to determine how God's love is active even during such times.

CH7[ Reading the Bible as a Love Letter

TODAY'S PASSAGE: John 3:16-17

TIME COMMITMENT: 30 minutes

"Just think of it: God wanted to communicate with you in the twenty-first century-and He wrote His message in a Book" (p. 72).

Surely the most quoted Scripture reference about God's love is John 3:16. Yet it can be interpreted quite impersonally if we don't get specific about it. Below is John 3:16-17:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

Instead of thinking about "the world," let's get personal and substitute some specific names. In order to do so, here's the verse again with some blanks. It's up to you to fill in the blanks with the names that follow.

"For God so loved _____, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son to _____ to judge _____, but that _____ might be saved through him."

Try substituting some of these names into the previous passage:

Your boss A difficult child A neighbor A coworker Someone at church Someone from your past Your spouse Your own name A personal enemy

Do you think God's love for the previous people is any more or less than it is for you? Explain. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

If you were to see other people as God sees them, do you think you would need to make changes in any of your relationships? Why? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

If you personalize John 3:16-17, the passage takes on a much more intimate feel. The same is true about many other portions of the Bible. If the love of God toward us is not clearly evident, we're probably not looking hard enough.

(Continues...) ]CH7

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Excerpted from LIVING BY THE BOOK by Howard G. Hendricks William D. Hendricks Copyright © 2007 by Howard G. Hendricks William D. Hendricks. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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