Transcript How to Study Your Bible

How to Study Your Bible
Basics of Grace
Introduction
This is a Bible study method which has been historically
called "inductive," meaning that the method is
designed to let the text speak for itself, rather than
impose meaning onto it. It is an exegetical method,
meaning that one is trying to "unfold" or more literally,
"lead out" the meaning of the text. The goal of this
method is to understand the meaning of God's Word so
that one can "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to
please Him in all respects" (Col. 1:10). We have failed
to be God-honoring in our pursuits if understanding of
the truth does not lead to transformation of our life (cf.
Rom. 12:1-2, Eph. 4:22-24).
Tools
This method only requires the use of a good study Bible
and the internet to access online study resources. For
this study, we will utilize the MacArthur Study Bible
(NASB version) and the online site, Blue Letter Bible
(www.blueletterbible.org)
Passage: Luke 18:9-14
Overview of Method
1. Spiritual Preparation
Spiritual Preparation – This is the most important step
and often the most neglected. Proper time in prayer
before sitting down before the "Book" is absolutely
essential. It is also a good time to remind yourself to be
"prayerful" through your study time.
2. Background Preparation
Study the background of the Bible book. Where was it
written? When was it written? Was it original a unit or
several parts put together? Biblical introduction also
supplies information about historical background
(writers, readers, locations, philosophies, cultures, etc.)
Without biblical introduction, interpretive mistakes are
easily made because the background and context of the
book were not properly understood. – A good study
Bible will have introductory articles before each Bible
book that provide this sort of information.
Title
As with the other 3 gospels, the title is derived from the author’s name. According to
tradition, Luke was a Gentile. The Apostle Paul seems to confirm this, distinguishing
Luke from those who were “of the circumcision” (Col. 4:11, 14). That would make
Luke the only Gentile to pen any books of Scripture. He is responsible for a significant
portion of the NT, having written both this gospel and the book of Acts (see Author and
Date).
Very little is known about Luke. He almost never included personal details about
himself, and nothing definite is known about his background or his conversion. Both
Eusebius and Jerome identified him as a native of Antioch (which may explain why so
much of the book of Acts centers on Antioch—cf. Acts 11:19–27; 13:1–3; 14:26; 15:22,
23, 30–35; 18:22, 23). Luke was a frequent companion of the Apostle Paul, at least from
the time of Paul’s Macedonian vision (Acts 16:9, 10) right up to the time of Paul’s
martyrdom (2 Tim. 4:11).
The Apostle Paul referred to Luke as a physician (Col. 4:14). Luke’s interest in medical
phenomena is evident in the high profile he gave to Jesus’ healing ministry (e.g., 4:38–
40; 5:15–25; 6:17–19; 7:11–15; 8:43–47, 49–56; 9:2, 6, 11; 13:11–13; 14:2–4; 17:12–
14; 22:50, 51). In Luke’s day, physicians did not have a unique vocabulary of technical
terminology; so when Luke discusses healings and other medical issues, his language is
not markedly different from that of the other gospel writers.
MacArthur Study Bible, 1471
Historical and Theological Themes
Luke’s style is that of a scholarly, well-read author (see note on 1:1–4). He wrote as a
meticulous historian, often giving details that helped identify the historical context of
the events he described (1:5; 2:1, 2; 3:1, 2; 13:1–4).
His account of the nativity is the fullest in all the gospel records—and (like the rest of
Luke’s work) more polished in its literary style. He included in the birth narrative a
series of praise psalms (1:46–55; 1:68–79; 2:14; 2:29–32; 34, 35). He alone reported the
unusual circumstances surrounding the birth of John the Baptist, the annunciation to
Mary, the manger, the shepherds, and Simeon and Anna (2:25–38).
A running theme in Luke’s gospel is Jesus’ compassion for Gentiles, Samaritans,
women, children, tax collectors, sinners, and others often regarded as outcasts in Israel.
Every time he mentions a tax collector (3:12; 5:27; 7:29; 15:1; 18:10–13; 19:2), it is
in a positive sense. Yet, Luke did not ignore the salvation of those who were rich and
respectable—e.g., 23:50–53. From the outset of Jesus’ public ministry (4:18) to the
Lord’s final words on the cross (23:40–43), Luke underscored this theme of Christ’s
ministry to the pariahs of society. Again and again he showed how the Great Physician
ministered to those most aware of their need (cf. 5:31, 32; 15:4–7; 31, 32; 19:10).
MacArthur Study Bible, 1472
3. Reading
Read the passage in several good literal translations
(NASB, NKJV, ESV). It is best to read the entire
paragraph (minimum) or better, the entire chapter
where the text under study is located.
4. Observation
Read and re-read the text until your mind is saturated
with it. While memorization is not required, the text
should be so vivid in your mind that you have
"almost" memorized it.
4. Observation
• Begin to ask questions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
How?
Why?
Don’t worry about making note of the
obvious!
4. Observation
• Pay careful attention to:
•
•
•
•
Repeated words
Repeated expressions
Contrast
The author’s logic or flow of thought
• Write down all of your questions,
thoughts, observations, etc.
4. Observation
• Purpose of the parable (v. 9)
• Contrast between the two men
• Who is justified? (v. 14)
5. Identification
• Grammar & syntax
• To what is each word, phrase, clause,
sentence, and paragraph related? In what
way is it related? For what purpose is each
related? – Sometimes, making a logical
diagram of the text can be helpful to see
these types of relationships
• Where is the prominence or emphasis?
(pay attention to word order and the
employment of emphatic words)
V. 11 (ESV) - The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed
thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax
collector.
V. 11 (NASB) - The Pharisee stood and was praying this
to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other
people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax
collector.
V. 11 (NIV) - The Pharisee stood up and prayed about
himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like this tax
collector.
5. Identification
• Expression
• Are there any idioms?
• Are there any literary devices used? (these
will be more common in narrative and
poetic books) – parallelism, inclusio,
chiasm, etc.
• What is the literary form & genre?
(narrative, poetry, letter (epistle), proverb,
parable, apocalyptic literature, etc.)
5. Identification
• Expression
• Do a word study for each word crucial to
the text. Comparing various translations
often reveals the words that need to be
studied.
V. 13 (NASB) - But the tax collector, standing some distance
away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but
was beating his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, the
sinner!”
V. 13 (NIV) - But the tax collector stood at a distance. He
would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and
said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
V. 13 (ESV) - But the tax collector, standing far off, would not
even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,
'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
See Blue letter Bible and commentaries
V. 13 (NASB) - But the tax collector, standing some distance
away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but
was beating his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, the
sinner!”
Note NASB margin reading: “13 – or propitious
5. Identification
• Expression
• State the argument, theme, or "big idea"
message in your own words
6. Examination
• What are the circles of context?
(immediate, remote, external setting)
• How does the passage fit into each circle
of context?
• The external setting is in the ancient near
eastern cultural, historical, geographical,
political, economic, and spiritual milieu
Luke 18:1-14
(2 parables)
Luke 14:1-19:27
(Ministry in Perea)
Luke 9:51-19:27
(Journey to Jerusalem – 3rd of 4 major
divisions in the book of Luke)
MacArthur Study Bible, 1474
6. Examination
• Are there any parallel passages?
• A parallel passage is another verse of
Scripture which deals with the same event,
topic, or discussion as the verse presently
under examination – A study Bible will help
identify any potential parallel passages –
look in margins for verse citations
6. Examination
• Are there any parallel passages?
• Pay the most attention to parallel passages
which discuss the same historical event
(narrative) or passages which are written
by the same author about the same
subject – If your passage is in one of the
four gospels, you can use the Blue Letter
Bible “Harmony of the Gospels” to check
for parallel narrative accounts in the other
gospel books.
6. Examination
• Are there any parallel passages?
• Care must be taken here not to import
meaning from a parallel passage into the
verse being studied. However, parallel
passages can be helpful for doublechecking one's conclusions or for bringing
additional information about a subject not
given in the verse under study.
7. “Solution”ation
Answer questions and solve interpretive
problems.
• List any potential interpretive problems
and corresponding solutions
• Choose one as the "preferred" solution
and compare pros and cons with other
possible solutions
8. Consultation
Check your conclusions against reliable
commentaries.
• Some good commentaries include: The
Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The MacArthur
New Testament Commentary, Thru the Bible,
The New American Commentary Series.
Blue Letter Bible also has several good
commentaries, including Matthew Henry and
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
8. Consultation
Check your conclusions against reliable
commentaries.
• Watch for alternative interpretations
and note any additional problems that
you may have overlooked in your study.
You should re-evaluate your conclusions
if no commentator agrees with you.
18:9 This parable is rich with truth about the doctrine of
justification by faith. It illustrates perfectly how a sinner who is
utterly devoid of personal righteousness may be declared righteous
before God instantaneously through an act of repentant faith. The
parable is addressed to Pharisees who trusted their own
righteousness (vv. 10, 11). Such confidence in one’s inherent
righteousness is a damning hope (cf. Rom. 10:3; Phil 3:9), because
human righteousness—even the righteousness of the most
fastidious Pharisee—falls short of the divine standard (Matt. 5:48).
Scripture consistently teaches that sinners are justified when God’s
perfect righteousness is imputed to their account (cf. Gen. 15:6;
Rom. 4:4, 5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:4–9)—and it was only on that
basis that this tax collector (or anyone else) could be saved.
18:13 - The tax collector’s humility is notable in everything about
his posture and behavior. Here was a man who had been made to
face the reality of his own sin, and his only response was abject
humility and repentance. He contrasts with the Pharisee in virtually
every detail. God, be merciful. He had no hope but the mercy of
God. This is the point to which the law aims to bring every sinner
(cf. Rom. 3:19, 20; 7:13; Gal 3:22–24).
18:14 justified. I.e., reckoned righteous before God by means of an
imputed righteousness (see note on v. 9).
MacArthur Study Bible, 1518.
9. Evaluation
Conclude your study with any evaluation:
• Be willing to modify or refine your conclusions
based upon your additional study or insight
gained in commentaries
• Acknowledge any uncertainties, ambiguities,
lack of knowledge or need for additional
information.
• Outline a method of "where to go from here"
in order to further investigate standing
problems.
10. Application
Once conclusions are made about the meaning
of the passage, ample time should be spent
in meditation, reflection, prayer, and personal
application.
• What are the timeless theological truths that
the passage is teaching?
• What can be learned about God from this
verse?
• What in your thinking needs to change in
light of this verse?
• Were you convicted or challenged by
something in the verse?
10. Application