Bible Interpretation, Student Workbook, SW05

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B I B L E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N

b. An understanding of the ways that stories function can help and increase our knowledge of the Bible, and through it, the God of the Bible.

2. All theology is reflection on the stories of the Bible, and is a “third-order” discipline.

a. First order : God acting in history

b. Second order : God superintended the recording of his acts in history in the form of story in the Word of God.

c. Third order : our reflection upon the Word to grasp the meaning of God’s character and acts

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d. Theology is reflecting on the meaning of God’s acts in history captured in the stories of the Bible.

3. While stories are crafted pieces of literature, the stories of the Bible are reliable and accurate when referring to historical accounts.

a. Types of story

(1) Historical narratives which testify accurately to actual occurrences that took place, e.g., Jesus’ birth, Luke 2.1-7 (2) Imaginative narratives are invented stories created by the author for illustration and teaching, e.g., Nathan’s story to David, 2 Sam. 12.1-7.