Bible Interpretation, Student Workbook, SW05

2 1 4 /

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

Thanks to the works of hundreds of dedicated scholars who cherish and love the Scriptures, we have access to a remarkable array of scholarly tools which can enable us to understand the meaning of the biblical text. The essential purpose of our use of scholarly tools is to help us bridge the various gaps between the biblical world and our own contemporary world. This bridging helps the diligent biblical interpreter to be more faithful to the Word of God by enabling him or her to reconstruct the meaning in its original context. The basic tools of biblical interpretation include a good translation of the Bible, Greek and Hebrew lexicons keyed to the Strong’s numbering system, a solid Bible dictionary, a concordance, and credible exegetical commentaries which focus on the biblical meanings of the passage. Used in their proper place and times, these tools can prove invaluable in bridging the gap between the biblical world and our understanding of that world. In addition to the basic tools of biblical interpretation (i.e., a good translation of the Bible, Greek and Hebrew lexicons, Bible dictionary, concordance, and credible exegetical commentaries), there are additional tools which can enrich our understanding of the Word of God. These include several different translations of the Bible, a Bible atlas and handbook, a topical Bible, a dictionary of theology, and theological commentaries. Each of these tools focus on a particular challenge of biblical interpretation, from issues of language, culture, history, and theology. As with any tool, we must be careful to use them to enhance our knowledge of the text, neither denying nor downplaying the essential message of the Bible as it speaks to our salvation in the person of Jesus Christ.

Restatement of the Lesson’s Thesis

4

If you are interested in pursuing some of the ideas of Biblical Studies: Using Study Tools in Bible Study , you might want to give these books a try:

Resources and Bibliographies

Bruce, F. F. New Testament History . New York: Doubleday, 1969.

Penney, Russell, and Mal Couch. eds. An Introduction to Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics: A Guide to the History and Practice of Biblical Interpretation . Grand Rapids: Kregel Books, 2000. Sire, James W. Scripture Twisting: Twenty Ways the Cults Misread the Bible . Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1980. Stott, John. The Contemporary Christian: Applying God’s Word to Today’s World . Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992.