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

3. Recognize and take seriously the reality of distance: Sitz im Leben (situation in life).

4. Acquire and learn to use the proper Bible study tools that will help recreate for you the original situation.

E. Example: the Passover, 1 Corinthians 5.7, 8

III. Step Two: Discover and Draw Out General Principles

A. Why do we need to discover general principles?

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1. “Facts are dumb things”: biblical facts require interpretation , and interpretation leads to understanding .

2. Without principles we are left with pieces and no mosaics: we confront thousands of unconnected facts in the Bible.

3. General principles allow us to draw out wisdom from the experience of others: the power of biblical case studies, Prov. 24.30-34.

a. Careful personal observation of a particular situation

b. Reflection and consideration of the meaning of those facts

c. The formation of a principle ( proverb ) that can be applied to a number of different but related situations