Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition

106 / CORNERSTONE CURRICULUM STUDENT WORKBOOK

Methods of interpretation can be haphazard or systematic, and even systematic interpretation can be either profitable, or unprofitable, so that it does violence to the meaning of the Bible. God’s desire is that believers come to the place where they are able to read the Bible with understanding, balance, and facility in relating various portions of the Scriptures to each other.

~ Paul Karleen. The Handbook to Bible Study . (electronic ed.). New York: Oxford University Press, 1987.

I. Definition, Purpose, Elements, Benefits of the Three-Step Model of Biblical Interpretation

Video Outline

A. Definition: “To so understand the meaning of the original situation that we may discover general principles of truth which may be applied in our personal lives in the Spirit’s freedom”

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B i b l i ca l S tud i e s

1. To so understand the meaning of the original situation : the first step focuses on understanding what the text meant in its original setting.

2. That we may discover general principles of truth : the second step focuses on drawing out of the text biblical principles which are binding and applicable to believers today.

3. That may be applied in our personal lives in the Spirit’s freedom : the third step is applying the principle of truth in our personal lives in the power of the Spirit.

B. Purpose

1. To learn what the author meant in the context of its original writing