Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

Picturing Theology, Revised Edition | 69

Key Perspective

Discovering the Word and Works of God in the Lives of the People of Scripture

Physical Environment

Note: In this diagram, Kuhatschek’s categories refer to the three steps of Biblical interpretation outlined by Jack Kuhatschek in Applying the Bible Downer’s Grove: IVP, 1990.

Religions

Worldviews

Their Ancient World

Cultures

Beliefs

Kuhatschek’s Categories Understanding the Original Situation

What it meant to them then What it means to us now

Peoples

Languages

History

Politics

The Eternal Truth of the Living God

Finding General

Principles Applying General Principles today

Job

World

Our Contemporary Situation

Character

Family

Neighborhood

Relationships

Church

Applying Principles of God’s Word to Our Lives in the Church and in the World

Key Steps to Interpretation The focus of this step is on understanding the world of the Bible, the author, and God’s message to a particular group of people at a particular time and place. A. Ask God to open your eyes to truth through the ministry of the Holy Spirit as you read his Word. Tell God that you want to be changed as well as informed by your reading of the Scriptures. Ask him to reveal specific actions and attitudes in your own life which need to be changed or disciplined. Ask God to use the Word to reveal Jesus and to make you more like his Son. Thank God for the gifts of his Spirit, his Son, and the Scriptures. Many believers began their study of God’s Word by simply praying the words of Psalm 119:18. Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see wonderful things in your word. Amen. B. Identify the author of the book, the approximate date it was written, why it was written, and to whom it was written. Key Tools: Bible Dictionary, Bible Handbook, or Bible Commentary

Step One: Understanding the Original Situation