Picturing Theology

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P i c t u r i n g T h e o l o g y

Keys to Bible Interpretation (continued)

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

C. Read the context around the passage.

Key Tool: A standard translation (not a paraphrase) of the Bible • Look to see where natural “breaks” are in and around the passage and make sure that you are looking at the entire passage during the process of interpretation. • Read the material around the passage. It is a good rule of thumb to read at least one chapter before and one chapter following the passage you are studying. • The shorter the passage selected for interpretation, the greater the danger becomes in ignoring context. The old proverb is correct: “A text without a con text is a pre text.”

D. Observe the passage carefully. • Identify who is speaking and who is being spoken to. • Observe the main ideas and the details. - Make a simple outline of the passage. - Identify the main ideas.

- Look for repeated words or images. - Find “cause-and-effect” relationships. - Look for comparisons, contrasts, and connections.