BIBLE INTERP FINAL

• Steps of Interpretive Journey


  1. Grasp the Text in their town

  2. Measure the width of the river

  3. Cross the Principlizing Bridge

  4. Consult the Biblical Map

  5. Grasp the text in their town
• Genres of books of the Bible

  • Narrative
  • Law
  • Poetry
  • Prophets
  • Wisdom
• Acts


  Written by Luke
• Types of literature in the Bible


  • Gospel
  • History
  • Letter
  • Apocalyptic Lit.
• Main message of Acts


  Telling the story of the early church and the spread of the gospel
• Approaches to Acts


  • Normative
  • Descriptive
• The early church practices described in Acts are not all meant to be imitated today
• The best approach is to use both normative and descriptive elements when interpreting Acts
• Narratives


  • Interesting to children & adults
  • Pull us into the action of the story
  • Depict real life and are easy to relate to
  • Can portray the ambiguities and complexities of life
  • Easy to remember
  • Allow God to be portrayed as one of the characters
  • Show a struggle and resolution
  • Relate short events to a bigger overall story
• Key features of OT narratives


  • Plot, setting, characters, Point of view of narrator
• Main purpose of Psalms


  To give us models of how to talk/sing to God
• What the Psalms give us


  • A guide to sincere worship
  • Help us relate honestly to God
  • Lead us into reflection/meditation on what God has done for us
• Main purpose of Wisdom Literature

  To develop character
• Main ideas of Wisdom books


  • Proverbs: Giving guidance for life, addressing situations that are provably true
  • Job: Challenges the way God runs the universe
  • Ecclesiastes: An intellectual search for the meaning of life
  • Song of Songs: Turns love and marriage into a theological tract on the love of Christ for his Church
• Genre types of Revelation


  • Prophetic
  • Apocalyptic
  • Letter
• When interpreting Revelation, keep the main thing the main thing and don't focus too much on the details
• Main message of Revelation


  God will win!
• Key features of NT letters


  • Comparable to other ancient letters
  • Authoritative and substitute for personal presence
  • Situational
  • Carefully written and delivered
  • Intended for the Christian community
• Composition process of NT letters


  1. Date

  2. Name of Place

  3. Greeting

  4. Body of letter

  5. Closing

  6. Signature
• Main messages of the prophets


  • You've broken the covenant, you better repent
  • If you don't repent, there will be judgement
  • There is hope beyond judgement - future restoration
• Prophets


  The Lord's prosecuting attorneys
• Prophets' views


  • Near views: Events that will soon occur in their lifetimes
  • Far views: Events that will occur during the first advent of Christ