II TIMOTHY 2:15 II TIMOTHY 3:16
#1004 – EFFECTIVE BIBLE READING
September 15, 2007 – Opening Class Session 8:30 am
October 2007 thru March 2008
Classes held each 2nd Saturday: (8:30 am-12 noon)
Unity Baptist Church
7500 Tireman
Detroit, MI 48204
Evangelist Aaron David Brown – Instructor
Email:
Website: www.adbrown.com
(313) 883-1929
Metropolitan District Congress Of Christian Education
Sister Irma Wise, President
Rev. Leroy Burden, Dean
ROMANS 15:4 I TIMOTHY 4:13
TABLE OF CONTENTS
OBJECTIVE 3
INTRODUCTION 4
PRELIMINARY CLASS SCHEDULE 5
TEXTBOOK SUMMARY 6
INTERNET HANDOUTS
EIGHT RULES OF INTERPRETATION 8
TWENTY SCRIPTURE TWISTING METHODS 13
GLOSSARY OF COMMON THEOLOGICAL TERMS 16
BIBLIOGRAPHY 35
OBJECTIVE: To provide the student foundation skills for effective reading of Scripture exemplified in a holy, spiritual, evangelistic, and progressively mature Christian lifestyle. At the end of these sessions, students should be able to:
! Completely read the entire Bible at least once and maintain a personal journal of interests, questions, and reflections
! Begin developing a synopsis of all OT/NT books for future reference (class examples will be given on selected books)
! Understand the importance of the Bible and a consistent Prayer-Life in the productive existence of the Church and ministry
! Identify and understand key passages and terminology relating
to Bible Reading, Bible Study, Bible interpretation, and Bible
living
! Identify and utilize study tools, including the Internet, reference
Books, Language aids, and Bible Software programs
! Distinguish between popular Bible Versions
! Give a concise 3-5 minute presentation on the historical development of the Bible
! Memorize at least 100 key Scripture passages including God’s plan of salvation, basic Christian beliefs, key texts, and recommended mnemonic paradigms
! Recite correctly the 66 Books of the Bible
! Outline at least 5 of your favorite books of the Bible including authorship, general outline, key texts, basic teachings, and statistics
! Develop discernment and reasonable responses regarding controversial Scriptural passages
! Apply lessons learned to Sunday School and Sermon Preparation, personal Bible study, Holy living, witnessing, and Christian apologetic encounters
INTRODUCTION
Greetings in the name of our Christ! This Course is an opportunity to refine and add to your existing Bible Reading, Bible Study, and Bible Living skills. Here are a few suggestions that will enable you to get the most out of this course:
1. Read carefully and prayerfully each page of your handouts and the required textbook: How To Study & Teach The Bible by Julius R. Scruggs.
** The class syllabus and most handouts may also be viewed on
the Internet. Go to www.adbrown.com and click on “#1004-Effective Bible Reading” under the Bible Center. Additional resources for the class are under “Bible Resources and Links” in sections entitled: “How the Bible came to be” and “How to study the Bible Resources”. Please study BOTH sections thoroughly!
2. Take notes during class and add your ideas to the notes as if YOU were teaching the class.
3. Do not consider this course an end in it self. This class is designed to generate ideas, and motivate you to reproduce in your daily life, evidence of recognizing your responsibility to Christ, through effective Bible Reading and Living.
4. Commit key sections to memory. For example, each week require yourself to memorize a key fact, verse, statistic, etc.
5. Consult the bibliography and begin to build a comprehensive resource library of audiovisuals, periodicals, reference works, radio / tv programs, and webliography (Internet websites).
6. One of the keys to learning is constant repetition. Read the information in your class notes and handouts, at least once a week. Read your Bible at least once a day! PRAY without ceasing (I Thess. 5:17).
7. Finally, consider leading someone to Christ. One survey indicated that the AVERAGE Christian wins 1 soul to Christ every 19 years! You can do better – can’t you?
PRELIMINARY CLASS SCHEDULE
(Subject To Change)
September Session:
- Introduction of students
- Group discussion on Bible Reading Practices
- Begin Complete Bible Reading Plan: Minimum Requirements: 5 chpts. Daily / Memorize 5 verses weekly (familiar verses already learned may be used toward quota)
- Purchase Textbook: How to study and teach the Bible by Julius R. Scruggs and read chapters 1 and 2
- Evangelistic emphasis: Learn God’s Plan of Salvation & Use it! Report next month! Everyone should have WON at least 1 soul!!
October Session:
- Review and discuss homework Readings
- Role Play winning a soul using Bible Readings
- Books of the Bible Quiz
- Assignment: Read Chpt. 3
November Session:
- Review
- Discuss Basics of Biblical Hermeneutics
- Bible Reading current Sunday School Lesson / Brief Discussion
- Homework: Read Chpt. 4
December Session:
- Comprehensive Review and Quiz
- Biblical Study Tools / Biblical Language examples (Lecture with Q/A)
- Homework: Read Chpt. 5
January Session:
- Review
- Oral Quiz on memory verses, Bible facts, and terminology.
- Bible reading of controversial issues (Homosexuality, Speaking in tongues, Slain in the Spirit) – group discussion (Q/A)
- Homework: Read chpt. 6
February Session:
- Review
- Class Bible Reading of selected controversial texts (Godhead, baptism, Gospel of Inclusion)
- Homework: Read chpt. 7 and Prepare for Final Exam
March Session:
- Review
- Bible readings of continued controversial issues: selected from students
- Final Exam
TEXTBOOK SUMMARY
How To Study & Teach The Bible by Julius R. Scruggs - Effective Bible Reading
Chapter Highlights and Supplementary Notes Compiled by Aaron D. Brown
Chapter 1
1. The Bible commanded systematic teaching of God’s law in Deut. 6:1-9. The New Testament admonition of Paul to Timothy to “rightly divide the word of truth” involves properly applying the Scripture to the 3 major groups of Jew, Gentile, and the Church (2 Timothy 2:15; I Cor. 10:32).
2. A Ph.D is considered an expert in the fields of theology and religion after putting in approximately 320 semester hours. Jesus’ disciples spent 3 years in training and would have the equivalent of 8,760 hours (365 days times an average of 8 hours per day = 2,920 hours per year times 3 years). The disciples had experience with the greatest of teachers and after Pentecost were empowered by the Holy Ghost to carry out the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Make sure you have ‘burning’ with your ‘learning’. The Pastor/Teacher is vital to the growth of the church (Eph. 4:11-15).
Chapters 2 - 3
1. The Hebrew Bible is divided into the Law, the Prophets (former and latter), and the Writings (Hagiographa – sacred + writings). Compare this arrangement to our English Bibles (Law, History, Poetry, Major and Minor Prophets). The so-called lost books of the Bible or the ‘Apocrypha’ are included in Catholic Bibles but Protestants do NOT regard them as inspired. Why spend a lot of time investigating the Lost Books when many people are not living anything out of the Found Books?
2. The New Testament is composed of 4 gospels or portraits of Christ; 1 Historical book, 21 Letters, and the final book of consummation called the Revelation. The book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ and the only book in the Bible with a blessing promised for reading, hearing, and keeping the things therein written (Revelation 1:1,3).
3. Biblical Hermeneutics is the science of interpreting Scripture. We should be aware of historical, cultural, and language gaps when reading Scripture. Ask the basic questions when reading Scripture: Who wrote it? When? Where? Why? Also, how is Christ seen and how can I apply this to my daily Christian living? The student should be aware of figures of speech when reading scripture, especially: metaphor, simile, analogy, and hyperbole. The Bible also uses anthropomorphic terms in describing God. Hebrew poetry uses various forms of parallelism which may restate an idea in different terms (cf. Psalms 51:2). Progressive revelation is God revealing himself and culminating in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ‘exegesis’ of God (John 1:18).
Chapter 4
1. A basic tool for serious Bible study includes a good study Bible. The KJV is probably the best known version and the favorite of some teachers. Many versions of the Bible are on the market and the student should be careful and prayerful in their selection of a Bible for study. Other tools include Bible dictionaries, concordances, atlases, maps, commentaries, and archaeological works. In this cyber-age of technology, there are many computer Bible study aids available.
2. In order to know the Bible, become familiar with the stories of the Bible. Some recommend that Bible reading begin in the New Testament and then proceed to the Old Testament. Another approach is to read the 5 books of the Law, then read the entire New Testament followed by the rest of the Old Testament.
Chapter 5
1. In preparing to teach a lesson, cover yourself in sincere prayer for guidance. Become familiar with the entire context of your lesson. Look up unfamiliar words and consult all available resources in your analysis stage. Have clear objectives in mind when teaching a lesson and evaluate your performance through your students and the Holy Ghost.
2. Vary your teaching methods when presenting lessons (group activities, use of instructional aids, role play, question and answer, etc.). Most people use the lecture method and never have any input from the class. Sometimes, let the students help teach the lesson and all can learn, even the teacher. Remember that the Holy Ghost is the real teacher and we are just channels through which he will work if we allow him to operate.
Chapters 6 – 7
1. When teaching various age groups, be mindful of the attention span of your audience, the knowledge base of your students, and the spiritual and natural needs of your class. Know your students thoroughly – visit them at home, meet their families, establish a channel of open communication, and ALWAYS live so your students will respect you and not view you as a hypocrite!!
2. The teacher of scripture MUST know the Christ they are presenting. A clean, holy, and prayerful life is a must for all good soul winners. Every teacher must know a simple plan of salvation. For example, read John 3:16 to a prospect and then let them read it substituting THEIR name for ‘whosoever’. Lead them in a simple sinner’s prayer and FOLLOW up on them by getting them to a good Spirit-filled, Bible-believing, Bible-living church (Prov. 11:30). If your church does not qualify, send them somewhere else! And maybe you might want to get out of dodge yourself!
Eight Rules of Interpretation
http://www.digistat.com/gcf/8rules.htm
*The above website provides the following information which you may find helpful in your study of this class.
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Solomon said:
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning . . . to understand a proverb, and the interpretation. (Proverbs 1:5-6.)
Apostle Paul said:
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy .2:15)
1. Rule of Definition 2. Rule of Usage 3. Rule of Context 4. Historical Background
5. Rule of Logic 6. Rule of Precedent 7. Rule of Unity 8. Rule of Inference
This document summarizes the rules so the reader can see them together in one place. These rules are the center of all grammatical interpretation. They were developed by specialists in the "science of meaning" over the past 2500 years, from Socrates to the present day. They apply equally to legislative or theological language. Critical analysis is impossible without them. Interpretive scholarship accepts them.
Jesus and the apostles used these rules, and also many prominent fathers of the early church, and also the master theologians of the Middle Ages. to Luther. Wesley, and Calvin, although some were not consistent in their use of them.
When the Emperors Constantine and Justinian tried to settle the doctrinal disputes of their time, they learned that the "word wars" of the theologians were exceedingly difficult wars to deal with because each word warrior was determined to make the words mean what he wanted them to mean.
This is true of the twisted mass of doctrinal confusion in Christendom today. All false doctrines, or nearly all, are distortions of biblical words. "The Council of Trent avoided a clear definition of terms" (Seeberg).
"God is not the author of confusion" (I Cor. 14: 33 ) . Who then is the author of these many centuries of confusion about the divorce texts? Who are the authors of all the doctrinal confusion about other texts?
The Bible is a legal document, and throughout the Bible there is frequent use of legal terms and illustrations, and much importance is attached to these legal ideas. The word Testament is a legal term, and hundreds of times God spoke of His commandments as "laws." Why then should our interpretation be objected to as "legalistic" when the biblical writers used the contemporary legal language of the Mediterranean world?
The Apostle Peter said, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy. . . " and, that no Scripture "is of any private [personal] interpretation" (II Pet. 1:1920) . We cannot have a sure word about the meaning of Scripture or anything unless we have a sure method to interpret the words. Always remember that Satan deceived Eve with words.
When two interpretations are claimed for a Scripture, the construction most in agreement with all the facts of the case should be adopted. When all the facts of an interpretation are in agreement they sound together in harmony, like notes in a chord.
Biblical interpretation is more than knowing a set of rules, but it cannot be done without the rules. So. learn the rules, and rightly apply them, and you can disregard what Jerome, the learned Latin father of the Middle Ages, said: "What fools these people be' Everybody thinks he can interpret the Bible."
Here are the eight rules:
1. Rule of Definition
Any study of Scripture . . . must begin with a study of words. (Protestant Biblical Interpretation, Ramm, Bernard, p. 129. W. A. Wilde Co.. Boston. 1956. )