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Sit with your groups!

(no more than 10 people per group)

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Lesson 10 - Applying the Biblical Text

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bit.ly/StudyTheBibleSlides10

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  • Make a list of verses frequently taken out of context.
  • How do you know when a verse is taken out of context?

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What makes application difficult?

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General Application

  • Read it
  • Pray about it
  • Memorize it
  • Reflect on it
  • What does it expose in your life?

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How does a literal, historical-grammatical view of the Bible inform how we study the Bible?

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How does the Inductive study process of Observation, then Interpretation guide our Application?

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The Bible is …

  • Inspired
  • Infallible
  • Inerrant
  • Literal
  • Sufficient

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Historical Approaches to Interpreting the Bible

  • Moral
  • Allegorical
  • Mystical
  • Literal

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Inductive Bible Study

Inter-

pretation

Appli- cation

Obser- vation

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Inductive Bible Study

  • Note repeated ideas, phrases, & words
  • Outline into smaller sections
    • Identify connections between sections
  • Determine important background information
  • If dealing with only 1 or 2 verses, focus on parts of speech & sentence structure

Inter-

pretation

Appli- cation

Obser- vation

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Inductive Bible Study

  • Select a question from your observations
  • Check the immediately surrounding text
  • Search other books in the Bible
  • Consult other sources
  • Consolidate your evidence & determine the answer

Inter-

pretation

Appli- cation

Obser- vation

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Inductive Bible Study

  • Determine the overarching principle from the plain meaning of the text
  • How should you respond?

Inter-

pretation

Appli- cation

Obser- vation

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Text Categories

  • Historical
    • Genesis - Esther, Matthew - Jude
  • Poetic
    • Job - Songs of Songs
  • Prophetic
    • Isaiah - Malachi, Revelation

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Prophetic Literature Precautions

  • General or Specific?
  • Has it already been fulfilled?
    • What was the outcome?
    • What is the principle from the outcome?

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Plain Meaning of the Text

The message that would be understood by natural speakers of the language at the time the text was delivered

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Application Guidelines (when it’s not obvious)

  • What does it say about God?
  • What does it say about my relationship to God?
  • What does it say about me?
  • How do I respond to all of the above?

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Allegory - seeks a “deeper, more spiritual” meaning than the plain meaning of the text

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Guardrail #1

Don’t use allegory because

  • the historical context is so foreign
  • you don’t see a moral or ethical principle
  • it seems cool and insightful
  • your favorite preacher does it

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Guardrail #2

Have realistic expectations on the size of the text

  • Example: Romans vs. Judges

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Let’s Study the Bible

For the assigned passages:

  • Identify the plain meaning
  • Determine the overarching principle
  • Describe how it can applied to your life