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Bible Study MethodsGrace Institute for Biblical LeadershipSpring 2005 |
[Previous: Principles of Interpretation] [Next: Application]
One of the hallmarks of the Protestant reformation is sola scriptura . This is the principle that scripture alone is our final authority. This has been, however, one of the greatest criticisms of Protestantism, for it has lead to a multitude of denominations and cults as each person interprets scripture alone.
However, sola scriptura was never intended to allow for each person to have their own private interpretation of the bible. Rather, as our final authority, we must let scripture interpret scripture. This is the correlation step in inductive bible study.
The bible is a unique book, in that it is a collection of 66 different books written over the course of more than a millennium by forty different authors in 3 different languages. Yet it has a unity and consistency which is awe inspiring. The correlation step in our process guards us against wrong interpretation as we test our conclusions with the unified message of the scriptures.
We can not hope to correlate every passage with the entire bible. For one, we don't have time to do a full review of the entire bible with each passage we are studying. Instead, the process of correlation requires that we connect the passage with what we currently know about the whole of scripture, and then narrow down our correlation to specific related passages. Finally, the process is always on-going. As we study more and more of scripture, we will find that interpretations we have done in the past will be modified and improved as we gain in our understanding of more and more of the bible.
We begin by looking for passages which have related topics. This helps narrow down the process of correlation. However, there is a danger in that it tends to divide scripture into superficial compartments rather than see the interconnectedness of all scripture. Furthermore, following cross references can take you down rabbit trails which lead away from the target text. Stay on topic!
• Use bible study tools to find related passages. Such tools might include a Topical Bible, Concordance, or the cross-reference system in your bible. However, don't take for granted that these tools have properly related a passage. Use good discernment and judge each cross reference by the context of the passages.
• Your Word Study will often provide an important process which helps you to find and analyze related scriptures.
This process looks for connections between various biblical passages or theological concepts which do not appear on the surface to be directly related. The danger in this process is that we try to force scriptures that have no relation to each other connect. For example, just because a metaphor works in one passage doesn't mean that metaphor always relates in all of scripture. Informal association is related more to the unity of the whole message of scripture, not each component part.
Informal association improves as a student grows in their general bible knowledge.
The final step in the process is to verify your conclusions with other bible scholars. This serves only as a final check on your interpretation to make sure that we are in the ball park with our personal inductive bible study. For example, if you've come up with an interpretation that no one else has in the history of Christendom, then you are probably wrong in your interpretation. Let's face it, we aren't that smart!
We must never become arrogant enough to think that we are going to have all the answers or that the Holy Spirit only illuminates the scripture to us. We should benefit from the research, insight and illumination of others.
Commentaries are especially useful when you face difficult interpretive questions that just can't be answered from your own inductive study. However, be careful, because commentaries often disagree. Never use just one commentary, but check two or three reliable commentaries. If there interpretations differ, then read through the justification each uses. Objectively weigh the justifications and if you've done your own independent study of the passage, you'll be able to make an informed decision as to which interpretation is most likely the accurate one. Finally, remember, commentaries and study bibles are not inspired by God. They are just one person' opinion.
For that reason, using commentaries are to be left for the end of our study, not the beginning. The Scriptures will always mean more to us when we have done our own discovery than if we short cut the process and just read commentaries and study bibles.
• Exegetical – Highly technical commentaries which are bases on the original language text. Emphasizes textual criticism. Difficult for the layman to read.
• Expositional – Bases comments on the original language, but often will transliterate the Greek. Does both a phrase-by-phrase review of the text as well as synthesize the text into the whole.
• Devotional – Easy to read commentary which emphasizes practical application of the passage. Uses many illustrations and often uses the text as a springboard for other topics.
Be aware that not all commentaries are approach the scripture as the inspired Word of God. Just because it is n print doesn't mean it is accurate. Nonetheless, we can often find valuable information in commentaries which come from a different theological bias than our own. Furthermore, just because you agree with a commentator's theology doesn't mean they are going to have the best commentary.
The easiest way to judge a commentator is to review which seminary the commentator graduated from. “Safe” seminaries include Dallas, Denver, Western, Trinity, Talbot, and Trinity. Be more cautious with Asbury, Harvard and Princeton.
The publisher can also be a good test for the theology of a commentator.
• Normally reliable: Moodys, Zondervan, Baker, Inter-Varsity, NavPress.
• Inconsistently reliable: Word, Tyndale
• Charismatic publishers: Bethany Fellowship, Vision House, Logos.
• Denominational publishers: Broadman (Southern Baptist), Standard Publishers (Church of Christ), Abingdon (Methodist), Concordia (Lutheran).
• Sometimes secular publishers have great books written by solid authors: Oxford.
• Bible Knowledge Commentary – Edited by Walvoord & Zuck. This was written by professors from Dallas Seminary. Consistent theology, thorough and in 2-volumes (Old & New Testament).
• Expositor's Bible Commentary – Edited by Frank Gaebelein. 12-volumes. Available on CD-ROM for less than $100. More detailed than the Bible Knowledge Commentary, but a solid Expositional commentary.
• Other good commentaries: Wycliffe, New Bible, International Bible Commentary, Bible Exposition Commentary (Wiersebe), John McArthur.
• Be careful with the “public-domain” commentaries. They tend to be devotional and dated in their research. Examples: Matthew Henry, Jamieson Fausset & Brown.
• Study Bibles: Ryrie, Nelson, NIV Study Bible
• Bible Handbooks: Eerdmans Handbook of the Bible, Unger
• Bible Dictionaries: Holmans, Easton.
• Bible Atlas: Moody's Atlas
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