Grace Institute: Bible Study Methods: Application

Application Bible Study Methods Winter 2009

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March 15, 2009: Word Studies

Homework due March 9

“We're like a poor photograph—over exposed and under developed.”
-Howard Hendricks

“We are educated beyond the level of our obedience.”
-Gordon Ruddick

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
-James

It is not enough to know what the passage says, or even what it means. We must make the bridge from knowing about the Bible to living it. This is called Application. Here we ask the question, what does the point or principle of the passage mean to me?

While there is only one proper interpretation of a passage, there are numerous applications for a passage. The interpretation of a passage asks what the author originally meant for his original readers to understand. Application asks us to take that original interpretation and connect it to our lives. Therefore, each person may have a different application stemming from the same interpretation. Furthermore, one might come back to the same passage some time later and find a completely different application because their life situation has changed.

Principles of Application

Application Counterfeits

•  Application isn't a statement of principles.

Often we confuse a general principle from scripture with application. Application is not just the broad general principle found in a passage, but is a personal and direct call to action.

•  Application doesn't apply truth to areas we already practice.

It is always easy to apply truth to areas that we already have under control. The person who already serves diligently in the church comes to a passage about ministry in the church and chooses to see their application as an affirmation of what they are already doing. But application shouldn't affirm our current practice, but spur us on to change.

•  Application doesn't apply truth to other people.

Many times when preaching, people will come to me and say, “I wish so-and-so would have been hear. They really needed to hear your message today.” Applying God's Word to others is not application. It must be personal!

•  Application doesn't involve lengthy rationalization to make scripture fit our current pattern of behavior.

We have an amazing capacity to rationalize away the application from the scripture. Rather than deal with the uncomfortable nature of life change, we find ways to avoid the obvious, often by looking for other passages of scripture to justify our current attitudes or behaviors. Be careful not to use correlation as an attempt to talk ourselves out of obedience.

•  Application is not conviction.

Often times scripture will point out a sinful practice, and we feel guilty and convicted that indeed we have been harboring sin. But application is not an emotional reaction to the scripture. Emotional response is irrelevant. Application requires a life changing response to the scripture.

•  Application is not blessing.

People often will hear a sermon or read a passage and come away with a warm “blessed” feeling. While, indeed, the scriptures are meant to be a comfort, blessing is not application. Application takes that blessing and asks how we can do better.

•  Application is necessary even if there is confusion over a passage.

Often when we struggle to understand a passage, we will ignore it completely and not apply the passage. Rather than looking for things we don't understand in a passage, we should look for the things we do, and then apply them to our lives.

•  Application is not a broad generalization.

Our applications often are too broad. For example: “I need to not be such an angry person,” or “I need to evangelize more.” If the application is too broad we will never do anything about it. Keep asking the question, “how” until a specific course of action emerges.

Proper Application

•  Application is focused on what God wants, not what man wants (Mark 7:9-13)

Often our own traditions are the greatest hindrance to applying God's word. Don't ask what others want from us. Ask what God wants.

•  Every problem we have relates to our concept of God. (Psalm 50)

Approach each passage of scripture by asking yourself, what does this passage say about God's character? Then personalize it. How has this passage changed my understanding of the character of God? With that changed perspective, how does that apply to the struggle I am facing today?

•  Attitude change is as important as action (Matthew 5:21-22).

God is more concerned with the heart than our external actions. A change of heart is more lasting than a change of behavior.

•  All application requires a surrender of our will. (Romans 12:1-2)

If there is not a change of our will, then there is no application. Application requires a surrendering of our will to God's.

•  Application is a process, not a single event

We will never, on this side of heaven, achieve perfection. Therefore, we can never say we have fully applied God's Word. While application works best with discrete action steps, when we are done with those steps we are not done with application.

Process of Application

Preparation for Application

Know your interpretation

Use your interpretation of the target passage as the basis for your application. Avoid application from other passages than the one you are studying. To do so is to avoid what God has for you. Remember, there is only one interpretation, but many applications. Therefore, a wrong interpretation yields many wrong applications.

Know your personal situation –

Know your strengths and weaknesses. If you are preparing a study for others in a group, know where they are coming from.

The Timeless Principle

Interpretation asks what the passage meant in its original context. Application asks what the passage means in your current context. The bridge between these two is the Timeless Principle.

Keys to developing the timeless principle:

• Principles are text centered.
• Principles are based on the literary type .
  • Epistles – The paragraph is the unit of study which yields a single principle. There are often tiers of principles within the paragraph.
  • Parables – There is only one principle. No more, no less.
  • Proverbs – One principle per proverb. Most often each proverb consists of two complimentary phrases or sentences.
  • Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Sol. – One principle for the whole book.
  • Narrative – Each story has one principle with perhaps some sub-principles.
  • Prophecy – One principle per oracle (message from the Lord).
• Principles are timeless truths . They apply to everyone no matter where in history.
• Principles are trans-cultural . They apply to everyone no matter what culture.

The Degrees of Transfer

We need to be alert to the degree of transfer from the biblical passage to the current situation. Some of the commands in scripture are relevant only to the time and place they were originally given. Others are meant for all times and all occasions. Knowing the “degree of transfer” becomes critical.

There are four degrees of transfer found within scripture:

1. Obsolete Situations . These are principles or commands which address specific situations and there is no timeless principle to transfer. Principles or commands in these cases should be ignored.
2. Normative Patterns . These are principles that can be gleaned from the example of others. In these situations the timeless principle is the example set before us.
3. Universal Principles . These are basic truths which are found in scripture. These are not specific commands, but guiding doctrines and beliefs. In these situations our timeless principle is a call to belief.
4. Moral Absolutes . These are timeless commands that apply in all situations and times. The timeless principle in these situations is a call to obedience.

Determining the Degree of Transfer (Stuart and Fee 2003, 75-78)

• Whenever we share common particulars (i.e. similar specific life situations) with the original hearers, God's Word to us is the same as his Word to them.

• We need to distinguish between the central core of the message of the bible and what is dependent on or peripheral to it.
• One must distinguish between what the bible presents as inherently moral and what the bible presents as a cultural expression.
• We must look for those principles which have a uniform and consistent witness and those where the principle varies.

Personalizing the Application

1. Personalize the principle . Be specific in how the principle works in your life. Relate the truth to your experience.
2. Evaluate your application . Have you avoided the counterfeit applications? Is your application:
   • Relevant – Does the passage teach that? Good principle but wrong text? The application must be relevant to the text.
   • Realistic – Does this work? Is it possible (e.g. “I will witness to everyone I meet.”)
   • Related – The Christian life is best understood in the context of relationships—with God, with others, and with myself. How does my application relate to others and God?
3. Consciously practice!
   • We must sense our own need to change. (If you think your okay, you won't change your behavior).
   • We must consciously decide what immediate steps to take.
   • We must take actions by faith! All good application will require us to trust God.
   • Our practice will demonstrate our understanding (“we can only possess what we experience”)