Grace Institute: Bible Study Methods: Observing the Setting

Observing the Setting Bible Study Methods Winter 2009

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February 15, 2009: Observing the Setting

Homework due February 22

Observing the Structure of a Book

Purpose of a Book Chart

Grammatical Analysis helps us to determine the structure at the sentence and paragraph level. The next step is to look at the interrelationships between the paragraphs of a passage. Grammatical analysis looks at the trees. However, at some point we must back up and look at the forest as well. This takes a different set of skills. The best tool for doing this is the book chart.

Why do a Book Chart?

• To help understand the relationship of the parts of the passage to each other and to the whole.
• To remember the main themes of a large portion of scripture.
• To fit each passage into its proper context.
• Provides an excellent summary of main ideas of scripture.

Looking for Structure

• Do not let chapter & verse breaks dictate your structure (or study bibles either!)
• Look for changes in the subject matter.
• Look for connecting phrases (e.g. “So then,” “Finally, brethren,” “Therefore,” “And now concerning.”)
• Look for significant changes in persons involved (e.g. Eph 6:1-4, “Children”, “Fathers”.)
• Look for changes in time or place, especially in narrative or historical literature.
• Look for summarizing statements (see Acts).

Procedure for a Book Chart

Summarizing the paragraph

From your grammatical analysis, use the subject-verb-object you found to summarize each sentence in the paragraph in 2 to 5 words. Write them down in a list. What is the overall idea of the paragraph? Summarize this in a 2 to 5 word title. Write that down in your book chart by paragraph.

Summarizing the sections

Look at the paragraphs coming before and after the target text. What paragraphs seem to have related topics? What distinguishes one paragraph from the next? Is it a change of audience or context, but the same overall topic? If so, draw a box around those paragraphs and write a 2 – 5 word title for this section.

Summarizing the book

Look at each section you created. Are there consistent themes in connecting sections? If so, draw a box around those sections and write a 2 to 5 word title for this section. Continue the process until you encompass the entire book. Then determine a 2 to 5 word “theme” for the entire book.

Assignment

Update your Ephesians book chart and show at least two levels of section breaks as well as an overall theme for the book.

Observing the Setting

Purpose of Background Study

The Bible is a historical book, recording events of history and dealing with people in particular places and times. To make proper observations we need to understand where in history the passage we are studying fits. The background makes the events and topics discussed come alive.

We understand better why things were said. It helps us lay the groundwork for good interpretation (understanding what the text means). It gives us the framework for correlation (comparing other scriptures). It helps us develop an application that is more accurate.

A historical background is attempting to find the context of the writer and the reader, focusing on the circumstances that lead to the writing of the book. Do not allow the historical background to run down a rabbit trail. Instead, the historical background is ultimately trying to help us determine the purpose for which the book was written.

Procedure of Background Study

The Tools

External Tools

A true inductive bible study would require that the student independently pursue historical facts to determine the historical background to a book. This would take an inordinate amount of time. Fortunately, we are blessed to have abundant materials to help us with our background observations. Proper use of these tools can save us time and effort in our background study. Some recommended tools include:

• Study Bibles (look at the beginning of the book you are studying)
• Bible Handbooks
• Bible Atlases
• Commentaries (use for background only at this stage!)
• The Web

However, be careful in your source material. Not all biblical scholarship believes the Bible is inspired!

Web Sites for Background Studies

• www.biblestudytools.net - Click on the link for “Dictionaries.” Easton's Bible Dictionary usually has great background studies.
• www.bible.org - A fantastic resource. Almost too much information. You can also trust nearly all the studies on this web site. For background information, click on the link for “Articles by Book/Passage” and select the book you are interested in. Look for articles about the Introduction or Background.
• www.bibleplaces.com - A fun web site that gives a good geographic background of biblical places.
• www.ccel.org/wwsb - The World Wide Study Bible. Lots of information. Much of it is older dated material or liberal in focus.

Internal Tools

In addition to these tools, a good background study should also use the bible itself. The student should look for related passages that provide additional background to a book. The books of the bible tend to be written in clusters of history, with historical, epistolary, prophetic and poetic books all written in the same eras. For example, if a student is studying a Pauline epistle, often times the book of Acts will have historical background for both the author and the receiving church. The study of an Old Testament prophet should include a review of the book of Kings or Chronicles to provide history. A good concordance or topical bible can help make these connections.

Components of a Historical Background

The geographic setting

• Where was the writer of the book when he wrote the book?
• Where were the readers of the book when they read it?
• Where did the events in the book take place?
• What geographic movement takes place in the text?
• What impact does the geography have on the text?

The chronological setting

• When was the book written?
• When was the book read by its original audience?
• When did the events of the text take place?
• What biblical events take place immediately before and after the events of the writing?
• What biblical events take place immediately before and after the writing of the book?

The political setting

• Who was in power in the region at that time?
• How did the political systems work?
• What was the political history of that region?

The cultural setting

• What were the customs, habits or traditions of the readers at this time and place?
• What was the family structure like?
• How did they “earn their living?” What was the economy of that region? Where they rich or poor?
• How did the people spend their “leisure time?”
• What kind of education would the reader have had?
• How did they dress? What did they eat? What were their houses like?

The spiritual setting

• What is the spiritual condition of the writer?
• What is the spiritual condition of the reader?
• What spiritual strengths and weaknesses did they have?
• Are there specific spiritual problems which they had?
• Is the spiritual condition of the reader improving or declining at the time of the writing?

The purpose

The background study should then conclude by stating the purpose of the book. Why did the writer write this book to these readers? This can usually be summarized in a simple one sentence statement. Sometimes the purpose is clearly stated in the book (c.f. John 20:31). Other times it must be surmised from the historical background. Usually there will be one primary purpose, but often there are a number of secondary purposes as well. The background study should give the rationale used to determine the purpose.

Assignment

Complete a historical background on the book of Ephesians. The background can be completed on the provided form, or can be done using your own format, as long as the same information is presented. Use at least 1 biblical reference outside of Ephesians and 2 to 3 external sources.