No More Bible n00b

Why The Bible
Is Worth Your Time

BECAUSE

• It's true (Jn 17:17)
• It gives hope (Rom 15:4)
• It brings success (Josh 1:8)
• It reveals eternal life (Jn 5:39)
• It gives God's Will (2 Ti 3:16)
• It has ultimate authority (Lu 16:17)

Life Can Be Tough & Confusing.
Don't Live It Without God.

DO YOUR BEST to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and WHO CORRECTLY HANDLES THE WORD OF TRUTH.
2 Tim 2:15

How to Correctly Handle
the Word of Truth

Beginner Level 1

Five Fast Facts

1. The Bible Isn't Organized Completely Chronologically

2. Every Page Doesn't Cover an Equal Amount of Time

3. Sometimes Things Are Confusingly Re-Mentioned

4. Sometimes New Bible Books Start New Storylines

5. Sometimes the Bible Doesn't Tell You What It's Talking About

So, "No," You're Not Crazy. The Bible Can Be Confusing at First

Intermediate Level 2

Study Mindsets

1. Non-Believers Will Be Mostly Confused By the Bible

2. Without a Heart of Obedience God Won't Give You Great Insight

3. The More You Read It, The More You'll 'Get It'

4. As You Mature Spiritually, The More You'll Understand

5. The Bible Is Many Stories Wrapped in One Big Story

The Basics

• Main Actor: God (Trinity)
• Location: Heaven & Earth
• Crisis: Sin, Death, Judgment
• Hero: Jesus Christ
• Resolution: Salvation & Heaven
• Losers: The Enemies of God
• Winners: God and His Children
• Everything Else: How God Works

Advanced Level 3

Think About It:

• Laws of Physics govern Architecture
• Athletic Rules govern Sports
• Civil Laws govern Society
• Similarly, Literary Rules govern Bible Interpretation

Errors in Bible Interpretation Can Lead To Big Mistakes

THE ERROR OF JUSTIFYING SLAVERY:
Just because the Bible mentioned it happened doesn't mean it's OK

ERROR OF JUSTIFYING POLYGAMY:
Just because people formerly had multiple spouses doesn't mean it's what God intended

The Good News:
85% of the Bible Can Be Understood By Just "Reading It"

The Other 15% Requires
"Study" and Knowing the Rules

Bible Study Rules

THINKING CAPS ON!

1. Don't Confuse "Description" with "Prescription"

Description: When the Bible is "Telling"... It "Tells You What Happened"

Prescription: When the Bible is "Teaching" and "Tells You What is Right"

Arranged Marriage or "Biblical Betrothal" (Luke 1:27) is Descriptive. So it doesn't make "Dating" Wrong

The Bible "describes" how believers were typically buried and wrapped in shrouds (Isa 25:7). That doesn't make all other forms of burial wrong.

The 10 Commandments are "prescriptions" and are to be obeyed

RECAP
Don't Confuse "Description" with "Prescription"

ASK YOURSELF:
Is it prescribing
or only describing?

2. Don't Confuse Timeless "Moral" Laws with Time-Bound "Ceremonial" or "Cultural" Laws

The Bible's Moral Laws
are Timeless and Universal

EXAMPLE: Lev. 18:22 "Do not practice homosexuality; having sex with another man... It is a detestable sin. (Against nature) Rom 1:15ff

Jewish Cultural Law held that if a man died, his brother must marry the widow (Deut 25:5-6), but that isn't binding to our culture

Originally humans were vegetarians, Gen 1:30. Today all food is permissible, but not obligatory or wise, to eat. Acts 10:9-16

Jewish Ceremonial Law is Kosher, requiring the examination of animal meat for consumption (Leviticus 11:2-8), but that isn't binding to our culture

RECAP:
Don't Confuse Timeless "Moral" Laws with Time-Bound "Ceremonial" or "Cultural" Laws

ASK YOURSELF:
Is This a Timeless, Universal Law Found Throughout Scripture OR Something Only for Those People Back Then?

3. Scripture best interprets Scripture, not any other (extrabiblical) sources

The Bible doesn't contradict itself. It is the highest authority.

Example: The Bible teaches on baptism. Some believe it means to pour, others to sprinkle, still others to immerse. The Bible tells us what Baptism is (Acts 8:35-38)

Example: People 'believe' lots of things about abortion and euthanasia, but the Bible teaches clearly about human dignity (Gen 1:26, Ps 139, etc.)

1 Tim 2:9-10 “I also want women to dress modestly... not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes”

Compare 1 Peter 3:3-5 “Your beauty should not come from...your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight”

Principle: A woman should not be so focused on appearance that she neglects her spiritual life.

RECAP:
Scripture best interprets Scripture, not extrabiblical sources

ASK YOURSELF:
Does This Interpretation Agree with the Rest of Scripture or Not?

4. The context of a passages helps you accurately interpret it

Philippians 3:13 “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead" ISN'T about forgetting all your mistakes as if they never happened. In the CONTEXT it is about not slowing our spiritual pursuit of God because we're proud of our past good deeds

“We know that all things work together for good ” (Romans 8:28) doesn't mean everything that happens is good, nor that God makes everything happen.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) isn't talking about athletic performance or grades, but that God can help you through trials.

RECAP:
Bible passages occur in Bible books, so you must consider the context of the book to interpret it

ASK YOURSELF
What is this Passage Actually Talking About in the First Place?

5. Clear Bible passages interpret confusing passages

Mormons are baptized for already dead people because of 1 Cor 15:29

Clear passages on baptism make it clear that only believers are baptized and that it is a personal decision. Galatians 3:26,27

Heb 6:4-6: 4 "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened...to be brought back to repentance" has been used to teach salvation is insecure

But clear passages make those verses easier to understand: "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand" (John 10:29)

RECAP:
Clear Bible passages interpret confusing passages

ASK YOURSELF:
What Other Passages Talk About This, and Are They Clearer?

6. Consider Figures of Speech and Literary Devices when Interpreting

Like any literature, the Bible is written in language. Figures of speech should guide translation.

Figures of Speech

• hyperbole= exaggeration (If your hand makes you sin, cut it off) Mark 9:43
• simile=non-literal comparison (God is like a mother) Isa 66:13

Figures of Speech

• metaphor= figurative comparison (The Lord is my Rock) Ps 18:2- but He isn't literally a rock
• parable= teaching story (Faith of a mustard seed can cause a mountain to be cast in the sea) Matt 13. [Point: It only requires a little faith for God to act]

RECAP:
Consider Figures of Speech and Literary Devices when Interpreting

ASK YOURSELF:
Did I Read It Like a Piece of (Sacred- Supernatural) Literature?

Parting Advice

Commit to study or listen to the Word EVERY DAY and God will give you a love for it and will help you get to know Him and love Him more

Thank You!