The document provides guidance on how to properly read and interpret the Bible by examining what the Bible is, the different types of material it contains, and why certain books were included. It emphasizes understanding the original author's intent by considering the historical context, genre, grammar, and intended meaning for the original audience. The document warns against inappropriate interpretation methods like ignoring context, allegorizing, or inserting one's own theology.

1. How to Read the Bible
Week 1

6. A Brave New World
1) Ripples of the Holocaust
2) Jewish Homeland
3) Technology/Archaelogy
4) $$$$$
5) Internet/Travel/Communication

7. A Brave New World
Denominational Decline
Hybrid Christians
More Extreme Fundamentalism
Greater Need for Discernment

8. What is the Bible?

9. What is the Bible?
What Kind of Material
is in the Bible?

10. What is the Bible?
What Kind of Material
is in the Bible?
Why These Certain Books?

11. Why Trust The Bible?
A. Predictive prophecy1. Isa. 9:1ff. (Galilee as focus of
Jesus’ early ministry)2. Mic. 5:2 (cf. Matt. 2:4-6, the exact
location of Jesus’ birth)
B. Archaeology1. The same names (but not the biblical
people) of Gen.11-12 are found in other second millennium
B.C. texts from Mesopotamia (i.e. Mari and Nuzi texts).2.
The Hittite civilization is mentioned in the OT (cf. II Kgs. 7:6,
7; II Chr. 1:17, possibly Heth in Gen. 10:15), but was
unknown by documentary evidences until 1950's

12. Why Trust The Bible?
3. Belshazzar (cf. Daniel 5) not listed in Babylonian Kings
lists, but now known as the son of the last Neo-Babylonian
king (Nabonidus) and co-regent in charge of the city of
Babylon whenbesieged by Cyrus’ army)
4. Nelson Glueck, Rivers in the Desert, p. 31, “No
archaeological discovery has ever been made that
contradicts or controverts historical statements of
Scripture.”

13. Why Trust The Bible?
C. Consistency of the message1. Written over a 1600 year
period (depending
on the date of the Exodus).2. Written in three languages
(Hebrew, Aramaic,
Koine Greek).3. Written by men of vastly different social
status and cultural situations.4. Yet there is a unity of
message!
D. Permanently changed lives of hearers

14. Pre-Suppositions

15. A. I believe the Bible is the inspired self-revelation of the
one true God. Therefore, it must be interpreted in light of
the intent of the original divine author (the Spirit) through a
human writer in a specific historical setting.

16. B. I believe the Bible was written for the common person—
for all people! God accommodated Himself to speak to us
clearly within a historical and cultural context. God does not
hide truth—He wants us to understand! Therefore, it must
be interpreted in light of its day, not ours.
The Bible should not mean to us what it never meant to
those who first read or heard it. It is understandable by
the average human mind and uses normal human
communication forms andtechniques.

18. Isn’t
Is
Could be

19. C. I believe the Bible has a unified message and purpose. It does
not contradict itself, though it does contain difficult and
paradoxical passages. Thus, the best interpreter of the Bible is
theBible itself.

21. D. I believe that every passage (excluding prophesies) has one and only one meaning based on the intent of the original, inspired author. Although we can never be absolutely certain we know the
original author’s intent, many indicators point in its direction:
1. the genre (literary type) chosen to express the message2. the historical setting and/or specific occasion that elicited the writing3. the literary context of the entire book as well as each literary unit4.
the textual design (outline) of the literary units as they relate to the whole message5. the specific grammatical features employed to communicate the message6. the words chosen to present the
message7. parallel passages

22. Inappropriate Methods
A. Ignoring the literary context of the books of the Bible and using
every sentence, clause, or even individual words as statements of
truth unrelated to the author’s intent or the larger context. This is
often called “proof-texting.”
B. Ignoring the historical setting of the books by substituting a
supposed historical setting that has little or no support from the text
itself.
C. Ignoring the historical setting of the books and reading it as the
morning hometown newspaperwritten primarily to modern individual
Christians.

23. Inappropriate Methods
D. Ignoring the historical setting of the books by allegorizing the text
into a philosophical/theological message totally unrelated to the first
hearers and the original author’s intent.
E. Ignoring the original message by substituting one’s own system
of theology, pet doctrine, or contemporary issue unrelated to the
original author’s purpose and stated message. This phenomenon
often follows the initial reading of the Bible as a means of
establishing a speaker’s authority. This is often referred to as
“reader response” (“what-the-text-means-to-me”interpretation).

24. Original Author’s The Written Text The Original
Intent as Produced Recipient

25. The Holy
Spirit
Original Author’s The Written Text The Original
Intent as Produced Recipient
Textual Later
Variants Readers

26. “The Bible throws a lot of light on
commentaries.”

27. genre3. our understanding of appropriatea. relevant
parallel passagesb. relationship between doctrines
(paradox)
1. the original author’sa. historical settingb. literary
context2. the original author’s choice ofa. grammatical
structures (syntax)b. contemporary work usagec. genre3.
our understanding of appropriatea. relevant parallel
passagesb. relationship between doctrines (paradox)
1. the original author’sa. historical settingb. literary
context2. the original author’s choice ofa. grammatical
structures (syntax)b. contemporary work usagec.
genre3. our understanding of appropriatea. relevant
parallel passagesb. relationship between doctrines
(paradox)
1. the original author’sa. historical settingb. literary
context2. the original author’s choice ofa. grammatical
structures (syntax)b. contemporary work usagec. genre3.
our understanding of appropriatea. relevant parallel

28. Approaches to Good Bible Reading - Application
Application must follow interpretation of the original
author’s intent both in time and logic. We cannot apply a
Bible passage to our own day until we know what it was
saying to its day! A Bible passage should not mean what it
never meant!
What the author meant;
What the person heard
What that meant to them
How does that affect us today...
Not...what “that” says to me is...

29. Approaches to Good Bible Reading - THE SPIRITUAL!
A. Pray for the Spirit’s help (cf. I Cor. 1:26-2:16).
B. Pray for personal forgiveness & cleansing from known sin
(cf. I John 1:9).
C. Pray for a greater desire to know God (cf. Ps. 19:7-14;
42:1ff.; 119:1ff).
D. Apply any new insight immediately to your own life.
E. Remain humble and teachable.

30. Suggested Resources...
freebiblecommentary.org
logos.com
How to Read the Bible For All It’s Worth (Fee & Stewart)
The Blue Parakeet (McKnight)
The Drama of Scripture (Goheen & Bartholomew)

31. Me...
@williamguice (Tw, FB, G+)
williamguice.com
williamguice@gmail.com