at AGBC
It is my desire to know more of God’s Word. I have attended many Christian conferences, seminars, teaching sessions, services and Bible study groups which had helped me in my walk with the Lord. There are always new things and discoveries when I read the Bible or in my devotion.
There was once in my life that the Lord had impressed upon me to learn His Word at His feet and stop attending Christian seminars or classes. The Bible is like an ocean where there are vast treasures and promises. There is no short cut nor quick ways to know His Word when we do not spend time studying His Word. God wants to reveal the deep things to His children and I never seem to get enough of His Word. Lets diligently seek after His Word and obey them. Studying God’s Word at His feet (alone with God) is tremendously rewarding (Psalm 1:1-3).
Amazingly He led me to the Bible school this year to learn the right methods of biblical interpretation. I believe God will keep unfolding His plan for His children as they dig deep into His Word.
In this module, I have read the textbook “Grasping God’s Word” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays. It is easy to read and provides very practical approaches of interpreting the Scriptures.
In the Biblical Interpretation class, our lecturer Rev Casey Ng taught us the methods with illustrations and also gave us exercises to work out as a group. In the process we learned and familiarized with the methods as we did our group assignments. In this aspect we learnt the theory and practical of BI which the final step is to apply the theological implication into our life. It is important in regard to either it is personal or preparing to preach or teach, we should seek the Holy Spirit to help us as we study His Word.
Rev Casey had set up the “New Testament Encounter” in the Internet for his students to interact for class assignments. My blog is created as part of the module assignment to share my learning experiences. It is something new to me and I slowly adapted to this technology. Previously I did not understand why people like to write about themselves in the blog where others who do not know them can read it. I was skeptical to create my blog but now I am convinced by my lecturer that Christians should blog and share their learning experiences and testimonies that are edifying to the body of Christ or as an encouragement to others. It is also another mean to share the Gospel of Christ to friends and others.
Here are some of the things that I have learnt in this module and hope they are beneficial to you or stir an interest in you to dig deep into God’s Word.
1. Importance of Historial Context
There are areas that need to look out when interpreting the Scriptures. Knowing the historical and culture background would reveal more accurate information that relates to the passage read/study. Bible tools like the commentaries and dictionaries are helpful to provide more details and explanation.
2. Importance of Literary Context
The language and words written in the Bible could also give different meaning at that time in comparison to the present time. How the words related to one another provides the flow of thought, meaning of the words and relationships among units. Therefore it is important to analyze the content by tracing the author’s general flow of thought, then to the specific flow of thought of the passage by doing structural diagramming.
There was once in my life that the Lord had impressed upon me to learn His Word at His feet and stop attending Christian seminars or classes. The Bible is like an ocean where there are vast treasures and promises. There is no short cut nor quick ways to know His Word when we do not spend time studying His Word. God wants to reveal the deep things to His children and I never seem to get enough of His Word. Lets diligently seek after His Word and obey them. Studying God’s Word at His feet (alone with God) is tremendously rewarding (Psalm 1:1-3).Amazingly He led me to the Bible school this year to learn the right methods of biblical interpretation. I believe God will keep unfolding His plan for His children as they dig deep into His Word.
In this module, I have read the textbook “Grasping God’s Word” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays. It is easy to read and provides very practical approaches of interpreting the Scriptures.
In the Biblical Interpretation class, our lecturer Rev Casey Ng taught us the methods with illustrations and also gave us exercises to work out as a group. In the process we learned and familiarized with the methods as we did our group assignments. In this aspect we learnt the theory and practical of BI which the final step is to apply the theological implication into our life. It is important in regard to either it is personal or preparing to preach or teach, we should seek the Holy Spirit to help us as we study His Word.
Rev Casey had set up the “New Testament Encounter” in the Internet for his students to interact for class assignments. My blog is created as part of the module assignment to share my learning experiences. It is something new to me and I slowly adapted to this technology. Previously I did not understand why people like to write about themselves in the blog where others who do not know them can read it. I was skeptical to create my blog but now I am convinced by my lecturer that Christians should blog and share their learning experiences and testimonies that are edifying to the body of Christ or as an encouragement to others. It is also another mean to share the Gospel of Christ to friends and others.
Here are some of the things that I have learnt in this module and hope they are beneficial to you or stir an interest in you to dig deep into God’s Word.
1. Importance of Historial Context
There are areas that need to look out when interpreting the Scriptures. Knowing the historical and culture background would reveal more accurate information that relates to the passage read/study. Bible tools like the commentaries and dictionaries are helpful to provide more details and explanation.
2. Importance of Literary Context
The language and words written in the Bible could also give different meaning at that time in comparison to the present time. How the words related to one another provides the flow of thought, meaning of the words and relationships among units. Therefore it is important to analyze the content by tracing the author’s general flow of thought, then to the specific flow of thought of the passage by doing structural diagramming.
The work out of an annotated outline of the chapter or book in the Bible will also help to see the flow of thought clearer.
3. Word Study
This procedure is very helpful to determine the original form of the word by using concordances. Recommended following:
a. The NIV Exhaustive Concordance (English)
b. The Hebrew-English Concordance to the Old Testament with the NIV
c. The Greek-English Concordance to the New Testament with the NIV
In the passage (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8) we did in one of the assignment, we chosen a few words to analyze the content. Usually one word it has various meanings (from the dictionary). Example: holiness; with the help of the concordances (a + c), we could determine the original form of the word in verse 7, thus the passage could be interpreted correctly. Scripture references that are related to the same word are also listed.
4. Theological Implication
We did one exercise in class regarding “The Good Samaritan” in Luke 10:30-37. Very interestingly as we listed the plot, setting, characters and steps of the passage which led to conclusion of the theological implication. It surprised all of us that it was not “Love your neighbor” but in short “In the kingdom mercy is always a surprise”. Further explanation to this theological implication is that in the Kingdom of God, mercy comes only to those who have no right to expect it and who cannot resist it when it comes. Mercy always comes from the quarter from which one does not and cannot expect it.
Are you surprise too or you cannot accept this truth? Well, you are encouraged to sign up for this module and find it out yourself :-). I believe there are many Scriptures that we might have interpreted wrongly in the past and taught to others. If we are “teachers” of His Word, lets us take responsibility to interpret the Scriptures correctly.
Personally I have benefited a lot after attended this module. It will lead me to read and study the Bible in a different perspective with the understanding of what are the things to look out, to use the right Bible tools and methods to interpret the Scriptures. It will also help me to share and teach God’s Word confidently to others. Not least to mention also the precious lesson of interacting with my fellow mates during group assignments and in class, I am grateful to God who put us together to learn and minister to one another. Always have fond memories of the “makan” sessions :-).
That's a good start. Keep it up.
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