Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Explore the Bible for Yourself, Part 40 of 52
IDEA: As a general rule, we are to stay in the passage being studied and understand that before we go to other passages for an explanation.
PURPOSE: To help listeners understand the process of interpretation.
Suppose I wrote you a letter. In it I referred to my education and how much different teachers in different schools contributed to me. If you wanted to know what I meant by that, you wouldn't ask Mart to tell you about his educational experiences. How would you go about deciding what I meant by "educational experiences"?
I. We should stay in the passage we're in before we jump to other passages for an explanation.
Compare Ephesians 2:8-9 and James 2:18. What does Paul mean by faith? What does James mean by faith? You'd stay in the book of Ephesians or in the writings of Paul if you're studying Paul's viewpoint on faith.
II. Sometimes parallel passages by the same author can clarify teaching.
What is a parallel passage?
It reports on the same event or gives the same teaching.
Look at parallel passages on slaves and masters by Paul and see how they complete each other:
Ephesians 6:5-9 tells us about the relationships between servants and masters.
Colossians 3:22–4:1 expands on what Paul said in Ephesians, adding a dimension about rightness/fairness.
III. Is there any benefit in going to other passages not by the same author?
Other passages can clarify some meaning or give you a complete teaching of the Bible on a topic.
An example of clarification: Matthew uses the term kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:31) and Mark and Luke use kingdom of God (Mark 4:26-31). Is there a difference between these two? The biblical writers use them synonymously.
An example of a more complete teaching on the subject:
John 14:13-14 states, "Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it." John 16:24 states, "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
Is this an unqualified promise?
Are there other conditions for answered prayer?
James 4:4 - Asking with wrong motives hinders prayer.
1 Peter 3:7 - A poor relationship to one's spouse hinders prayer.
