Page 33 - Bible Study Methods-Textbook_Neat

You can become a better Bible scholar as you study the original languages and conduct word studies.
Also utilize the work of scholars who do know the original languages in your studies. These include the
use of:
Commentaries: ex. Crudens, New Bible Commentary
Concordances: ex. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Young's Analytical Concordance
Bible Study Aids & Helps: Numerous authors have written articles and books on various topics
or books in the Bible.
Bible Dictionaries: New Bible Dictionary
Bible Versions & notes: use translations that used a formal equivalence (literal word for word)
approach to translating their version.
Computer assisted study programs: Logos Bible Software demonstration.

Principle #6
Avoid Errors of Interpretation
1. Don’t make the Bible say what you want it to say. Don’t be like the guy who said, “I’ve already
got a sermon; I just have to find a verse to support it.”

For example: Some people will use 2 Peter 2:20 on how a person can lose their salvation.
Invariably, they’ll quote the verse: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and
overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” Then they’ll say, “You see, you
can escape the pollutions, you can have the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, and you can fall
and become entangled, and your latter end is worse than before you believed. You see, you can
lose your salvation.”

If you trace it back to 2:1 you’ll see that this verse is talking about false prophets who follow the
doctrines of demons. You cannot use the verse to say that you can lose your salvation, because
that is not its context. In fact, Paul has a word for those who do this. In 2 Corinthians 2:17a he
says, “For we are not as many, who corrupt the word of God.” The Greek word for corrupt is
kapelos, which basically had to do with selling something in the marketplace deceitfully; selling a
product that really wasn’t what it was claimed to be, or falsifying. Paul said that there are some
who falsify the Word of God; they corrupt it to fit their own thoughts.

This is a tremendous temptation to pastors who prepare sermons on a passage. They may
accurately tell the congregation what the verse says, but then try to “bend” the application of
the verse to fit a special need in the church. The commentary on the application of a verse may
be three times longer that the commentary on what the verse is actually saying. Allow the Holy
Spirit to guide the application of Scripture to those who are hearing it!

2. Avoid Superficial interpretations.
As you study the Bible to learn what it says, don’t be superficial. Some people will say, “Well, I think this
verse means—” or, “What does this verse mean to you?” Unfortunately, a lot of Bible studies are
nothing but a pooling of ignorance; a lot of people sitting around telling what they don’t know about the
verse. Have someone lead the study who has carefully studied the passage and can explain with great
detail its actual meaning. Then let the group discuss the application of the truth to their lives. But don’t
give them the opportunity of sharing ignorance.

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