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Study Section 8: Key Biblical Understanding

8.1 Connect.

If you just sit down and open the Bible, pick a passage, and start studying for a lesson, you
probably will miss a whole lot when it comes to digging out truths found there. That’s
because there is more to it that simply reading the text. Today we will look at some research
that must be done before we enter the text to properly have an understanding of where the
author of the text is “coming from.”

8.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to describe the four major bridges that we must cross to fully
understand the meaning of a passage of Scripture.

2. The student should be able to describe the major time gap between when the passage was
written and where we are today.

3. The student should be able to describe the major distance gap between where the passage was
written and where we are located today.

8.3 Four Key Areas that Must Be Understood to Properly Divide God’s Word from John MacArthur’s
Book, How to Study the Bible.

1. The language

We speak English, but the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek, and a few parts in
Aramaic (which is similar to Hebrew). So, we have a language gap that must be bridged,
otherwise, we won’t fully be able to understand the Scripture. For example, in 1 Corinthians
4:1 the apostle Paul says, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ.” Now
that sounds great, Paul; you’re a minister of Christ. When we think of the English word
minister, we think of a prime minister or the minister of defense. A minister is an elevated
position; it’s a dignified term. But the Greek word is huperetes, which means a third-level
galley slave on a ship. Paul said that when the record goes in for him, let it be said that he
was nothing more than a third-level galley slave for Jesus Christ. You would never get that
out of the English term. Why? Because there’s a language gap.

Another example is in the book of Hebrews. When you look at the word perfection in the
book (6:1; 7:11), you can get completely confused on how you comprehend Hebrews unless
you understand that perfection has to do with salvation, not spiritual maturity. That’s what
you’ll find out as you study the words and their relationships in the text. It is very important
to do this. And to study the words in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament, you
should get W. E. Vine’s An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Moody Press,
1985). It’s very helpful for someone who doesn’t know Greek. You can look up every English
word, and it will tell you the Greek meaning. It will be a great help to you as a Bible student.
Also, a good concordance will help you in the study of words.

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