Review
Week 1—Two basic Bible study tools (for personal and use in evangelism)
- Read one book of the Bible repeatedly until you know it well (we are using Mark)
- Write in the margin A*?E
Week 2—Two principles of Bible study
- Pay attention to what the Bible says about itself (examples follow)
- Mark 4:1-20—not all people hear the word the same way
- 4:2; Pro. 30:6; Rev. 22:18, 19—three soldiers saying do not add to the Bible
- 2 Peter 1:16 – 2:1—Scripture came through the Holy Spirit, but some will try to corrupt it
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17—all Scripture is inspired with multiple uses
- As you study, identify units and write a summary of the point of that unit
Report on homework
- Read Mark again with three things in mind:
- What did you add to your *A?E
- What passage in Mark tells what the Bible says about itself? Share your summary
- Which parts of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 are being used in the selected passage?
- Share the passage in Mark which tells what the Bible say about itself
- Where does the unit start?
- Look for changes in topics
- Look for changes in characters
- Look for notices about moving to a new time or place
- Where does the unit end?
- Share a short sentence which summarizes the main point of the unit
- How does your unit fulfill one of the qualities of 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- How does this unit reflect that the Bible is inspired: God breathed, God guided
- What is profitable about this passage? How is not theoretical but practical, not read & set aside, but read & carried w/ you
- What doctrine is taught here? How is this a source for what to believe?
- How might this passage be a reproof? How does it establish what’s right? How does it point to the authentic?
- In what way does this passage offer correction? How does it provide a measure for life.
- How does this train people in righteousness? How does it help us live in relationship with others?
- Where does the unit start?
Verses in Mark which tell what the Bible says about itself
Mark 4:1-20—parable of the sower
- Main point: the parable shows there are different responses to the Word
- Application of 2 Tim 3:16-17
- Inspired—seed is from God
- Profitable—shows us in advance how people respond to the Word
- Doctrine—Word produces good fruit
- Reproof—persecutions and distractions take us away from the Word
- Correction—Are you sowing the seed of the Word?
- Training in righteousness—we should use our relationships to sow the Word
Mark 4:23 23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.
- Main point: we can hear the Word with our ears but miss it with our heart
- Application of 2 Tim 3:16-17
- Inspired—it is possible to have God’s word in our hearts
- Profitable—not all people who listen to the Word hear it
- Doctrine—salvation starts with hearing
- Reproof—strive for understanding
- Correction—are you only hearing and not understanding?
- Training in righteousness—not all of our relationships understand the Word
Mark 4:26-27 26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, 27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how.
- Main point: We do not know fully how the Word works
- Application of 2 Tim 3:16-17
- Inspired—the inspired word prompts growth
- Profitable—our task is to share the Bible, God prompts a response
- Doctrine—God produces the kingdom
- Reproof—teaching God’s Word produces results
- Correction—be a sower not the God who grants the harvest
- Training in righteousness—we cannot claim credit for the conversion of a friend
Mark 7:1-8 Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; 4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.”
- Main point: Some replace the Word with their traditions
- Application of 2 Tim 3:16-17
- Inspired—Isaiah contains the “commandment of God”
- Profitable—teaches us the difference between the Word and traditions
- Doctrine—true doctrine comes from God, not people
- Reproof—do not substitute your teaching for God’s Word
- Correction—consider whether you put tradition above the Word
- Training in righteousness—traditions of men often corrupt good relationships
Mark 8:31-33 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.”
- Main point: Jesus was displeased with those who contradicted His Word
- Application of 2 Tim 3:16-17
- Inspired—Jesus’ Word was plain
- Profitable—when we disagree, we need to check the Word and our hearts
- Doctrine—God suffered on our behalf at the cross
- Reproof—Jesus rose from the dead
- Correction—be aware of the dangers of disagreeing with the Word
- Training in righteousness—the best relationships are among those on the side of God
Mark 11:15-19 15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he taught, and said to them, “Is it not written, `My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and sought a way to destroy him; for they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.
- Main point: Jesus used Scripture to affirm His cleansing of the temple
- Application of 2 Tim 3:16-17
- Inspired—Jesus treated Isaiah and Jeremiah as inspired
- Profitable—Scripture offered proper directions for worship
- Doctrine—pray for all nations
- Reproof—religion often strays from the Word
- Correction—be careful when challenging error
- Training in righteousness—the Word when taught provides correction, fear, and astonishment
Mark 12:14 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
- Main point: Jesus taught the truth of God
- Application of 2 Tim 3:16-17
- Inspired—the way of God is true
- Profitable—avoiding mistakes begins with the truth of God
- Doctrine—regard God higher than the positions of men
- Reproof—always ask what the Word says
- Correction—do not misinterpret the Word
- Training in righteousness—Word over politics and local law
Mark 12:28-34 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; 33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any question.
- Main point: there are two great commandments
- Application of 2 Tim 3:16-17
- Inspired—Jesus identifies the lasting and important parts of the Old Testament
- Profitable—Keeping the two great commandments is a priority
- Doctrine—God is one and there are no others
- Reproof—All the commandments of the OT fit under the two great commandments
- Correction—do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?
- Training in righteousness—those who love God will love others
Mark 12:35-37 35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet.’ 37 David himself calls him Lord; so how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.
- Main point: the Word is more sure than the teaching of the scribes
- Application of 2 Tim 3:16, 17
- Inspired—David was inspired by the Holy Spirit in writing Psa. 110
- Profitable—Scripture tells us about the Lord
- Doctrine—the Messiah is the son of God
- Reproof—the Word should have priority over human reason
- Correction—use the Word to correct others
- Training in righteousness—people gladly hear the word
Mark 13:28-31 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
- Main point: The Word is eternal
- Application of 2 Tim 3:16, 17
- Inspired—God’s Word will not pass away
- Profitable—in times of chaos, consult the Word
- Doctrine—heaven and earth are limited in time, God is not
- Reproof—God’s word anticipates the future
- Correction—be wary of those outside the Word who predict the future
- Training in righteousness—God’s word has lasting implications for our relationships
Two Meanings in the Bible
- What it meant
- What it means
Point in Bible Study: By starting with what a passage meant, it keeps us from making errors about what a passage means.
1—What it meant: exegesis
- What it meant is called exegesis (means to explain, to lead out)
- Exegesis seeks what the biblical writer meant to say, what the first readers understood
- Original, intended meaning
- What Jesus meant
- Reading text carefully, asking good questions
- Looking at context, content
- What it meant or exegesis is opposite of eisegesis (means to read into, insert one’s ideas)
- Eisegesis refers to inserting your own view in what the Bible originally meant
- Reading something into the text
Examples of eisegesis
Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
- Eisegesis: this means nobody should judge me
- Context warns not against judging, but against false judgments
- What it meant: examine your own life before you judge another
Isaiah 53:8 “By oppression and judgment he was taken away”
- Eisegesis: Jesus went crazy at the cross because his judgment was taken away.
- Context: Jesus was taken to the cross after a trial condemned him
- What it meant: Jesus suffered and died for our sins
Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.” KJV
- Eisegesis: you must do long range strategic planning or you will perish
- Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no prophecy the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. RSV
- What it meant: without prophetic comment on the law, the people often quit listening to the law.
How to do exegesis: answer these questions
- How does this passage hang together (look at your summary statement for a unit) OR how does one sentence in the unit fit into the whole unit?
- How does this passage relate to the one before it and the one after it?
- How does this passage fit into the overall point of Mark or the book in which it is found?
- In short, what is the
- Immediate context
- Surrounding context
- Whole context
- Exegesis: What the text meant to the original writer and reader
2—What it means: hermeneutics
- Hermeneutics: the means of interpretation
- Once we know what a passage meant, we are in a better position to understand what it means
- Application, significance
- Finding principles, truths which do not change
Other literature operates the same way
Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
- What it meant
- Meant: “all men” referred to men not women, whites not blacks, land owners not renters
- Meant: “pursuit of happiness” meant
- freedom to amass and maintain property (so John Locke)
- what each person wanted it to mean, it was subjective and left it to be defined by reader
- to be all God wanted you to be
- What it means
- All people regardless of race, gender or income are equal
- All people can be happy
- Freedom to pursue the American dream
- Subjective and left to be defined by reader
- Perhaps fewer people today would say “to be all God wanted you to be”
Biblical Examples of What it Meant and What it Means
Ten Commandments
- Deuteronomy 5:7-8 You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
- What it meant
- “other gods” referred to the gods of ancient Egypt
- Wikipedia: Under the entry “List of Egyptian deities” are the names of nearly 60 major gods
- Statutes of gods were common
- “have no other gods” meant do not follow these gods or follow Pharaoh who was god-like
- “other gods” referred to the gods of ancient Egypt
- What it means
- contemporary “other gods” include the gods of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism
- contemporary “other gods” might be gods of money, sex, power
- do not put the standards of these “other gods” above those of God
Patriarchs
- Genesis 31:48-49 “Laban said, ‘This heap is a witness between you and me this day.’ Therefore, it was named Galeed, and Mizpah, for he said, ‘May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.’”
- Eisegesis
- God will watch over us when we are apart
- H J Sherman: Mizpah Necklace Set Sweetheart Gift Lord Watch Between Me and Thee Mizpah with Gift Box. 2 out of 5 stars, $25.04
- Same verse is on a wall plaque for 9.99 on eBay
- Same verse on coffee mugs 2 for $14.99
- Sterlingsilver, two necklaces, one for man, one for woman on eBay for $119.99
- People think it means that God will watch over us when we are apart.
- What it meant—exegesis
- Laban and Jacob were parting on bad terms
- They set up the stones of Mizpah to warn the other one that God would watch over them to make sure they did not harm their loved ones or come back and do each other harm.
- What it means—hermeneutics
- Laban and Jacob are an example of parting on bad terms
- God can turn human bad into good. Laban and Jacob intended evil, but God meant it for good (Gen. 50:20)
- We often forget the promises of God. Laban and Jacob are examples of human reduction of promises of God in Gen. 12:1-7
Mark 1:14-45
- 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” 16 And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him. 21 And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. 29 And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together about the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him pursued him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. 40 And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
- What it meant—exegesis
- Jesus ministered to a variety of down and out people
- Fishermen
- Man with unclean spirit
- Sick mother-in-law
- Sick
- Possessed with demons
- Sick with various diseases
- Leper
- What’s the point?
- Jesus had power over disasters and diseases of life
- Jesus reached out to the most vulnerable
- What it means—hermeneutics
- We should follow Jesus because of his authority and power
- We should accept the same people Jesus accepted
- We should be like Jesus and sense the urgency of ministry
Three approaches to What it Means or Hermeneutics
- Topical—good for working with non-Christians
- Example: the topic of baptism is mentioned 117 times in the NT.
- Let’s put them in an organized fashion
- What is baptism?
- Who should be baptized?
- What is the mode of baptism?
- What is the reason for baptism?
- Textual—good for memory work
- Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- What was Jesus like yesterday?
- What is Jesus like today?
- What will Jesus be like forever?
- Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- Expository—good for teaching
- Mark 4:1-20–parable of sower
- Mark shows how Jesus deals with obstacles (disease, storms, demons), rejection (Pharisees), and his followers (apostles and crowds). This parable helps explain the different reactions of people to Jesus
- It explains how people responded to Jesus in Mark (what it meant, exegesis)
- It helps us understand how people respond to Jesus today (what it means, hermeneutics)
- This kind of Bible study is sustainable, scalable, and teachable.
Homework: Read Mark
- Add to your *A?E
- Reread your unit and see if your summary statement can be refined
- Take your unit (or another one if you like) and write a short sentence to complete the following
- Tell what it meant to the original reader (Exegesis)
- Tell what it means now (Hermeneutics)