(This blog is a word-for-word transcript of what I teach to the pastors in India about “How to Study and Preach/Teach the Bible.” The first blog showed that Bible study begins with observing all that the passage says. We do this by reading a passage many times and writing down questions about what it says. Then comes step 2, interpretation.
STEP 2: INTERPRETATION When you have asked enough questions, then you can start to answer them. That’s interpreting Scripture. Now you want to know, “What does this mean?” When the doctor has finished examining you he goes over all he has learned. Until he discovers your problem, he won’t know what is the correct solution. He must not only observe, he must accurately interpret what he sees. That’s what we do when we start answering our questions. Make sure your interpretation is accurate. It is a sin to twist God’s Word. Revelation says we aren’t to add anything to it or take anything away from it (Revelation 18:22-23).
The context of the passage. When you start you want to look at the whole passage in the Bible. You must understand what all of First Peter is about before you can understand any part of it. Suppose you walked into a room and heard two people talking. You hear a few words of what they are saying. You have an idea of what they are talking about but you don’t really know until you listen for a while. To understand what Peter is saying here we must know what he says before this and after this.
Let me give you an example. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens I will come in with him.” Sometimes when we read this we think Jesus is talking to an unbeliever about coming into their life for salvation. It’s true that Jesus wants to do that, but that is not what that passage says. When you read the passages before and after that you will see Jesus is talking to Christians and the Church. It’s an active church but they leave Jesus out of what they do. Jesus is saying to the Church, “Let me in.” It is important to see the whole context to understand.
Read all of 1 Peter and you will see he is writing to Jews that became Christians. “WHO did you write to?” To Jews who became Christians. “WHEN did you write this?” The end of his life, a time of persecution for Christians. Recipients persecuted by Jews and non-Christians both. “WHERE were the ones you wrote to?” They were scattered in foreign countries. You might ask him questions about WHAT he wrote. He wrote to pastors and elders to be faithful leaders during persecution. “WHY? Were there problems as you wrote it?” He wrote to encourage them to faithfulness. He pointed out that some leaders were proud, greedy and not helping the people. He also wanted them to know that those who are faithful will be rewarded.
The context of the culture. Also, it is important to understand the people to whom the passage was written. This was written to Jews that had become Christians 2,000 years ago. This wasn’t written to churches in India or America today. It is for us, but it wasn’t addressed to us. So, to understand what Peter was writing, you have to know what the people he was writing to would think of what he said. Jews 2,000 years ago think differently then you in India or America think today. They have a different culture, life and language than you do. Peter was writing to them so we must understand what it meant to them.
If Peter was writing to us and used the term “elder” you would know what it means to be an elder in your church. But to the Jews then, they knew the term was referring to a leader in the synagogue. He was a man who oversaw everything that happened in the synagogue. When Paul wrote to Gentile churches he didn’t use this word because the word because it was Just used by Jews. Gentiles used was “bishop” to refer to the same office. To the gentiles a bishop was somebody who oversaw a gathering of people. The term “elder” and “bishop” mean the same thing but were used by different groups of people, by Jews and Gentiles.
Pretend you were one of the people 1 Peter was written to and look at is as they did. Some people say the Bible can mean one thing to them and something different to another person but that is not true. A passage can only mean one thing, what the writer was saying to his readers.
The main idea. Another important part of understanding a passage in the Bible is to look for the one main point the writer was making. Peter had one main point he was trying to communicate to the Jewish Christians. A passage in the Bible can only mean one thing, not two different things. It can’t mean one thing to me and something different to you. What is the main truth Peter is communicating in these verses? He is saying that the pastors have to be faithful so they can help their people. That’s the main idea of this passage. Everything else said helps explain this.
Other resources. So, you go through your questions and answer as many as you can. You can find help in Bible footnotes or commentaries. Only use these after you do your own study. It takes more time to work and study yourself but it is important to do it.
So, after you write your questions, answer them. How would the people to whom Peter was writing answer the questions? Put yourselves in the place of people who received this letter to understand.
STEP 3: APPLICATION First you observe, you look closely and ask questions. Then you interpret and you answer the questions. Now that you know what a passage is saying, you can apply it.
First the doctor has examines you, then he interprets what he finds. Then he can say, “this is the medicine or the operation you need.” You don’t stop after interpretation; it has to be applied. We don’t study the Bible just to learn it in our mind but to apply it to our lives. Remember, I told you there is only one interpretation of a passage? It only means what the writer was saying to the people he was writing to. But there are many ways that truth can apply to us today. Our interpretation tells us that pastors are to faithfully serve their people. The ones who do will be rewarded. But we can apply that one truth in many ways. -I can talk to pastors who are faithfully serving and encourage them to stay faithful. -I can use this passage to warn pastors who have pride and greed to repent. -I can use this to teach churches what to look for in their leaders. -I can use it when I teach men who want to be leaders what God expects of them. -I can use it to encourage pastors of churches that are being persecuted that God will reward them. You see there are many ways this passage can be applied.
Pray for wisdom when you study. Ask God, “How does this apply to me” and He will give you insight. He will show you how this passage applies to you personally. Pray, God will show you wonderful things in that passage. The more you study, think and pray the more He will show you. (November 4, 2024 Doylestown, PA)
Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Using what you just learned about interpretation, start answering the questions you wrote after the previous blog about observations. Then apply the passage to your own life.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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