A reflection based on “Studying, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible” by Henrichsen (chapter 14) and “Living by the Book” by Hendricks (chapters 13-18)
Living by the Book
What is the insight?
The insight for this section comes from chapter 18, which is to work with a paragraph of text, and not only with a single verse. When someone is studying the Bible, they should not read one verse at a time without any context. Context is an essential part of Bible study. One must be able to understand the surrounding texts in light of the text at hand in order to have a real hold of the text at hand.
Why is it insightful over the other topics?
This insight was chosen over the others because this is one I see abandoned too often, and is especially important for formal and personal Bible study. Apart from the work of the Spirit, context is the most important Bible study tool, more than any original language study or commentary. Context is key for not drastically misrepresenting what a text is referring to. Texts must be understood in their proper and natural flow of thought, apart from being ripped out of context. All of Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16), and must be understood together.
What is the application in ministry?
One interesting application in ministry would be from the teaching pulpit. When I am to teach a sermon, especially if I were to do so based off of a single verse (possibly a youth sermon or a short Wednesday study) I must give the listeners proper understanding of the immediate (and therefore most important) context in order to properly understand the text. I could read the verse of study, and then read the entire chapter around the verse in order to give the close context of the verse I am speaking about, which would generally help the audience understand what is going on in the text.
Studying, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible
What is the insight?
The insight for this section comes from rule six, which is that the purpose of the Bible is to increase understanding of God, not knowledge. The point of reading the Bible and knowing God is not to benefit apart from Him, but to intricately know Him through the study of His Word. The Bible was not made as a science textbook, nor a systematic explanation of gifts of the Spirit, but a book about the character of God, and how humans are to relate to Him (which is, through love of God and others, 1 Cor. 13:2).
Why is it insightful over the other topics?
This section was insightful over the other topics because I believe this also has been overlooked by-and-large, especially by some of the circles I used to be in. They believed the Bible was a comprehensive understanding of all sorts of things, and believed the knowledge of those things made them better than others. Specifically, I speak about the flat-earth community, which sees the Scriptures as a comprehensive understanding of the nature of earth, and holds to a cult-like understanding of that doctrine. Even if they were right, however, the Scripture’s purpose is not to give much explanation of the physical world, but to explain how the world relates to God, in hopes of bringing us closer to Him.
What is the application in ministry?
In ministry, this principle can be used especially in the teaching of eschatology. I do not like the focus I have seen from many on eschatology, which severely over-emphasizes the end times over being close with God. There should be a strong focus on understanding God and how to relate to Him, over understanding any other doctrine, especially extra-biblical history (for instance, attempting to find eschatological events playing out today).
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