A reflection based on “Studying, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible” by Henrichsen (chapter 14) and “Living by the Book” by Hendricks (chapters 30-34)
Living by the Book
What is the insight?
This insight comes from chapter thirty-one. Context is the second most important aspect of biblical study, second only to the active seeking of the Spirit. Essentially this insight is the absolute necessity of context for the study of the Bible. Apart from context, no one can properly understand what the biblical author is attempting to make known.
Why is it insightful over the other topics?
Context is the most important biblical tool, other than the Spirit’s help. One can not stress context enough. I have seen verses taken out of context more times than I can count, and so being able to stress the importance of context to a congregation should be front and center.
What is the application in ministry?
The congregation must know that context is the primary thing to look at in the biblical text they are attempting to understand. If they ever choose to attempt to understand the Bible for themself, which they should be, then reading more than a few isolated verses can not be stressed enough. When preaching, emphasizing the context of the verse is both extremely simple and absolutely necessary if the preacher is going to model proper exegesis for the listener.
Studying, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible
What is the insight?
The insight for this week comes from number fourteen, which states that when a nonliving thing is treated as living, the text is being figurative. Figurative language is important to recognize in the biblical text, as it is used very frequently. Without understanding when the text is being figurative, one can come away from the text with nonsensical interpretations and misunderstandings about God, as well as many other doctrines. I would add that this rule implicitly also stresses that if non-living language is used of a living thing, it is figurative.
Why is it insightful over the other topics?
Approximately one third of the Old Testament is poetic, and much of the New Testament is poetic as well. The Bible is absolutely packed full of poetry. If one is to understand the biblical text, one must know what poetry and figurative language looks like in order to properly understand the biblical author’s message. This insight specifically helps the reader to understand how to identify figurative language quickly: If a non-living object is given living qualities, it is being figurative, and the other way around. This quick tool of identification is extremely helpful, memorable, and applicable for ministry, more than the rest of the insights for this week’s reading.
What is the application in ministry?
The goal of the communicator of biblical truth is not to hold all of the tools to themself. As a pastor, I should want to equip the listener the best way I can to do faithful biblical interpretation. This insight is a simple and quick tool for identifying one of the most common attributes of the Bible! If the reader ever notices a non-living description given to a living thing, it should be taken as figurative. If the reader ever notices a living description given to a non-living thing, it should be taken as figurative. This is an easy thing to slip into a message when going through poetry in order to communicate this biblical tool to the audience.
Bible Students 
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