![]() ![]() An understanding of Bible history will help us place the people and events in it in their proper historical perspective. Unlike the scriptures of most other world religions, the Bible contains the records of actual historical persons and events. History - We must also bridge the history gap.Of course, nothing helps like seeing the land first-hand on a tour. A good Bible atlas is an invaluable reference tool that can help you comprehend the geography of the Holy Land. Biblical geography makes the Bible come alive. Geography - A third gap that needs to be closed is the geography gap.The following books will help you understand the cultural background of the Bible: The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, by Alfred Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life, also by Edersheim, and The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times, by Ralph Gower. Acts and the epistles must be read in light of the Greek and Roman cultures. Without an understanding of first-century Jewish culture, it is difficult to understand the gospels. Don’t fall into that trap, but realize that we must first view Scripture in the context of the culture in which it was written. Some people try to use cultural differences to explain away the more difficult biblical commands. Culture - The culture gap can be tricky.You don’t need to know Greek or Hebrew to use those books effectively. Vine, and Nelson’s Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament, by Merrill F. Two books that will help you close the language gap are An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, by W. Often, understanding the meaning of a word or phrase in the original language can be the key to correctly interpreting a passage of Scripture. Language - The Bible was originally written in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.Gaps to Bridge: The first step in interpreting the Bible is to recognize the four gaps we have to bridge: language, culture, geography, and history. I began doing this when I was in seminary, because I wanted to retain what was in the New Testament and not always have to depend on a concordance to find things.Īs I read Scripture, I always keep in mind one simple question: “What does this mean?” It’s not enough to read the text and jump directly to the application we must first determine what it means, otherwise the application may be incorrect. I read one book at a time repetitiously for a month or more. I follow a different plan for reading the New Testament. The questions to which I can’t find answers become the starting points for more in-depth study using commentaries or other reference tools. Often I find that as I read, my questions are answered by the text itself. As I read, I note in the margins any truths I particularly want to remember, and I write down separately anything I don’t immediately understand. I read through the Old Testament at least once a year. There are many good Bible reading plans available, but here is one I’ve found most helpful. Books are good, but collateral reading can never replace the Bible itself. They read books about the Bible instead of studying the Bible for themselves. Too many Christians are content with a second-hand knowledge of Scripture. ![]() That seems obvious, but quite frankly, it’s where many people fail. Read the Bibleįirst, I begin with reading the Bible. Here are three simple guidelines that have helped me to make the most of my study time. I found that the more I studied, the more my hunger for Scripture grew. My real passion for studying Scripture began when as a college student, I made a commitment to explore the Bible in earnest. There’s nothing I enjoy more than studying the Bible. ![]()
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