How to Study the Bible More Effectively (2)

(Continuing from where we stopped. Read the previous post here)

At this point, let us offer five useful tips.

1: Beware of Metaphorical Interpretation.

True, in some places certain words are used metaphorically, but don’t be quick to give metaphorical interpretations. The danger is that you can almost always give a passage of the Bible any meaning you wish; you will always find the right metaphor.

2: Beware of Translation Issues.

Generally speaking, the meaning of some words in Greek (NT) or Hebrew (OT) cannot be captured by any single English word; so it may be helpful at times to look up the original words. Computer Bible software like e-Sword and PC Study Bible 5 come with Hebrew and Greek translations, and dictionaries, and they are readily available. Better still, you may find in them King James Version with Strong’s Numbers (KJV+); so, you can easily access these things.

Coming to English translations, you will do well to know the kind of translation you are using. It will help you greatly in interpreting. Generally, there are two kinds of translations: those translated word for word (“formal equivalence”; like KJV, RSV, YLT, etc.) and those that paraphrase (“dynamic equivalence”; like TM, CEV, ERV, etc.) A few, like NIV balances the two kinds.

KJV has become almost like a standard among English translations; however, a major problem is that several words in KJV have changed meaning over the 402 years of its existence. For instance, in several passages, KJV uses the word “let” in the sense of “hinder”, “prevent” to mean “precede”, “allow” in the sense of “approve”, “communicate” for “share”, “conversation” for “conduct”, “comprehend” for “overcome”, “ghost” for “spirit”, “wealth” for “well-being”, “allege” for “prove”, “demand” for “ask”, “take no thought” for “be not anxious”, etc. These words were once accurate but now they have become misleading. They no longer say what the translators meant them to say. You need to bear that in mind too.

3: If A Text Proves Problematic, The Wise Thing to Do is to Interpret it Based on the General Message of the Entire Bible.

For instance, consider the text: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). The question: based on the text, can we have other gods after Jehovah? This passage seems to agree, but the tenor of the entire scripture strongly disagrees.

Actually, the problem here is laying emphasis on the word: ‘before’. The emphasis should be on ‘Me’. GOD is saying He does not want you to have other gods before His face; He does not want to look around and see that you have brought another god to join Him in sharing what you brought for Him. This also goes on to show that you must be careful how you emphasize particular words in a Bible sentence. We will have a more accurate rendition of the intended meaning of that passage if we replace the word ‘before’ with ‘beside’ or ‘except’.

4: Beware of Interpreting a Passage out of Context.

This may probably be one of the most common blunders in Bible interpretation. Learn to do proper exegesis – discovering the meaning of a text in its original cultural, historical, literary and theological contexts – before application. For example, certain Christians have always insisted on the early church administrative structure as the right model for church administration today. What they fail to realize is that the situation now is different. The model of administration to adopt strongly depends on the state of the organization; you do not run well-established churches the way you run mission fields or newly-planted churches.

Or, consider water baptism; some insist it must be by immersion since that was how Jesus did His own. Notice that Jesus did not tell John how to baptize Him; He simply submitted to John’s method for baptism. Again, water as a means of purification was used in several forms at that time: sprinkling (Num. 8:7; 19:17-19; Ezek. 36:25), bathing/washing/effusion (Lev. 15:8-13; 17:15), or immersion (like John was doing; Num. 31:23). The method was not as important, as the apostles even proved. Think: were the 3000 converts on Pentecost taken to the river? Or, were the entire Jailer’s family (Acts 16:25-33) taken to the river that midnight?

5: Allow the Holy Spirit to Teach You.

Though not immediately obvious, the entire Bible is about Jesus Christ. Concerning the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. …He will receive of Mine and will announce it to you” (John 16:13-14). Only the Holy Spirit can grant you divine illumination through the written Word. He alone can give life to these ancient writings from the Ancient of Days. He alone can show you how to apply this ancient book to contemporary issues that face you. You simply cannot do without Him if you really want to get the most out of your Bible.

To wrap it up, interpreting Scripture is the job of getting back into the ancient world and then understanding how it correlates with our world. The study of Scripture is really an adventure, for the GOD who spoke still speaks. One of His ways of speaking to us is through Scripture as we take the time and trouble to study, understand and meditate on it. It is our hope that as you explore the passages of Scripture, you will discover the power of the Scripture again as the Holy Spirit makes it alive within you.

“Now that you know this truth, how happy [blessed] you will be if you put it into practice!”
– Jesus Christ (John 13:17 GNB).