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Proper Study tools and methods... - 11/7/2009 9:47:01 AM
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Concerto
Posts: 128
Joined: 10/20/2006
Status: offline
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Greetings:
I recently heard an excellent message by Dr. John Macarthur, talking about how to study the Bible. He spoke of the importance of firstly, just reading the Bible, over and over. But then he mentioned the importance of bridging the language barriers, cultural barriers, historical barriers, etc., in order that the most accurate understanding of the text was achieved.
My question is, what study tools are crucial to achieve proper Bible interpretation? My goal is to become a Bible scholar. I am thinking:
learning Greek/Hebrew
concordances
commentaries
NT/NT linears
language aids...
historical books
custom books
atlases
etc...
Thanks...
C
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RE: Proper Study tools and methods... - 11/7/2009 3:04:15 PM
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deermousie
Posts: 2207
Joined: 9/26/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Concerto
My goal is to become a Bible scholar.
A great life and worthy occupation, Concerto! Yay for scholarship!
quote:
learning Greek/Hebrew
Yes! We lose so much of what God is saying in the English.
Hebrew is nebulous and hard to pin down, but you can get the Septuagint Greek on the OT and a good epistle on the NT and have a translation that is extremely precise and accurate.
A good book to have is Vine's "Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words."
quote:
concordances
Yes! Strong's is highly recommended, but I use www.biblegateway.com because it's closer and the print is larger.
quote:
commentaries
Last resort - it's someone else's digested opinion. Usually a scholar, which is very good, but it's best to dig it out yourself first if you can.
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NT/NT linears
Yes; can't get by without one. I have "The Interlinear Greek-English New Testatment - The Nestel Greek Text" by Marshall. Love it. I hope to have Greek good enough to not need the English helps some day.
quote:
language aids... I'm not sure what you mean by this, but there's no substitute for learning Koine Greek.
quote:
historical books
Ummm... like Josephus? You can get it at the library (or do an interlibrary loan for free or very cheap). Sorry, I can't help you much here.
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custom books
?
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atlases
Yes - they are fun! Find one that gives you borders in antiquity and progresses forward; Israel's borders have changed a lot, and they only hold part of the land that God originally gave them. It's good to have one that shows you the placement of various peoples, like Moab and Ammon, etc.
This is a highly profitable occupation, and in colonial America Bible scholarship was every gentleman's hobby. Look how God blessed them.
I personally feel every Christian should be at least somewhat of a scholar, and every church should be offering classes in hermeneutics, Hebrew and especially Koine Greek. What a difference it would make in this country!
< Message edited by deermousie -- 11/7/2009 3:12:14 PM >
_____________________________
"Through Gates of Splendor" by Elizabeth Elliot
"Federal Husband" by Doug Wilson
www.biblegateway.com for online concordance (I use it daily)
"Passion and Purity" by Elizabeth Elliot
And I think chickens are really funny
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RE: Proper Study tools and methods... - 11/10/2009 4:30:48 PM
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AdamsEve
Posts: 437
Joined: 2/29/2008
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For what it is worth...
I have read the bible so many times I lost count and still could not really understand it.
I could go a lot deeper into the reasons for this but it would take up a lot of space.
Then I started study bibles...
First was a straight study bible ( I use NIV ).
Second was the Greek study bible N.T. Literal translation from Greek.
Third was the Archaeological study bible.
Fourth was the Apologetics study bible.
Each study bible presents the BIBLE from a different perspective then use them to cross reference.
OH YES; it is time consuming but you will find you are bringing or looking at a verse or section from different view points and you will find you will understand Scriptures much better.
I also use concordances and bible dictionaries along with commentaries.
As I said " OH YES it is time consuming " but when I stop for a given day I am thinking about what is to follow and can't wait to get back to it again.
I hope you do study and learn; as there is nothing better to put to memory than God's Word, and that puts you in a position of greater responsibility as a teacher. Because as with me that is what happened.
AdamsEve
_____________________________
Romans 10:13
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Word of God
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RE: Proper Study tools and methods... - 11/10/2009 8:13:26 PM
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deermousie
Posts: 2207
Joined: 9/26/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: deermousie
I have "The Interlinear Greek-English New Testatment - The Nestel Greek Text" by Marshall. Greek. What a difference it would make in this country!
Sorry - that's the Nestle Greek Text.
_____________________________
"Through Gates of Splendor" by Elizabeth Elliot
"Federal Husband" by Doug Wilson
www.biblegateway.com for online concordance (I use it daily)
"Passion and Purity" by Elizabeth Elliot
And I think chickens are really funny
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RE: Proper Study tools and methods... - 11/10/2009 8:41:34 PM
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Digrieze
Posts: 99
Joined: 8/26/2006
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Concerto
My question is, what study tools are crucial to achieve proper Bible interpretation? My goal is to become a Bible scholar. I am thinking:
learning Greek/Hebrew
concordances
commentaries
NT/NT linears
language aids...
historical books
custom books
atlases
etc...
One thing I truly appreciate about Dr. MacArthur is he encourages people to understand the Bible, a prospect that seems to frighten many preachers these days (then again, listening to their sermons it can be understood quite easily).
Let me encourage you to start simply, as Dr. MacArthur says, simply by reading the text. Remember that the Word of God is in the text, not your study helps, although the study helps can assist in bridging those gaps.
First, get a good, accurate translation like the NASB, ESV, or NRSV. If you've studied elizabethian english, the KJV would also be excellent (but remember that the english IS NOT the english you speak today, so that can be a barrier). Unfortunately there are many "translations" out there that tend to swing back and forth betwen translation and the translators personal commentary, so I really can't recommend any others. Zondervan makes a wonderful NASB "Study Bible", The ESV Study Bible has just been released, and Oxford Press has "The New Oxford Annotated Bible" which is very good, is your only choice if you need one with the Apocyphal books", and is a requirement at many seminaries.
Next, let me recommend two books to start with: "How To Read The Bible For All It's Worth" and "How To Read The Bible Book By Book", both by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart. If the issues surrounding translation interest you Fee also has a book called "How To Choose a Translation For All It's Worth."
Someone else recommended "Kay Arthur's Inductive Bible Study method", this is excellent also but can be a bit daunting uuntil you get a few concepts under your belt, so I'd start with Gordon Fees' books first as they get into basic issues you mentioned above better.
Welcome to the ranks of the learners, the wonderful thing is you'll never stop learning. Just be careful not to bite off too much too quick, it's better to learn a good foundation and build on it than have a ton of books you never open.
_____________________________
My hope, my wish, my prayer is that you find the life that Jesus created you to live and has hidden within Himself so in living that life you may have a uniquely intimate communion with Him. (Col.3:1-4)
Yours in the love of Jesus
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