U N D ER ST AN D IN G TH E B IBLE

Often the meaning of a

Bible passage is plain and
obvious. When it is not,
Setting Poetry
the following points may When and where was Job, Psalms, Song of Solomon, prophets, etc.
the book or passage  Is it drama with characters, as in a play? eg Job
help in its understanding
 Or poetry, expressing one person’s feelings which we
and application today. written? History/Biography can share? eg Psalms 29, 42, 68
Old Testament historical books, Gospels and Acts in the New  Is it highly symbolical? Is the language from the
Testament worship or history of Israel? If so, what is referred to?
 What was the historical background to the eg Ps 77, 78, 79
passage? (See historical charts and maps)  Is there a historical setting which will help us Parable
e.g. Ezra 1:1; Lk. 2:1-2; 3:1-2 understand the poem? Or was it written for use in Gospels, Old Testament historical and prophetic books
Purpose  What actually happened? Who were the people Israel’s worship? eg Judges 4-5; Psa 134, 136  Was the parable told to answer a question or
Why was it written? involved? eg Nehemiah 1  Is there repetition or contrast for poetic effect? illustrate a point? eg Luke 10:25-37;
 Where did it happen? eg Isaiah 36 eg Psalm 67; Proverbs 10 : 11 2 Samuel 12:1-5
 Often material was selected to make a point: is  What was the main point? eg Luke 10:36-37
there one stated or implied? ‘Wise sayings’  Are the details given meaning in the passage itself?
eg Judges 6:1,7,8 Proverbs, Ecclesiastes Or are they just part of the story-telling?
 Is it a proverb or saying which stands alone, or is there eg Mark 4:1-20; Luke 14: 15-24
Stage One a common theme? eg Prov. 8; 23:13-14
Law  Is it a witty comment on life? Or a statement of what
1 Form Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Numbers happens as a general rule? Or expressing the situation Epistles
UNDERSTAND How, or in what form,  Is the passage: moral law, matters of behaviour? of man without God? New Testament letters
was it written? eg Exodus 20 eg Prov 10:1-4; 25:25; Ecc. 1:2-11  What was the purpose of the letter? Who wrote it?
What does the passage social, statelaw? eg Leviticus 25:13 To whom? eg I John 4:13; 1 Cor 1:1-2
actually say? domestic law, matters of hygiene? eg Lev 12 Prophecy  What is the argument or theme of the book as a
religious law, worship, sacrifice? eg Lev. 1-7 Old Testament prophets, Revelation whole? How does the passage fit into this?
blessings and curses? eg Deuteronomy 28  What was the historical background? eg Daniel 1:1 eg Galatians 1:6
 What was the main aim of the law at the time?  Is it written in poetic form? eg Isa 36: 22-29
eg Leviticus 20:22-26
Context  Was it superseded in the New Testament? If so,
 Is the language highly symbolical? If so, what is the
imagery taken from? eg Daniel 7; Rev 6
What is the book as a what was the principle involved? eg Hebrews 9  What was the original purpose of the prophecy in its
whole about? time?
 What is the universal principle involved? Isa 30:1-5
 Are there specific claims to its fulfillment in the NT?
eg Isaiah 53; Acts 8

Words
What is the meaning of
individual words?

Stage Two
2 What did the passage If it was written to meet
What is the main point or How does it compare with other,
mean to its original particular needs at the time, what
EXPLAIN teaching of the passage? perhaps clearer, Bible passages?
readers? is the general principle?
What does the passage
mean?

Stage Three
3 What is an equivalent Does the passage have
Is there an example to follow, or Is there any action to be taken in
Does it lead to prayer or
APPLY situation today to that of some specific teaching praise? Can we make the
a warning, or a promise? the light of the passage? writer’s words or expression
What does the passage the original readers? about God, man, the world,
mean today? the church…? of feeling our own?