Inductive Bible Study, Pt. 2

The one thing that I have figured out about Inductive Bible Study is that it takes time.  In reading some of the comments flowing back and forth among the other students in the class, I've also figured out that we are a huge bunch of pious idiots sometimes!  All of these seminary students making noise about how no one else will actually take the time to do this work and how lazy everyone is.  Oh, for heaven's sakes!  This might kill me and I've committed to giving an ENTIRE semester to the Gospel according to Matthew! 

Ok, breathe, Diane.  I'm trying not to wade into those forum conversations and just call out the idiots.  I think that would be a bad thing to do at the beginning of the semester.

I firmly believe that deep, intensive, questioning study of a scripture passage is very important.  But I also believe that people have very different learning and studying styles and when we expect people to follow a specific standard and do their Bible study exactly as someone else does it, we're just insane.

Inductive Bible study is consuming ... I would love for everyone to be as interested in Matthew as my professor is.  But, I don't think that's happening any time soon.  He spends day in and day out teaching Old Testament and classes like this.  His life is filled with Scripture - every moment of every day.  I hope that some day my life looks like that.  Many of the would-be pastors in my class will spend their days like that.  But, the sooner they learn that not everyone in their church is able to commit that kind of time, the easier their life as a pastor will be.

With that in mind (I guess I really needed to rant a little at you, didn't I!) the next step after "Observing" the passage is to begin "Interpreting" the passage. There are things that you can use to help gain more understanding, but begin with looking at words and phrases to ensure you know what they mean ... a full context.

2.    Interpretation
   a.    Standard Questions
      i.    Definition
         1.    What is it?        
         2.    What does it mean?
         3.    What is involved?
         4.    What is the significance?
      ii.    Reasons
         1.    Why is this so?
         2.    What is the purpose?
      iii.    Understand the means
         1.    How is this done?
      iv.    Explore the implications
         1.    What is implied?
         2.    What does this assume?
      v.    Other questions
         1.    Time
         2.    Place
   b.    Approach
      i.    Big picture first – details later
      ii.    Begin with important structures (Section 1 – Part b)
      iii.    Question reasons guided by structure
         1.    Ask ‘why’ from the text
         2.    This is a difficult exercise
      iv.    Implications are guided by the structure
   c.    Finding answers to the questions
      i.    Look at content and context of passage
      ii.    Discover meanings of words & expressions
         1.    Look at other Biblical uses of word or expression
         2.    Original language translation
      iii.    Author’s intent
         1.    Stated clearly, or
         2.    Inferred from content
      iv.    Historical and cultural setting
         1.    Found in Bible dictionaries/encyclopedias
         2.    Discovery in lifelong attention to Biblical resources
      v.    Other interpreters
         1.    Commentaries
         2.    Bible study resources
      vi.    Spiritual discernment though
         1.    Exposure to scripture
         2.    Relationship with God
         3.    Christian community
      vii.    Common sense
      viii.    Life experience
         1.    Teach how to incorporate scripture
         2.    Always lead back to more careful consideration