The Rose of Sharon is Jesus

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

Lesson Four: How to Interpret the Bible


The study of the 'rules' of Bible interpretation is called "hermeneutics". Hermeneutics is the science of Bible interpretation. This strange theological term comes from the Greek word hermeneuo which means TO INTERPRET OR EXPLAIN. The reason for studying the Bible is to properly interpret what God is saying to us.

Two other technical terms are important here. Bible scholars often refer to the 'exegesis' of Scripture, which means "allowing the truth to come out of the text without the filter of our own ideas". The word "exegesis" is also derived from a Greek word, which means "explanation " or "to lead OUT of." This means we approach to the Scriptures to learn what they say and mean, not to prove our own point.

The opposite term is "eisogesis" which is from a Greek word meaning "to read INTO". This is probably t…

Lesson Two: Old Testament Overview

The Old Testament consists of the 39 books of the original Jewish Bible, still used by Jewish people today. The word "Testament" means "covenant, agreement, contract". The word "Old" means "older, original," or the way God related to men and women before the Coming of Christ.

Perhaps we could title the Bible God's Plan. The Old Testament would be Volume One: The Plan Begins. And the New Testament would be called Volume Two: The Plan Completed.

The Purpose of the Old Testament was to reveal THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE COMING KING! All through the Old Testament the student of the Scriptures can find Jesus.

The Subject/Theme of the Old Testament was to reveal THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE COMING KING. All of the Old Testament looks forward to the Messiah and His kingdom.

The General Content of the Old Testament:
Please open your Bibles to the 'Table of Contents' a…

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
Lesson Three: New Testament Overview

Mat 4:4 (KJV)
But (Jesus) answered and said,
It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

(Mat 24:35 KJV)
Jesus said,
Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but my words shall not pass away.

(Mark 8:38 KJV)
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words
in this adulterous and sinful generation;
of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed,
when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.


The Purpose of the New Testament:
TO REVEAL THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST, as the fulfillment of Old Testament history, ceremony and prophecy.

Mat 26:26-29 (KJV)
And as they were eating,
Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples,
and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
{27} And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
Drink ye all of it;
{28} For this is my blood of the new testament{Grk=contract, covenant},
…