Considerations in Biblical Interpretation (Part 3 of 3)

"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." — Psalm 119:18.

We now come to the last section of our series: "Considerations in Biblical Interpretation." We'll briefly look at: Observing Paragraphs.

Observing Paragraph.

Please care enough to check out part one and two for context's sake.

'There are five items to look for when observing paragraphs. These can be a little more difficult because you have to take into consideration a larger section of material.' The sundry items we'll look at are these: (1) General to Specific; (2) Dialogue; (3) Question and Answer; (4) Means, and (5) Purpose.

(1) General to Specific: Biblical authors, at times, love to use "general" terms, and then provide a specific example. Paul does this often in his epistles. Note: "Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received" (Eph. 4:1). This is 'generic principle they are to follow. However, in the following verse he provides four specific examples: be humble, gentle, patient, and accepting one another in love.' These are specific ways in which we are to live "obediently to the general command."

(2) Dialogue: It's imperative we recognize who is speaking and to whom. Biblical authors use a lot of dialogue in their works. For example, in John 21:15, Jesus is in a dialogue with Peter. There is a back and forth response (John 21:15, 19). Also, to note, 'many times John the Baptist is saying something, but some teachers credit Jesus with the words (cf. John 3:27, 30).' Be sure who is speaking.

(3) Question and Answer: Paul mastered this. In the book of Romans he uses this style often. "What shall we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?" (Romans 6:1). He is pressing his recepients to think about this question. He pauses and then provides an answer in the following verse: "Certainly not!" Or, as it is in other versions, "God forbid!"

(4) Means: 'An important element in many passages is the communication of how something is accomplished. When doing this, an author is providing the means. In Eph. 2:13, Paul says: "But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah." The means or instrument that brought those who were separated from God near to God is "the blood of the Messiah." Matthew describes Jesus driving out demons in Matt. 8:16 by saying He drove out "with a word." The "word" of Jesus was the instrument or means that drove out the demons.'

(5) Purpose: As all authors have authorial intent, so also all of them have purpose of why they wrote the books they inspired to write by the Holy Spirit, who is God. Purpose statements are vitally essential to grasping passages in the New Testament.

Observe Ephesians 2:8, 9: "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift: not from works, so that no one can boast." 'However, Paul gives a purpose for the salvation brought by God’s grace in verse 10 (italics added): "For we are His creation — created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them." The purpose is that those who have received the grace of God are to walk in the good works God prepared for them to do. The words "so that" communicate the concept of purpose' in this verse.

Remember. The Bible is no lazy man's book. God requires as to think as we study it diligently. Not so that we may become "puffed up" with knowledge, but that we may grow to know and walk in obedience to Him. May God bless and help us in our study. O LORD our God, open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things from your law!