Knowable Word

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We Are All Guilty of Elevating Tradition Over Scripture

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When we read Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees in Mark 7:9, we tend to nod our heads vigorously, wondering how the Jewish leaders of Jesus day could have been such doofuses. We would never do that, of course! We’re the people who love Jesus and who love the Bible. We are more careful than most…

And yet, I must propose we are just as guilty. We have many traditions that have been handed down to us that have no basis in the Scripture.

And the answer to this problem is to open ourselves to careful observation. If we don’t see what it says, we’ll always struggle to understand what it means.

For this reason, a few years ago, I began keeping a list of things that most Protestants assume are in the Bible, but really are not. If you thought God regularly walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, or that the resurrected Jesus walked through walls, or even that Jesus’ ministry lasted for 3 years, you need to read it again and observe more carefully!

And I must confess I’m as guilty as anyone. This past week, I came across an article blowing up an idea that I always took for granted: that God changed Saul’s name to Paul at his conversion. In “No…’Saul the Persecutor’ Did Not Become ‘Paul the Apostle,'” Greg Lanier does a terrific job observing the biblical data to show that this idea is merely a false tradition not based in the text of Scripture. If you’re willing to reconsider your assumptions and truly let God’s word shape your thinking, I encourage you to check out Lanier’s article. It delights me when I see people taking the word so seriously and helping us learn to read it well.

Check it out!

 

 

3 Tips for Healthy Correlation, Part 2

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Yesterday, I gave the first tip for healthy correlation. Here are the last two.

2. Don’t just harmonize; rather illuminateilluminate

In former generations, it was all the rage in Bible circles to harmonize parallel passages. A teacher would take a story like the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6, and he’d “re-write” the story using details from all four accounts. Then he’d preach or comment on the harmonized text, and not on any one of the original texts.

If you like old commentaries, you know what I mean. John Calvin didn’t write any commentaries on Matthew, Mark, or Luke. He just wrote one commentary on the “Harmony of the Gospels” and another one on John.

Unfortunately, this approach misses the fact that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all had different points to make, even when recounting the same event. This goes for Samuel, Kings and Chronicles as well. And Kings and Isaiah. And Leviticus and Deuteronomy, for that matter (with respect to laws, not events).

Here’s what’s good, though: sometimes other passages can help to illuminate the passage under study. For example, Genesis 15:7-21 doesn’t make a lot of sense to modern readers without help from Jeremiah 34:18-20. Ancient readers were familiar with the ritual; we are not.

3. Don’t connect words; connect ideas

Word studies are even more popular than donuts and coffee when it comes to Bible study. With the advent of internet search engines it’s easier than ever to look up every instance of a particular word or phrase and string them together.

The problem is that a word’s meaning isn’t in the word itself but in its use in the sentence. For example, what does the word “mean” mean? Does it have to do with defining something? Or is it a person with a bad temper? Or is it the average of a set of numbers? Or a lack of some sort? Or is it just hip slang for “great,” as in “she cooks a mean casserole.”

We can know the answer only when we see the word in context.

I just Googled the phrase “run for the border.” In the top 7 hits I got a seedy hotel, a marathon, a 3.5-mile race, a “Mexican” fast-food restaurant, a hedgehog in a sweater, a country music album, and a book about immigration control. Now if I did a “word study” that combined all these uses into one unified meaning, I could probably make some big bucks off it.

Word-connections can be very helpful when it comes to people or place names (for example, if you’re reading Philippians, you might search for “Philippi” to get more background on it from Acts). But for general vocabulary? Not so good.

Here’s a better way forward. Study each passage in context and grasp its main point. Then look for other passages that address a similar topic or idea. Then connect them to get a full picture of the idea.

As you correlate, correlate well. And build your understanding of God’s Knowable Word. As you do, you’ll grow closer to the Lord himself, day after day after day, world without end, amen.

3 Tips for Healthy Correlation, Part 1

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Correlation is the process of connecting Bible passages into a systematic theology or worldview.  Correlation could also be described as topical (some might say “deductive”) Bible study.

surfingCorrelation is not the same thing as cross-referencing.  Cross-referencing is what we do when we surf the Bible as though it were YouTube.  We read one passage, which makes us think of another one, which makes us think of another one, which makes us think of another one, which makes us think of another one, world without end, amen.

Unfortunately, cross-referencing rarely produces much insight into any of the texts.  It certainly takes a lot of time, which produces some satisfaction.  But it doesn’t help us to know God.  It’s like speed-dating, giving the impression of activity without much intimacy.

How do we correlate effectively while avoiding the dangers of unhelpful cross-referencing?

1.  Don’t correlate too soon; understand each passage first

When I study the Bible, and I feel stuck (the meaning isn’t coming to me as quickly or intuitively as I’d prefer), it’s easy to stare at that center column in my Bible and start flipping.  But I’m in danger of making an unhelpful connection.

When I feel stuck, the answer is usually to go back and observe better.  Or to think of a few more questions.  By all means, I should have a guess at the main point before I attempt any connections to other passages.

For example, one of my study Bibles has a cross-reference on Luke 2:1 that takes me to Matthew 24:14.  So there’s a connection between “the entire Roman world” in Luke 2:1, NIV and “this gospel will be preached in the whole world” in Matt 24:14, NIV.  Perhaps that means that Matthew is talking only of Rome?  Or is Luke showing us how Jesus paves the way for the kingdom to expand?

None of these questions are necessarily bad or incorrect, but they will take us away from what Matthew and Luke want to communicate.  Let’s not get distracted.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the other two tips.

Book Review: The Most Misused Verses in the Bible

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inigo-montoyaHas someone ever encouraged you to ask for something in Jesus’ name because He’s promised to give it to you (according to John 14:14) ? Or perhaps you yourself have wondered what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 18:20, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” (Isn’t Jesus always with us, according to Matthew 28:20?) Or it may be that you’ve heard a motivational speaker emphasize the importance of vision-casting leadership by quoting Proverbs 29:18 in the King James Version: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

If you have experienced these or similar scenarios, you’ve probably scratched your head and wondered what you were missing. Does the Bible really say those things?

The answer is often yes and no – yes, the Bible [sorta] says those things, but no, it doesn’t mean what you think it means.

misused

I recently finished reading a very helpful book that addresses some of the most misused verses in the Bible, appropriately entitled, The Most Misused Verses in the Bible. Author Eric J Bargerhuff does a masterful job of graciously explaining the importance of placing all Bible verses in their proper context – and he works through this by dedicating one chapter to each of these “misused verses”.

The chapters are short, clear and filled with helpful explanations that don’t require a theology degree to understand. Bargerhuff also humbly offers examples from his own life that give the book a warm and approachable tone.

Two quotes to whet your appetite:

[Referencing the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4] What’s interesting here is that Satan not only knows and uses the Word of God, but this time (unlike in the garden), he chooses to quote it correctly.  In other words, it is not a misquote or an incorrect citation of the verse, but it is a misuse of it.

We have no right to hold God hostage to a promise that we have misunderstood.

If you’ve enjoyed reading Knowable Word, you’ll likely also appreciate reading The Most Misused Verses in the Bible. Check it out!

How to Apply the Bible: Summary

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A few weeks ago I promised that anyone could learn how to apply the Bible to life.  Since then, I’ve given a several categories to help flex your application muscles.  Today I’d like to pull it all together.

We can apply the Bible in 2 directions and to 3 spheres.  Think of these things as a matrix, with the spheres (head, heart, hands) down the left side and the directions (inward, outward) across the top.  Here’s a worksheet to help you visualize it.

When you sit down to study the Bible, and you feel stuck in application, use this worksheet to help.  Just write a few ideas in each box, and see if you can fill all six.

Here are some tips to help you do so:

  1. Don’t fall into the trap of too much self-centered living.  Push your application outward, and consider how you can be more effective at influencing others to know Christ.
  2. Don’t fall into the trap of overly theological application (too much focus on your head).  God cares about what you think and believe, but he also cares about your character and obedience.
  3. Don’t fall into the trap of overly ethical application (too much focus on your hands).  God cares about what you do, but he also cares about your thinking and character.
  4. Don’t fall into the trap of overly pietistic application (too much focus on your heart).  God cares about who you are, but it should flow out to your thinking and obedience as well.

Finally, here are some positive suggestions:

  1. Remember Jesus Christ,risen from the dead (2 Tim 2:8).  Your application will fall to pieces if it’s about you and your strength to produce change.  Only the resurrection power of Jesus, put within you by his Holy Spirit, can make any difference in your life.
  2. Get specific.  Your application will flutter about in the wind of life if you don’t nail down details.  Don’t settle for broad principles; make concrete action steps.

I’ll expand on these last two tips in the next few weeks.

4 Mistakes When Using Commentaries

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Image-CommentaryWhenever I teach people how to study the Bible (this OIA stuff), the question usually arises: What about using commentaries or study Bibles?

It’s a great question, because we’re surrounded by great resources.  But every blessing can become a curse when we rely on the blessing and not on the Lord, so here are some common mistakes regarding commentary usage.

Mistake #1: Ignore what others have said

We need to learn in community with others, and Study Bibles and commentaries (at least good ones) represent the best Christian thinking over thousands of years.  We need to learn from the wisdom of others.

Mistake #2: Allow commentaries to do your Bible study for you

It’s tempting to read a portion of Scripture and then go right to the study notes or commentary.  Once we’ve seen what the experts have said, we think we understand the passage.

This practice is not much different from what the Jewish rabbis used to do.  They’d debate interpretation by quoting different schools of thought, referring to the relevant commentaries to support their position.  When Jesus came along, he astonished his generation because he refused to teach this way (Matt 7:28-29).  He went right back to the Scripture itself, and he observed, interpreted, and applied it for the people (Matt 21:16, 42; Mark 2:25).

Jesus passed his authority on to his followers, so they could interpret his Word for succeeding generations (Matt 28:18, 20; John 14:12, 25-26; 2 Cor 5:20).  With the help of Jesus’ Spirit, you, too, can read and understand God’s knowable Word.

Mistake #3: Go to commentaries too quickly

When the meaning of a passage isn’t intuitively obvious, it’s tempting to grab a commentary right away.  But I recommend that you carefully observe the Scripture and work to interpret it on your own.  Spend time thinking about it.  Learn how to ask questions and then answer them.  Try to determine the author’s main point.

Then read some study notes or commentaries to “check your work.”  See if others have already come to similar conclusions from the text.  If they have, terrific.  If they haven’t, then you may want to reconsider your own conclusions.  Either way, you’ll get the help you need without short-circuiting the process of learning how to handle the Scripture yourself (2 Tim 2:15).

Mistake #4: Believe everything you read

Remember that paper doesn’t say “no” to ink.  Cyberspace excludes no fools.  Just because something has been published doesn’t mean it’s true.

The point of the OIA method of Bible study is to teach you how to think and how to draw near to the Lord.  As you compare your study of Scripture to that of the experts, be humble but also be wise.  Always ask if what you’re reading in the commentary is faithful to the text or not.

May we always let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, that we might teach and admonish one another in all wisdom (Col 3:16).

Seven Things Not in the Bible, Revisited

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Yesterday, I listed seven things which are commonly believed to be in the Bible but really aren’t.  Now that you’ve had time to stew, I’ll show my work.  Here goes:

1.  Adam and Eve frequently walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden

Despite what the old hymns say, it’s just not in the Scripture.  All that Genesis 3:8 says is that there was one particular day when Adam and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden.  It may have been a regular habit of his, but we just don’t know for sure.

2.  Jesus walked through walls after his resurrection

Observe John 20:19 carefully.  It never says that Jesus walked through walls.  Sure, the doors were locked.  Sure, Jesus came and stood among them.  But how did he get there?  Was his resurrection body somehow immaterial such that it could pass through solid structures?

Perhaps.  But maybe he came in through the window.  Maybe he picked the lock and walked through the doorway.  Maybe he knocked and knocked until someone opened the door for him.  Maybe he opened up a hole in the roof and had four friends lower him on a pallet.  All these things are possible; we just don’t know.

Since Luke 24:39-43 makes it abundantly clear that Jesus was not a ghost (a “spirit”), I’m personally disinclined to believe the Jesus-walked-through-walls idea.

3.  Christians are commanded to pray before every meal

Mark 6:41 and Luke 24:30 show Jesus “blessing” a meal.  1 Timothy 4:4 suggests that we receive everything with thanks.  But I’m not aware of any command in Scripture to offer up a prayer before eating a meal.  So, next time you’re visiting with unbelieving friends – especially in public or on their turf – don’t make a big deal out of praying!  The Gospel will be offensive enough; don’t put any other stumbling blocks in their way.

4.  Young Daniel was tossed into the lion’s den

He had to be around 90 years old when it happened.  He was carried to Babylon as a teenager in 605 BC (Daniel 1:1), and he was thrown to the lions during the first year of Darius in 539 BC (Daniel 5:31-6:1) – almost 70 years later.  We have one children’s Bible that gets this right; Daniel is an old, old man with the lions.  Most of them get it wrong.

5.  Judah, Jacob’s fourth son, inherited the rights of the firstborn and became chief heir of Jacob’s blessing

Some suggest that since Reuben (Genesis 49:3-4), Simeon, and Levi (Genesis 49:5-7) lost the rights of the firstborn, they must have gone to Judah, the fourth son.  This view is attractive, considering that Jesus descended from Judah.

But the Bible makes it clear that, although Judah, and thus Jesus, was promised the kingship (Genesis 49:10), Joseph inherited the blessing of the firstborn.  That’s why his two sons became their own tribes (double portion of the firstborn – Genesis 48:14-16).  If you have any doubt of this fact, see 1 Chronicles 5:1-2.

Why does it matter?  Because a major theme in Scripture is the preeminence of the younger brother over the rightful older brother.  Jesus is the younger brother who replaced all the older brothers who went before him and screwed things up (especially Adam).  So also, we who are young, weak, and foolish, were rescued by God to shame the strong and the wise (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

6.  Money is the root of all evil

It’s the love of money that is a root of all kinds of evils (1 Timothy 6:10).

7.  God saved Noah because Noah was the only righteous man on earth

This one drives me nuts when I read children’s Bibles to my kids.  Noah didn’t find favor with God because he was righteous (no-one is righteous, no, not one – Psalm 14:1-3).  He was righteous because he found favor with God (Genesis 6:8-9).  Just like us (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Seven Things You Always Thought Were in the Bible But Really Aren’t

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We can discern common Christian legends by observing the text carefully!  I don’t think you’ll find any of these things in the Bible, but please feel free to comment if I missed something.

  1. Adam and Eve frequently walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden
  2. Jesus walked through walls after his resurrection
  3. Christians are commanded to pray before every meal
  4. Young Daniel was tossed into the lion’s den
  5. Judah, Jacob’s fourth son, inherited the rights of the firstborn and became chief heir of Jacob’s blessing
  6. Money is the root of all evil
  7. God saved Noah because Noah was the only righteous man on earth

How’d You Do That? (5/16/12)

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In Wednesday’s post, I continued listing some counterfeits to wisdom present in our day.  All I tried to do here was apply the introductory material by dealing with some issues that may hopefully hit closer to home for some of us.

How many times have you heard (or said) the following?

  • “You’ll understand when you’re older.”
  • “Once you get a few gray hairs (or some more experience under your belt), then you’ll earn more respect or influence.”
  • “Why should I do what you’re saying?”  “Because I’m your father!”

One way to apply Bible passages is to consider what we ought to believe.  I’ve heard this called the “Head” realm of application (as distinct from the “Hands” or “Heart” realms, which refer more to skills or character).  In this case, we ought to believe the right thing (and not the wrong thing) about how to become wise.  Let’s not fall for the subtle but unbiblical assumptions that exist all around us.

One more thought: in this post, I considered some common misconceptions about how one becomes wise.  I tried to reflect what was good before identifying what I thought was bad.

Even if we disagree with someone or some idea, we should always first aim to find what is good, true, and beautiful about it.  After we build agreement there, we can move toward addressing areas of disagreement.  I think Paul had this approach in mind when he wrote Philippians 4:8, which is in the context of helping two women deal with a conflict in Philippians 4:2.  I encourage you to study Philippians 4:2-9 and follow the steps listed there the next time you are in a conflict with another person and want either the peace of God or the God of peace to be with you.

How’d You Do That? (5/10/12)

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In Thursday’s post, we briefly surveyed Proverbs 9 and identified a few common counterfeits of wisdom in our day.  Here are some principles demonstrated in that post.

1.  Observe Comparison and Contrast

Proverbs 9 describes two different women.  We are meant to observe what is similar (comparison) and what is different (contrast) about them.

Similarities: women, serving a meal, making invitations to bystanders.

Differences: prepared food vs. secret bread, mixing wine vs. stealing water, sending maidens vs. no maidens, hewing pillars vs. knowing nothing.

Observing the similarities and differences enables us to see that, though both want to recruit followers and serve them a meal, what they offer and how they offer it is very different.  Folly is copying Wisdom, but with less power and weaker results.  We too ought to expect counterfeits to wisdom.

Comparison and contrast are simple yet powerful to observe.  Here are a few more examples.

Characters, such as:

  • Abram/Lot in Genesis 13-14, 18-19
  • Zechariah/Mary in Luke 1:5-38

Plots, such as:

  • Men meeting women at wells in Genesis 24:15-21 & 29:9-12, Exodus 2:15-22, John 4:1-10
  • Sexually immoral demands at the doorstep in Genesis 19 & Judges 19

Settings, such as:

  • Personal encounters with God on mountains in Exodus 33-34, 1 Kings 19:9-18, and Mark 9:2-8
  • Childlessness in Genesis 11:27-31, 25:19-22, 29:31; Judges 13:1-3, 1 Samuel 1:1-2, Matthew 1:18-25

Things, such as:

  • Two gates, two trees, two candidates for the Kingdom, two houses in Matthew 7:15-27

Whenever we see two or more things that resemble each other in some way, we should keep our eyes out for both similarities and differences.  Make two lists, and ask yourself the question, “what is the author trying to communicate by comparing or contrasting these things?”

2.  Identify What a Passage is NOT Saying

When I moved toward particular application, I began to list some common assumptions in our day regarding what makes someone wise.  I haven’t yet defined, from the text of Proverbs, what wisdom is; I thought first it would be helpful to clear out some misconceptions.

One way to apply a text of Scripture is to consider what we ought to believe in light of the passage.  As we do so, we can identify what common beliefs exist in our culture don’t quite hit the bullseye.  Recognizing these faulty beliefs enables us to clear the debris so we can apply right beliefs.  We’ll see this in a few weeks when we move past the counterfeits (what wisdom is not) and define what wisdom is.