Peter Krol | Knowable Word

You Cannot Trust Christ Without Trusting the Scripture

February 1, 2023 By Peter Krol

Note: I’m not sure why the original post no longer appears on the CCW site, but you can still read it via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

In this post, Jim Elliff makes a profound point: It is not possible to know or trust Christ while denying the authority or reliability of the Bible. Elliff tells of a learned man who claimed to see a vision of Jesus, while doubting that he could trust what the Bible says about him. But such deception is one of Satan’s tactics, and the fruit of such deception is the very reason for which Jesus pronounced a curse on the religious leaders of his day.

Elliff remarks:

I have many friends who struggle with the Scriptures. I’m really not unsympathetic to their viewpoint. Believing in the Scriptures as true and reliable and inerrant has many detractors. Voices of disbelief come from all sides. But when you see the glory of Christ in them, something changes in the reader.

Check it out!

Units of Thought in Discourse

January 27, 2023 By Peter Krol

One of the most important observations to make in a passage is the structure. And the way to observe structure is to first identify the parts of the passage (the units of thought) so that you can figure out how those parts relate to one another. In this post I’ll show you some of the ways to recognize the units of thought in a discourse.

What is a Discourse?

Discourse is one of the three text types in Scripture. A discourse is simply a passage where someone is speaking. It could be a speech or sermon. It could be a law code. It could be a letter. It could be a prose prophetic text. But when someone is speaking or teaching, a few particular tools will help us to discern the units of thought in that speech.

Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

Logical Connectors

The first thing to look for is logical connectors. These are words or phrases that signal the movement from one idea to another. Such words include because, since, however, therefore, consequently, for this reason, finally, and many more.

It’s important to observe the use of such logical connectors, but it’s even more important to figure out how they are being used. For example, the word “but” could signal a very narrow and particular contrast between two words (e.g. the contrast between “bronze bases” and “silver hooks” in Ex 38:17). It could signal a larger contrast between clauses (e.g. the contrast between “the patriarchs sold him into Egypt” and “God was with him” in Acts 7:9). Or it could signal a larger contrast between sections or units of thought (e.g. the contrast between “you were” in Eph 2:1-3 and “but God” in Eph 2:4-6).

Noticing these larger, discourse-level transitions (not just word-level or clause-level transitions) helps us to follow the author’s larger argument by identifying his units of thought. For example, in Ephesians, after the blessing of God in Eph 1:3-14, the connector words “for this reason” (Eph 1:15) signal the next section. And there is no discourse-level connector word again until the “therefore” of Eph 2:11. This suggests that Eph 1:15-2:10 are a single unit of thought, explaining Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians to perceive their union with Christ. And the “therefore” section of Eph 2:11-22 explains the practical implications of such union of the entire community with Christ (and therefore with one another).

Transitional and Thesis Statements

In a modern-day sermon, you might hear the preacher say “My first point is…” or “Having seen [the first point], that leads us to consider the matter of [the second point].” These are the sorts of transitional words and phrases speakers use to let their audience know they are moving from one idea to the next. Some biblical discourses do the same thing.

For example, Hebrews 1:4 states a thesis that the Son of God is superior to angels because he has inherited a superior name. Heb 1:5-14 then explains the superiority of the Son, and Heb 2:5-18 demonstrates his superior name. Though there is some application in the middle (Heb 2:1-4), Heb 1:4-2:18 makes one complete unit of thought.

Another example: Eccl 11:7-8 states a thesis that because light is pleasant for the eyes, we ought to rejoice in what God gives and remember that dark days are coming. Eccl 11:9-10 then expands on the command to rejoice in God’s gift of life, and Eccl 12:1-7 expands on the command to remember the Creator before the dark days of old age threaten your joy.

One more example: In the second half of 1 Corinthians, Paul introduces each section with a transitional “concerning [the matters about which you wrote.” These transitional statements clearly inform us how to understand each section, so that we don’t get lost in the details. 1 Cor 7 deals with sexual relationships. 1 Cor 8-11 addresses the matter of food offered to idols. 1 Cor 12-14 covers the topic of spiritual things or spiritual people (the word “gifts” does not appear in the Greek of 1 Cor 12:1 but is added by translators).

Shifts in Content

When distinguishing units of thought in discourse, one final tool to keep in mind is straightforward shifts in content. We see such shifts clearly in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where he uses very few direct transitions or connectors. After the blessings (Matt 5:3-12) he discusses salt and light (Matt 5:13-16) and the proper understanding of the Law and the Prophets, against Pharisaic oral tradition (Matt 5:17-48).

Then he does offer a thesis statement in Matt 6:1 to warn us of practicing righteousness before other people, and his shifts in content from giving (Matt 6:2-4) to prayer (Matt 6:5-15) to fasting (Matt 6:16-18) mark the subdivisions under that larger thesis.

Finally, he concludes the sermon with discussion of treasure (Matt 6:19-34), true and false judgments (Matt 7:1-20), and hearing and doing (Matt 7:21-27).

Embedded Discourse

One special type of discourse to watch for is embedded discourse, which is when a speech is placed within another kind of text, such as a narrative. When we’re dealing with embedded discourse, we must not only look for structural markers within the discourse itself. We must also pay close attention to the narrative markers that show the author’s larger purpose.

The Sermon on the Mount is embedded within Matthew’s larger narrative. So while the shifts in content help us to observe structural units of thought within the speech, we must also take note of the narrative frame in Matt 4:23-5:2 and Matt 7:28-29 to grasp not only Jesus’ point but also Matthew’s larger point in recounting the sermon.

Another example: In the Flood narrative, notice the narrative markers “And God said to Noah” (Gen 6:13) and “Then the LORD aid to Noah” (Gen 7:1). Prior to the Flood, God makes two speeches to Noah. We ought not squish them together, as though they were a single set of instructions. The narrator signals that God had two points to make or two sets of instructions for Noah.

Similarly, in Genesis 17, the narrative markers of Gen 17:1, 9, 15, and 22 mark three distinct speeches of God. God had something to say about himself (Gen 17:1-8). Something about Abram (Gen 17:9-14). Something about Sarai (Gen 17:15-21). And then he was done (Gen 27:22). Simply observe how the discourse has been embedded within the narrative, and you have immediately found the main units of thought and thereby the structure.

Conclusion

Discourse texts are some of the most beloved passages in all the Scripture. But we must be careful, for it is remarkably easy to get lost in the details. Employ these four tools—logical connectors, transitional and thesis statements, content shifts, and narrative markers for embedded discourse—to help you find the units of thought, and you’ll be well on your way to grasping the passage’s structure. This matters, because only once you’ve grasped the structure will you be able to draw credible and defensible conclusions about the passage’s main idea.

A Sensible Approach to Difficult Small Group Members

January 25, 2023 By Peter Krol

Have you ever had a difficult small group member? It could be someone who dominates the conversation, or who lacks restraint from being a gossip or busybody. What do you do in such a situation?

Too often, I find, leaders are afraid to address the matter directly and instead resort to hints and innuendo in hope that the person will simply catch on to others’ displeasure at their behavior. But this will not do. It is neither kind nor truthful.

Rachel Bailey offers some refreshingly sensible and biblical advice:

Set firm boundaries
Extend grace
Have a conversation

Bailey’s piece is filled with biblical support and practical guidance. I urge you to check it out!

How to Find the Parts of a Passage

January 20, 2023 By Peter Krol

Your top priority in Bible study is to discern the author’s main point. And to discern that main point, one of the most important observations you can make is the passage’s structure. The structure of the text refers to how the author has arranged of the parts.

However, before you can see an order or arrangement of the parts, you have to be able to identify the parts!

What are the parts?

We can identify units of thought on different scales. What are the divisions of a whole book? What are the parts of each division? What are the paragraphs or stanzas within each part? Ryan addressed some of these different scales when he asked how much of the Bible we should study at a time. Because the skills of observing units of thought carry over from the smaller scale to the larger scale, I’ll address that smaller scale (dividing the text into paragraphs or stanzas) first.

When in doubt, you can begin by following the editors of your favorite translation, who have typically broken up the text into paragraphs or stanzas for you. But different translations have divided the paragraphs or stanzas in different places, so no single committee is always right! For example, take Proverbs 3:27. The ESV handles it as the end of a stanza (Prov 3:21-27), but the CSB treats it as the beginning of another (Prov 3:27-35). I’m inclined to agree with the CSB on this one, on account of the structure of the argument.

How do you recognize the parts?

But how do you go about making such a decision? How do you identify coherent parts or units in the passage without simply dissecting the whole thing like a bin full of Lego minifigure heads? It all depends on the text type.

In a narrative, units of thought are generally defined by scenes. Sometimes (especially in the gospels) scenes contain one complete plot arc—for example, Luke 5:1-11. Sometimes (especially in Old Testament narratives) a single plot arc can stretch over a few scenes—for example, 1 Kings 18:1-46.
In a poem, units of thought are generally defined by coherent metaphors or persons. When the metaphor shifts, or the address shifts from talking about one person to talking to or about another, you may be observing distinct units of thought. For example, Psalm 80 shifts from the metaphor of a saving shepherd (Ps 80:1-3) to that of an angry provider (Ps 80:4-7) to that of a ravaged vine (Ps 80:8-19)—marking three units of thought.
In a discourse, units of thought are generally defined by conclusions and premises. The authors of letters and speeches seek to persuade their audience through argumentation, so they mark their units of thought by means of their conclusions. For example, Heb 1:13 argues that God has spoken by his Son. Heb 1:4-14 argues that this Son is superior to angels. Heb 2:1-4 argues that we must pay closer attention to the Son’s message that we would to the angels’ message. And so on. Track the flow from one conclusion to the next, and you’ll discern the units of thought.

Conclusion

I’m not suggesting a simple one-size-fits-all approach to any of these text types. Such literary analysis can get quite complex and requires careful thought. But if you start with these basic skills, you’ll improve at recognizing when you need to expand your toolset to other sorts of skills as well.

We Have Something Better than a Mountaintop Experience

January 18, 2023 By Peter Krol

I recently wrote a piece for Word by Word, the blog for Logos Bible Software, about the search for mountaintop experiences. Here is a taste:

“I need to hear a voice from heaven.”

That’s what Robert, an atheist, told me after we met together to read the Bible for most of an academic year. We had studied John, Romans, and selections of the Old Testament to examine both the claims of Christ to be the Savior of the world and his resurrection from the dead to vindicate those claims. In the end, Robert refused to believe, asserting it was nothing but a cleverly devised myth.

Now it’s one thing when an atheist approaches the Bible this way with respect to converting to Christ. But surely true followers of Jesus wouldn’t approach the Bible that way with respect to their spiritual formation. They wouldn’t require a voice from heaven before repenting of sin or conforming to Christlike character. Right? … Right?

There was a follower of Jesus, who had the most dramatic mountaintop experience in history. And his conclusion was that you and I don’t need to share it, because we have something even better.

Check it out!

The Art of Observing What’s Not Said

January 13, 2023 By Peter Krol

We’ve mentioned it a thousand times: When we observe a passage of the Bible, we’re trying to figure out what it says. However, sometimes we won’t fully grasp what it says without first observing what it doesn’t say. Ryan has made this point in two recent posts with respect to characters’ names. But what’s not said applies to many other types of observation as well. Here are three examples.

Example #1: Luke 15:11-32

The parable commonly known as “The Prodigal Son” is really about Two Brothers. We’re told of the bad choices of the younger son (Luke 15:12-16), and his risky decision to come back home (Luke 15:17-19). We’re told about what happened upon his return (father runs to meet him, throws a party, etc., in Luke 15:20-24).

Then we’re told of the bad attitude and choices of the older son (Luke 15:25-30). We hear the father’s appeal to his grumbling son (Luke 15:31-32). But we never find out what he decided or what happened.

The two brothers are parallel to one another. Their stories are parallel. Up to the point where we expect to hear the choice and results of the older son’s decision. But that choice and its results are left unsaid. The parable simply ends on a cliffhanger.

What is the point of the omission? Jesus lets the end of the story play itself out in the response of the Pharisees and scribes who were grumbling (Luke 15:2). Luke 13-14 was all about the feast and joy of the kingdom of God. Will these grumbling scribes and Pharisees enter? Will those who are saved be few (Luke 13:23)?

Example #2: Psalm 55

This emotional poem is about the pain and paranoia of betrayal. The whole poem is rather scatter-shot, without a clearly discernible structure, perhaps reflecting the manic state David is in as he composes it.

David describes the anguish of his fear, terror, and horror (Ps 55:4-5). He wants nothing more than to get out of the situation (Ps 55:6-8). And he asks God to do something about the situation (Ps 55:9).

But look at the last line of the poem. As David’s complaints rise to their peak, notice where he finally lands. He does not put his trust in what God will do. That’s how I would end such a prayer; how about you?

Instead, he ends with a declaration of trust in God himself. This might not be how we expect the poem to end, so noticing what he doesn’t say makes what he actually says really pop.

Example #3: Philippians 4:4

Here is the verse in its entirety: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

In this example, I encourage you to observe what is not present at the beginning of the verse. Something that nearly everyone who reads the passage presumes is there, or at least they act like it’s there.

What is this absent wonder of which I speak? A transition.

This verse has no transition. No connector word at all to link it, divide it, or contrast it with the previous verse. This absence of a transition is one reason I believe Paul is not changing the subject. There is a “finally” in verse 8, which could be a transition to a new unit of thought (or simply conclude the list practical suggestions). Verse 10 switches from present to past tense and has “now at length,” which certainly signals a transition to a new idea.

So noticing what’s not said may help us to follow Paul’s argument, so we might avoid separating his counsel (Phil 4:4-9) from the very situation to which he directed that counsel (Phil 4:2-3).

Conclusion

Observing what’s not said is definitely an art and not a science, so you need to use common sense. Identify what you might expect from a passage. Then make sure to observe how (and whether) the text subverts those expectations to sharpen its argument. The biblical authors are constantly working to subvert our expectations so they might better persuade us to trust the Lord and seek first his kingdom.

Don’t Give Up: You Can Understand the Bible

January 11, 2023 By Peter Krol

Marshall Segal understands what it’s like to wrestle with the Scripture, trying to understand it.

I’ve battled to get through the census records in Numbers. I’ve labored through the kidneys, livers, and “entrails” of the Levitical laws. I’ve grown weary of the repetitive failures of Israel in 1–2 Kings. I’ve sometimes struggled to see what Hebrews sees in the Old Testament. Much of the imagery of Revelation is still a mystery to me. And so, I regularly find these clear and accessible words from Paul all the more meaningful and encouraging:

Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (2 Timothy 2:7)

In the remainder of the article, Segal reflects on the amazing truth of 2 Timothy 2:7. Yes, such understanding will come only from the Lord. But such understanding will not require less work on our part but more.

I commend this piece to you. Check it out!

Top 10 Interpretive Book Overviews

January 6, 2023 By Peter Krol

Much of the time, when you read a Bible “book overview,” you’ll find all kinds of historical and cultural details. You’ll likely also get an observational outline of the book (an outline that observes what is said in each of the book’s sections). Such overviews are good and necessary resources for essential background. But when you read one of the book overviews on our site, you’ll primarily find a walkthrough and explanation of the book’s argument. What is the author’s chief message, and how does he go about presenting that message?

Continuing in the spirit of the top 10 lists presented over the last few weeks, here are the top 10 most-viewed posts from the “interpretive book overviews” series. If you browse the full list, you’ll see that we’ve currently got 21 installments. So if you have time to read only 10 of them, you may want to consider these 10.

Mark: Can’t You See God’s King?
Psalms: The Blessing of God’s Word and King
1 Thessalonians: A Community of Faith, Love, and Hope
Habakkuk: The One Thing that Must Change
Isaiah: Judgment and Deliverance
Ecclesiastes: The Fear of God Gives Joy Amid Frustration
Job: How to Fear the Lord When Everything Falls Apart
Daniel: The Most High Rules the Kingdoms of Men
Acts: The World’s Salvation Cannot be Stopped
Song of Songs: The Intoxication of True Love in its Time

Build Good Habits for the New Year

January 4, 2023 By Peter Krol

Matthew Boffey has 5 important suggestions for those who wish to set new habits in their Bible reading and devotional times.

Know your why.
Know your what.
Know your when and where.
Know your how.
Prepare to change things up.

Along the way, he offers specific tips for busy church leaders. Perhaps you’ve decided to join our annual 90-day Bible reading challenge. Perhaps you’d simply like to improve your overall time in the Word. These simple suggestions will make a big difference to help you reinforce good habits.

Check it out!

10. Top 10 OT Books Quoted in NT

This post is down from #9 last year. Though it comes from a series that analyzes not only books but also chapters and verses, this list of most-quoted books always seems to be one of the most popular.

9. 11 Old Testament Books Never Quoted in the New Testament

This post is down from #8 last year. It comes from the same six-part series—mentioned in the previous entry—analyzing every NT citation of an OT text. It’s interesting that, in that series about the NT quoting the OT, the most popular post is about the OT books that never get a direct quotation.

8. Summary of the OIA Method

Just as the title says, this post summarizes the OIA method we aim to teach. It’s basically the reason this blog exists, so we’re glad it gets a lot of page views. This is down from #7 last year.

7. 4 Bible Studies for Lent

This companion piece to Ryan’s 4 Bible studies for Advent is down from #5 last year. Lent is a great time to study the Bible, and here are four 6.5-week studies you could consider for that season. Be forewarned, however: These are not your typical you-can-only-trust-the-experts, fill-in-the-blank sort of Bible studies you may be used to.

6. How to Recognize Sowers of Discord

This post has been up and down the list for many years, rising from #10 last year. This post outlines from Proverbs 6:12-15 a few signs to help recognize divisive people. This post comes from Peter’s 2013 series of studies through the first 9 chapters of Proverbs.

5. Identifying Behemoth and Leviathan in the Book of Job

This post first appeared in 2015 as part of a brief series on Job (which included the #2 post coming later in this list) and was republished in 2021. But 2022 marks the first time this post appears on the top 10 list. As can be seen from the title, it identifies what the behemoth and leviathan are in the book of Job. Teaser: They are not the hippopotamus and crocodile. And they are not dinosaurs, either, but something even worse. You’ll have to read the post to find out what.

4. Context Matters: Apart From Me, You Can Do Nothing

This investigation of John 15 debuted on the top 10 list year at #6, rising two positions higher this year. This “context matters” post does not suggest any drastic rethinking of the popular use of the verse in question; it largely shows how rich and deep our grasp can go when the verse is read without isolating it from its context.

3. Context Matters: You Have Heard That it was Said…But I Say to You

This 2018 post was #9 on this list in 2020, but rose to #3 last year and solidly remains in that position. This post examines the series of contrasts in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to determine, from the context, what Jesus was arguing against. Hint: It wasn’t the Old Testament Law.

2. Why Elihu is So Mysterious

The popularity of this 2015 post (republished in 2021) continues to surprise us. We really cannot explain why it has been so popular, but if you haven’t read it, you must really be missing out! Elihu is that mysterious fourth friend in the book of Job. If you even knew he existed, chances are you’ve skipped his speeches entirely. This post is Peter’s attempt to explain Elihu’s role in the drama of the play of Job. This post was #3 in 2017, but then held the #1 slot until dropping to #2 in 2021, where it remains to this day.

1. 10 Reasons to Avoid Sexual Immorality

This was the most-viewed post in 2014, but then it dropped off the list until resurfacing as #8 in 2017 and #2 in 2018 and 2019. It dropped slightly to #3 in 2020, but has simply gone off the charts since 2021. No other post comes even close in pageviews. We’re delighted to see a continued interest in such an important topic. Find whatever motivates you to avoid sexual immorality, and glum onto God’s grace in providing that motivation!

Previous years’ lists: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013

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