Knowable Word - Bible study help

Is the KJV the Most Reverent and Majestic Translation?

April 27, 2016 By Peter Krol

A few months ago, I reviewed the excellent Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (RHKJV). On my study Bible buying guide, that study Bible tied for a close second place as one of the study Bibles that promotes good Bible study skills.

Joel Beeke, who led the editorial team for the RHKJV, wrote a short article in 2008 with “Practical Reasons for Retaining the KJV” translation. Though Beeke doesn’t take an extreme (KJV-only) position, Mark Ward recently wrote a response to Beeke’s points, explaining why modern translations are more helpful for modern people.

If you’ve ever wondered whether we should keep the KJV because it was the “standard English translation” for so long, or because it sounds more majestic and reverent than modern translations, you’ll want to see what Ward has to say. I stand by my recommendation of the RHKJV, but I retain significant caution with the elephant within (the archaic translation).

Check it out!

Disclaimer: My son, if thou wilt receive my words and click my Amazon links with thine own right hand, thou shalt supply an odour of a sweet smell when a commission from thy purchases provideth this blog with new tablets of stone upon which to engrave its writings. Blessed be ye of the Lord. But I say unto all which clicketh not: Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice?

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Women in the Church: Great, But Technical

April 22, 2016 By Peter Krol

Sometimes we need to read larger chunks of the Bible more quickly. And sometimes we need to drill down into a single chapter or verse. Either way, our goal is to understand clearly what God has spoken, so we can know him and live for his good pleasure.

Because too much study of verses-in-isolation can give us a mistaken picture of God’s intentions, my interest lies more with the first, broad type of reading. But I’m also committed to regularly studying small portions of text, in context, to gain deeper insight into the big picture. To that end, I was delighted to receive from Crossway a review copy of Women in the Church (3rd Edition): An Interpretation and Application of 1 Timothy 2:9-15 in exchange for an honest review.

And this book goes deep. The subtitle deceives, as this book is really about not the paragraph of 1 Timothy 2:9-15, but the lone controversial verse of 1 Timothy 2:12: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” Though parts of the book look at the paragraph – and even the full chapter – to explain the passage’s logic, the book targets verse 12 as the chief subject. Beyond that, one chapter of Women in the Church examines, nearly exhaustively, the lone Greek word behind the English phrase “exercise authority.” So after discussing the cultural context of first-century Ephesus, the contributors move from the word “exercise authority,” to the phrase “teach or exercise authority,” to the sentence, to the paragraph, to the chapter, to contemporary non-Western cultural applications, and finally to a virtual round table discussion about contemporary Western-culture applications.

As I said, this book goes deep. The material is thorough and exhaustive. The controversial verse gets tackled from almost every direction. I benefited greatly from this book, and I’m glad to have read it. I highly recommend the book for pastors, scholars, and academically minded Christians familiar with the Bible’s original languages.

However, I can’t recommend it for the average reader for three reasons:

It is long.
It is technical.
It uses much Greek without ever transliterating it. For example, when discussing the word for “exercise authority,” the book never uses authentein. It uses αὐθεντεῖν. If Greek study will play a role in a work of scholarship I prefer this approach; but I admit it makes it difficult for people who don’t know the difference between v and nu.

The contributors try to make the book more accessible in the last chapter, where they interview a panel of pastors and Christian writers about their own church experiences. And this chapter begins exceptionally well:

“Tried-and-true Bible study moves from observation to interpretation to application. In this volume so far, we’ve done plenty of observing and interpreting…But while the detailed efforts at observation and interpretation have clarified the meaning of the passage, many questions remain on the level of significance, that is, with regard to specific points of application in the myriad of contexts in which many of us find ourselves today.”

I couldn’t agree more with this quotation. But unfortunately, the chapter doesn’t follow through on its promise to offer “specific points of application.” The round table discussion remains vaguely general. And in the end, I found it less than satisfying.

With that said, the rest of the book offers careful scholarship on key questions that arise over this passage. Is Paul addressing a specific cultural situation that no longer holds true today? Does “teach or exercise authority” really mean “teach authoritatively”? Is authentein best translated as “assume authority” (NIV) and not as “exercise authority” (ESV) or “have authority” (NKJV, HCSB)? Is the prohibition time-bound, as is the prohibitions on braided hair and jewelry in 1 Tim 2:9? How do we make sense of the many objections to the “traditional” understanding of this verse?

So my feelings on the book are mixed. If you have these burning questions, and you’re not threatened by a technical approach to them, go for it. There is much here for you. But if you just want plain English, you may want to wait for another book that takes this research and adapts it for ordinary folks.

Disclaimer: The Amazon links in this post are affiliate links. Clicking them and buying stuff will help us continue to maintain this blog, at no extra cost to yourself.

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5 Reasons to Read the Entire Bible This Year

April 20, 2016 By Peter Krol

Back in December, Jeff Robinson gave 5 good reasons to read the entire Bible in 2016. How are you doing with your reading plan? Do you think it’s still worth it to read the Bible this year? Let Robinson’s 5 reasons motivate you to press on:

It helps you learn the overarching story of Scripture.
It will improve your ability to interpret and exegete Scripture.
It will keep you habitually in the Bible.
It will ensure you are engaging (and being engaged by) Scripture at least as frequently as you’re engaging other books.
It will force you to navigate those tricky, less traveled roads of Scripture.

Robinson explains each point and gives ideas for how to get started. Though it’s not still January, it’s not too late to get going. Check it out!

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Choose Good Sunday School Materials for Children

April 18, 2016 By Ryan Higginbottom

Sunday school materials for children—they fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. The sheer number of options is dizzying.

Organizations produce these materials using a lot of thought, time, and talent. The illustrations are professionally designed. The coloring pages and craft ideas are creative and instructive. The projects and activities are memorable and moving.

But the core of a Sunday school curriculum is the content. How should churches choose what their children study?

Anonymous, public domain

What’s the Substance?

Below, I’ll argue for the Bible as the cornerstone of a Sunday school curriculum, but there are many other approaches in use.

Moral lessons/examples — We’ve all seen these lessons that don’t quite ring true. Dare to be a Daniel! What are the five smooth stones you need to defeat the Goliath in your life?

Sunday school lessons as moral examples spring from the belief that a child’s behavior is of primary importance. The main lesson each Sunday is either be good, be nice, or be courageous. They treat the Bible as a baptized version of Aesop’s Fables.
Theology — Theology is inescapable when talking about God, but some curricula focus only on theological lessons. Children hear about angels, tongues, baptism, heaven, or the end times, often using extra-Biblical stories or dramas.

Materials like these are often tied to a provincial, denominational approach to Christianity. Parents and elders want the children to grow up and agree with all their theological points, large or small. They want more members of their church or denomination.
Christian life issues — This approach applies a vague Christian morality to common youth concerns. Some churches try to pick “edgy” titles in the hope of attracting teenagers.

Applying the Bible means that Sunday school lessons should land on all the difficult and interesting parts of life. But without a grounding in the Scriptures, to kids these lessons can sound like finger-wagging warnings from adults.

The Bible gives us morality, theology, and practical instruction for life. But a Sunday school curriculum addressing only these topics is incomplete and imbalanced.

Teach Children the Bible

For Christians, the Bible is essential. In it, we learn who God is, what he has done, and what he demands from us. Most importantly, in the Bible we learn the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Church leaders confess the importance of teaching these truths to children. So perhaps it seems obvious to teach children the Bible.

But there is a strong pull, for both children and adults, to move on from the Bible. Whether due to boredom or spiritual dullness, Sunday school lessons are often Bible-adjacent instead of Bible-focused.

Because children need the Bible, they must learn to study the Bible. Any Sunday school program that neglects Bible study skills sends warriors into battle without the sword training they need.

Broad Recommendations

Here’s my big-picture recommendation: Find a Sunday school curriculum that points children to the Bible and trains them to study it. The material you choose should accomplish this in age-sensitive ways.

In early elementary school, children are ready to observe and ask interpretive questions. Sunday school materials can provide structure to develop these skills. Patient teachers can guide the children toward the main point of a passage and help them to apply it.

In late elementary school, children should be able to go through the OIA process themselves. They might benefit from worksheets or Sunday school supplements, but this age group is ready for full-fledged Bible study. The emotions and changes in their lives provide plenty of opportunities for application.

Middle school students might not need a curriculum at all. Churches can invest those Sunday school dollars into Bibles for the children. Tell them to bring a notebook and pen on Sunday morning and show them how to study the Bible.

As you look for material for children’s Sunday school, make sure the kids take long drinks from the Bible. And as they get the Bible, make sure they learn how to study it themselves. Training the children with these skills is a sure way to build a Bible study culture in your church.

Here are two follow-up links: our resource page for teaching Bible study to children, and a review of an Advent family devotional and classroom curriculum.

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Listen to the Best Interpreter

April 15, 2016 By Peter Krol

This is a guest post by Zack Gugenheim. Zack lives in Lewisburg, PA with his wife Heather and their two children. Since 2008, he has ministered with DiscipleMakers, training students in bible study, evangelism, and discipleship. He is the lead campus staff at Bucknell University. You can follow his blog at Escape Escapism, or find him on Facebook. If you’d like to write a guest post for Knowable Word, please see our guidelines.

I was going to be the best. As a college student, I wanted to know God’s Word, and I wanted to interpret the Word well—and I wanted everyone to know it. Though God was working in many people, He was obviously working in me more! I expected people would see me as a deep thinker with an influential voice. What I didn’t expect, however, was that, during Bible study, I would find a better interpreter.

At our meeting we studied Matthew 13. In the chapter, great crowds gather to Jesus, and he tells of a sower who sows seed. Four soils each produce a result. Three yield no fruit, but the fourth yields lots of fruit!

As a proud, young, Christian, I of course knew the parable. But my greatest surprise came at what Jesus told His disciples afterwards:

Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom… (Matt 13:18-19a)

Jesus explains the parable. The sower sows the seed of God’s Word. And the soils? They represent people who hear the Word. At this point, the Bible study leader remarked, “Do you realize that as we interpret the Bible, the Bible is actually interpreting you?”

Ed Yourdon (2008), Creative Commons

I was in shock. I wanted to prove myself as a great Bible interpreter. But I hadn’t yet realized that the best interpreter in the room was the Word itself. It exposed my hard heart, and it revealed my lack of fruit. My invulnerability, pride, and self-centeredness were in the open. God’s Word had found me out, as it always does.

Now, of course we want to observe, interpret, and apply. We should be good students of the Word. But we must remember it isn’t a one-way street. We need more than good scholarship; we need exposure. As we look at God’s Word, it’s being sown in our hearts. And our response to that Word reveals what kind of people we are.

Can a book know us better than we know ourselves? The book God wrote can, and exposure produces change in us. Consider Hebrews 4:11-13:

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Imagine that. The world’s sharpest sword pierces your heart; it sees and understands all your thoughts and intentions. And nothing is hidden from God. You are naked and exposed. Why? So you may strive to enter that rest. In other words, only exposed people will cling to the cross of Christ.

So, as you interpret God’s Word, have you considered how it’s exposing you? Or do you hide behind facts, theology, or pride? Do your applications penetrate the surface of your life? Is God’s Word showing you where you are weak?

Let’s interpret God’s Word well. But as we do, let’s remember that this Word is always the best interpreter in the room.

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5 Reasons to Mark Up Your Bible

April 13, 2016 By Peter Krol

Kevin Halloran proposes “5 Blessings of Marking Up Your Bible.”

It engages me in more careful study.
It helps with future Bible reading.
It helps me remember experiences.
It encourages others who see its marked-up pages
It demonstrates the high value I place on God’s word.

Halloran also suggests what exactly to mark when you study your Bible. If you’d like ideas for a new markup Bible, see our post comparing the options.

Check it out!

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How to Train a Bible Study Apprentice

April 8, 2016 By Peter Krol

For a few months, I’ve written about how to train a Bible study apprentice. Some of you may have picked up on the method to my madness, but I imagine many have not.

So I’ve created a table of contents page for the series, which outlines the training model and links to each post. There is no better way to grow a small group ministry than to continually train apprentices to launch new groups. If you’d like to see the big picture and get a glimpse of where the rest of the series will go, check it out!

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Dos and Don’ts for Teaching Children the Bible

April 6, 2016 By Peter Krol

John Wells has a helpful article on teaching children the Bible. He gives 4 things to avoid and 5 things to embrace.

Don’t:

Teach narratives as moralistic fables
Use excessive extrapolation and subtext
Imply prosperity theology
Exclude non-narrative genres (letters, prophets, poets)

Do:

Read and talk with your children about the Bible
Give them the full Scripture, not just children’s Bibles
Teach them to think through paragraphs in the letters
In narrative, read the whole story and then ask questions
Be okay with not knowing the answers to all their questions

I think Wells overstates his case at a few points. For example, his first “don’t” almost sounds like the Bible doesn’t teach ethics (but it does). And his second “don’t” misses an important part of interpretation: Putting yourself there, and using your imagination to picture the scene. In arguing against an extreme situation (ignoring the text in favor of one’s own interpretation), Wells might react too far the other way.

But that said, I heartily agree with most of what he says. Give your children the Bible, not just children’s Bibles. Give them the whole Bible. Teach them to read, think, study, and apply. Show them Jesus. You can read the full article for more explanation of each point.

Check it out!

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Don’t Be Afraid to Teach Children’s Sunday School

April 4, 2016 By Ryan Higginbottom

Ralph Häusler (2013), public domain

As reliably as winter gives way to spring, churches need teachers and helpers for children’s Sunday school.

Not everyone is called to this ministry, but far more are equipped than are enlisted. Why do we have a shortage?

A High Calling

Sunday school is not just a way to occupy the children. For those 45 minutes, teachers talk to students about God, point them toward Jesus, and train them in Christian disciplines. What a high calling! What an opportunity!

We can become fearful when facing a weighty mission like this. Like a pot on the stove, the heat accelerates the anxieties in our hearts, and they bubble to the surface and pop.

Four Fears

Teaching children is difficult work, to be sure. But if we put the difficulty aside, I suspect fear and doubt are at the heart of our reluctance to step into this service.

1. Doubt about calling

Some people think they’re not the teacher type. They worry about connecting with children, answering their questions, and handling crises. They’re afraid of causing long-term damage.

But if you love the youth of your church and are willing to serve, you are ready to talk about teaching. You don’t need to be perfect. In general, children are resiliant and eager to forgive. And your mistakes will be more evident to you than to your five-year-olds.

An additional note: The church at large needs more men teaching our children. Boys and girls need to see godly men and women serving and caring for people of all ages.

2. Fear of missing out

Many people don’t serve the children because they want to hear Bible teaching themselves. They’re jealous for their own sanctification.

However, your Christian growth will not be stunted by teaching children. In fact, you’ll likely mature more through service than through study.

The crucible of preparation and explanation brings a unique clarity and conviction. And your growth isn’t just intellectual. God refines our character through challenges (James 1:2–4) because we’re forced to rely on him. So as a teacher you’ll have tremendous opportunity to flourish, especially if you don’t think you’re a natural.

3. Doubt about the Bible

The Bible should play a central role in Sunday school instruction. But many people think the Bible is too difficult for kids to understand.

They shrink from teaching because they fear the material won’t be engaging, relevant, or meaningful. They yearn for supplements that do all the work and leave nothing to chance. But when we pull the Bible away from our children, we keep them from the fountain.

Children might not understand every passage right away, but they’re usually ready for the Bible before we hand it over. Because it is God’s word, it is powerful and appropriate for Christians of any size, height, or age.

4. Doubt about your skills

Some shy away from teaching because they don’t feel qualified. They know they will be teaching the Bible, and they don’t consider themselves intelligent, studious, or insightful. They would rather the duties of studying and teaching the Bible be left to the pastor and elders of the church.

But the Bible is for everyone. You need no degree, certification, or minimum IQ score. The Scriptures are for the children in the classes and the teachers. Everyone can learn to study the Bible.

While churches need pastors, the most vibrant churches foster a Bible study culture where everyone embraces the privilege and responsibility of digging into God’s word.

Who Will Go?

I don’t write to provoke guilt. Rather, think of the vast opportunity! The children of your church need a teacher, someone who loves God and is committed to His word. Someone who wants to help young people follow Jesus and be changed by the Scriptures. Someone who wants to influence the next generation for the kingdom of God.

Might God be calling you to step forward?

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How to Give Effective After-the-Fact Feedback to a Trainee

April 1, 2016 By Peter Krol

I’ve written about how to coach a Bible study apprentice before and during a small group Bible study meeting. Once the meeting is over and you meet to debrief, what should you cover?

The Dangers

First, don’t be afraid to speak truth. You are coaching this apprentice, after all. Of course you should share evidences of God’s grace and highlight what went well. But don’t avoid sharing what could improve for the future.

Second, avoid the urge to criticize everything that went wrong, even if you’ve got an exceptionally teachable apprentice who asks you to speak frankly. Don’t do this to your apprentice because God doesn’t do it to you. Imagine how you’d feel if God revealed every weakness, sin, and failure of yours at one time. Even if you just sang, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee,” the Lord is merciful and compassionate. He instructs us piecemeal over the course of a lifetime. Take the same approach with your apprentice.

Third, avoid the tendency to nitpick. Keep in mind that there are some things your apprentice can never go back and fix. Once they’re done, they’re done; you can help the apprentice to move on by not highlighting all the things that should have been different. Just focus on the things that will help this person to improve.

Gabriela Grosseck (2010), Creative Commons

My Approach

Highlight many things that went well.
Mention one or two patterns for improvement.
End with more positives, focusing on the good results God brought about.

I’ve read some who ridicule this “criticism sandwich” approach (positive-negative-positive) because it can certainly be done in a trite and patronizing way. But when it comes out of love and has real substance to it, this approach helps leaders build influence. Would you prefer for your apprentice to come to your meetings dreading the laundry list of failures to be aired once again, and expecting to be labelled as weak if offense is taken? Or would you prefer for the apprentice to come with delight and eagerness, knowing that much profit and encouragement will come from the feedback offered?

Let me explain the process a bit further:

Be as specific as possible with the encouragement. Don’t settle for “it went well.” Be ready to show the apprentice what went well. For example, “The way you transitioned us from mingling to the beginning of the study was really clear. Everyone knew what to expect.” Or, “I know that Sam can be overly talkative. When he went off on his uncle’s latest surgery, you did a great job hearing him with compassion while also drawing his attention back to the topic at hand.”
Notice that point #2 is about mentioning patterns for improvement. If a single mistake was made, let it go. Perhaps the apprentice already noticed it and will self-correct. But if a pattern of the same mistake kept occurring, talk about it. And pick just one or two of these patterns to reflect and ask the apprentice to work on the next time.
Make sure you end by making much of God, not the apprentice. In part 3 of the feedback, focus on the tangible results you saw from the apprentice’s leadership of the meeting. For example, “When you asked your final application question, Robert really perked up. I think the Lord was working in him, and he used your question to get Robert’s attention!”

Not My Approach

I can’t take credit for this threefold approach to offering after-the-fact feedback. I learned it from others, and we can see it in the Scripture. For example, look at John’s approach to offering feedback in his third letter. John wrote a prior letter to a congregation of Christians (2 John), but this letter was ill received by some. John has some feedback for one of the leaders to help him address these issues for the good of the church.

3 John 1-8: John gets very specific about what has gone well. Fellow believers have testified to Gaius’s firmness in the truth (3 John 3). Gaius stands firm also in love (3 John 5), shown by his welcoming of missionaries and sending them out refreshed (3 John 6-8).
3 John 9-10: John highlights a persistent pattern that must be addressed. Diotrephes, presumably another leader in the church, promotes himself, disregards John’s apostolic authority, and speaks slanderous nonsense. He doesn’t welcome missionaries, and he coerces others to shun those who do. Something must be done. John will deal with it when he comes, but perhaps his letter seeks to embolden Gaius to steadfastly oppose this wrongdoing in the meantime.
3 John 11-15: John closes with evidences of God’s grace within the church. Another man named Demetrius has a strong reputation for goodness and truth. John affirms this reputation, possibly suggesting Demetrius as a replacement for Diotrephes on the elder board. Regardless, an in-person meeting will take place between John and Gaius, and many greetings are sent Gaius’s way. Though the problems may not be ignored, Gaius has much to be encouraged about.

Developing Laborers

In training Bible study apprentices, we strive to raise more laborers for the harvest. We aim to encourage and strengthen them in their labor. And we want to keep them aware of one or two things they can practice for improvement. Such clarity in our training will root them in the gospel, motivate them to lay down their lives, and enable them to overcome adversity. And with such personal training, the Kingdom of God advances in the earth.

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