Knowable Word

Helping ordinary people learn to study the Bible

Copyright © 2012–2026 DiscipleMakers, except guest articles (copyright author). Used by permission.

How’d You Do That? (6/17/12)

By

We just finished examining a bit of Solomon’s biography and credentials for authoring the book of Proverbs.  We saw that God’s wisdom, God’s promise, and great wealth qualified him for this task.

How did I come up with these principles?

The main idea here is that the narrative books of the Bible often give us key information to help us interpret the didactic (teaching) books.  We learn about Solomon’s story from the books that chronicle his life.  As I studied those sections, I began to draw connections to the Proverbs.  Especially helpful was 1 Kings 3:1-15, where Solomon asks for wisdom, and 1 Kings 4:20-34, where Solomon demonstrates his wisdom.

We can follow this same procedure for other parts of the Bible.

  • When reading Paul’s letters, first check out the biographical information on Paul in the book of Acts.  The most helpful parts are the sections where he ministers in the cities he later wrote letters to.  For example, study Acts 16:11-40 for background on the book of Philippians, Acts 17:1-9 for background on 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and Acts 18:1-18 for background on 1 & 2 Corinthians.
  • Consider Acts 14:8-23 and Acts 16:1-3 for information to help you interpret 1 & 2 Timothy.
  • Certain Psalms are connected with events in David’s life.  Psalm 3:1-8 makes sense after you understand 2 Samuel 15:1-37, and Psalm 51:1-19 should be read in connection with 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25.

I’m sure you get the idea.  When you study books of the Bible, first try to understand the author’s life situation and character.  The Bible itself can help you do this.

Share or follow:
fb-share-icon
Tweet

What Star Wars Taught Me About Bible Study

By

It’s a little known fact that I’m a Star Wars geek.  I’ve been watching The Clone Wars cartoon with my children (which is fantastic), and we just finished Season 3.  I think it’s a good time for a Star Wars post.

Star Wars (both in the films and the cartoons) makes abundant use of a fun literary device called the “type scene.”  The Bible uses the same device, so Star Wars can help us understand it.

If you and I are discussing the Star Wars films, and I say, “I love that scene where the evil Sith lord cuts off the good guy’s appendage,” you would be right to ask, “Which one: Episode 2, where Dooku chops off Anakin’s arm, or Episode 5, where Darth Vader slices Luke’s hand off?”

For more examples, see if you can name which Star Wars movies have the following scenes:

  • Sith asks Jedi to join with him and overthrow his evil master.  Together, they could rule the galaxy.
  • A dismembered C3PO makes all kinds of corny jokes.
  • The young, attractive politician attracts the unconventional warrior.
  • A chase through an asteroid field.
  • The young but skilled pilot wins the battle by blowing up the giant space station.

Such vague descriptions could describe numerous “type scenes” that keep repeating in the Star Wars movies.  With each repetition of the scene, a creator connects two different characters or scenarios without having to say “this one is just like that one.”

Let me give some examples of this technique in the Bible.

  1. The man of God leaves the land of promise due to some sort of famine or distress.  In a foreign land, his wife masquerades as his sister but gets kidnapped.  You may have read these stories in Genesis 12:10-20, 20:1-18, and Gen 26:6-11.  What’s the point?  Abraham faced similar temptation all through his life, and Isaac struggled with it just like his dad did.
  2. God rescues his people from Egyptian captivity, and brings them through the Sea and wilderness.  Of course this happens in the book of Exodus, but the prophets use the same language to describe the Exile (for example, see Isaiah 10:24-25).  Jesus went through it, too (Matthew 2:14-15, 3:13-17, 4:1-2).  What’s the point?  Jesus endured all that Israel endured, as their representative.
  3. God’s ambassador heals a lame man by the city gate, and the Jewish officials get riled up about it.  Jesus does it in John 5:1-17, and Peter & John do it in Acts 3:1-4:22.  What’s the point?  Jesus’ disciples truly act in His name, with his full authority and power (Matthew 28:18-20).

Star Wars shows us how useful type scenes can be.  The Bible does it even better, though.

One more tip: pay attention whenever a Star Wars character says, “I have a bad feeling about this.”  It demonstrates another great literary device: repetition.  I’ll save that one for another day.

Share or follow:
fb-share-icon
Tweet

How’d You Do That? (6/8/12)

By

In our last Proverbs post, I looked at what sort of genre proverbs are.  Let me give those comments a context.

When we come to learning how to study the Bible, one of the first steps is to observe the text carefully.  But what should we observe?  I generally consider five categories:

  1. Words
  2. Grammar
  3. Structure
  4. Mood
  5. Genre

You can observe the words themselves, considering repetition, tenses, number (singular or plural), etc.

You can observe the grammar, considering issues such as sentence structure (subjects, verbs, objects, etc.), pronouns, or prepositional phrases.

You can observe the structure, considering things like comparison, contrast, section divisions, or the shape of the text.

You can observe mood, identifying how the author communicated: excited, angry, patient, personal, etc.

Finally, you can observe the genre.  Primarily, you’ll want to notice whether you’re reading prose or poetry.  If I write of red roses, it’s important that you understand the genre.  On the one hand you might find just what you need in a pinch.  On the other hand, you could create too many giggles.  Don’t mix up genres!

In the case of Proverbs, I discussed the wisdom genre of proverbs.  We should not read proverbs like laws, or even like prophecies.  Proverbs are intended to address many fine details of life.  As we go through the text, we’ll see how this fact plays out.  But by way of introduction, I wanted to draw attention to the significance of genre.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

I observed Proverbs’ genre,

Now you can, too!

Share or follow:
fb-share-icon
Tweet

Seven Things Not in the Bible, Revisited

By

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).

Share or follow:
fb-share-icon
Tweet

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

By

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
Share or follow:
fb-share-icon
Tweet

Bible Study Leader Tip #149: Addressing the off-topic question

By

If you’ve led a Bible study long enough, no doubt you’ve had something like this happen:

You: “…so that’s what the account of the flood tells us about God’s character. Any questions?”

Bible study member we’ll call Sam: “Why is it Mormons think polygamy is okay?”

You: “…” (while feeling a combination of confusion, fear, anger and maybe even hurt)

I’ve seen this happen many times in Bible studies I’ve led or been a part of. In fact, I’m sure I’ve been the perpetrator myself. So how should you respond to Sam?

Here are some suggestions that should help get your study back on track:

Respond with grace

This is key. If you respond to Sam with irritation, impatience or even mockery (I’ve seen it), it will send a strong message to the whole study that only “intelligent” questions are welcomed. Off-topic questions are better than no questions at all.

You: “Good question, Sam!”

Ask the question back

There is a very real chance that Sam’s question IS on topic – but you may have misunderstood it. To clear this one up, just ask the question back in your own words. If you’re right, it will help Sam feel understood. If you’re wrong, you’ll avoid wasting everyone’s time by answering the wrong question.

You: “To be clear, are you asking why the Mormon faith permits men to have multiple wives?”

Check the text

Assuming you did correctly understand the question, you can now help Sam learn one of the most valuable questions to ask in a Bible Study:

You: “Does the passage say anything that could help us answer that question?”

Chances are that it doesn’t, else you wouldn’t be reading this tip =) However, it is both humble and helpful to determine if Sam really is seeing something in the text that led him to that question. If Sam responds with “no” or “I don’t think so”, then on to the next suggestion…

Defer the question

If it now becomes clear that the question really is off the topic of what you’ve been studying, you can graciously defer the question.

You: “Okay, well let’s stick to talking about this passage right now. But if you’d like, I’d be happy to talk through it afterwards.”

Sam likely won’t be put off by this, and if it’s really not that important to him, you’re done. But if it is important, you’ll have an opportunity for the next suggestion…

Use it as a discipleship opportunity

It may be that Sam really has something on his mind. Or it may be that Sam is getting lost in the study and some 1-on-1 talking could help. Or it could even be that Sam was maliciously trying to disrupt the study for any number of reasons.

In any case, you can talk to Sam later to understand him and determine what you can do to help. If possible, bring him back to the text you were studying. This may take time and patience, but who ever said that leading a Bible study was easy? By God’s grace, Sam may become one of the most insightful and helpful people in your study. Who knows? He may even lead his own study one day and need to address an off-topic question himself!

What has been your experience with off-topic questions? Do you have other suggestions to add to this list?

Share or follow:
fb-share-icon
Tweet

Why Book Overviews Matter

By

When we began the process of adopting our twin sons, the U.S. State Department required numerous criminal background checks.  First, the Pennsylvania State Police cleared us of any misdemeanors or felonies.  Second, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare cleared us of any history of child abuse.  Third, the FBI cleared us of any federal offenses.   In addition, despite our spotless history in the United States, the Ugandan magistrate also required a background check from Interpol.  Once again, our records were so clean you could have disinfected a toilet with them.

Why did they require such thorough investigation into our history?  I imagine it was because we were pursuing a lofty objective with weighty consequences.  How could they not examine every corner of our lives to make sure these precious boys would have a good home with us?

When we study a book of the Bible like Proverbs, we must likewise investigate its background.  Therefore, over a few posts we’ll examine four topics that are foundational for understanding this book: the genre, the author, the audience, and the author’s intentions for his audience.

Stay tuned!

Share or follow:
fb-share-icon
Tweet

What the Avengers Taught Me about Bible Study

By

I just saw The Avengers and thought it almost lived up to all the hype.  It’s well worth seeing, and it can teach you about Bible study!

Characters, characters

This movie was well set up by all the (mostly) independent prequels: The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Captain America, and Thor.  Each of those movies tells the story of a single hero.  All the heroes come together as a team in The Avengers.  Needless to say, the movie’s greatest strength was its characterization.

There is no narrator to tell you what’s happening, and there’s not much explanation of plot or setting except through dialogue.  All you have that drives the drama and action is the characterization of the heroes as they relate to each other, and it works beautifully.

Tony Stark (Iron Man) considers himself a “genius, playboy, billionaire, philanthropist,” and his choices, especially in his relationships, directly reflect this chosen identity.  Bruce Banner (Hulk) remains pretty introverted, fearing the monster that rages within him.  When asked how he keeps the monster at bay, he reveals his secret: “I’m always angry.”  We can reinterpret his quiet withdrawal in light of this revelation.

I could go on, but the point should be clear that much of a story can be told through strong characterization.  Notice how the Bible uses the same technique:

  • Jacob’s character drives much of the last sections of Genesis, as his affinity for conflict (Gen 25:22) and deceit (Gen 27:18-19) is used against him by his uncle (Gen 29:23, 31:26-28) before the Lord redeems it and makes him fruitful through it (Gen 32:28).
  • We are told very little about the prophet Elijah, but we resonate with the one whose nature was just like ours (James 5:17) as we see him alternately hiding (1 Kings 17:5-7) and confronting (1 Kings 18:17-19), inspiring (1 Kings 18:38-39) and raving (1 Kings 19:10, 14).  The man who demanded justice (1 Kings 19:10) and saw the Lord only in wind, earthquake, fire, and whisper (1 Kings 19:11-12) eventually saw the fulness of God’s glory on that mountain in the face of Jesus Christ (Matthew 17:2-3).
  • One leper’s character shines when he returns to thank Jesus (Luke 17:15-19).
  • A whiny, victimized, blameshifting invalid (John 5:6-7) demonstrates the opposite of faith even after meeting Life in flesh (John 5:14-16).  We don’t need the author to tell us to avoid his example.

When you read the Bible, be aware of how the characters are portrayed.  By their description, choices, and dialogue, we receive instruction in how to flee temptation by remembering that Jesus is our escape (1 Cor 10:6-13).  If you still have the chance to see The Avengers, do so, and become a better Bible student.

Share or follow:
fb-share-icon
Tweet

What The Hunger Games Taught Me About Bible Study

By

I just finished reading the first Hunger Games book, which simultaneously captivated and horrified me.  This post is not a review of the content of the book, but an attempt to capture some literary points that (I think) contribute to the book’s success.  For more evaluative reviews, see my brief Goodreads review, or reviews by Tim Challies or Mark Meynell.

1.  Pay attention to verb tenses

Something nagged at me through the first part of the book.  The story felt alive to me, almost too alive.  It took a while to notice the cause, but eventually I realized the verbs were in the present tense.  Sorry, I did that paragraph all wrong; let me try it again.

Something nags at me through the first part of the book.  The story feels alive to me, almost too alive.  It takes a while to notice the cause, but eventually I realize it’s the verbs are in the present tense.

Collins isn’t the first novelist to use this convention, but I think it’s uncommon.  I can’t remember the last time I read a novel that employed it.

What does this fact have to do with Bible study?  Pay attention to tenses!  Authors communicate tone and mood through it.  Each biblical author communicates different style and purpose through his text.  One particularly vivid example is the Gospel of Mark.

For example, check out the New American Standard Bible, which conveniently lets us know when the original language behind a narrative uses present tense (instead of the more common past tense) by marking it with an *.

“Immediately the Spirit *impelled Him to go out into the wilderness” (Mark 1:12, NASB).

“They *went into Capernaum…” (Mark 1:21, NASB).

“Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they *spoke to Jesus about her” (Mark 1:30, NASB).

Swap each of those *verbs with a present tense (the Spirit impels…hey go…they speak…), and you’ll get the picture Mark intends.  You’ll picture yourself right there with Jesus and his disciples, and the story will come alive.

2. Put Yourself in the Story

Part of what I enjoyed about The Hunger Games was that stuff happens.  We didn’t need chapter after chapter of set up.  We didn’t get a lot of back story, except through the course of the action.  Collins’s greatest strength is her plot, which she uses well to both build characters and configure setting.  But the plot is always central.

So also, in the Bible, there are times when plot is central.  Again, the key example that comes to mind is the Gospel of Mark.  For example, notice how often Mark uses the word “immediately.”  Compared to the other three Gospels, Mark has the fewest recorded speeches of Jesus.  Mark cares about action, and he wants that action to impact us as though we were there.  Jesus is a doer, the King of the Universe, and he’s doing everything in his power to fix what is broken, especially in our own lives.

In short, as I read The Hunger Games and considered why it was so popular, I was inspired to go back and re-read Mark, which I did at my first opportunity.  As you engage in the folklore of our culture, allow it to sharpen your skill at reading God’s Knowable Word.

___________________

Disclosure: The Amazon links above are affiliate links, so if you click them and buy stuff you’ll support this site at no extra cost to yourself.

Share or follow:
fb-share-icon
Tweet