2 Timothy | Knowable Word

Grammar Crash Course: Inflection and Tense

November 25, 2022 By Peter Krol

When we observe the Bible, one fundamental thing to take notice of is the grammar. Grammar always matters, as language cannot function without it. But in instructional literature such as epistles, grammar’s importance is elevated to the point where grammar always wins.

But what is it, precisely, students of the Bible ought to know about grammar? I’ve already written about the parts of speech. This post will now explain the concepts of inflection and tense, which function like personality traits for words.

Definitions

Inflection refers to the minor changes in words to signal their functions or attributes. For example, the word “run” can change to runs, ran, or running to signal how the word functions in a sentence. Those differences are called the inflection.Words can change inflection based on many factors, including:

Number. Singular or plural.
Gender. Masculine, feminine, or neuter. In English, it is typically only pronouns that have gender built into them (he, she, it).
Person. First person (talking about oneself: I, me, we, us), second person (talking to someone: you), or third person (talking about someone: he, she, it, they).
Case. Subject (I, we, he, she, they), or object (me, us, him, her, them).

Tense refers to different verb forms and functions. In English tense almost always has to do with time (past, present, or future), though the original languages of the Bible use tenses in ways other than with respect to time.

Past tense refers something that completely in the past. I ran. He swam. They believed.
Present tenses refers, believe it or not, to something taking place in the present. I run. He swims. They believe.
Future tense refers to actions completely in the future. I will run. He will swim. They will believe.

Some tenses add more nuance to this simple sense of time:

Present perfect tense refers to something that happened the past that has ongoing ramifications in the present. I have run. He has swum. They have believed.
Past perfect tense refers to something that happened in the distant past that had ongoing ramifications until the near past. I had run. He had swum. They had believed.
Past progressive tense refers to something in the past that was continuing for a time or was incomplete. I was running. He was swimming. They were believing.

English has 6 more tenses that are much less common, especially when it comes to Bible study. So I will spare you further detail.

Why It Matters

Inflection and tense are some things we ought to observe of the words in a passage to help us follow an author’s train of thought. For example, notice how Paul shifts between second person (“you”) and first person (“we”) in Ephesians 2:1-10. Many people read right through the paragraph without noticing the shifts, but some have suggested that the shifts carry interpretive weight. Could it be that “we” refers to Jewish believers and “you” refers to Gentile believers among Paul’s audience? Eph 2:11, 14 suggests that there may be something to this. But we must observe closely in order to be able to evaluate the argument being made.

The verb tenses in a passage such as 1 Peter 5:1-5 highlight the passage’s argument. The brackets of what happened in the past (1 Pet 5:1) and what will happen in the future (1 Pet 5:1b, 4) ought to motivate a certain set of behaviors in the present (1 Pet 5:2-3). Paul uses a similar past-present-future approach to craft his argument in 2 Timothy 1:8-18. Know how the grammar works, and you’ll be better equipped to come along for the ride.

Reading Across the Chapter Breaks in 2 Timothy

October 7, 2022 By Peter Krol

Ryan recently encouraged us to read across the chapter breaks in the book of Nehemiah. Those chapter divisions are not original to the text. Sometimes they helpfully follow the literary divisions, but sometimes they do not.

Here is another example from the New Testament, in 2 Timothy. Reading across the chapter break helps us to avoid speculative (and thereby incorrect) interpretation.

Timothy’s Vessels

In 2 Tim 2:20, Paul introduces the metaphor of a great house with a variety of vessels: some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Much could be said about the metaphor, its role in Paul’s argument, and its connection to Numbers 16, which Paul alludes to right before in 2 Tim 2:19. For now, I would like to highlight only that the metaphor involves a contrast between honorable vessels and dishonorable ones. A contrast between those that are useless and those who are ready for “every good work” (2 Tim 2:21).

The next paragraph describes what Timothy ought to cleanse himself from, in order for his conduct to be honorable and useful to his master. And though the chapter ends there, the thought continues right into chapter 3, where useless and dishonorable influencers are described. Paul then returns to the topic of Timothy’s usefulness as a minister (“complete, equipped for every good work” – 2 Tim 3:17).

So the metaphor introduced in 2 Tim 2:20-21 governs this entire section of the letter.

A great house has both honorable vessels (ready for every good work) and dishonorable ones – 2 Tim 2:20-21
Timothy is to cleanse himself that he might serve his master as an honorable vessel – 2 Tim 2:22-26
Understand that dishonorable vessels will be present in the churches – 2 Tim 3:1-9
You, however, continue on you honorable path, equipped for every good work – 2 Tim 3:10-17

If I were leading a small group or teaching the passage, I might still separate 2 Tim 3:10-17 as a unit. But I would be sure to keep all of 2 Tim 2:20-3:9 together lest we lose the explicit contrast Paul develops.

Conclusion

Please make good use of the chapter divisions in your Bible. Often they are quite useful! But be alert that times of difficulty will come, when those chapter division will hinder your understanding rather than help it. The solution is to observe well and make sure you follow the author’s train of thought. Sensitivity to literary markers and transitions will serve you well.

Context Matters: The God-Breathed Scripture

February 22, 2019 By Peter Krol

Perhaps you’ve heard that the Scriptures were breathed out by God, and that they are profitable for teaching and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 is everyone’s go-to verse when explaining the Bible’s doctrine of itself, and rightly so. But have you considered what exactly Paul meant by this verse at the time he wrote it (Hint: He wasn’t authoring a systematic theology)? And how this verse would have landed with Timothy when he read his mentor’s letter?

Context matters. When we learn to read the Bible properly—and not merely as a collection of proof-texts for Christian doctrine—we’ll find that some of our most familiar verses have a depth we hadn’t noticed.

Paul’s Argument

See last week’s post for an explanation of the argument of 2 Timothy. The key point to remember for this week’s passage is that we’re at the end of a section where Paul instructs Timothy in how to deal with controversy in the church (2 Tim 2:14-3:17). Particularly when there are detractors swerving from the faith and challenging Timothy’s ministry.

Timothy is to learn from and follow Paul’s example in enduring persecution (2 Tim 3:10-12). He is to continue teaching the Scriptures he’s learned (2 Tim 3:14-15).

And he ought to draw confidence from the fact that the Scriptures he’s teaching are God’s own words (2 Tim 3:16). They will succeed at making Timothy a useful servant in God’s house (2 Tim 3:17).

Paul’s language

The words and phrases Paul uses in this beloved verse are carefully chosen to reinforce the points made all throughout the letter.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Ti 3:16).

All Scripture is breathed out by God—In 2 Tim 2:19, Paul paraphrases a few verses from Numbers 16 to show that God vindicates his servants against their detractors. Timothy does not need to defend himself; the Lord will defend him. Timothy must only continue (2 Tim 3:14) in preaching the word (2 Tim 1:6, 4:2). In so doing, he is speaking with the power and the love of God himself (2 Tim 1:7).
And profitable—Part of Timothy’s mandate is that he be useful in God’s house (2 Tim 2:21). The Scriptures are responsible and adequate to produce that usefulness in him.
For teaching—Paul was appointed to be a teacher (2 Tim 1:11), and Timothy is to train teachers (2 Tim 2:2). Timothy himself must be able to teach (2 Tim 2:24) so he can correct opponents. Timothy has followed Paul’s teaching (2 Tim 3:10). People will not always endure sound teaching (2 Tim 4:3), but Timothy must persist in it completely (2 Tim 4:2).
For reproof—Reproving is a part of preaching (2 Tim 4:2), and is required when detractors swerve from the truth and upset the faith of some (2 Tim 2:17-18).
For correction—The Scripture provide Timothy the ammunition to correct his opponents gently, in hopes that God may grant them repentance (2 Tim 2:25).
For training in righteousness—Timothy must have nothing to do with ignorant, that is “untrained,” controversies (2 Tim 2:23), but he is to train people with gentleness (2 Tim 2:25). He’s already been taught by Paul to value training in godliness, which has value in every way (1 Tim 4:6-8). As he pursues righteousness (2 Tim 2:22) and calls people to depart from unrighteousness (2 Tim 2:19), the Scripture will both train him in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16) and prepare him to receive a crown of righteousness from the judge of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8).

Paul’s Purpose

These glorious truths about the Scripture are not simply to be believed and revered. They are also to produce a harvest in the life of the preacher.

…that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Ti 3:17).

This verse forms an inclusio (bookend) with the beginning of the section, where Paul gives a metaphor to describe Timothy’s responsibility during controversy:

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work (2 Ti 2:20–21).

Timothy is to be one of those useful vessels, set apart for honorable use. He is not to be like the useless teachers who constantly quarrel about words and pursue irreverent babble (2 Tim 2:14, 16). As he teaches the Scripture (2 Tim 2:15) with competence, patience (2 Tim 2:24), and gentleness (2 Tim 2:25), he will have been equipped to usefully perform every good work.

These works cannot save him (2 Tim 1:9). But they will bolster his confidence when he’s tempted to shame (2 Tim 2:15, 1:8), thus equipping him to do his critical work of evangelism (2 Tim 4:5).

Conclusion

2 Timothy 3:16 has profound implications for our doctrine of Scripture. But Paul would not be satisfied with our reading of his letter without a correspondingly profound impact on the competence and the perseverance of a teacher’s ministry of the word.

Context matters.

For more examples of why context matters, click here.

Context Matters: The Unashamed, Approved Worker

February 15, 2019 By Peter Krol

Perhaps you’ve seen the latest internet firestorm where that Bible teacher was attacked and discredited for saying something controversial. Or perhaps you’ve been through the drama in your own church where a faction of people didn’t like the pastor and called for his removal, or at least for a recanting of a certain teaching. These situations are scary and tense, drawing out the worst in all of us.

Context matters. When we learn to read the Bible properly—and not as a collection of disconnected proverbial sayings—we’ll find that some of our most famous mantras connect in unexpected and profound ways with real life.

Paul’s Thesis in 2 Timothy

Before diving into a particular verse (2 Tim 2:15), we ought to grasp Paul’s thesis which drives the letter:

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Tim 1:6-7)

Comparing this statement with Paul’s comments in 1 Tim 4:13-16, we see that “the gift of God” which Timothy received through the “laying on of hands” was his preaching and teaching ministry. Paul’s second letter to Timothy has as its chief objective the flourishing of Timothy’s preaching, in the wake of Paul’s impending execution, from a spirit of power and love and self-control.

Paul’s Argument

Paul’s argument then moves through:

the consequences of Timothy’s preaching: suffering, which will tempt him to shame (2 Tim 1:8-12)
the content of Timothy’s preaching: the pattern of sound words, the deposit, received from Paul and rejected by many (2 Tim 1:13-18)
the continuation of Timothy’s preaching: being strengthened by grace (2 Tim 2:1, 8-13) to entrust this ministry to the faithful few (2 Tim 2:2-7)

Now Paul moves into a lengthy section about the confrontation of Timothy’s preaching (2 Tim 2:14-3:17).¹

Immediate Context

Why do I say this section is about confrontation?

2 Tim 2:14 calls Timothy to remind his faithful men (from 2 Tim 2:2) not to quarrel about words, lest they ruin their hearers.
2 Tim 2:16 calls him to avoid irreverent babble.
2 Tim 2:17-18 gives an example of a two such quarreling babblers, who have been upsetting the faith of some in Timothy’s congregation in Ephesus.

So this paragraph (2 Tim 2:14-19) is all about confronting, in Timothy’s own community, the false teachers, who declare that the resurrection has already happened. This teaching is to be condemned, as the coming resurrection is a critical motivator for those who will suffer for the true faith. Remember Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead (2 Tim 2:8). If we die with him, we will also live with him (2 Tim 2:11). If the resurrection has already taken place, and we’ve missed it, why bother enduring?

So in the midst of his instructions of what not to do in the face of detractors—don’t quarrel, don’t let your men quarrel on your behalf, and avoid irreverent babble—Paul also gives Timothy a suggestion of what to do: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved (2 Tim 2:15).

What This Means

When a church leader or Bible teacher faces opposition from within the Christian community, the chief temptation will be to go on the attack. To engage in quarreling and to justify it by calling it “debate.” Paul is not saying that debate is always unhelpful; he’s only saying that it’s not the best way forward in the face of direct opposition.

Rather, the man of God (2 Tim 3:17), the Lord’s servant (2 Tim 2:24), the ordained leader of the church (2 Tim 1:6) ought to redouble his efforts to preach the word (2 Tim 4:2). He must fan this gift into flame. He must follow this pattern of sound words. He must guard this good deposit (2 Tim 1:14) and keep proclaiming it simply and clearly.

As he handles the word of truth rightly and accurately, he has no need to be ashamed (though he will still be tempted to shame when he suffers opposition from his detractors – 2 Tim 1:8). God will vindicate this faithful Bible expositor as the one he approves, over against the false teachers. The way the man of God demonstrates his vindication—his approval by God for his task of preaching the word—is by clearly and faithfully opening God’s word, skillfully setting it before the people, and proclaiming God’s message with God’s authority, week after week after week.

Paul will go on to say that he must do this with kindness, competence, and patience (2 Tim 2:24). He must correct opponents gently (2 Tim 2:25). As he continues proclaiming the word, without watering down its message but making it plain to the people and applying it clearly to the matters at hand, God might just grant repentance to some of those detractors (2 Tim 2:25-26). But the teacher must understand that most of them will not repent, and they are therefore to be avoided personally (2 Tim 3:1-9).

My previous paragraph describes what it means to be useful as a servant in God’s great house (2 Tim 2:20-21)—another statement that loses its meaning, and thereby gets misapplied, when we remove it from its context.

Gospel Hope

What will motivate the teacher of God’s word to endure in his task, even while some violently oppose him or even call for his resignation?

He stands on a firm foundation laid by his God (2 Tim 2:19). Paul paraphrases Numbers 16:5 and Numbers 16:26 to correlate Timothy’s detractors with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who opposed Moses, the Lord’s servant, the one laboring usefully in God’s house. God vindicated Moses with theatrical flair, proving to everyone that he knew who his man was. And God called the people to make sure they lined up behind the approved teacher lest they be swept up in the unapproved teachers’ destruction.

So for those who have been opposed for teaching the Scripture faithfully: Take heart. You do not need to quarrel to defend yourself; the Lord will defend you. He will not allow them to get very far. He will make their folly plain to all (2 Tim 3:9), and he will raise you up to reign with Christ (2 Tim 2:11-12). Just keep teaching God’s word, and do your best to learn how to do it even better than you already do. God’s firm foundation stands.

And for those who are watching and listening to the criticism and public assault on Christian leaders, wondering whom you can trust: Go with the approved workmen. Look for those who proclaim God’s word rightly—this requires you to know how to do that yourself so you’ll know it when you see it—and who do so with gentleness, kindness, and patience. Avoid the proud, abusive, babbling quarrelers, lest you be caught in their snare. God’s firm foundation stands.

Context matters.

¹Thanks to David Helm for showing me this structure at a recent Simeon Trust workshop on biblical exposition.

For more examples of why context matters, click here.

Choosing Your Apprentice

October 23, 2015 By Peter Krol

Though it’s an important choice, it doesn’t need to be a complicated one. It’s not like you’re looking for someone to help you overthrow the emperor and take over the galaxy. You just need someone who is willing to learn how to lead a Bible study.

This choice matters, though, because you see the need to train a new Bible study leader. You want the word of God to go forth. You want your ministry to multiply and not center on you. You want to train others to reach more people than you could reach on your own.

How do you get started? How do you find the right person to train?

Companies hire new professionals who have experience in a relevant field. Major League baseball teams call up players who develop through the system of minor leagues. And public schools recruit certified people who pass through a season of student teaching. In each case, the supervisory committee looks for evidence of commitment and success before they take further risk or assign greater responsibility to the potential apprentice.

Similarly, Paul instructs Timothy to look for evidence of both commitment and success in potential ministry apprentices.

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Tim 2:2)

1. Find someone who is faithful

What this doesn’t mean: The person you train should be without flaws or struggles. The apprentice must never let you down. The apprentice must be the oldest or most mature Christian you can find.

What this means: Apprentices should demonstrate a pattern of resisting sin and addressing areas of weakness. They should be regular attenders and cheerful members of the groups they are learning to lead. They should be growing as Christians and committed to knowing God through the Scripture.

2. Find someone who will be able to teach others

What this doesn’t mean: The apprentice must already have experience in a teaching role. The apprentice must have a charismatic, extroverted personality. The apprentice must have a degree or comparable education in the Bible or divinity.

What this means: Apprentices should envision reaching others. They should care about how they come across and how they can improve their communication. They should be eager to learn, able to think clearly, and quicker to listen than to speak.

Perhaps you’ve got someone in your Bible study who already meets these qualifications, and your decision is easy. Or maybe you’ll want to invite someone to join your group to step into an apprentice role. Either way, if you stay focused on the right set of qualities, I bet the Lord would be delighted to entrust you with someone to train.

Then you can work with that person to spread the knowledge of God until his glory covers the earth like the waters cover the sea. I guess it’s like finding someone to help you overthrow the emperor and take over the galaxy.

The Best Way to Grow Your Bible Study Group

March 6, 2015 By Peter Krol

I don’t lead Bible studies just to make myself feel better; if that were the case, I could find many other ways to spend my time. No, I do it to help grow the kingdom of God. I want God to use me to influence others and draw them closer to him. If you’re leading a Bible study, I imagine you have similar motives.

So if we want to influence others to know God through Christ, we’ll want to have this influence on as many people as possible, right? That means we’ll want the group to grow. If we’re content with the group and never want it to change, perhaps we should reconsider our motives for having the group in the first place.

Grisel D’An (2015), Creative Commons

But this leads us to ask a valuable question: How do we grow the Bible study?

I could answer this question in many ways, depending on your cultural background, environment, unique strengths and weaknesses, and the makeup of your current group. But this post will highlight what is certainly the most important technique you must master if you want to expand your reach for the Lord’s sake.

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Tim 2:1-2)

Before you can master this technique, you must be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 2:1). You will always feel unworthy for what you’re about to do. Except for those times when you feel eminently worthy for this task, at which times it’s even more urgent that you be strengthened by the grace of Jesus. Draw your sustenance and power from the lavish mercy and free forgiveness of your Master and King. You are approved to study the Bible. And you are approved to lead others to study the Bible.

And what is this most important technique for growing your Bible study? “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2). Take what you’ve learned and teach it to someone else.

Pick someone with godly character in your group to be your assistant leader. Give that person some responsibility in the group. Follow a plan for progressively entrusting both the good deposit of the gospel and the skills of leadership to your assistant. Your plan could look like this:

Come and see (John 1:39), aka “I do, you watch.” Invite this person to become your official assistant leader. Meet with your assistant before the group meeting to go over the passage. Teach that person how to do OIA Bible study. Practice it with that person over the course of a few months.
Come and follow me (Mark 1:17), aka “I do, you help.” Ask your assistant to evaluate your leadership and make suggestions for improvement. Give your assistant particular assignments to carry out during the meeting. “Please help me to draw out the silent person.” “Please feel free to ask a key question if you think the discussion is lagging.” “Please come early and be ready to help welcome people.” “Please let me know what you hear that will enable me to make the next study more relevant to them.”
Go out and come back (Luke 10:1-24), aka “You do, I help.” Let your assistant lead one of the meetings, and then meet to give that person feedback on how it went. You now play the support role during the meeting, helping with difficult situations or participants. Encourage your assistant with what went well and offer suggestions for improvement. Avoid correcting every minor mistake; focus on broad patterns that might hold back this person’s leadership ability.
Go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), aka “You do, I watch.” Right when your assistant starts being truly effective, you’ll need to send that person out to start a new group without you. This is painful, because it will feel like your own group is moving backwards. You’ll lose the momentum and excitement of forward movement. But where there had been one group, now there are two. This is worth it.

After your assistant starts a new group, you’ll probably want to continue meeting for a time. You’ll want to discuss how the meeting goes as it gets off the ground. You’ll discuss the new challenges and opportunities faced by this fledgling leader. But most of all, you’ll want to make sure the new leader wastes no time in looking for a new assistant to train. And you’ll be looking for another assistant yourself. And before you know it, you’ll have four groups going.

I didn’t invent this model for growth. Jesus instituted it from the start of his ministry, and it has been changing the world ever since. It’s not flashy, and you’ll rarely be able to wow people with your dramatic growth figures. (“I trained one new person this year!”) But the power of multiplication is like a silent infection, wreaking havoc on the forces of darkness. Don’t neglect this best way to grow your Bible study group.

Different People are…Different

October 24, 2014 By Peter Krol

I would never accuse Kevin of being a people person, but his insight nearly knocked my socks off.

David Sitting (2014), Creative Commons

We sat in a coffee shop, just days before our college graduation. Kevin had studied mechanical engineering and not philosophy, but that didn’t prevent him from deep reflection in the advent of one of life’s major milestones. Though he had locked himself in a computer lab for the last four years and had only just come up for air, he was able to answer my question with a deliberate clarity I didn’t expect.

“What is the most helpful thing you’ve learned in college?”

“People are so interesting. Each one is different.”

With our schoolwork behind us, we could spend a lazy afternoon unpacking this profound truth together. Kevin shared his regrets: not making more time for friends. I shared mine: not being quicker to see how the differences among people were very good. We committed ourselves to praising God for making so many people so different.

Leading Bible Study

More than 15 years later, this conversation still haunts me when I find myself getting annoyed by people who aren’t like me. Especially people who slow me down. Especially when I’m doing something important like leading a Bible study.

Would you believe there are people who would voluntarily attend a Bible study—knowing full well that it is a discussion group—and never say a word? And others will come who never shut up? And some won’t understand that you call it a Bible study because you intend to study the Bible?

People are different. Their motives are different. Their challenges, experiences, and dreams are different. The Lord’s work in each one is different, and the pace of each person’s spiritual growth is different. But your mission as a leader remains the same:

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV)

“Complete patience” means I’m not bothered when people are different. “Complete teaching” means my goal for each person remains the same. I strive to preach Christ and him crucified, and I make every effort to see that nobody misses the grace of God.

Seeing the Opportunities

The Unbeliever may help your group to ask questions it never would have considered on its own.

The Aggressive Atheist may tie his own noose—and in so doing, strengthen the faith of young Christians—if he’s not willing to allow the text to speak before he tries to contradict it.

The Speechless Introvert may be the most thoughtful and considerate attendee.

The Tenure-Seeking Lecturer may actually bring some helpful knowledge of theology or historical background to the table.

The Off-Topic Questioner may care more about application than you do.

The Critical Nitpicker may help you to become more clear and effective in your leadership.

The Spontaneous Emoter may be your best recruiter.

The Invulnerable Thinker may be able to develop the best strategy for growing the group.

Truth is singular; people are plural. Good leaders learn to connect the two. Without compromise, and with complete patience.

Same Truth, Different Audience

August 8, 2014 By Peter Krol

Yesterday I worked on a Bible study I’m supposed to lead on Monday. The preparation took longer than I expected, even though I’ve led this Bible study before. In fact, I’ve already led this study 3 times in the last 3 months, and I plan to convert this study into a sermon for my church in a few more weeks. This is my 4th time in the same text with the same main points.

It’s taking a while, though, because my context and audience changes each time. I must reconsider the passage for each one.

My text is 2 Timothy 3:10-17. The text’s main point is that we must learn from Scripture and continue in the things we’ve learned from Scripture (observe the only imperative in the paragraph – 2 Tim 3:14). The sub-points have likewise remained constant; Scripture matters because:

It makes us wise for salvation (2 Tim 3:15).
It makes us competent and equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17).
It enables us to recognize and resist deception (2 Tim 3:10-13).

What complicates my preparation is that different audiences need different applications of these same truths. For that reason, I want to frame each Bible study differently to get the most mileage with participants.

Vern Hart (2007), Creative Commons

Here’s how I’ve pitched it each time. This “pitch” dictates how I advertise, introduce, and conduct the study. It’s given me a different title for each discussion. The pitch also drives which questions I ask and how we arrive at our application.

At a homeschooling convention, I pitched the study as “Teach your children how and why to study the Bible.”
In an article for broad consumption, I pitched it as “My love-hate relationship with Bible study tools (and why we must learn to study the Bible itself).”
For the orientation of our ministry’s summer interns, I pitched it as “Why our organization focuses on studying the Bible.”
[On Monday] To help train our ministry’s new staff in fundraising, I’ll pitch it as “How the Scriptures direct our fundraising.”
In a few weeks at my church, I’ll pitch it as “What our church believes about the Bible.”

In all 5 cases, I’m using the same text, the same main point, and the same outline of sub-points. But the flavor of the study changes dramatically with the audience.

The 4th practice for preparing effective Bible studies is to decide how to lead your group toward what God has said. This step must come after relying on the Lord, figuring out what God has said, and allowing the message to change you. Practicing those first 3 steps doesn’t yet mean you’re ready to lead your Bible study. You must consider your group and how they’ll best hear the truth.

I didn’t invent this idea of “framing” or “pitching” a text differently to different people. Notice how two apostles can take the same text in very different directions for different audiences.

And [Abram] believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Gen 15:6, ESV)

In Romans 4:1-12, Paul expects Roman believers not to boast in religious experiences like circumcision.
In Galatians 3:1-14, Paul calls Asian Gentiles to grow in Christ—and not merely come to Christ—through faith.
In James 2:20-26, James commands Hellenistic Jews not to grow complacent in proving their faith through good deeds.

The main point of Genesis 15 remains intact—God promises protection and great reward to those who take him at his word; none of these New Testament passages violate the original intent. But they re-frame the point to reach new audiences.

So should we.

John Piper’s Look at the Book Preview

July 30, 2014 By Peter Krol

John Piper is preparing to launch his “Look at the Book” initiative to teach people how to study the Bible. If this first video is an accurate sign of what’s to come, then we’re in for quite a treat.

If you have any question about what it looks like to sit down with nothing but the text of Scripture and simply observe, interpret, and apply—I could not recommend this 10-minute video any more highly.

http://vimeo.com/101339957

Not Creation but Discovery

July 4, 2014 By Peter Krol

Fields of Music

As far as musicians go, I’m an odd bird. I play the trombone, and I’ve performed both solo and in ensembles (jazz, quintet, marching band, symphony, wind ensemble, brass band)—but I couldn’t make it as a performer. I’ve composed a few miserable pieces—but I despise composition.

After getting my bachelor’s degree in music, I almost went to graduate school for the one thing most musicians loathe: music theory. I wasn’t nearly as into creation or expression as I was into investigation. I wanted to know why good music was good and why bad music was bad. I wanted to know not only who the great composers were but also what they did that was so great.

Carl Guderian (2014), Creative Commons

How did Beethoven build an entire symphony (his 5th) off of 4 notes: short-short-short-long? How did Dvorak get an orchestra to play every note of the scale at once and have it still sound good, in the climax of his 9th symphony? How does the rock band Dream Theater move so smoothly between 4/4, 7/8, and 6/8 time?

So I confess my bias is more toward the analytical arts than either the expressive or compositional ones. And I concede that we need all sides for life to be interesting.

But there’s a time and place for each skill. If a composer can’t create, or a performer can’t express, or a critic can’t analyze—that person’s craft is doomed.

What does this have to do with leading Bible studies?

Leading Bible Studies

To switch the metaphor from music to literature: Leading a Bible study is not like a creative writing assignment. Nor is it like a poetry reading. It should be much more like a literature club: reading, discussing, and responding to the author’s thoughts.

In other words, preparing a Bible study should involve much more discovery than creation or expression.

A Bible study is not the place to express yourself or your views of the world—unless you mean them to be examples of bringing every thought captive to Christ. A Bible study is also not about how clever or profound you can be. Your burden is not to come up with something new, but to speak what has already been spoken.

Notice the Apostle Paul’s final charge to the one who would inherit Paul’s ministry:

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2 Tim 4:1-2, ESV)

Paul charges Timothy:

In the presence of God
In the presence of Christ Jesus
In light of Jesus’ impending judgment of all people
Because of Jesus’ appearing
Because of Jesus’ kingdom

As my friend Dave Royes has said, “There is no larger font in the Bible.” Paul could not draw any more attention to this charge than he has drawn. His life’s work, which he passes to the next generation, rests in the following imperative.

And what is the charge? What is so important that Jesus’ appearing and kingdom took place to make it happen? What will impact Jesus’ judgment of both living and dead? For what purpose has God become present in Christ?

That we might preach the word.

You don’t have to write your Bible study; it’s already written for you, and you merely have to discover it. You don’t have to prepare an intriguing sermon; you must uncover what has been said so you can say it.

If you try to be profound, you’ll fail to figure out what God has said (the second practice for preparing effective Bible studies). But those who depend on the Lord are free to speak what he wants them to speak.