understanding scripture - pathlighters · understanding scripture ... pagan culture . eight steps...

Understanding Scripture

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Tim 3:16-17

Purpose of Bible Study

The purpose of Bible study is to help us deepen our relationship with the Father and one another both in the church family and the lost world.

Desired Outcome of Bible Study

. . . so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17

. . . until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13

Eight Steps of Bible Study – Step 1

When studying a book or passage, read the book or passage several times. • Read the whole book if it is short. • Read the immediate chapters before

and after the passage being studied in books that are lengthy.

• Read from as many versions as possible.


Use other resources to determine the biblical background of the book. 1. Who was the author, his history? 2. To whom was the book written? 3. What was the relationship between the

author and the recipient(s)? 4. What was the purpose for writing the

document?


Using other resources determine the biblical background of the book. 5. When was the book written? 6. Are there any geographical or political

factors that need to be considered? 7. What were the current circumstances?

Timothy – Step 2

1. Who was the author, his history? Paul

2. To whom was the book written? Timothy

3. What was the relationship between the author and the recipient? Spiritual father and son & co-laborers

4. What was the purpose for writing the document? To equip and encourage the “beloved son” to care for and shepherd Christ’s followers in Corinth

1 Timothy – Step 2

5. When was the book written? 63-65 AD

6. Are there any geographical or political factors that need to be considered? – Corinthian population - approximately 400,000 – Pagan worship and temple prostitutes – Jews are completely Hellenized – Timothy out of a cross-cultural marriage – Timothy, his mother and grandmother were

converts under Paul’s teaching – Timothy understood both worlds

1 Timothy – Step 2

5. When was the book written? 6. Are there any geographical or political

factors that need to be considered? 7. What were the current circumstances?

– Some believers were fearful of pagan influences

– Some were proponents of gnostic theology – Some were trying to blend Christian and

pagan culture


Look for the big picture of the book, chapter, and/or verses. • Write a summary in one sentence or use

a descriptive verse or two from the text. • Write a summary of any sub-themes

found in the book or passage.


Look for the big picture of the book, chapter, and/or verses. • Write a summary in one sentence or use

a descriptive verse or two from the text. Stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote them- selves to myths and endless genealogies.

1 Tim 1:3-4


Look for the big picture of the book, chapter, and/or verses. • Write a summary. • Write a summary of any sub-themes found

in the book or passage. – Interpersonal Relation Principles – Dealing with needs within the church – Identifying spiritually mature leaders to meet

those needs – Living a godly lifestyle


Outline the book or at least the relevant passage(s) and the immediate chapters around it. IMPORTANT: Do not forget that chapter, verse, paragraph breaks and headers are not part of the inspired writings and can be misleading.


Utilize Bible study helps and commentaries.


Write down your thoughts about passage being studied. • Determine the dominant theme/thesis

of the book or passage. • What are the key words or phrases? • What do you think are the spiritual

principles the author is presenting? • What questions come to mind?


Write down your thoughts about passage being studied. • Determine the dominant theme/thesis

of the book or passage.

–Encouragement –Equipping


Write down your thoughts about passage being studied. • What are the key words or phrases?

– Controversies/Conduct – Prayers – Relationships – Leadership: Overseer & Servant – Setting an example – Contentment


Write down your thoughts about passage being studied. • What do you think are the spiritual

principles the author is presenting? – Relationship Principle – Discipleship Principle – Leadership Principle – Discipline Principle – Commitment Principle – Contentment Principle


Write down your thoughts about passage being studied. • What do you think are the spiritual

principles the author is presenting? • What questions come to mind?

– If you discipline are you not judging? – Are the overseer and servant today’s pastor

and deacon? – What does one wife or one husband mean?

If you discipline are you not judging?

Judging & Judgment – Matthew 7:1 – we are not to judge or we will be

judged accordingly – 1 Corinthians 6:2-5 – We are to judge – 1 John 4:1 – Judge the spirit of man

The Discipline Principle: Discipline is for the purpose of holding up, supporting others before God for strengthening and healing. (1 Corinthians 13: 7)

Self-righteous judgment for condemnation, revenge or punishment is the opposite – we actually condemn ourselves.

Are the overseer and servant today’s pastor and deacon?

1 Tim 3:1 – the Greek word: episkope – If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer

(NIV) – If a man desire the office of a bishop (KJV)

Meaning: inspect or see, to watch over, guard over The word or concept of “office” or ecclesiological term “Bishop” is not found in the text.


1 Tim 3:1 – the Greek word: episkope – If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer

(NIV) – If a man desire the office of a bishop (KJV)

Meaning: inspect or see, to watch over, guard over

Why did KJV translate episkope as Bishop?


KJV • Textus Receptus – 1512 • Greek text by Theodore de Beze of Geneva 1598 • Codex Sinaiticus - 360 • Codex Vaticanus – 1209 • Masoretic Hebrew text – 10th and 11th century

NIV • Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia Masoretic Hebrew Text • The Dead Sea Scrolls • The Samaritan Pentateuch • The Aquila, Symmachus and Theodotion • The Latin Vulgate • The Syriac Peshitta • The Aramaic Targum • The Juxta Hebraica of Jerome • Koine Greek language editions of the United Bible Societies

The KJV was limited to text that had been collected and translated through the developing Catholic system of church governance.


Fifteen general rules were advanced for the guidance of the translators: 1. The ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly called the Bishops Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the Truth of the original will permit. 2. The names of the Prophets, and the Holy Writers, with the other Names of the Text, to be retained, as nigh as may be, accordingly as they were vulgarly used. 3. The Old Ecclesiastical Words to be kept, viz. the Word Church not to be translated Congregation &c. 4. When a Word hath divers Significations, that to be kept which hath been most commonly used by the most of the Ancient Fathers, being agreeable to the Propriety of the Place, and the Analogy of the Faith. 5. The Division of the Chapters to be altered, either not at all, or as little as may be, if Necessity so require. 6. No Marginal Notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek Words, which cannot without some circumlocution, so briefly and fitly be expressed in the Text. 7. Such Quotations of Places to be marginally set down as shall serve for the fit Reference of one Scripture to another. 8. Every particular Man of each Company, to take the same Chapter or Chapters, and having translated or amended them severally by himself, where he thinketh good, all to meet together, confer what they have done, and agree for their Parts what shall stand. 9. As any one Company hath dispatched any one Book in this Manner they shall send it to the rest, to be considered of seriously and judiciously, for His Majesty is very careful in this Point. 10. If any Company, upon the Review of the Book so sent, doubt or differ upon any Place, to send them Word thereof; note the Place, and withal send the Reasons, to which if they consent not, the Difference to be compounded at the general Meeting, which is to be of the chief Persons of each Company, at the end of the Work. 11. When any Place of special Obscurity is doubted of, Letters to be directed by Authority, to send to any Learned Man in the Land, for his Judgement of such a Place. 12. Letters to be sent from every Bishop to the rest of his Clergy, admonishing them of this Translation in hand; and to move and charge as many skilful in the Tongues; and having taken pains in that kind, to send his particular Observations to the Company, either at Westminster, Cambridge, or Oxford. 13. The Directors in each Company, to be the Deans of Westminster, and Chester for that Place; and the King's Professors in the Hebrew or Greek in either University. 14. These translations to be used when they agree better with the Text than the Bishops Bible: Tyndale's, Matthew's, Coverdale's, Whitchurch's, Geneva. 15. Besides the said Directors before mentioned, three or four of the most Ancient and Grave Divines, in either of the Universities, not employed in Translating, to be assigned by the vice-Chancellor, upon Conference with the rest of the Heads, to be Overseers of the Translations as well Hebrew as Greek, for the better observation of the 4th Rule above specified.


Fifteen general rules were advanced for the guidance of the translators:

1. The ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly called the Bishops Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the Truth of the original will permit.

2. . . . .

3. The Old Ecclesiastical Words to be kept, viz. the Word Church not to be translated Congregation.

4. When a Word hath divers Significations, that to be kept which hath been most commonly used by the most of the Ancient Fathers, being agreeable to the Propriety of the Place, and the Analogy of the Faith.

5. . . . .


1 Tim 3:1 – the Greek word: episkope – If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer (NIV) – If a man desire the office of a bishop (KJV)

Meaning: inspect or see, to watch over, guard over

The word or concept of “office” or church ecclesiology “Bishop” are not found in the extent text.

Desires – to stretch oneself toward

1 Timothy and the Leadership Principle? • Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband

of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. NIV 1 Tim 3:2-7

• Verse 4 & 5 NIV – Manage KJV – Ruleth • Verse 5 NIV – Take care of KJV – Take care of

The Leadership Principle

Paul tells Timothy to look for men who are the most spiritual mature as shown by their:

1. Being above blame or discredit 2. Being passionately committed 3. Being in control of outside and internal desires 4. Being actively engaged with people 5. Being able to equip others for growth and service 6. Not being reliant on outside things for happiness 7. Loving others more than self 8. Not demanding his way in everything 9. Viewing material things as means not ends 10. Loving and diligently watching over his family 11. Being spiritually mature in his understanding and life activity 12. Having a good reputation within the world.

The Leadership Principle Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!

Phil 2:5-8

The Leadership Principle


Do your conclusions agree with other biblical teachings? • Do these principles, as you understand

them, contradict other biblical teachings?

• Do your conclusions agree with biblical teachings based on the whole Bible?


Determine key points of application for you. This is the most important aspect of your study! • How do the principles taught in the

passage apply in the church’s life?


Determine key points of application for you. This is the most important aspect of your study! • How do they apply in your personal life? • What changes do you need to make or

activities do you need to accomplish to implement these principles in your life?

• How will you know when progress and growth have been made?

Path Lighter Connect Group sees a day when every believer is continually progressing in their spiritual journey of becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ and becoming a team, working together to fulfill the Great Commission in Alpharetta, Georgia, the United States, and throughout the world.

understanding scripture - pathlighters · understanding scripture ... pagan culture . eight steps...

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