The Hard Work of Bible Study

If we accept the Bible as the inspired word of God, we are compelled to approach its message with utmost respect and care. “Scripture begins a conversation that is interpersonal and potentially life-changing, because it is God who initiates the dialogue.”¹ Bible study is rewarding only when it is done right, requiring a serious mind and a strong commitment. “We are dealing with God’s thoughts: we are obligated to take the greatest pains to understand them truly and to explain them clearly.”² 

At the end of a remarkable life in the Lord’s service, including an enormously impactful teaching and writing ministry,³ the apostle Paul produced his final apostolic manuscript that preserves his last documented words. What the aged apostle regarded as of highest importance was knowing and serving the Lord (2 Tim. 1:1, 3, 8, 11, 12; 2:3, 10, 21; 4:5, 11), while rightly discerning, obeying, defending, and propagating the Lord’s revealed will as recorded in scripture (1:13; 2:2, 9, 14-19, 24-25; 3:14-17; 4:2-4, 17).

In 2 Timothy 2:15 we read in English translation:

·      “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (NKJV).

·      “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (NASB).

·      “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (ESV).

·      “Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately” (NET).⁴

What is this passage saying, and how does it apply to us today? Among other things, Bible study (exegesis) involves establishing the literary context, considering the broader context, translation, comparative analysis, identifying key concepts, and word study. By engaging in biblical exegesis, we learn something here about biblical exegesis. 

The current text follows a previous letter to Timothy that provides background and supplementary information, along with the larger context of Paul’s life and ministry, his other writings, and the rest of the Bible. Leading up to the above admonition the apostle has been urging Timothy to be brave, faithful, and strong, to endure and work hard. And Paul’s instructions have much broader applicability (cf. 2:2; 3:16-17; 4:2; also 1 Tim. 1:3; 4:6-16).

The verbal spoudázō (lit. “hasten”) conveys the sense of “labor,” “exert,” “give full diligence.”⁵ The verbal orthotoméō (lit. “cut straight”) means to “handle correctly” or “rightly expound.” The expression, “the word of truth,” consists of “the word”  [tòn lógon], descriptive of deliberate and specific communication, while “the truth” [tēs alētheías] implies an objective standard of doctrine.⁶

What do we learn from this text about how the word of truth is to be interpreted and applied? What would be the opposite of this that ought to be avoided? What is required, according to this passage, to receive God’s approval and avoid shame? 

“The problem of interpreting a passage from the Bible is one to which we would all like to find the key, some simple and easy formula that will enable us to approach any text of Scripture and quickly establish its meaning. Alas, there is no such simple answer …”⁷ Without the investment of considerable time, devotion, mental exertion, and prayer, we run the risk of missing and/or misunderstanding God’s revealed will.

When I read a local newspaper or newsfeed, I interpret its contents with little conscious effort because I am familiar with the literary conventions and share the same cultural context as those who wrote and published the articles. However, the interpretive process becomes more complicated when I try to understand a literary work from another country or different culture, and the task becomes even more daunting when attempting to interpret ancient literary texts, like the Bible, even further removed. 

“There are significant gaps in our knowledge of the literary conventions, language, and social settings that surround and inhabit biblical texts. We live in a different time and place than the times and places in which and to which the Bible originally spoke. Deliberate attention to these issues and painstaking work at many junctures are required.”⁸ In other words, exert full diligence to present yourself acceptable to God, an unashamed worker correctly handling the word of truth.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ J. K. Brown, Scripture as Communication (2nd ed.) 3.

     2 D. A. Carson, Exegetical Fallacies (2nd ed.) 15. 

     ³ Note, e.g., 2 Tim. 1:12-13; 4:6-8; 2 Pet. 3:14-16.

     4 Other interpretive renderings include: “Study … a workman … rightly dividing the word of truth” (KJV); “Be diligent … a worker … correctly teaching the word of truth” (CSB); “Do your best … a worker … rightly explaining the word of truth” (NRSV). Ernst Wendland renders the text, “to present yourself to God as a person who has proven to be worthy and with no cause for shame” (“2 Timothy—translationNotes” 34). 

     ⁵ See Gal. 2:10; Eph. 4:3; 1 Thess. 2:17; 1 Tim. 2:15; 4:9  21; Tit. 3:1; Heb. 4:11; 2 Pet. 1:10, 15; 3:14.

     6 When Paul penned these directives, “the word of truth” was not limited to just the OT and the spoken word. The Greek term graphē (“scripture”) applies to something written, and Paul goes on to say that all “scripture” is divinely inspired (3:16). At the time, the writings of Luke were already regarded as “scripture” (1 Tim. 5:18), and within a comparable timeframe so were Paul’s (2 Pet. 3:15-16). See What the Scriptures say about the Scriptures.

     ⁷ I. Howard Marshall, “Introduction,” in NT Interpretation 11.

     ⁸ J. K. Brown, Scripture as Communication (2nd ed.) 11.

 

Related Posts: The Holy Spirit's Role in Biblical Interpretation, The Heart of Bible Study 

Addendum: Seeing that God desires all to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4), he has clearly made this knowledge accessible and attainable. However, it is not the case he has made it so easy (note 2 Pet. 3:16!) that knowledge just happens by accident with no effort from the recipient. “The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God” (Psa. 14:2, NKJV). God seeks those who seek him. “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 4:29); “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27). For those sincerely desiring to know the Lord and his will, demonstrated by the effort expended, he provides the way. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8).

 

Image credit: adapted from https://clearipcc.in/how-not-to-get-distracted-while-reading/

Recommended Tools for Biblical Word Study

Plethoric word-study tools are available in print and in digital format but not all are of equal value. A number of sources are outdated, incomplete, insubstantial, and/or replete with inaccuracies. “Most free computer shareware falls into this category, which is why it is made available free of charge!” (C. L. Blomberg, Handbook of NT Exegesis 138 n. 52). 

BASIC

 

I. Multiple English Translations: Formal Correspondence Versions (a) ESV, NASB/U, NKJV; (b) ASV, KJV, RSV; Optimal/Dynamic Equivalence Versions (a) H/CSB, T/NIV, NRSV; (b) McCord, NET. 

 

II. Exhaustive Concordance: alphabetically lists each word in the English Bible with corresponding Hebrew or Greek terms, citing all scripture references where the word occurs.

·      James Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010): based on the KJV or NASB, with a reference number corresponding to the underlying Hebrew or Greek term defined in the back. Other reference tools use the Strong’s numbering system for convenience. 

·      Edward W. Goodrick and John R. Kohlenberger III, eds. The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999).

·      Robert Young, Analytical Concordance to the Bible, Rev. ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).

·      It is most helpful to use a concordance that matches the Bible version you are using.

 

III. Expository Dictionary: a cross reference from key English words in the Bible to corresponding Hebrew and Greek words, with brief definitions and sample scripture references.

·      W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

·      William D. Mounce, Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).

 

IV. Bible Encyclopedia and/or Dictionary: numerous articles about the language, customs, and literature of Bible lands, archaeological discoveries, historical and religious environments, et al.

·      John McClintock and James Strong, eds. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, 8 vols. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1968-70).

·      James Orr, gen. ed., The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 4 vols. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980); revised, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, ed. (1989).

·      Chad Brand and Eric Mitchell, eds. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Rev. ed. (Nashville: Holman, 2015).

 

V. Free online sources:

·      Blue Letter Bible – free online reference library with a variety of Bible study tools <Link>. 

·      BibleGateway.com – a website designed to allow easy reading, listening, studying, searching, and sharing of the Bible in many different versions and translations, including English, French, Spanish, and other languages <Link>. 

 

INTERMEDIATE

 

I. Interlinear: the biblical text with a literal English translation of each word. 

·      Jay Patrick Green, Sr., The Interlinear Bible: Hebrew-Greek-English (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005).

·      J. D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1990). 

·      The Zondervan Parallel New Testament in Greek and English (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975, 1982).

·      Arthur L. Farstad, Zane C. Hodges, et al., eds. The Majority Text Greek New Testament Interlinear (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007).  

·      John Schwandt and C. John Collins, eds. The ESV English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament (Crossway, 2006). The English translation is the main text with corresponding Greek words underneath.

 

II. Lexicon: provides a fuller definition of each word in the Hebrew Old Testament or Greek New Testament with sample references from the Bible and related literature.

·      Harold K. Moulton, ed. The Analytical Greek Lexicon Revised (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978): lists and identifies various forms of Greek words and helps to locate the lexical form.

·      Barbara and Timothy Friberg, Analytical Concordance of the Greek New Testament—Lexical Focus (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981).

·      Joseph Henry Thayer, Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Associated Publishers, 1889); coded with Strong’s numbering system (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996).

 

III.  Free online sources:

·      Bible Hub – digital library including topical, Greek and Hebrew study tools, concordances, commentaries, dictionaries, and devotionals <Link>. 

 

ADVANCED

 

I. Hebrew and Greek Texts:

·      Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1990).

·      Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th ed. (Stuttgart: German Bible Society, 2012). Available online <Link>.

·      UBS The Greek New Testament, 5th ed. (Stuttgart: German Bible Society, 2014).

·      Maurice A. Robinson and William G. Pierpont, The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform 2005 (Southborough, MA: Hilton, 2005).

·      Barbara and Timothy Friberg, eds. Analytical Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981).

 

II. Lexicon:

·      Francis Brown, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1955).

·      BDAG – Walter Bauer, F. W. Danker, W. F. Arndt, and F. W. Gingrich, eds. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000); BAGD (1979 ed.).

·      Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, 2nd ed. (New York: UBS, 1989).

 

III. Hebrew/Greek-English Concordance: provides the location and concise meaning of each word in the Hebrew Old Testament or Greek New Testament.

·      John H. Sailhamer, A New Concordance of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1984).

·      Edwin Hatch and Henry A. Redpath, A Concordance to the Septuagint, 2nd. ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998).

·      George V. Wigram, The New Englishman’s Greek Concordance and Lexicon, Rev. Jay P. Green (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1982).

·      Moulton and Geden Concordance to the Greek New Testament, 6th ed., I. Howard Marshall, ed. (London: T&T Clark, 2004).

 

IV. Dictionary:

·      Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich, eds. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT), 10 vols. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964-76).

·      Colin Brown, The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (NIDNTT), 3 vols. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975-78).

 

V. Digital Sources:

·      Academia-Bible.com – up-to-date academic biblical texts, including Hebrew OT, Greek NT, LXX, and Latin Vulgate. Free at <Link>.

·      Logos Bible Software – a digital library including extensive resource linking and linguistic analysis for studying the Bible in English translation and the original languages.

·      Accordance Bible Software – a Bible-study program centered on the biblical text with additional Bible-related sources, study tools, commentaries, dictionaries, and a cross reference system.

 

--Kevin L. Moore

 

Related Posts: Biblical Word Study, When the Greek NT is Translated into English

 

Related articles:

 

Image credit: http://www.center-cob.org/ministry/wed-bible-study-notes/

Biblical Word Study

Word study is important, as words are the fundamental mechanism for conveying thought. But a single word does not function independently and is of little communicative value apart from a broader context. Therefore, the aim of word study is to try to understand what the inspired author was seeking to convey by his use of a particular word in a particular context.¹

Selecting Which Words to Study²

It is not practical to do an in-depth study of every single word in a lengthy text, but certain words ought to capture our attention more than others. Here are some basic guidelines for word-study selection: 

·      Words that are central to the passage, without which the message would lose its meaning, purpose, or emphasis; e.g. “love” in John 21:15-19, or “faith” in the 11th chapter of Hebrews.

·      Repeated words, indicative of a theme or special emphasis; e.g. “blessed” in Matt. 5:1-12, or “conscience” in 1 Cor. 8:7-12; 10:25-29, or “comfort” in 2 Cor. 1:3-7.

·      Figures of speech, wherein word pictures convey a meaning beyond the literal sense; e.g. “bread” in John 6:35, “light” in John 8:12, “door” in John 10:9, etc.

·      Words that are unclear or difficult; e.g. “phylacteries” in Matt. 23:5, or “not under bondage” in 1 Cor. 7:15, or “vessel” in 1 Thess. 4:4.

As exegetes our job is not to determine the meanings of biblical words but to contextually discover the meanings as originally intended.³ Let us also be aware, “as important as word studies are, it is very doubtful if profound understanding of any text or of any theme is really possible by word studies alone …. semantics, meaning, is more than the meaning of words.”⁴ In our next post we will list a number of recommended word-study tools.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ Gordon D. Fee, New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors. 3rd ed. (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2002): 79.

     ² See J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012): 167-70; also Grant R. Osborne, The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Rev. ed. (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2006): 109-10.

     ³ Duvall and Hays 163.

     ⁴ D. A. Carson, Exegetical Fallacies. 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996): 64.

Related Posts: Recommended Tools for Biblical Word Study

Related articles:

Image credit: http://www.westuchurch.com/bible-magnifying-glass-1/