Thursday, August 7, 2008

"Principles Of Bible Study"




PREAMBLE:
If you have already looked at the link, Methods of Bible Study, then you know the one individual who inspired me to study God’s Word with fortitude was my Pastor, teacher, and mentor, Bishop C.H. Taliefero.
Below is a Bible class from December 11, 1978 from Bishop Taliefero on Principles of Bible Study.

Enjoy the Bible class as taught by Bishop Taliefero in December 1978.
Jarrett L. Perdue Sr. 8/7/2008.
 
BIBLE CLASS TEACHINGS – DECEMBER 11, 1978
INSTRUCTOR & PASTOR: DISTRICT ELDER C.H. TALIEFERO
NOTES & RESEARCH OF WORDS BY STUDENT J.L. PERDUE SR.


DISTRICT ELDER TALIEFERO’S TEACHING ON:
"PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE STUDY."
HEBREWS 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God;
Principle is defined as a fundamental, primary, or general truth which other truths depend.
Principle in this Greek context means something orderly in arrangement.

10 PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE STUDY
 
  • [1] DISPENSATIONAL
  • [2] COVENANT
  • [3] ETHNIC-BACKGROUND
  • [4] DISCRIMINATION
  • [5] PREDICTIVE
  • [6] APPLICATION
  • [7] HERMENEUTICS
  • [8] EXEGESIS
  • [9] GAP
  • [10] NUMERICAL

 
(1) DISPENSATIONAL
A certain order, system or arrangement. A divinely appointed order or system. Dispensation from a theological standpoint is a moral or probationary period in the world’s history.
Example:
  • (1) in Genesis there is the Edenic Dispensation (innocence) extending from the creation of Adam (Genesis 2:7 "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.") to the expulsion from the Garden (Genesis 3:24 "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.")
  • (2) The Legal Dispensation (Law) extended from the exodus to the birth of Christ, approx 1,491 years.
For a detailed explanation of the different dispensations, read “Dispensational Truth”, Clarence Larkin (author) pp. 32-43 and “Bakers Dictionary Of Theology”, Everett F. Harrison (author) pp. 167-168 under term, Dispensation.
(2) COVENANT
A Compact or agreement between 2 parties binding them mutually to undertakings on each other’s behalf. Relations between God and man unalterable and permanently. 
Jeremiah 11:4 "Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:"

Ezekiel 11:20 "That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God."

Zechariah 8:8 "And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness."


(3) ETHNIC-BACKGROUND
Pertaining to or peculiar to a population. Referring to the origin, classification & characteristics of such groups. Group of people racially and historically related.

Acts 17:26-28
  • 26 "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;"
  • 27 "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:"
  • 28 "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."

(4) DISCRIMINATION
  • 1. The ability or power to see or make fine distinctions; discernment.
  • 2. Treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit; partiality or prejudice: racial discrimination; discrimination against foreigners.
God is against this type of behavior:

Matthew 22:39 "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Luke 10:25-37, Luke 7:1-10. 

Acts 17:26 "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;" 

Colossians 3:11 "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." 
Acts 10:34 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:"

(5) PREDICTIVE
To foretell; prophecy; to foretell the future. To predict is usually to foretell with precision of calculation and knowledge.

Notice there is a different between prophecy and prognostication. Prognostication is to forecast something future from present indications or signs. For example, a weather meteorologist who predicts weather with regard to temperature, barometric pressure, wind humidity, cloud formation, and precipitation. In many instances these types of predictions are inaccurate.

Prophecy comes from the Greek word “prophetes.” Pro meaning “before” and “for” and “phemi” meaning to speak. The prophet is one who speaks before in the sense of proclaim in the name of the Lord. Unlike prognostication, prophecy (when it is directly from the Lord), is always accurate and will meet its fulfillment.

The following are some examples in scripture and the fulfillment:
PROPHECY
  • Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
FULFILLMENT
  • John 6:14 “Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.”

PROPHECY
  • Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”

FULFILLMENT
Luke 22:47-48
  • 47 "And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him."
  • 48 "But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"
Suggested readings: “PROPHECY-ITS HAPPENING! A STUDY OF DANIEL AND REVELATION.” AUTHOR – NATHANIEL J. WILSON.
“DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH” CHAP 3, “MOUNTAIN PEAKS OF PROPHECY”, PP. 6-7 AND CHART ON “THE PERSPECTIVE OF PROPHECY”, PP 7 ½. AUTHOR – DR. CLARENCE LARKIN.

(6) APPLICATION
The Application study method is the act of putting to a special use or purpose. We are to read the scriptures, let the scriptures say what they say and then apply the scriptures to our daily lives.
There is a misapplication of scriptures. The result of this comes from a mindset of training, environment, denomination, prejudice, and their own desire to make the scripture say what they want based off their bias. What people do is try to make the scripture agree with want they believe, instead of making their beliefs coincide with scripture.
An excellent example of making application of the Word of God is found in Matthew 4:1-11. The confrontation of the Lord Jesus and Satan. When Satan would challenge the Lord, the Lord would preface His statements with 3 words: IT IS WRITTEN……” thus applying the Divine Word.

(7) HERMENEUTICS
The science of interpretation of the scriptures. Hermeneutics involves the structure of Biblical languages, the type of literature represented, the historical background, the geographical conditions and the life setting. Hermeneutics also deals with the interpretation of separate, Biblical documents and interpretations for different parts of the Bible.
2 Timothy 2:15. KJV and AMPLIFIED:

(KJV) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

(AMPLIFIED) “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”
 
Suggested readings: BAKERS DICTIONARY OF THEOLOGY, EVERETT F. HARRISON (AUTHOR) UNDER THEOLOGICAL TERM: INTERPRETATION (BIBLICAL) PP. 291-293.

(8) EXEGESIS
Narration or explanation. Exegesis is closely related to hermeneutics. Whereas hermeneutics seeks to establish ruling principles of Biblical interpretation, exegesis seeks to fix the meaning of individual statements and passages. With exegesis, scripture will interpret scripture. Exegesis may also be called THE LAW OF FIRST-MENTION.” Whenever something is conveyed in scripture and has its own shade of meaning, another scripture will discover that meaning. That pattern in unchanged by God.
Here is an example of the:
Law Of First-Mention.”
The apocalyptic vision seen by the Prophet Daniel and the Apostle John.
Daniel 10:5-12 and Revelation 1:12-17.

                                           DANIEL 10:5-12
  • 5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
  • 6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
  • 7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
  • 8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
  • 9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
  • 10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
  • 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
  • 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel:
  REVELATION 1:12-17
  • 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
  • 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
  • 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
  • 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
  • 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
  • 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Daniel and John saw the same apocalyptic vision.

(9) GAP
In scriptural understanding, Gap is an interval period of time between events. Some scholars state that the Gap principle is shown by the “comma” (,) factor.
Example: In Isaiah 61:1-2
  • (1) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
  • (2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
According to some scholars concerning verse 2, Isaiah did not see that “comma” that separated the statements, “the acceptable year of the Lord”, and “the day of vengeance of our God”. Scholars state that the “day of vengeance of our God”, was to span a period covering the whole of the “present dispensation”, and already 1900 years long.
The “acceptable year of the Lord” alludes to the year of release or the jubilee which was an acceptable to servants who were then set at liberty to debtors, against who all action was dropped. Christ came to sound the jubilee trumpet and blessed were they that heard the joyful sound. See Psalm 79.
The “day of vengeance of our God” is found in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
  • 7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
  • 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
  • 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

(10) NUMERICAL
There are those that debate as to whether numbers have significance in scripture.
 
Isaiah 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?”


Psalm 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.” 

Hebrews 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:


SUGGESTED READINGS: “NUMBER IN SCRIPTURE”. DR. E.W. BULLINGER (AUTHOR). “DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH” CHAP. 33, PP 171-173, “SCRIPTURE NUMERICS.” DR. CLARENCE
LARKIN (AUTHOR)