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BIBLE S A 1 TUDY SSIGNMENT
Assignment 1-2:
Answer the following questions:
1. Do you agree that the Bible is a divine-human book? Why or why not?
2. What is textual criticism?
How is it possible to have a high view of the authority of Scripture and a positive view of
textual criticism at the same time?
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I agree that the Bible is a divine-human book. The way that the Bible is written shows the
divine and human connection. The Bible is inspired by God, but hand written by humans. The
greatest part of the bible is that God inspired the content as 2 Timothy 3:16 states that “all
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness”. The part where humans comes in is when we were inspired by God to wirte
down his words.
Textual criticism is the comparison of different copies of the Bible to determine what the
original text or autographs would have been. Human authors means human errors. The original
scriptures where copied by hand, and this allows for human errors. The comparison of the
different interpretations help us determine the original text.
A high view of the authority of scripture and a positive view of textual criticism can be achieved
be remembering what the Bible is. The bible is the Word of God and is inspired by God, written
by man. We know that God is perfect and infallible, while man is full of error. God has given us
words, but through man the process of the Bible becomes messy. God is the authority behind
scripture. Man is however not perfect and textual criticism becomes necessary because of the
erroneous copying of scripture. Textual criticism gets us back to the original word of God.
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3. What is translation?
Why is translation not a simple exercise?
Describe the two main approaches to translation discussed in this chapter.
Which approach do you feel most comfortable with? Why?
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A translation is taking the language the Bible is in and converting it into another language. If
the Bible was never translated into English we would not be able to understand God’s message
today being that it was originally written in Greek and Hebrew. A translation is necessary for
the spread of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Translation of the Bible is not an so simple. One problem is that some words do not have one
meaning for across all the lanagues there are many meaning to all the words. So the translator
has to look for the context and not just the literal translation because the literal translation in
another language may not make much sense or have a much different meaning.
There are two main approaches to translating the Bible. The first is formal which is a literal and
tries to stay as close to a word for word translation. The second is functional which is looking
for the meaning of the text or what point is the author trying to make.
I feel more comfortable with a functional translation. I want to know what God is trying to tell
me so that I may be able to understand and follow the words he has spoken.
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Assignment 2-1: Describe the five steps of the Interpretive Journey.
Answer each step with as much information as possible. In other words, do not just give a one
line statement, but attempt to write a summary type paragraph for each step so that you can
demonstrate a good understanding of the interpretive journey process. You may use the words in
the textbook.
Step #1:
Step #2:
Step #3:
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Step one to study the text to the best of our ability. See where the passage is at
and what is taking place. Look for what the passage means to those in biblical
times. What does the historic and literal context show? How does this passage fit
with verses or chapters before and after it? After studying write a very detailed
description while using past-tense verbs. Look for theological principals.
Step 2 we deal with the differences from our culture, language, situation, time,
and often covenant to the biblical audience. We look at the differences of today to
that of biblical time. Are they under the law or has Jesus paid for their sins? Are
they meeting at a temple or as a church?
In step three we are looking to connect to meaning from then to today. We look for a
theological principle. Use step 1 and 2 to note similarities and differences of the situation of
the biblical situation and the situations of today. Return to step 1 to find a broad theological
principle between both biblical times and today creating a bridge.
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Step #4:
Step #5:
Assignment 2-2: What are the guidelines for developing theological principles?
You may use an outline form in answering this question.
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Step 4 is a test of step three. Taking the theoligical principle and weigh it against the rest of
scripture and God’s plan. Does the theological principle weigh up? We may be on the right
track at this stage but the principal needs to be fine tuned to fit into the rest of scripture.
Step 5 we put the principal from step 4 into action. How do we apply this principal
in our lives today? How can what we learned from the biblical characters? Step five
is about making our interpretation from steps 1-4 relevant to today.
Step 1: Grasping the Text in Their Town. What did the scripture mean then to the people?
Step 2: Measuring the Width of the River to Cross. What is the difference between us and them?
Step 3: Crossing the Principlizing Bridge. Construct a theological principal
Step 4: Consult the Biblical Map. Test your findings against the rest of the bible.
Step 5: Grasping the Text in Our Town. How can the theological principle we found relate to us today?
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Assignment 2-3: What are the differences that determine the width of the river to cross?
Write a summary type paragraph in answering this question.
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The river to cross is a barrier or separation between the biblical audience and us today. That river is flowing
with differences in culture, time, language, situation, and covenants. Sometimes these differences are not too
big, but other times is very large.
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Assignment 3-5: Matthew 28:18–20
Read Matthew 28:18–20, and make as many observations as you can on this passage. Dig deep!
Think hard. Spend time on this. Mark dozens and dozens of observations. Read and reread! Look
again! Observe! Observe! Observe!
Note: The passage may not include incidents of every type of observation item.
Make sure you are clear in identifying the features. For instance, where it requires you to list the
contrasts, make sure you identifying which words or phrases are contrasted. Just writing down a
sentence from the passage will not help me understand what you thought the author contrasted.
So you may use words like this: X is contrasted with Y, X and Y standing for words or phrases.
The same format must be used in listing comparisons, cause/effect, or any other features where
two parts are required.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of
the age.”
Repetition of Words:
Contrasts (different things):
Comparisons (similar things):
Lists:
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Them is found three times. The first is to people outside of this text. This them may be linked to the two
you’s towards the end of verse 20. Them is also used twice as referring to making disciples. Jesus is
repeated as me, the Son, and as I twice.
Jesus has authority in heaven and earth. Heaven and Earth are different things.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are similar things. Each is their own, but they are all one through the
trinity.
Go, make disciples, baptize, and teach is a list of actions in this command.
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Cause and Effect:
Figures of Speech:
Significant Conjunctions:
Significant Verbs:
Significant Pronouns:
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After the list of actions Jesus says that if you go and do these things I will be with you in this act and for the
rest of this age. The cause is going the effect is He is with us. Another is that all authority belongs to Jesus.
With Jesus’ command the cause to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach the effect is that He will be pleased
All nations is a figure of speech. All nations means all people or people groups.
Then which is the very first word means something happened before this passage. Therefore is there for a reason.
Jesus has all authority therefore do as He is stating. The and in Go and make disciples combines the going action
to the make. The go means to move and not sit where you are. The commas and the and within the list of go
actions means that we combine all these thing to fulfill the commission. The last and which tells us the effect of
the cause. And if you do what is asked I will be with you.
Came (past tense), Jesus approach them. Given (past tense), Jesus was given authority. Go (imperative
verb), to move. Make (present) to form disciples. Baptize (present) to preform profession of faith and
ceremoniously washing of sin. Teach (present) to tell other what you know. Commanded (past) previously
ordering. With (present) to be joined. Always (present, future) for eternity.
First them is people Jesus is speaking with. The second them is the new disciples being formed. Me and I
is Jesus. You is the same as the first them.
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Assignment 4-4: Psalm 1:1–3
Read Psalm 1:1–3. Make as many observations as you can. Dig deep! Think hard. Spend time on
this. Mark dozens and dozens of observations. Read and reread! Look again! Observe! Observe!
Observe!
Note: The passage may not include incidents of every type of observation item.
Make sure you are clear in identifying the features. For instance, where it requires you to list the
contrasts, make sure you identifying which words or phrases are contrasted. Just writing down a
sentence from the passage will not help me understand what you thought the author contrasted.
So you may use words like this: X is contrasted with Y, X and Y standing for words or phrases.
The same format must be used in listing comparisons, cause/effect, or any other features where
two parts are required.
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Repetition of Words:
Contrasts (different things):
Comparisons (similar things):
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In is repeated four times. Is is repeated 3 times.
The wicked, way of the sinner, and company of mockers are contract to law of the Lord. Day and night are
contrasting times but means all the time.
The wicked, way of sinners, and company of mockers are similar. Step, stand, sit, are actions of following.
Day and night may contrast but is similar in a full day, as in all the time.
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Lists:
Cause and Effect:
Figures of Speech:
Significant Conjunctions:
Significant Verbs:
Significant Pronouns:
Questions and Answers:
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Way of the wicked, stand with sinners, and being in the company of mockers is a list of what not to do.
Planted by streams of water, yield fruit, do not wither are things to do.
Trees planted next to the water yields fruit and its leaves will not wither because of the water. Effect of
following the law of the Lord will cause you to prosper.
Step, stand, and sit is figures of speech they mean following, actions, or being with or like. Planted in the
water is a figure of speech for being faithful or following Lords ways.
Or links the wicked, the way of sinners, and company of mockers. But combines and compares the wicked,
sinners, and mockers to the law of the Lord, mediating on his word, and being planted in water (Him).
Walk (present), Step (present), stand (present), sit (present), delight (present, future), meditates (present,
past), Planted (present), yields (future), do (future) prosper (future)
The One, as in the Blessed. His, as in the Lord. Who, as in the wicked, sinner, and mocker. Whose in
delight of the Lord. Who, as in people who meditate on the law. Whose, as the leaves do not wither. They,
people who prosper.
Whose delight is asking who will delight in the Lord, and who will follow his laws? The answer is those
who obey his laws and are basing their lives in Him and His ways.
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Dialogue:
Means:
Purpose/Result Statements:
General to Specific and Specific to General:
Conditional Clauses:
Actions/Roles of God:
Actions/Roles of People:
Emotional Terms:
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The dialogue is a lecture. It is informative in nature. One person is speaking. One person is lecturing to
everyone, the blessed and the wicked.
Delight in the Lord, meditate on the law day and night, and become rooted in Him. Then you shall bear
fruit not wither and prosper. This cannot happen through the ways of the wicked, sinner, and mocker.
Who does not is a statement of the result of Blessed. The blessed does not walk in these ways. Another
result statement is that. That is a statement found between delighting in the lord and meditating on the law
of the lord and being planted by the water or in the Lord and the result is prosperity.
General is blessed is the one specifically does not walk with the wicked, sinners, and mockers. Specific is
delight, meditate, and be planted in to prosper.
Delighting in the Lord, meditation on his law, and being planted by the water will cause you to prosper.
God will prosper you for being faith to him and obeying His laws.
People can either be wicked and against God or they may obey, delight, and be rooted in him.
Blessed is a term of loved or cherished. Wicked, sinner, mocker is all against God. Delight, to have joy in.
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Tone of the Passage:
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The tone is warning out of love.
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Assignment 5-2: Mark 5:21–43
Read Mark 5:21–43. It is two stories—the first about Jairus and his daughter, the second about a
bleeding woman. Note that the second story interrupts the first; that is, the bleeding woman story
is presented right in the middle of the Jairus episode. This is suggestive to us. Look at the two
stories and list as many direct comparisons and contrasts between the two as you can find. Read
carefully! Look hard! There are many to find.
I have given you 30 rows. Do your best to find at least 25 items (for you to get all the points for
this assignment, you will need to find at least 25 items); however, if you find more than 30 items,
you can add more lines to the table below by just hitting the tab key in the final column on the
last row.
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd
gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue rulers,
named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with
him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will
be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed
around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve
years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all
she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she
came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I
just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt
in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the
crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against
you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus
kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had
happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole
truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed
from your suffering.” 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house
of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the
teacher any more?” 36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be
afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John
the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a
commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them,
“Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they
laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the
disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the
hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).
42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this
they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about
this, and told them to give her something to eat.
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Jairus Bleeding Woman
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1a man a woman
2goes to Jesus for help publicly goes to Jesus for help privately
3He saw Jesus Heard about Jesus
4Asked him to heal his daughter Reached out by faith
5Jairus’ daughter ill Personally Ill
6Jairus’ daughter was 12 years old Suffered for 12 years
7Fell to Jesus’ feet Fell at Jesus’ feet
8Accepted in society Outcast in society
9Healed by touch Touched his cloak
10 Synagogue Ruler Unclean
11 Name known Name unkown
12 Hope of Jesus healing his daughter No hope of healing from Doctors
13 Healed by Jesus touching her Healed by touching Jesus
14 Commanded by Jesus to get up Told to go in peace
15 Told to not let anyone know “Faith has healed you”
16 Told by Jesus“not to fear just believe” Asked by jesus “Who touched me?”
17 Pleaded Earnestly Pleaded Earnestly
18 Jesus called Jairus’ daughter little girl Called daughter by Jesus
19 Public approach (upfront) Public approach (from behind)
20 Went to his home Immediately healed
21 Limited Faith Unlimited Faith
22 Family was astonished Jesus was astonished “who touched me?”
23 Life for dead daughter Healing for herself
24 Selfish intentions Spiritual healing
25 Desprete for help Desprete for healing
26 Has a family Has no one
27 Bowed while pleading Bowed by trembling
28 Belived by sight Belived by faith
29 Jairus Humbled Woman exalted
30 Private miracle Public miracle
31 Jesus reveals his power (planned) Jesus reveals his power (unplanned)
32 Daughter dying Woman headed for death
33 Unsure of salvation Salvation confirmed
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Assignment 6-4: Cultural Context
Read the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman recorded in John 4:1–39. Then
read the article on “Samaria” in the and make a list of Zondervan Illustrated Bible Commentary
all the ways the information helps you understand the conversation between Jesus and the
woman.
-Political separation
-There was hostility between Samaria and Judea.
-Intermarriage was common
-Sameria Served God, also other idols.
-The Southern half of Sameria was faithful to God and the Northern half was not.
-Jesus went because he intended to meet the woman at the well. He knew she would be coming
to the well at precisely the moment he was sitting there weary from his journey.
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Assignment 8-1: The Surrounding Textual Context
Write a paragraph describing the passages surrounding context of the following passages: Acts
1:7–8 and 1 Corinthians 11:27–32.
In order to complete this assignment, you will need to go back and reflect on the steps listed on
textbook pages 156–161 and then do the following: (even though you are not being asked in this
assignment to examine the entire book of Acts and 1 Corinthians, these principles will still help
guide you in completing assignment 8-1).
Determine the major textual unit that is before, and the major textual unit that is after in
regards to both Acts 1:7–8 and 1 Corinthians 11:27–32.
Write a summary statement for each of the four textual units.
Write two paragraphs. The first paragraph should explain how Acts 1:7–8 relates to the
two textual units surrounding it. The second paragraph should explain how 1 Corinthians
11:27–32 relates to the two textual units surrounding it.
By completing items 1–10 below, you will accomplish what is listed above.
1. What is the textual unit (i.e., Scripture passage, just the reference) previous to :Acts 1:7–8
2. Write a summary statement of the passage you listed in #1:
3. What is the textual unit (i.e., Scripture passage, just the reference) after :Acts 1:7–8
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Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore
the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
They come together to ask Jesus a Question. The question was “are you going to restore
Israel now?”.
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4. Write a summary statement of the passage you listed in #3:
5. Write a complete paragraph describing how relates to the passages listed in #1Acts 1:7–8
and #3 above (remember to incorporate all relevant material from your summary
statements [i.e., #2 and #4] respectively). The important thing here is to note the
connection with the paragraph preceding and following Acts 1:7–8.
6. What is the textual unit (i.e., Scripture passage, just the reference) previous to 1
Corinthians 11:27–32:
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After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from
their sight. (Acts 1:9)
After Jesus answered the question that He was asked, He was lifted up and into
the clouds as the apostles witnessed what was happening. Jesus was hidden from
there sight by a cloud.
The apostles gather to ask Jesus an important question. The question was are you going to restore
Israel now. Jesus answers this question by telling them that this information is not for them to
know but the seasons and control belongs to the father.. Jesus’ follwers will receive power once
Jesus leaves them. The Holy Spirit will come to minister to them and He will be the witness for
the whole world. After Jesus answer this question. He asended into heaven.
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the
first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some
extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s ap-
proval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating,
some of you go ahead with your own private suppers As a result, one person remains hungry and another.
gets drunk.Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating
those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! For I re-
ceived from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took
bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in
remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new
covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat
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this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:17-26)
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7. Write a summary statement of the passage you listed in #6:
8. What is the textual unit (i.e., Scripture passage, just the reference) after to 1 Corinthians
11:27–32:
9. Write a summary statement of the passage you listed in #8:
10. Write a complete paragraph describing how 1 Corinthians 11:27–32 relates to the
passages listed in #6 and #8 above (remember to incorporate all relevant material from
your summary statements [i.e., #7 and #9] respectively). The important thing here is to
note the connection with the paragraph preceding and following 1Corinthians 11:27–32.
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Paul writes here about the church of Corinth having regular feasts and calling it The
Lords supper. However the rich despised the poor, and ate and drank up the
provisions they brought, before the poor were allowed to partake. This angered the
apostle Paul. He repeated the instructions that Christ gave to his disciples and put a
great emphasis on what each of the instructions represented.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together.
34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet to-
gether it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.
(1 Corinthians 11:33-34)
Paul is stating here that fellowship and the joining of one another for a meal is
okay. If your hungry to eat before gathering. The church at Corinth turned The
Lord Supper into a full feast. When its not for unity in the body of Christ that’s
when Paul is stating it is wrong and should not be done.
This passage here teaches the importance of The Lords Supper. Here Paul warns us about the
consequence of that of a person if they partake in an unworthy manner. He pleas for them to
examine their heart and if they have any guilt of sin against Christ to not partake in the Lords
Supper.
