How To Study The Bible
Vern Peterman · Jan 27, 2002
How to Study Bible (2001-02), No. 17
Holly Hills Bible Church
https://hollyhillsbiblechurch.org/teaching/messages/4826224091530

Transcribed from the recording by SermonAudio, so expect the occasional misheard word.

Okay. Well, hopefully you had a lot of fun with last week's take-home, right? The rest of the answers and observing and those kinds of things. We want to take a look at another passage and kind of some different approaches here. Again, what I'm trying to do is give you tools that you can work with to help you in your observing. So you should have a paper looks something like this on the top, the blue lettering, observing practice, looking for. And we'll be looking for these seven things. And I would suggest to you that these are seven things that are good for you in numerous circumstances to just look for, just to look for these things.

And what some folks have done is actually developed kind of a color code, either on a sheet like this or even in their Bibles. go through and do a color code. Nancy's got a Bible that was my grandfather's, and he went through and started doing his own little coding system. These are Messianic promises, for example, and he went through and marked those things up. Anyway, he went home to be with the Lord about 14 or 15 years ago. You know, we have his Bible with all his coding system.

The only thing is, I don't know what it all means, but... What's that? Yeah, there is a legend in there. Even that, I'm not quite sure I understand it all, but at any rate, he had gone through and it was real helpful to him as he looked through the passages to better understand what was there.

Anyway, let's take a look down these. There are first commands or warnings, okay? And you look for key words that will jump out at you. will be do, be, must. And when I say be, not just any place where it is, but where it's in a command form. Then, contrast. And you'll look for the words but, rather, instead. And we'll talk about that in a bit here. Summary or conclusion.

Therefore, so. And when you see therefore and so, what are you going to look for? Okay, yeah, what's the therefore therefore? Okay. And what that's going to do is it's drawing a conclusion based on what's already been presented. So rather than just looking at that verse and what follows, it's a flashing red light, go back and look to see what was stated to draw that conclusion, right? Okay.

The next one, reasons for or for this cause or because, okay? And so that's going to give you some substantiation. Here's the basis on which I'm telling you this. This is why this is true. You see that? So those are key words, clue words, that are going to help you understand what's being said.

The next one is key persons. Christ, Paul, Spirit, and those are just examples. Obviously, there's lots of things to look for. Who are some key people that keep showing up in Scripture? What are some key names that you keep seeing? I've listed a few here, but what are some others?

David, yes. David shows up more than a thousand times in the Bible, okay? It's amazing. You can look up all kinds of names. His name just keeps showing up again and again, more than a thousand times. That will give you a clue. It's important. From the very first book where he shows up to the book that we're studying in the main service, Revelation, the name keeps showing up. I would suggest his name is probably important. Good. Any others? Melchizedek, yeah.

Here's a guy who shows up in the book of Genesis, and now we see reference to him again in Hebrews, right? So look for those key names. Look for those names that you see, hey, you know, this one keeps showing up. You might even take a concordance and look it up, and where else does he show up? Where else does she show up? And look at that, okay?

The next one, key truths. These are frequently filled, cleansed, seated, okay? A lot of these key truths, you're going to find out, they're going to be in some kind of a verb tent. It kind of relates to the next one, processes. Verbs or words ending with ing. Speaking the truth in love. This is an ongoing thing, isn't it? Growing. Here's a process.

The reason these are valuable to look for is it helps me discern what's critical in a passage. It helps me to see what stands out as the main thought. It helps me to understand a whole lot better what is being said. It changes it from just a sea of words to words that stand out with particular meaning. You see the value there?

One of the things that I've done here is I've listed in the passage we'll be looking at, which is Ephesians 5, The word, but, shows up, you notice, in the first, I'll say, three chapters, just four times. Then, look how many times it shows up in the next three chapters, chapters four through six. Lots and lots and lots. And there's a reason for that, okay? And that's because what's happening in the first three chapters, He's telling us who we are in Christ. in which case there's not lots of contrasts to concern himself with, right?

In the next three chapters, chapters four through six, he's talking about application where we need to be discerning and we need to know not this, but this. So there he uses the word but a whole bunch of times. And then other words that are translated similarly frequently are the same word, where instead, for example, is the same word in the Greek, or rather. See, those are words that are used to help us see a contrast. So let's start off.

And I would suggest you might even want to come to a place of using a color code in your own work. I think that's real handy these days with the ability to use You know, highlighting pens that are colored but don't bleed through. Don't get one of these big black ones that's going to go through three pages of your Bible, right? So anyway, but a color code can be real handy.

For our purposes here this morning, what I would suggest is we'll go through and underline and use a brief letter code. For example, a contrast might be a C-O-N. A command might be a C-O-M or even put W for warning or something like that. But you can use a letter code. in places too as well to help you see what's going on. So let's take a look at the first one there, commands and warnings.

Read through this Ephesians 5 chapter and look for those do, be, and must words. Look for those, underline them, and then you can use a code of like COM or W. Look through that, see what you find. What we're doing here for those who just came in, we're looking at Ephesians chapter 5, and it's right here on the sheet on there and on the back. And we're looking at key words that show up in that particular passage of the seven categories here. Initially here we're looking at commands or warnings that show up in the verses of Ephesians 5. Let's pause for just a minute. In commands or warnings, what's the first one that you see?

B. The first one. Yeah, B. Therefore, B. Okay. B what? Imitators. Okay. That's right, imitators. Yeah, that word imitators is the Greek word from which we get our word mimic. Okay. And then where's the next command that shows up or warning? Walk. Walk. And it comes in here frequently, doesn't it? So anyway, just make sure we're on the right track there.

That would be another comparison. Yeah, it's like twice as good. You could look at that as a kind of the flip side of a contrast. Right. Yeah. A person go through with that and say, okay, not just what are the contrasts, but what are the areas of comparison? Good point.

Like or as. We are looking at Ephesians 5 and we're looking particularly at the commands and warnings, do, be, must, those particular words. Yes, through chapter 5. How are we doing on this? Making sense? Okay. Have folks gone through the command and warning part? You've pretty much gone through that? Okay.

Let's talk about that. Let's take a look at there. We've talked about, you know, B imitators. That would be one. And then what's the next one? Walk. Okay. That would be the next one. Walk and love. And what's the next one that you see? Yeah, this let sounds a bit passive, but it's saying allow, and it's actually in a command form there. And what do you see next there?

There is a B, but I'm not sure if that let is not even B's name. Yeah, and that's where you have to look at, is the word B, is that the focus of the command? And it may be a part of a command sentence, but in this case, the let is really the focus, right? Where's another place where there's a command? Where else do you see it? Yeah, must, must be, okay? That shows up in the beginning of verse 4, right?

Okay, what does it come out in your translation? Right. which are not fitting, but rather giving the plan yet. Yeah, and that's one thing you might notice, sometimes between translations the focus might come a little different. And there may be some value in comparing translations in that case.

Okay, what's another one? Well, what you just pointed out in verse 3, must not even be equal. Okay, yeah, must not. Okay, here's a must that's It's not a do this, it's a must not. Sometimes what you will find is that the translations may differ in how they word it, but frequently will communicate the same meaning. Verse 7 says what? Therefore, and then what?

Do not be, okay? So here's another negative imperative, okay? Do not be. And then in verse 11, what do you see? Yeah, do not participate. Yeah, I skipped over one that Carol pointed out. In verse 8, walk as children of light. There's another command form, okay? Now, we're not done with verse 11.

What else do you see? Expose, right? That's a command, isn't it? Expose. That's what you're supposed to do. Now, let's look at the flip side, unless you're tracing it in your own Bible, which is fine. The next command shows up where? In verse 15... Actually, yes, you're correct. You're correct, yeah. He's kind of making a quote there, which it says, and I believe it's probably either some kind of a poem or a song that he's quoting. But verse 15 then, therefore be careful. Be careful, okay?

So that one shows up. And then what's the next one? Okay, and so there's a contrast, but then verse 16, what do you see? Okay, this is actually not, it is really more of a process that he's talking about, but he's actually saying this is the way it's to be, isn't it? Okay? So then verse 17, what do you see? Okay, do not be foolish. So what we'll see in this passage is lots of not this but this, not this but this. So you see the first is do not do this, and then the contrast, what's the command that's positive here?

That's right, understand. He's saying understand. Let me just put a little paraphrase in there. Frequently, as believers, we can be putting a focus on knowing a lot of stuff, but he doesn't say that, does he? Knowing a lot of stuff is good, but he puts the focus on understanding, which is a little deeper and different, isn't it? Somebody can know a whole lot, but lack understanding. And there is a difference.

Okay. So it says, but understand. Okay. And then what's the next one? Right. Yeah. Do not. So here's a negative command. Do not get drunk with wine for that dissipation, but be filled. Okay. So there's another command. Be filled. Okay. And then 19 is really kind of, you could look at it as a command, but it's really kind of explanation. as to what this being filled looks like. Okay. And then verse 20. See anything there? Yeah, the giving thanks is not explicitly in command form, but that's kind of the direction. We're almost in a verb form in progress. And then verse 21. Before we go on, there's one key thing here.

The book of Colossians and the book of Ephesians have a great number of things in common. The outline of the books is almost identical. And if you were to look at them side by side, what you would find if you were to kind of highlight the things that were either identical or close to identical. There are about 70 verses between the two books that are either identical or similar.

And if you were ever looking at this and wondering what does this mean, you can look at the parallel section in Colossians to get some insight on what's that talking about. where it says, be filled with the Spirit, Colossians says, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Let it be at home in your hearts. That gives understanding to what be filled with the Spirit means. Do you see that? So I can use a parallel book or parallel passage like that to help understand what may be not as clear as I'd like here. And I can look for some of these same things. What are the commands, contrasts, you know, see?

Okay, now, let's continue on there. Then after in verse 21, be subject to one another, what's 22? Okay, and incidentally, we're going to be going through this in greater detail. The phrase be subject is actually not in the original Greek there in verse 22. But we'll go into that as we go along here. Then he gives some explanation there, right, in verse 23. Verse 24, what do you see?

Oughts. So ought is another key word that goes along with the command. Then what's the next one? Okay? And who's that addressed to? Husbands, okay, the commander, love your wives. And guess what? In English, we use this word love all over the place, right? We say, I love my wife, and I love America, and I love hot dogs. And we use the same word, right? Are those different kinds of love?

You bet it is. But our English doesn't convey that difference very well without extra words of explanation. In the Greek, they had separate words for different kinds of love, and that helps immensely. We'll be going into that some more in the weeks ahead. Alright, so here's the husbands are to love their wife, and then what's next? Now that's a word of comparison, isn't it? Like, almost bring up like or as. Now, but what's the next command there? It actually goes for a little bit.

Husbands ought to love their wives. Actually, a lot of this is explanation, which is valuable, but the next actual command to us is in verse 28. So husbands ought also to love their wives. It's actually not a command per se, is it? The word B shows up and so you're observant to note that. But it's actually more of an explanation, isn't it? And so that's what we need. Look at the context. Look at the context. So it's not explicitly given in a command form, but it is explanation of what is to take place here. All right, where does the next command show up? Yeah, 31 could be taken in some degree as a command. It's actually quoting what? Genesis. Isn't it interesting that this verse out of Genesis is quoted here by Paul and also it's quoted by Christ. So it must be a critical verse, okay?

But the ultimate command there returns in verse 33. each individual among you also is to, okay, this is, you know, you're to be doing this, okay, love his own wife as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. And we'll be going through this passage again and again, looking at it with different tools and different resources so that we have better and better understanding of it.

As a matter of fact, we're not going to be able to get to all of this today. We're close to running out of time, and we just got through the command part of it. Now, something before we proceed, How are we to look at these commands? We've seen a whole bunch of commands all in one chapter.

Is that, well, I'm going to go out and really try hard to do that stuff. Is that what he has in mind? Is it? Is that what he means? No. I see some heads shaking. Ah, okay. So why does he even bother? Why doesn't he just say, well, this would be nice, but forget it. What does he have in mind? Why does he go on with this list of musts and do's and be's and had oughtas? Why does he do that?

It's a mindset. It gets you to think in those terms. Well, that's important. Let's back up a little bit. Remember one of the things we said earlier, like in real estate, what's the three most important things? Location, location, location. Okay? Similar principle here. The three important principles you have to remember in interpreting the Bible is Context, context, context, okay? If you can remember those three, you're in great shape, okay?

And the context is, what has he spent the first three chapters of Ephesians telling them? He's told them in those first three chapters who they are in Christ. If you notice, we've been through this section looking at commands and warnings. There's very little of that in the first three chapters.

And the reason is he spent that time telling them, here's who you are in Christ. He just gets through the first two verses of the first chapter of Ephesians saying, you know, hi, I'm Paul, you guys are over in Ephesus. And as soon as he gets out of that, he just bursts out with, you have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Verses 4 through 14, although they're broken up in English, are one sentence in the Greek. He is so excited about how we've been blessed in Christ.

But Paul does not come out with, okay, hi there folks at Ephesus. Now that I've said hi, you know who you are, here's the list of things to do and don't do. He doesn't do that. He starts off with the things that I have asked you to do and not do are based on who you are and Christ living through you.

He writes to the Galatians, It's no longer, here's the contrast again, it's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I now live, I live, and I'm going to paraphrase here, the life I now live, I live not by my own strength, but through Christ's life in me. That's why you look at a parallel passage here in Colossians, and he writes to them, he says, set your mind on things above. And he talks about Christ who is your life. On that basis, he can say, let this and let that be.

In my human strength, in my human effort, and everything I can stir up humanly, I've got to try real hard to do this stuff. That's not what he's saying. He doesn't even begin with these kinds of words. without first telling them who they are in Christ. Do you get the difference there? This is speaking to our minds so that we understand. But the empowerment for this to come about is Christ's life in us and not our own doing. Otherwise we're going to end up in a Roman 7 frustration.

Okay? So, key point. Although I had to go through and underline these commands and comparisons and contrasts, He does not begin to do this without spending lots of time explaining who we are in Christ and the life of Christ lived through us. Make sense? Okay. Let's take a look in the time we have left, contrast, that is, but, rather, instead.

And I would add a parallel to that, as Helmut brought up, comparisons, because there is that too, as and like. Okay? So I want you to go through it with that in mind, contrast and comparisons, looking for those kinds of things. Well, would you put as in that category? I would put as as not a contrast explicitly, but really a comparison. And there is value in doing so because that helps you, again, it is focusing on something that will help me better understand the passage, better understand what's there. Okay, what are we coming up with? What are some of the contrasts that you see? That you see there? Okay, so there's the first one in verse 3 where it shows up, but. Okay. Now, there's something else that you can't tell from this, but we'll be able to tell, because remember last week we were recommending that folks get a hold of this book. As we continue ahead, you'll see how this book will help you learn something.

In Greek, there are two levels of the use of the word but. There's one that's sort of a minor contrast, and then there's another that's a sharp contrast. Isn't that interesting? Again, it's where the Greek has differentiations we don't have in English. And so sometimes the word but is used in a way that it's intended just to mean just a very slight contrast. In other cases it's like here is a sharp demarcation. Let me give you an instance of where that shows up.

Yes, in verse 8. Yes, sharp contrast. As a matter of fact, another one that shows up there is in verse 15. Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise. That is the Greek word there, sharp contrast. It means real different. Sharp contrast. The next one that shows up there In 17, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. That's a sharp contrast word. And then one right beyond that, do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but sharp contrast.

See? Yes, and that one, as we'll see, we'll be able to tell from the Greek word which one it is, and be able to look for that. And I think that's helpful because it's saying, is this just a minor slight contrast he's talking about or something that's just black and white different? And understanding the degree of contrast can be helpful. That's right, and that's a soft contrast. Because that word but is almost in the nature of a comparison.

Okay, where's the next one that you see? Let's go on through this chronologically. Verse 4, but rather giving of thanks. You see that? Where does the next one show up there? in verse 8, okay? But you are the light of the Lord. And then the next one, in verse 11, we talked about, but instead even expose them. Notice here what it does, it says, but instead. I think that's actually just one word, but they use the but instead phrase to try to emphasize that this is the Greek word that has sharp contrast in mind. And the next one, where does that show up?

Thirteen? But all things become visible when they're exposed by the light. And the next? Fifteen? Not as unwise man, but as wise. What he's saying is there is a sharp contrast between wisdom and not wisdom. being wise versus being unwise. It's not just a slight difference. It's not a minor difference, it's a substantial difference.

17. Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Again, sharp contrast shows up.

18. Don't get drunk with wine, and then for that is dissipation, is explanation of that, right? But, be filled with the Spirit. Okay? Sharp contrast. Then the next verse is really kind of explaining what's going on. And where does the next contrast show up? Okay, it jumps down a little bit, right? That is a rather minor contrast though, isn't it? but isn't trying to be a sharp, hard contrast like two things that are black and white.

It's almost words of comparison. And the next? Twenty-seven. But that she should be holy and blameless. Saying what it's not and then what it is. What it's not and then what it is. And that's one of the things, especially in Paul, you will find, he will give the negative and then the positive. Negative, then the positive. That's a pattern that he tends to use.

And we can take advantage of that in helping to understand what it is we're looking at, okay? All right, we've run out of time. I'll leave it to you to cover the rest of this, okay? And so let's pray. We thank You, Lord, that You have indeed put great depth into Your Word and that we can continue to mine the nuggets and jewels that are there. And we just pray as we continue on in our study here, Lord, that you would enlighten us, that we might better understand the deep and rich truths that you have laid there for us. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.