Village Missions

Website: http://vmcdi.com
Contenders Discipleship Initiative
E-mail: info@vmcontenders.org

Bibliology
How to Study the Bible

The Doctrine of Inspiration

Village Missions
Biblical Culture
Contenders Discipleship Initiative
Biblical Interpretation

Survey of Old and New Testaments

Bibliology and
Intro to Bible Study Tools

Hermeneutics

Typology How to Study the Bible

Five-Step Bible Study Method

Student Guide
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

TRAINING MODULE SUMMARY

Course Name Bibliology and How to Study the Bible
Course Number in Series 1
Creation Date September 2014
Created By: Ron Sallee
Lasted Date Modified January 2022
Version 5.2

Copyright note:
The Contenders program is provided free of charge and it is expected that those who
receive freely will in turn give freely. Permission for non-commercial use is hereby
granted but re-sale is prohibited.

Contenders Bible School was a tuition-free two-year ministry equipping program started
in 1995 by Pastor Ron Sallee at Machias Community Church, Snohomish, WA. It is now
run as a tuition-free online equipping ministry by Village Missions. The full Contenders
Discipleship Initiative program with pdf copies of this guide and corresponding videos
can be found at www.vmcontenders.org.
Copyright is retained by Village Missions with all rights reserved to protect the integrity of
this material and the Village Missions Contenders Discipleship Initiative.

Contenders Discipleship Initiative Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in the Contenders Discipleship Initiative courses are
those of the instructors and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of
Village Missions. The viewpoints of Village Missions may be found at
www.villagemissions.org/doctrinal-statement
Village Missions may be found at www.villagemissions.org/doctrinal-statement
LOCAL INSTRUCTORS using the CDI in a classroom setting are encouraged to fill in any gaps and
add to the discussion of content provided by our ONLINE INSTRUCTORS.
At times content will be designed to provoke thoughtful discussion of various viewpoints. It is up to the
LOCAL INSTRUCTOR to guide discussions in such way that students come to their own conclusions
of what they believe and why they believe it from careful study of the Bible.

Student Registration
You must register as a student for the CDI to gain access to the video instruction. You will
find the online registration link at the top of the page at www.vmcontenders.org
You are encouraged to take these classes under the guidance of a Local
Instructor/mentor. If a Local Instructor/mentor is not available in your area, you are
welcome to take these classes on your own. If you take these courses as an independent
distance learner download and use the Local Instructor guidebook in conjunction with
the Student Guidebook as it has additional information.

© 2016 Village Missions 2 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Table of Contents
Bibliology and How To Study the Bible ............................................................................ 5
REgistion with the CDI as Local Instructors and Students ................................................. 5
How to Use This Guide .................................................................................................. 6
Student Evaluations ...................................................................................................... 7
Reporting Errors Concerning Course Material .................................................................. 7
Bibliology Course Syllabus ............................................................................................. 8
Course Goal ................................................................................................................. 9
1 John 1:1-2:2 New King James Version (NKJV) ................................................. 10
Course Schedule ......................................................................................................... 11
Session 1, Part 1– Introduction To Bibliology................................................................. 12
Bibliology Class Content .................................................................................. 12
Class Schedule ............................................................................................... 13
Seven Subjects Covered ................................................................................. 13
Session 1, Part 2 - Introduction to Bibliology ................................................................. 15
The Bible ....................................................................................................... 16
Assignment: Survey of the Old Testament ................................................................... 16
Class Activity: Creating a Bible Timeline Reference ....................................................... 17
Classroom Activity: Adding Books of the Bible to Timeline ............................................. 20
Session 2 - Old Testament Survey ............................................................................... 21
Assignment: Finish OT outline and Start NT Outline ...................................................... 26
Session 3 - New Testament Survey .............................................................................. 27
1. Gospels ..................................................................................................... 31
2. Historical ................................................................................................... 31
3. Pauline Epistles .......................................................................................... 31
4. General Epistles ......................................................................................... 33
TEST: Bible Survey Quiz ............................................................................................. 34
Assignment: Begin Reading Manners and Customs ....................................................... 36
Session 4, Part 1 - Authenticity of the Old Testament .................................................... 37
Session 4, Part 2 – Authenticity of the Old Testament .................................................... 40
Assignment: Continue Assigned Reading Outside of Class ............................................. 48
Session 5, Part 1 – Authenticity of the New Testament .................................................. 49
Section 5, Part 2 – Authenticity of the New Testament ................................................... 52
Assignment: Continue Assigned Reading Outside of Class ............................................. 54
Session 6, Part 1 - Inspiration of Scripture .................................................................... 55
Review: What are the Implications of Verbal Inspiration? .............................................. 57
Session 6, Part 2 - The Inspiration of Scripture.............................................................. 58
Review: Plenary Inspiration ........................................................................................ 59
REVIEW: Methods of Inspiration ................................................................................. 61
Session 7, Part 1 - The Authority of Scripture ................................................................ 62
Section 7, Part 2 - The Authority of Scripture ................................................................ 64
Discussion Questions – Doctrinal Statement.................................................................. 66
Session 8, Part 1 – Introduction to Hermeneutics .......................................................... 68
© 2016 Village Missions 3 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Session 8, Part 2 – Introduction to Hermeneutics .......................................................... 70

Discussion: Hermeneutics .......................................................................................... 71
Session 8, Part 3 – Hermeneutics: Figures of Speech ..................................................... 72
Session 8, Part 4 – Hermeneutics: Idiomatic Usage ....................................................... 78
TEST: Figure of Speech Quiz....................................................................................... 79
Session 9 - Hermeneutics: Rules of Interpretation ........................................................ 81
TEST: Hermeneutics ................................................................................................... 85
Session 10, Part 1 – Typology...................................................................................... 88
Session 10, Part 2 – Typology...................................................................................... 91
Assignments: Take Home Mid-Term and Complete Strong Type .................................... 92
TEST: Mid-Term Review ............................................................................................. 93
Assignment: Strong Type Of Joseph - Find the Fulfillment Concerning Jesus ...................100
Session 11, Part 1 - Review of Joseph and Jesus Worksheet ..........................................101
Session 11, Part 2 - Review of Mid-Term .....................................................................102
Session 12, Part 1 - Bible Study Tools .........................................................................107
Session 12, Part 2 – Five-Step Bible Study Method: Exegesis ........................................110
Assignment: Exegesis ...............................................................................................111
Session 13 - Exegesis Review and Circumstantial Study ................................................112
Assignment: Circumstantial Study Written Assignment ................................................118
Session 14 - Circumstantial Review / Biographical Study ...............................................121
Assignment: Biographical Study .................................................................................123
Session 15 - Biographical Review / Topical Study .........................................................124
Assignment: Study the Fellowship in 1 John 1:1-2:2 ...................................................128
Session 16 - Topical Studies Review / Paraphrase / Final Test .......................................129
Assignment: Paraphrase 1 John 1:1-2:2 ......................................................................135
TEST: Final Exam .....................................................................................................136
Appendix A Prophecies Concerning Messiah and their Fulfillment ...................................144
Glossary ...................................................................................................................147
Index........................................................................................................................151

© 2016 Village Missions 4 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

BIBLIOLOGY AND HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

This is the First Course in the CDI Program

The core CDI courses are:
1. Bibliology and How to Study the Bible
2. Doctrine
3. New Testament
4. Old Testament
5. Church History
6. Evangelism, Teaching and Preaching

Bibliology and How to Study the Bible ~ 2 Timothy 3:16 & 2 Timothy 2:15
This is a composite course that lays a foundation for studying the Bible and then leads
the student in Bible study exercises built upon that foundation.

Bibliology integrates multiple subjects to provide an understanding of what the Bible is,
where it came from, how it was written and why it is to be studied.

How to Study the Bible is a comprehensive Five-Step Bible Study Method that
combines word studies in the original languages with circumstantial, biographical and
topical studies. The final step is to paraphrase the passage studied.

Many Christians have a fragmented Christian education where their knowledge of

Scripture is disjointed. The objective of Bibliology and How to Study the Bible is to
provide an approach to studying the Bible that will produce an accurate and unified
understanding of Scripture.

Upon completing this course you will have the tools necessary to study the Bible in the
original languages, knowledge of Biblical culture that will allow you to better understand
the Bible, and a framework to integrate those passages studied with the rest of the
Bible. The ultimate intent is that in correctly handling 'the Word of Truth' you will come
to know what you believe, why you believe it and have the ability to ‘earnestly contend
for the Faith that was once for all delivered to the saints’ - Jude 3

REGISTION WITH THE CDI AS LOCAL INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS

The CDI Learning Management System requires all Local Instructors and Students to
register individually. Once registered with the CDI, access to all courses and videos are
open to view and/or download. For those taking CDI courses in a classroom setting the
Learning Management System will track student progress if they periodically log in and
check off lessons completed.

© 2016 Village Missions 5 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

This student’s guide is used in conjunction with the online video course developed for
Bibliology and How to Study the Bible.

As a first step, you must register with the CDI prior to taking this course. Registration is
found at www.vmcontenders.org/register

This guide is designed to be used as you attend either a Local Instructor led class or a
self-study of this course. This guide can help you in three ways:

1. Follow along with the video and take notes. Space is provided in the guide to
take notes as you work through the sessions.
2. Utilize worksheets: The student’s guide includes activity worksheets which allow
you to apply what you have learned. If you are going through this course as a self-
study session, you may also want to download the Local Instructor guide as well. The
Instructor’s guide has extra notes filled in as well as instructions to the Local
Instructors on how to conduct an assignment. Also, in the Instructor’s guide, a copy
of each worksheet, including answers and hints, follows the worksheet.
3. Assess progress: Finally, this guide includes a final assessment that you can take to
test your knowledge.

How the guide is organized.

This guide is broken into sessions that follow along with the course videos. Also in this
guide are learning objectives, reviews, quizzes and a glossary of terms. The curriculum
is designed to be presented in Module and Session sequence.

Each module also uses the following icons:

Icon Meaning
Group Activity These assignments will be conducted in class. For those
distance learners, instructions are in your guide on how to complete these
activities. It is highly recommended that distance learners complete
these activities.
Assignments Assignments for the class including outside reading.

Exam All exams are open book.

Key Point A specific item to remember.

© 2016 Village Missions 6 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Special Note
Bibliology and How to Study the Bible was taped during live two-hour classroom sessions
taught by Pastor Ron Salleé at Contenders Bible School of Machias Community Church.
These sessions, as presented in the Contenders Discipleship Initiative, have been broken
into smaller segments for Local Instructor/mentor-led classes as well as independent
distance learners.
At times throughout the course you will hear Pastor Ron ask students to turn to a
specific page within the student guide.
Throughout the video course you will see corrections appear on the screen to alert you
to find the correct page numbers and new material added to the new student guide for
Bibliology and How to Study the Bible.

STUDENT EVALUATIONS

Contenders Discipleship Initiative uses a narrative evaluation approach rather than

issuing grades during a student’s course of study. An online form is completed after
each course that indicates what a student has learned.

The complete Contenders Discipleship Initiative Narrative Evaluation consists of two

written evaluations for each course: one from the Local Instructor for each student
attending a course and one from the student giving a self-assessment.

Students who subsequently apply to Village Missions will need to have these evaluations
recorded in the CDI Learning Management System for each course.

The online Local Instructor’s Student Evaluation can be found at:

http://vmcontenders.org/pastor_assessment.html
The Student Self Evaluation form can be found at:

http://vmcontenders.org/student_assessment.html

The student’s Self Evaluation summarizes your accomplishments while taking the
course, any new understandings achieved, and the your goals for the future.

REPORTING ERRORS CONCERNING COURSE MATERIAL

Every effort has been made to ensure the guide and videos are correct. However, if you
do see something you believe is in error, please use the web form at:
www.vmcontenders.org/feedback.html

© 2016 Village Missions 7 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

BIBLIOLOGY COURSE SYLLABUS

This course is designed to give you an appreciation for the Bible as God’s Word and the
necessity of in-depth study. Those who complete this course will have the tools to
conduct independent studies of Scripture and the ability to apply the Rules of
Hermeneutics for proper interpretation of the text.

The Doctrine of Inspiration

Biblical Culture and Its Relationship to Biblical Interpretation
Survey of Old and New Testaments
Introduction to Hebrew/Greek Study Tools Including Computer-Aided Bible Study
Hermeneutics
Typology
Five-Step Bible Study Method

Classroom work to include but not limited to:

Biblical Time Line
Quizzes and Tests

Outside assignments to include but not limited to:

Outline each chapter of Old and New Testament
Reading “The New Manners & Customs of Bible Times” – Gower
Completion of typology assignment
Written work for each of the five steps in the Bible study method
1) Word study
2) Circumstantial study
3) Topical study
4) Biographical study
5) Paraphrase

Students should purchase

NEW MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF BIBLE TIMES
by Ralph Gower
ISBN 080245965X

© 2016 Village Missions 8 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

COURSE GOAL

The goal of the course is that you will be able to understand the meaning of a passage
of Scripture and be able to communicate that to others. The means used is the Five-
Step Bible Study Method which concludes with a paraphrase of the passage being
studied. To effectively paraphrase a passage requires one to first understand what is
being said and then what that means.

The Five-Step Bible Study is mandated by the doctrine of Bibliology and built upon the
discipline of Hermeneutics as laid out during the first half of the course.

The Doctrine of Verbal Inspiration mandates detailed exegesis – also known as a “Word
Study”.

Exegesis answers the question, “What does the text say?”

The Doctrine of Plenary Inspiration mandates Topical Study.
Topical Study answers the question, “What does the Bible say?”
Hermeneutics further requires both Biographical Studies and a Circumstantial Study.
Hermeneutics then answers the question, “What does it mean?”
Paraphrase requires one to know all of the above to restate the meaning.
Paraphrase insures that understanding has taken place.

Additional notes:
• Assignments for the Five-Step Bible Study are given out of 1 John 1:1-2:2.
• The Exegesis is of the whole passage.
• Circumstantial Study is of Ephesus and answering the 12 Questions.
• Biographical Study is of John the Apostle.
• Topical Study is limited to koinonia with a further topic limit by student.
• Paraphrase is of the whole passage.

© 2016 Village Missions 9 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

1 John 1:1-2:2
New King James Version (NKJV)

What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled,
concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and
bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father
and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to
you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with
the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you
that your joy may be full.

Fellowship with Him and One Another

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have
fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we
make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if
anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also
for the whole world.

© 2016 Village Missions 10 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

COURSE SCHEDULE

Fill out this schedule on first day of class.

Dates and Times

______________________________ INTRODUCTION

______________________________ OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

______________________________ NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY

______________________________ OLD TESTAMENT AUTHENTICITY

______________________________ NEW TESTAMENT AUTHENTICITY

______________________________ INSPIRATION of SCRIPTURE

______________________________ AUTHORITY of SCRIPTURE

______________________________ INTRODUCTION to HERMENEUTICS

______________________________ RULES OF INTERPRETATION

______________________________ TYPOLOGY

______________________________ BIBLE STUDY TOOLS / TAKE HOME MID-TERM

______________________________ BIBLE STUDY METHODS - EXEGESIS

______________________________ BIBLE STUDY METHODS - CIRCUMSTANTIAL STUDY

______________________________ BIBLE STUDY METHODS - TOPICAL STUDY

______________________________ BIBLE STUDY METHODS - BIOGRAPHICAL STUDY

______________________________ BIBLE STUDY METHODS – PARAPHRASE

_______________ _______________ FINAL TEST / REVIEW

© 2016 Village Missions 11 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 1, PART 1– INTRODUCTION TO BIBLIOLOGY

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

The Basics of Online Video Learning

Theistic Belief Systems
Revelation (Definition)
General Revelation

2 Timothy 3:16
New King James Version (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…

Bibliology Class Content

• The Doctrine of Inspiration

• Biblical Culture and Its Relationship to Biblical Interpretation
• Survey of Old and New Testaments
• Introduction to Hebrew/Greek Study Tools Including Computer-Aided Bible Study
• Hermeneutics
• Typology
• Five-step Bible Study Method

Classroom work to include but not limited to:

• Biblical Time Line
• Quizzes and Tests

Outside assignments to include but not limited to:

• Outline each chapter of Old and New Testament
• Reading “The New Manners & Customs of Bible Times” – Gower
• Completion of typology assignment

Written work for each of the five steps in the Bible Study Method
1) Word study
2) Circumstantial study
3) Topical study
4) Biographical study
5) Paraphrase

© 2016 Village Missions 12 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Class Schedule
Introduction
Old Testament Survey
New Testament Survey
Old Testament Authenticity
New Testament Authenticity
Inspiration of Scripture
Authority of Scripture
Introduction to Hermeneutics
Rules of Interpretation
Typology
Bible Study Tools / Take Home Mid-Term Test
Bible Study Methods – Exegesis
Bible Study Methods – Circumstantial Study
Bible Study Methods - Topical Study
Bible Study Methods - Biographical Study
Bible Study Methods – Paraphrase
Final Test / Review

Seven Subjects Covered

1. Bible Survey – Old and New Testaments

2. Biblical Culture – Understanding the culture of the time the Bible was written. You
should have already ordered a copy of “The Manners & Customs of Bible Times” by
Ralph Gower.

3. Bibliology – Theology of Scripture – What the Bible is About

4. Introduction to Bible Languages – Hebrew and Greek

5. Hermeneutics – The Science of Interpreting the Bible

6. Typology – Old Testament Pointing to the New Testament (persons, places and
things)

7. Bible Study Method – Five-Step Method

1) Word study
2) Circumstantial study
3) Topical study
4) Biographical study
5) Paraphrase

© 2016 Village Missions 13 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Introduction
Theistic Belief Systems:
1. Pantheism - All is God
2. Polytheism - Many gods
3. Atheism - Belief in no God
4. Deism - Belief in a non-personal God
5. Theism - Belief in a personally involved God

Revelation - Truth Revealed

General Revelation
1. Nature’s witness
Psalm 19:1-4; Acts 14:17; Psalm 104:5-9; 2 Peter 3:4-5; Romans 1:19-20

2. History's witness
I Kings 8:56; Acts 7:2-53; Acts 17:26-28

3. Conscience's witness
Ecclesiastes 3:11; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Romans 2:14-15

© 2016 Village Missions 14 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 1, PART 2 - INTRODUCTION TO BIBLIOLOGY

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Special Revelation (Definition)

The Spoken Word
The Written Word
The Walking Word

Special Revelation
Spoken Word
Genesis 1:3 , 2:16; Jeremiah 1:9; Hebrews 1:1

Examples:
"saith the Lord" - 854 ; "Lord said" - 221 ; "Lord God said" - 4 ;
"Lord spake" - 144 ; "Lord speaketh" – 2; "word of the Lord" - 258; "words
of the Lord" - 19; "voice of the Lord" - 50 ; "mouth of the Lord" - 11;
"God Commanded" - 14; "Lord commanded" - 105.

1,682 references to the spoken Word.

Written Word

Deuteronomy 28:58; Jeremiah 36:4; John 20:31

"written" - 277; "write" - 91; "writings" - 1; "book" - 188; "scroll" - 2;
"parchments" - 1; "scripture" -32; "scriptures" – 21.

Walking Word (Jesus, the Word made flesh)

Hebrews 1:1-3; John 1:14/18; Revelation 19:13.

The Spoken Word

1682 references to the spoken revelation of God
The Written Word
613 references to the written Revelation of God.

“Christocentric” - John 5:39

All Scripture is about Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation the Bible tells one story and it
is His story.

© 2016 Village Missions 15 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

The Bible
The Bible was written by a diversity of 40 different authors over a period of 1,500 years,
in a variety of locations. However, the Bible is uniquely one book, with one voice,
consisting of 66 different books.

Its authors came from all walks of life. Some were kings, shepherds, warriors,
fishermen, even a Gentile doctor and a tax collector.

The Bible is:

1. The Revelation of God - 1 Sam 3:21; 2 Tim 3:15; Rom 16:25-26
2. Supernaturally Given & Preserved - 2 Pe 1:20-21; Lk 21:33; 1 Pe 1:25
3. Alive and Life Giving - Heb 4:12; 1 Pe 1:23
4. A Balm and a Weapon - Prov 4:20-22; Matt 4:4, 7, 10, Eph 6:10-17
5. Object and Source of Faith - 1 Thess 2:13; Rom 10:17
6. Complete - Rev 22:18-19
7. Comprehensive - 2 Tim 3:16-17
8. Infallible - Matt 5:18; 1 Kings 8:56,
9. Inerrant - 2 Pe 1:16-19
10. True - Jn 8:44; 2 Cor 4:4; Jn 17:17;
11. A Historical Record:
a) from eternity past to eternity future
b) of God's dealings with man
c) of two divergent streams of humanity, the godly and ungodly
d) of the nation of Israel
e) of God's promised Messiah Gen 3
12. “Christocentric” - John 5:39
13. To Be Studied -2 Tim 2:15; 2 Peter 1:19; Heb 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:16

ASSIGNMENT: SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Assignment Number 1. Copy the headings or passage summaries from each chapter in
your Bible. Don’t take a shortcut and copy an outline find somewhere in your Bible or
online. The point is to go through every chapter in your Bible and write down the
headings to see how all the people, places and events flow into the OT.

Assignment Number 2. Find the approximate date when each of the books of the Bible
was written and the time period it covered. Use the worksheet in this guide book. For
this part of the assignment you can use any resources available.

© 2016 Village Missions 16 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

CLASS ACTIVITY: CREATING A BIBLE TIMELINE REFERENCE

Group 1 Timeline References

Biblical Events (all dates Approximated):

CREATION and the FALL of MAN – 4000 BC

The FLOOD – 2350 BC
The TOWER of BABEL – 2235 BC
The CALL of ABRAHAM – 2091 BC
ISSAC offered as a sacrifice – 2054 BC
JACOB’S name change to ISRAEL – 1906 BC
JOSEPH BECOMES EGYPT’S PRIME MINISTER – 1886 BC
JACOB’S FAMILY ENTERS EGYPT – 1875 BC
MOSES BORN – 1525 BC
The EXODUS – 1446 BC
JOSHUA and the ISRAELITES CROSS RIVER JORDAN – 1406 BC
SAUL BECOMES ISRAEL’S FIRST KING - 1043 BC
DAVID BECOMES ISRAEL’S SECOND KING – 1010 BC
SOLOMON BECOMES ISRAEL’S THIRD KING – 970 BC
SOLOMON BUILDS ISRAEL’S FIRST TEMPLE – 966 BC
The KINGDOM is DIVIDED into ISRAEL & JUDAH – 931 BC
ISRAEL GOES into ASSYRIAN CAPTIVITY – 722 BC
JUDAH GOES into BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY – 586 BC
The JEWS RETURN from EXILE – 537 BC
The SECOND TEMPLE is BUILT – 515 BC
NEHEMIAH REBUILDS JERUSALEM’S WALLS – 444 BC
JEWS CONQUERED by ALEXANDER – 320 BC
JEWS LIBERATED by the MACCABEES – 165 BC
JEWS CONQUERED by ROME – 60 BC
HEROD REMODELS the SECOND TEMPLE – 20 BC
JESUS is BORN – 3 BC
JESUS is CRUCIFIED – 30 AD
PAUL is CONVERTED – 34 AD
PAUL BECOMES a MISSIONARY – 45 AD
PAUL BEHEADED in ROME – 65 AD 68 AD

© 2016 Village Missions 17 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Group 2 Timeline References:

POST BIBLICAL EVENTS (all dates Approximated):

NERO PERSECUTES the CHURCH - 65AD

JERUSALEM DESTROYED - 70AD
DOMITIAN PERSECUTES the CHURCH - 90AD
CONSTANTINE DECLARE CHRISTIANITY OFFICIAL RELIGION of the ROMAN EMPIRE -
313AD
POPE LEO the GREAT CLAIMS APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION and AUTHORITY - 440AD
ROME FALLS to the GOTHS - 475AD
The ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH GAINS POLITICAL DOMINION - 590AD
The DARK AGES BEGIN - 590AD
LEIF ERICSON DISCOVERS NORTH AMERICA - 1000AD
GUTENBERG PRINTS the BIBLE on the FIRST PRINTING PRESS - 1455AD
COLUMBUS “DISCOVERS” AMERICA - 1492AD
PROTESTANT REFORMATION - 1517AD
PILGRIMS LAND at PLYMOUTH - 1620AD
AMERICAN COLONIES DECLARE INDEPENDENCE from ENGLAND - 1776AD
CHARLES DARWIN PUBLISHES “ORIGIN of SPECIES” - 1859AD
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR - 1861AD AIDS FIRST DIAGNOSED - 1981AD

Group 3 Timeline References

KEY PEOPLE (all dates approximated):

ADAM – 4000/3070 BC
SETH – 3870/2960 BC
METHUSELAH – 3310/2350 BC
NOAH – 2950/2000 BC
SHEM – 2450/1850 BC
ABRAHAM – 2166/1991 BC
ISSAC – 2066/1886 BC
JACOB – 2006/1859 BC
JOSEPH – 1916/1806 BC
MOSES – 1525/1405 BC

© 2016 Village Missions 18 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Group 4 Timeline References

PROPHET’S Ministry (all dates approximated):

ISAIAH – 739/681 BC
JEREMIAH – 626/570 BC
EZEKIEL – 592/570 BC
DANIEL – 605/538 BC
HOSEA – 760/720 BC
JOEL – 835/? BC
AMOS – 786/746 BC
OBADIAH – 850/840 BC
JONAH – 786/746 BC
MICAH – 737/696 BC
NAHUM – 615/612 BC
HABAKKUK – 612 BC

© 2016 Village Missions 19 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY: ADDING BOOKS OF THE BIBLE TO TIMELINE

Complete this page along with OT and NT outline assignment. Use a different color
“Sharpie” when adding these to the timeline.

Timeline Reference
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE (find approximate time period covered & when written):

1. GENESIS 2. EXODUS
3. LEVITICUS 4. NUMBERS
5. DEUTERONOMY 6. JOSHUA
7. JUDGES 8. RUTH
9. I SAMUEL 10. II SAMUEL
11. I KINGS 12. II KINGS
13. I CHRONICLES 14. II CHRONICLES
15. EZRA 16. NEHEMIAH
17. ESTHER 18. JOB
19. PSALMS 20. PROVERBS
21. ECCLESIASTES 22. SONG OF SOLOMON
23. ISAIAH 24. JEREMIAH
25. LAMENTATIONS 26. EZEKIEL
27. DANIEL 28. HOSEA
29. JOEL 30. AMOS
31. OBADIAH 32. JONAH
33. MICAH 34. NAHUM
35. HABAKKUK 36. ZEPHANIAH
37. HAGGAI 38. ZECHARIAH
39. MALACHI 40. MATTHEW
41. MARK 42. LUKE
43. JOHN 44. ACTS
45. ROMANS 46. I CORINTHIANS
47. II CORINTHIANS 48. GALATIANS
49. EPHESIANS 50. PHILIPPIANS
51. COLOSSIANS 52. I THESSALONIANS
53. II THESSALONIANS 54. I TIMOTHY
55. II TIMOTHY 56. TITUS
57. PHILEMON 58. HEBREWS
59. JAMES 60. I PETER
61. II PETER 62. I JOHN
63. II JOHN 64. III JOHN
65. JUDE 66. REVELATION

© 2016 Village Missions 20 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 2 - OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:
The Bible's OT - NT division
The Differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant
Jewish Divisions of Scripture
The Septuagint

2 Timothy 3
New King James Version (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

The Bible is divided into two main sections called the “Old” and “New” Testaments. The
word “Testament” means a “covenant” or an “agreement.”

Both covenants are sealed by “blood” and both are mediated by a man.

the Old Covenant is mediated by Moses

the New Covenant is mediated by Jesus

the Old Covenant is sealed with the blood of animals

the New Covenant is sealed with the blood of Jesus

the Old Covenant flows from Mount Sinai

the New Covenant flows from Mount Calvary

the Old Covenant gives a law and demands obedience

the New Covenant gives grace and demands belief

the Old Covenant is a type or foreshadowing

the New Covenant is the antitype or fulfillment

“the _____is in the _____ contained - the _____ is in the _____

explained.”

“the _____ is in the _____ concealed - the _____ is in the _____

revealed.”

© 2016 Village Missions 21 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Jewish divisions of OT Scripture - Luke 24:44 (read)

Often shortened to "the Law & the Prophets"

1. the Law – Torah

2. the Prophets - Nebi'im
3. the Writings – Kethubim

NOTE: There are 24 books in the Hebrew OT - Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-
Nehemiah, and “the Twelve” minor prophets are one-volume books in the
Hebrew Canon of Scripture.

Greek Septuagint divides of OT Scripture into 39 books

70 Greek-speaking scholars.

1. The Pentateuch - 5 books of Moses

1) Genesis -

2) Exodus –

3) Leviticus -

4) Numbers -

5) Deuteronomy -

2. The Historical books - 12 books

6) Joshua -

7) Judges -

8) Ruth -

© 2016 Village Missions 22 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

9) I Samuel -

10) II Samuel -

11) I Kings -

12) II Kings -

13) I Chronicles -

14) II Chronicles -

15) Ezra -

16) Nehemiah -

17) Esther -

3. The Poetical books - 5 books

18) Job -

19) Psalms -

20) Proverbs -

21) Ecclesiastes -

22) Song of Solomon –

© 2016 Village Missions 23 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

4. The Prophetical books - 17 books

a) Major - 5 books

23) Isaiah -

24) Jeremiah -

25) Lamentations -

26) Ezekiel -

27) Daniel -

© 2016 Village Missions 24 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

b) Minor - 12 books

28) Hosea -

29) Joel -

30) Amos -

31) Obadiah -

32) Jonah -

33) Micah –

34) Nahum -

35) Habakkuk -

36) Zephaniah -

37) Haggai -

38) Zechariah –

39) Malachi -

© 2016 Village Missions 25 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

ASSIGNMENT: FINISH OT OUTLINE AND START NT OUTLINE

Finish the Old Testament outline and start the New Testament outline.

Write down the chapter headings in the New Testament. If there are headings in
between the chapter headings, write those down as well.

Ensure you write the book of the Bible and the chapter number. You might want to use
this outline later.

© 2016 Village Missions 26 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 3 - NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:
Time Compression
400 “Silent” Years Between the OT and the NT
Outline of the New Testament and its Four Divisions
The General Epistles of the NT

Review
• OT survey
• Integration of prior Bible knowledge from past sermons, Bible study, and devotional
reading
• Understanding of the scope and flow of history and how the Bible fits
• A sense of time compression, where the distant past isn’t so distant after all
• Bible events become current events
• A personal connection to Bible characters and stories
• God is really here!

Intertestamental Literature - 400 “Silent” Years

Malachi ends Old Testament with judgment,
but the last 5 verses contain the promise of
the coming Redeemer.

The Apocrypha is the title given to 14

books included in the Roman Catholic
cannon of Scripture between the OT and
the NT. Apocrypha means "hidden things"
and originally implied that these writings
were only for the "inner circle” - kept for
the wise among the people. Later it came
to identify the obscurity of origin and
authorship of these books.

They were never accepted as Scripture by

the Jews and were never quoted by Jesus
or the Apostles. The early Church did not
accept them as Scripture.

Four Views Concerning the Apocrypha:

1) The Roman Catholic view, solidified at

the Council of Trent (1546) and by the

© 2016 Village Missions 27 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Vatican Council of 1870, is that these books are equal with the rest of Scripture and
pronounce a curse upon anyone who does not accept this view.
2) Early Protestant view that while the Apocrypha is not to be considered equal with the
rest of Scripture it is useful and good for devotional reading.

3) Later Protestant view rejects totally the Apocrypha and in fact the term Apocryphal
has taken on a pejorative connotation.

4) Modern view rejects the authority of the Apocrypha as Scripture, but does see value
in the historical content for gaining an understanding of the times in which they were
written.

The Apocryphal books are:

• I & II Esdras
• Tobit
• Judith
• Wisdom of Solomon
• Ecclesiasticus
• Baruch
• The Letter of Jeremiah
• The Prayer of Azariah
• Susanna, Bel and the Dragon
• The Prayer of Manasseh
• I & II Maccabees

© 2016 Village Missions 28 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

The Pseudepigrapha
Intertestamental literature not accepted into the Christian or Jewish canon of Scripture
and often attributed to an ancient hero of faith.

Pseudepigrapha means "writings falsely attributed." Ongoing discovery and research

provide differing lists of contents. A recent publication listed 52 writings. Some of the
writings are anonymous; thus some scholars prefer the name "outside books" for all of
these writings, emphasizing that they did not become part of canon.

Some ancient Christians and the Roman church have used the term "Apocrypha," since
for them what Protestants call Apocrypha is part of their canon.

Twelve of the Pseudepigraphical books are:

• First Enoch
• Second Enoch
• Second Baruch
• The Sibylline Oracles
• The Testament of Moses
• The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
• The Book of Jubilees
• The Psalms of Solomon
• Third Maccabees
• Fourth Maccabees
• The Life of Adam and Eve
• The Letter of Aristeas

© 2016 Village Missions 29 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

This page intentionally left blank for notes

© 2016 Village Missions 30 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Outline of the New Testament - Four Divisions

1. Gospels

1) Matthew -

2) Mark -

3) Luke -

4) John -

2. Historical

5) Acts -

3. Pauline Epistles

a) Church Epistles

6) Romans –

Chapters 1-11

Chapters 12-16

7) I Corinthians -

8) II Corinthians -

9) Galatians -

© 2016 Village Missions 31 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

10) Ephesians -

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 3-6

11) Philippians -

12) Colossians -

13) I Thessalonians -

14) II Thessalonians -

b) Pastoral Epistles

15) I Timothy -

16) II Timothy -

17) Titus -

18) Philemon -

c) Special Epistle

19) Hebrews -

© 2016 Village Missions 32 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

4. General Epistles

20) James -

21) I Peter -

22) II Peter -

23) I John -

24) II John -

25) III John -

26) Jude -

5. Prophecy

27) Revelation -

© 2016 Village Missions 33 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

TEST: BIBLE SURVEY QUIZ

Place the books in the correct order under the categories on the following page.

Acts I Chronicles Lamentations

Amos I Peter Leviticus
Colossians I John Luke
Daniel II Samuel Malachi
Deuteronomy II Kings Mark
Ecclesiastes II Chronicles Matthew
Ephesians II Thessalonians Micah
Esther II Timothy Nahum
Exodus II Corinthians Nehemiah
Ezekiel II John Numbers
Ezra II Peter Obadiah
Galatians III John Philemon
Genesis Isaiah Philippians
Habakkuk James Proverbs
Haggai Jeremiah Psalms
Hebrews Job Revelation
Hosea Joel Romans
I Corinthians John Ruth
I Samuel Jonah Song of
I Thessalonians Joshua Solomon
Titus
I Timothy Jude
Zechariah
I Kings Judges
Zephaniah

© 2016 Village Missions 34 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How to Study the Bible – Student Guide

Place the books of the Bible in the correct division and order:

Old Testament
Pentateuch

Historical

Poetical

Prophets

Major

Minor

New Testament
Gospels

Historical

Epistles

Church

Pastoral

General

Prophecy
© 2016 Village Missions 35 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

ASSIGNMENT: BEGIN READING MANNERS AND CUSTOMS

Begin reading ”The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times” by Ralph Gower.

Read through and look up all Scripture references.

Write down any questions you have so you can ask them in class.

Final Test will include questions from this assignment.

The entire book needs to be read by the time the class gets to Bible Study Methods and
Tools.

Pay attention to the side bars as you read!

© 2016 Village Missions 36 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 4, PART 1 - AUTHENTICITY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Internal Proofs or Evidences for Belief

Theistic View - Given by God then Kept by God
Theme: God’s Plan of Salvation
Purity of Doctrine and Ethics
Harmony with Empirical Science
Diversity of Human Authorship (for both OT & NT)
Fulfilled Prophecy

Internal proofs or evidences for belief

External proofs
Methods of transmission
Writing materials used to record Scripture
Languages of the OT
Translation of the OT Hebrew into Greek
Canon of the OT

Internal Proofs
Theistic View – Given by God then kept by God
Theists believe that God has chosen to reveal Himself

We believe:

Unity of Theme & Extent of Scope

Main Theme:

© 2016 Village Missions 37 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Scope: Broadness of Coverage

Purity of Doctrine and Ethics

Harmony with Empirical Science

Diversity of Human Authorship for both OT and NT

Fulfilled Prophecy

Israel

The Nations

© 2016 Village Missions 38 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Amazing Prophecy: 100 years before Babylon becomes a nation, 150 years before
Jerusalem taken captive.
Reared by a shepherd after his grandfather, the king of Media, ordered that he be killed.

As an adult, Cyrus organized the Persians into an army and revolted against his grandfather
and father. He defeated them and claimed their throne. Cyrus' military exploits have
become legendary. However, he is best remembered for his policies of peace. His famous
decree in 539 BC (2 Chron. 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4) freed the captives Babylon had taken
during its harsh rule. Among these prisoners were the Jews taken from Jerusalem in 586
BC.

They were allowed to return to rebuild the Temple and city. Along with this freedom Cyrus
restored the valuable treasures of the Temple taken during the Exile. Since the Jews had
done well in Babylon financially, many of them did not want to return to the wastes of
Judah. From these people Cyrus exacted a tax to help pay for the trip for those who did
wish to rebuild Jerusalem.

Messiah

Gen 22:5

The NT serves as a proof and validation for the OT

© 2016 Village Missions 39 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 4, PART 2 – AUTHENTICITY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:
External Proofs
Archeology - Secular History - Jewish Nation - Jesus Quotes the OT
Apostles quote the OT - Early Church Fathers Quote the OT
Methods of Transmission
Writings Materials Used to Record Scripture
Languages of the Old Testament
Translation of the Old Testament Hebrew into Greek
Canon of the Old Testament

External Proofs
Archeology

Secular History
Jewish Nation

Jesus

Apostles

Early Church Fathers

Gospel of Jesus

Method of Transmission
Autographs & Manuscripts
Autographs
The Original MSS of the OT (autographa) are not available
Used, Worn out, Destroyed
Copied and Recopied
MSS
The Hebrew text is amply represented by both pre- and post-Christian MSS

© 2016 Village Missions 40 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

The first collection of Hebrew MSS made by Benjamin Kennicott (1776-80), published by
Oxford, listed 615 MSS of the OT.

Later Giovanni de Rossi (1784-88) published a list of 731 MSS. The main MSS discoveries in
modern times are:
The Cairo Geniza (I890). In the Cairo synagogue attic store room alone were discovered
some 200,000 MSS and fragments. 10,000 of these are Biblical.

The Dead Sea Scrolls discovered between 1947 and 1960 in a cave on the western Dead
Sea shore near a ruin called Khirbet Qumran. Eleven caves from the Qumran area have
since yielded manuscripts, mostly in small fragments.
These date between 200 B.C. and A.D. 70, mostly around the lifetime of Jesus.

They comprise three main kinds of literature:

1. Copies of Old Testament books, the oldest we now possess;

2. Some non-biblical Jewish books known from elsewhere (such as First Enoch and
Jubilees);

3. The Essenes community's own compositions, including: biblical commentaries (for

example, on Habakkuk and Nahum), which interpret biblical prophecies as applying to the
community and its times; rules of community conduct; and liturgical writings such as
prayers and hymns.

The Dead Sea Scroll Old Testament (DSS. OT) essentially the same as our modern
OT!

The total number of OT Hebrews MSS fragments throughout the world is enormous!

Since we no longer have the original manuscripts how can we be sure that the
manuscript copies we have are still the Word of God?

Textual Transmission
How can we be sure that our present MSS are reliable?
To answer this question, we need to explore the way scribes copied the original manuscripts
of the Old Testament and passed the copies belong to us. Scholars call this process textual
transmission.

© 2016 Village Missions 41 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Scribes
• When the Old Testament writers finished their scrolls, there were no copying
machines or printing presses to duplicate their writing for the public. They depended
on scribes - men who patiently copied the Scriptures by hand when extra copies
were needed and when the original scrolls became too worn to use any longer. The
scribes attempted to make exact copies of the original scrolls, and the scribes who
followed them attempted to make exact copies of the copies.
• By the time Jesus was born, the most recent Old Testament book (Malachi) had been
copied and recopied over a span of more than four hundred years; the books that
Moses wrote had been copied this way for more than fourteen hundred years. Yet
during that time the scribes guarded the Old Testament text very well.

Sopherim
Jeremiah is the first to mention the scribes as a professional group in Jer. 8:8

• The Hebrew word sopherim literally means "the counters”; the early scribes earned
this title because they counted every letter of every book of Scripture to make sure
they didn't leave out anything.
• Before he began his work each day, the scribe would test his reed pen by dipping it
in ink and writing the name Amalek, then crossing it out (cf. Deut. 25:19). Then he
would say, "I am writing the Torah in the name of its sanctity and the name of God
in its sanctity."
• The scribe would read a sentence in the manuscript he was copying, repeat it aloud,
and then write it. Each time he came to the name of God, he would say, "I am
writing the name of God for the holiness of His name." If he made an error in writing
God's name, he had to destroy the entire sheet of papyrus or vellum that he was
using.
• After the scribe finished copying a particular book, he would count all of the words
and letters it contained. Then he checked this tally against the count for the
manuscript that he was copying. He counted the number of times a particular word
occurred in the book, and he noted the middle word and the middle letter in the
book, comparing all of these with his original. By making these careful checks, he
hoped to avoid any scribal errors.

© 2016 Village Missions 42 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Writing Materials
Clay tablets – Not Very portable
Papyrus – Not Very Durable
Vellum – Both Portable and Durable
Paper – Not available
Scrolls and Codices (Codex) – Two Binding Methods
Disposal – Unrepairable Copies Destroyed

© 2016 Village Missions 43 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Languages of the Old Testament

1. Hebrew
a. Simple language
b. Biblical Hebrew has a very small vocabulary
c. Built on three letter root words
three Hebrew consonants
carry the idea of holiness:

ׁ‫קדש‬
(note that Hebrew reads right to left)
We will use phonemes from English (the basic symbols that represent sounds) to represent
those Hebrew characters:

‫ קדש‬q d sh
‫ = קדש‬qdsh = the idea of holiness

qadosh = holy
qodesh = holiness
qadash = he was holy
yiqdosh = he will be holy
eqadash = I will be holy
qidshu = be ye holy
qaddeshu = make holy
Meqaddesh = making holy
yithqaddashu = they will sanctify themselves

None of the vowel sounds were written. They had to be supplied by the reader
from memory!

ׁ‫קדש‬
The q d sh sounds could represent:
holy, holiness, he was holy, he will be holy,
I will be holy, be ye holy, make holy,
making holy, they will sanctify themselves

Even though it was a simple language, with a limited vocabulary Biblical Hebrew required
the reader to know the content first in order to be able to read it!

© 2016 Village Missions 44 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Languages of the OT

From the time King David, the sopherim had used a round Paleo-Hebrew (early Hebrew) script
to copy the Old Testament manuscripts, because they could write it on parchment, unlike the
wedge-shaped cuneiform script of the Canaanites.

An important change in the Hebrew language occurred around 500 BC. Aramaic had become
the common language of commerce and education in the Near East. The sopherim began using
a square Aramaic script that they learned during their Exile in Babylon.

Papyrus manuscripts from a Jewish colony on Elephantine Island (in the N Delta) prove that the
old cursive script was no longer used in 250 BC. The Dead Sea scrolls cover this period of
transition; some of these are written in the rounded Paleo-Hebrew script, but most are in the
square Aramaic.

Note that Hebrew scribes did not begin using the Aramaic language; they simply borrowed its
script and used it to express their own Hebrew words. They could do this because both Hebrew
and Aramaic were Semitic languages, and their scripts stood for the same alphabet, which in
turn signified many of the same sounds in both languages. (We see a modern example of this
in English and French. Since they were both shaped by the same classical language, Latin, their
alphabets and some of their sounds are the same.)

© 2016 Village Missions 45 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

When Hebrew scribes had borrowed the Aramaic script, they also started borrowing Aramaic
words and phrases to express traditional Hebrew ideas just as we commonly use the French
words coiffure and lingerie). Gradually they came to insert Aramaic words into the text to take
the place of older Hebrew words that they no longer used. And sometimes they added editorial
notes in Aramaic to clarify what the text said; Jeremiah 10:11 is such a note.

Vowels
Paleo-Hebrew had no vowels, and early scribes probably used dots to separate their words,
as the Phoenicians did. They did not put spaces between words, as we do. In the tenth
century BC, the Arameans (who lived in what is now Syria) had begun putting special letters
at the end of each word to indicate final long vowels.

Two centuries later, Moabites of Canaan began doing the same, and they passed the idea on
to the Hebrew scribes.

After the Exile, Hebrew scribes began to associate four of the Hebrew consonants with

vowel sounds aleph ‫א‬ =a heh ‫ה‬ =e vav ‫ו‬ =o yud ‫י‬ =i

Language experts call these letters the matres lectionis (Latin, "mothers of reading"). But
the Hebrew scribes did not develop a system for showing the vowel sounds until after AD
500.

© 2016 Village Missions 46 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

A person who read an Old Testament manuscript in the time of Jesus found a continuous
string of letters, and had only the three simple devices (dots between words, final long
vowels, and the matres lectionis) to guide him in identifying, breaking up and pronouncing
the words. He had to supply a good deal, in fact, from memory.

For example, let us say we were going to write Isaiah 61:1 (in English) the way it would
have appeared in the scroll that Jesus read in the synagogue of Nazareth (Luke 4: 18): "The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me ..." If we use the letters from our
English translation but write it in the old Hebrew style, it would look something like this

TH.SPRT.F.TH.LRD.S.PN.M.BCS.H.H.NNTD.M.

That's not easy to read, is it? But Hebrew and other Semitic languages ran from right to
left; so to get a better picture of what the verse looked like, try this:

.M.DTNN.H.H.SCB.M.NP.S.DRL.HT.F.TRPS.HT

© 2016 Village Missions 47 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Aramaic
Language close to Hebrew
Became the spoken language of Jews in Palestine
Six chapters of Daniel and four chapters of Ezra

Septuagint
The Old Testament has come down to us in other languages besides Hebrew and Aramaic.
After 300 BC, Greek versions began to appear.

A community of 70 Greek-speaking Jewish scholars in Alexandria compiled a Greek version

of the Old Testament called the Septuagint or LXX.

Cannon of O.T.
Definition:
• Greek
• Hebrew

Confirmed by:

ASSIGNMENT: CONTINUE ASSIGNED READING OUTSIDE OF CLASS

Continue reading ‘The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times’ and finish before
Mid-Term Test.

© 2016 Village Missions 48 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 5, PART 1 – AUTHENTICITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:
Internal Proofs
Theistic View
Theme and Scope
Fulfilled Prophecy

External Proofs
Apostolic Martyrs – eye witnesses sealing their testimony with their blood
Early Christian Martyrs – close enough to verify and convinced enough to die
Historical Corroboration – Josephus, Tacitus, etc.
Existence and Persistence of the Church

Internal Proofs

The new is in the old contained, the old is in the new explained.
Fulfilled Prophecy

Genesis 3:15  “seed of a woman” Luke 2:7; Galatians 4:4

Genesis 12:3  “descendant of Abraham” Matthew 1:1; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:16

Genesis 17:19  “descendant of Isaac” Matthew 1:2; Romans 9:7

Numbers 24:17  “descendant of Jacob” Matthew 1:2

Genesis 49:10  “descendant of Judah” Matthew 1:2

Isaiah 11:1  “descendant of Jesse” Matthew 1:6

Isaiah 9:7  “heir to the throne of David” Matthew 1:1; 1:6

Micah 5:2  “born in Bethlehem” Matthew 2:1

Isaiah 7:14  “born to a virgin” Matthew 1:18

Hosea 11:1  “called out of Egypt” Matthew 2:14-21

Isaiah 9:1b-2  “ministry in Galilee” Matthew 4:12-16

Deuteronomy 18:15  “ministered as a prophet” John 6:14

© 2016 Village Missions 49 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Psalm 110:4  “ministered as a priest (though not a Levite)” Hebrews 5:1-10; 7:1-28

Isaiah 53:3  “rejected by the Jews” John 1:11; 5:43; Luke 23:18; Acts 3:14-15

Isaiah 11:2  “Spirit of wisdom and understanding” Matthew 13:54

Isaiah 35:5-6  “deaf, dumb, blind and lame healed” Luke 7:22

Isaiah 61:1  “good news preached to the poor and broken hearted” Luke 7:22

Zechariah 9:9  “humble entry on a donkey” John 12:13-14

Psalm 41:9  “betrayed by a friend” Mark 14:10

Zechariah 11:12  “sold for 30 pieces of silver” Matthew 26:15

Zechariah 11:13  “money cast down in temple” Matthew 27:5

Zechariah 11:13  “money given to a potter” Matthew 27:7

Isaiah 53:8  “condemned without a fair trial” Matthew 27:1

Psalm 35:11-12  “accused by false witnesses” Matthew 26:59-61

Isaiah 50:6  “beaten and spit upon” Mark 14:65, Matthew 27:30

Psalm 129:3  “scourged” John 19:1

Psalm 102:  “mocked” Matthew 27:29-31

Psalm 22:6-8  “taunted with ‘No help from God for you!’” Matthew 27:39-43

Psalm 22:16  “hands and feet pierced” John 19:23; 20:25

Psalm 22:18  “clothing parceled out, but one piece gambled for whole” John 19:23-24

Psalm 22:7  “insulted while dying with wagging heads and scorn” Matthew 27:39

Isaiah 53:12  “crucified with sinners” Matthew 27:38

Psalm 69: 21  “given gall and vinegar to drink” Matthew 27:34; 48

Psalm 34:20  “no bones broken” John 19:33

© 2016 Village Missions 50 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Psalm 22:1  “forsaken of God” Matthew 27:46

Daniel 9:24-26  “died at the appointed time foretold to Daniel”

Seven seventies (490 years) is the determined time. The death of Christ happened at the
Passover in the month Nisan, in the four thousand seven hundred and forty-sixth year of
the Julian period. Four hundred and ninety years, reckoned back from the above year, leads
us directly to the month Nisan in the four thousand two hundred and fifty-sixth year of the
same period; the very month and year in which Ezra had his commission from Artaxerxes
Longimanus, king of Persia, to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.

Isaiah 53:9  “buried in a rich man’s tomb” Matthew 27:57-60

Psalm 16:10  “raised from the dead” Matthew 28:5-9

Hosea 6:2  “rise from the dead on the third day” Matthew 27:57-28:6

Matthew 27:57-28:6
• Christ was in the tomb for the part of one day, a whole day and the part of another
day… legally three days as reckoned by the Jews, but closer to two days if reckoned
by the hour meter on the tomb.

External Proofs
Apostolic Martyrs – eye witnesses sealing their testimony with their blood

Early Christian Martyrs – close enough to verify and convinced enough to die

Historical corroboration – Josephus, Tacitus, etc.

Existence and persistence of the Church

© 2016 Village Missions 51 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SECTION 5, PART 2 – AUTHENTICITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Canon of the New Testament

History of Transmission
Translations
Theories of Translation

Canon of the New Testament

Those writings included in Scripture

Greek "Kanon" - rod

Hebrew "qaun" - reed

Canon - Measuring device. Word used to describe those books of the Old and New
Testament that measured up to the standard of Scripture.

Features of the New Testament Canon of Scripture

Must have Apostolic…

Canon Complete

© 2016 Village Missions 52 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

History of Transmission
Pre-Press

Post-Press

“Majority Text” or the Received Text

Translations
Hegesippus quotes from Syriac Version about 150 AD
Jerome's Latin Vulgate

Dark Ages (1000 years of Church domination)

Wycliffe: Sponsored first complete translation of Bible into English (1383).
Tyndale: (1494-1536) English
religious reformer and martyr whose translation of the New Testament was the basis of the
King James Bible.
King James: (1604) commissioned a translation that was completed in 1611
Many modern Translations based on the Wescott and Hort Greek text

© 2016 Village Missions 53 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Theories of Translation
"Formal Equivalence": the translator attempts to render the exact words, form for form, or
word for word of the original language into the receptor language.

"Dynamic Equivalence"
The reproduction in a receptor language (e.g., English) of the closest natural equivalent of
the source language (e.g., Hebrew or Greek) message, first in terms of meaning, and
second in terms of style.
Examples:

Strictly literal:
• New American Standard Bible

Literal:
• New King James Version
• Revised Standard Version
• New American Bible

Literal with freedom to be idiomatic:

• New Revised Standard Version

Thought-for-thought:
• New International Version
• New Jerusalem Bible
• Revised English Bible
• New Jewish Version

Dynamic equivalent (modern speech):

• Today’s English Version/Good News for Modern Man

Paraphrase:
• The Living Bible
• The Message Bible

ASSIGNMENT: CONTINUE ASSIGNED READING OUTSIDE OF CLASS

Continue reading ‘The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times’ and finish before
Mid-Term Test.

© 2016 Village Missions 54 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 6, PART 1 - INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Revelation (review) – Truth Revealed

Inspiration
General Inspiration
Special Inspiration
Incorrect views on Special Inspiration
Verbal Inspiration

Revelation (review) - Truth revealed / otherwise / unknown

General Revelation

Special Revelation

Inspiration

General inspiration

Special inspiration

Scripture:
Jer 1:9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD
said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Cor 2:13 (NIV) This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom
but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

2 Pet 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
© 2016 Village Missions 55 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Incorrect views on Special Inspiration

Thematic Inspiration –

Partial Inspiration –

Incomplete Inspiration –

Mechanical Inspiration –

Verbal Inspiration and Plenary Inspiration (Plenary will be covered in next session)

Verbal Inspiration
Definition:

Examples:
Each word
Prov 30:5-6 (KJV) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in
him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Prov 30:5-6, Rev 22:18-19, Deut 4:2

Each tense
Mat 22:31-32 (KJV) But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that
which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Each singular or plural

Gal 3:16 (KJV vs. NIV) cf. Gen 13:15; 17:8
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of
many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Write down the meaning of zerah

_____________________________________________________________________

© 2016 Village Missions 56 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Galatians 3:29
In Christ we are the seed.

Each gender
1 Tim 2:1 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same
commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

1 Tim 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to
be in silence.

Each number
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast:
for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six.

Look up Matthew 5:18

REVIEW: WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF VERBAL INSPIRATION?

What are the implications of Verbal Inspiration?

What does it mean for Bible Study?

What does it mean for Christian Doctrine?

What does it mean for Church Practice?

What does it mean for Christian Living?

© 2016 Village Missions 57 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 6, PART 2 - THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Plenary Inspiration
Proofs of Inspiration
Methods of Special Inspiration
The Bible Is Inspired – not the Bible characters

What are the implications of verbal inspiration?

What does that mean for Bible Study?

What does that mean for Christian doctrine, practice and living?

Plenary Inspiration Definition:

The whole of Scripture is inspired both in substance and in
structure

Examples:
Exodus 34:27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of
these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.

1 Chr 28:19 "All this," David said, "I have in writing from the hand of the LORD
upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan."

Luke 1:1-3 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the

things accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were
eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us, it seemed
fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning,
to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you
might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

2 Tim 3:16 (NASB) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

© 2016 Village Missions 58 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

REVIEW: PLENARY INSPIRATION

What are the implications of Plenary Inspiration?

What does it mean for Bible Study?

What does it mean for Christian Doctrine?

What does it mean for Church Practice?

What does it mean for Christian Living?

Proofs of Inspiration fall into two categories - internal and external

Internal

LIGHT, FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, BLOOD, GRACE, WORD, JUST, PERFECT, ATONEMENT,
COVENANT, ALTAR, SHED, WINE, DRUNKEN, PRAISE, PEACE, TITHES, VISION,
SHEILD, REWARD, I AM, IMPUTED, RIGHTEOUSNESS, ANGEL OF THE LORD,
WORSHIP, MERCY, FIRE, OBEY, SOW, SALVATION

External

© 2016 Village Missions 59 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Methods of Special Inspiration

The Bible is inspired - not men - the Bible records the lies, mistakes, sins, etc. of men, but
do not lie itself.

2 Peter 1:20-21 New King James Version (NKJV)

20
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
21
for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit.

© 2016 Village Missions 60 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

REVIEW: METHODS OF INSPIRATION

What are the implications of Methods Inspiration?

What does it mean for Bible Study?

What does it mean for Christian Doctrine?

What does it mean for Church Practice?

What does it mean for Christian Living?

© 2016 Village Missions 61 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 7, PART 1 - THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Inspiration and Authority

Pretenders to the Throne of Authority
Supposed Contradictions in Scripture

Review
Revelation – Truth Revealed
General Revelation: nature, history, conscience
Special Revelation: spoken, written, walking Word

Inspiration
General Inspiration: to effect with emotion or thought
Special Inspiration: process by which God conveyed the Special Revelation to man

Illumination –

Look up the following:

John 16:13-14

1 Cor 2:10-13

1 John 2:27

Definition Review
Infallible – cannot fail
Inerrant – without error
Immutable – cannot be changed
Science books change their avowed theories
Even religions change
Because Scripture is God Breathed
2 Timothy 3:16-17
2 Timothy 4:1-2

© 2016 Village Missions 62 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Authority -

Faith as Belief –

Faith as Doctrine –

Faith as Religion –

Authority for Practice –

Pretenders to the Throne

Supposed contradictions in Scripture

Two views

© 2016 Village Missions 63 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SECTION 7, PART 2 - THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Apparent Factual Discrepancies

Apparent Ethical Discrepancies
Apologetics
Historical Views on Inspiration
Statement of Faith concerning Scripture

Apparent Factual Discrepancies

Apparent Ethical Discrepancies

Apologetics
The study of defending Christian Doctrine

© 2016 Village Missions 64 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

'Decide for yourself- How History Views the Bible'

Book by Norman Geisler ISBN 978-1592447831 Excellent summaries of each of these. Out of
print, but available online used as of 2013 for less than $15 at Amazon.com

Views on inspiration
Scripture – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Early Church Fathers - Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian
Medieval Fathers - Augustine, Thomas Aquinas
Reformation Fathers - Martin Luther, John Calvin
Orthodoxy - A.A. Hodge, B.B. Warfield
Liberalism - Harold DeWolfe, Harry Emerson Fosdick
Fundamentalism - John R. Rice
Neoorthodoxy - Karl Barth, Emil Brunner
Liberal-Evangelical - C.S. Lewis
Neoevangelical - G.C. Berkouwer, Jack Rogers (Fuller Seminary)

Statement of Faith Concerning Scripture

"I believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible and that it is the infallible, inerrant
and immutable Word of God and the sole source of authority for all faith and practice."

© 2016 Village Missions 65 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS – DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Does your church have a Doctrinal Statement?

What does it say about the Bible?

What do you believe about the Bible?

What English translation of the Bible do you use?

What Greek text is your English translation based on? Does illumination imply a private
interpretation?

© 2016 Village Missions 66 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Machias Community Church Doctrinal Statement of Faith

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
II Tim. 3:16,17; II Peter 1:21

2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son
and Holy Ghost. Gen. 1:26; Matt. 3:16; John 14:16

3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life,
in His miracles, in His substitutionary and atoning death through His shed blood, in
His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His
personal return in power and glory. John 8:58; Heb. 9:11-14; Rom. 5:8; Acts
1:10,11

4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man regeneration by the Holy
Spirit is absolutely essential. John 3:3

5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the
Christian is enabled to live a godly life. John 14:25-26

6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved
unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of
damnation. John 5:28

7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, who have the
mutual responsibility of helping each other grown in grace and knowledge of Jesus
Christ. Eph. 4:4-6; Gal. 6:1-10

© 2016 Village Missions 67 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 8, PART 1 – INTRODUCTION TO HERMENEUTICS

At the end of this session, you will be able to answer the following:

What is hermeneutics?
Why is hermeneutics necessary?
What is required of the Biblical interpreter?

2 Timothy 3:16
New International Version (NIV)
16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness,

Hermeneutics
What is hermeneutics?
Why is hermeneutics necessary?
What is required of the Biblical interpreter?
What must be avoided for correct interpretation?
What tools are required for correct interpretation?
What preparation is necessary?
Word study
Twelve circumstantial questions to ask

What is Hermeneutics?
Defined:

Described:

Decreed:

Why is Hermeneutics necessary?

© 2016 Village Missions 68 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Look up these Scriptures

Acts 20:29-30
2 Peter 2:1; 3:16
1 Timothy 4:1
2 Timothy 3:13
1 John 4:1
Jude 3 and 4

What are the necessary requirements of the Biblical interpreter?

© 2016 Village Missions 69 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 8, PART 2 – INTRODUCTION TO HERMENEUTICS

At the end of this session, you will be able to answer the following:

What must be avoided for correct interpretation?

What tools are required for correct interpretation?
What preparation is necessary?

What must we avoid?

What tools and/or special knowledge is required?

Preparations for interpretation

Careful EXEGESIS: “What does the passage say?”
Before we can ask “what does it mean,” we must know what it says!
Twelve questions to answer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

© 2016 Village Missions 70 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

DISCUSSION: HERMENEUTICS

Twelve questions to answer. Before we can ask “what does it mean,” we must know what it
says!

1. Who is speaking?

2. Who is being spoken to?

3. What is the occasion?

4. What is the intent of the speaker?

5. What is the response of the one(s) spoken to?

6. When is this occurring?

7. Where is this occurring?

8. Where does this appear in Scripture?

9. Are there any parallel passages?

10. Are there any significant numbers?

11. Are there any repeated phrases, words or themes?

12. How is the speaker speaking: plainly or with figures of speech?

© 2016 Village Missions 71 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 8, PART 3 – HERMENEUTICS: FIGURES OF SPEECH

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Introduction to Figures of Speech

A. There are over 200 distinct figures of speech some of which have 30-40 variations!
B. Figures may be classified as to whether they affect the words or affect the thought.
C. THREE Classification of figures of speech:
1. Figures involving omission (ellipsis) where something is omitted in the words
themselves or in the sense conveyed by them.
2. Figures involving addition (pleonasm) where words are added by way of
repetition, amplification.
3. Figures involving change where words are changed in meaning, order and
application.
D. If you fail to take into account figures of speech you will misinterpret Scripture!

Understanding figures of speech

Simile - expressed comparison between two objects

Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that
breaks the rock in pieces?”

Metaphor - implied comparison between two objects

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth... you are the light of the world.”

Allegory - various metaphors united in story form

John 6:51-65 “I am the living bread... eat my flesh... drink my blood... ‘hard saying’...
these words are spirit.”

Fable - narrative allegory using personification

2 Kings 14:9 Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that
was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my
son as wife'; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.”

© 2016 Village Missions 72 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Anthropomorphism - Ascribing human attributes to God

Psalm 89:13 You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.

Personification - ascribing personal attributes to animals or inanimate objects

Numbers 16:32 the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households
and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.

Apostrophe - turning away from those addressed to speak to another

Psalms 33:20-22 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart
shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His Holy Name.
Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.

Parenthesis - turning away from the subject to add an explanation

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the
suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste
death for everyone. (Can turn into a digression if subject changes or the parenthesis is not
closed.)

Digression - the subject actually changes to another subject. Sometimes what starts as a
Parenthesis ends up becoming a Digression if there is no return to the original subject.

Interrogatory - affirmation expressed in the form of a question sometimes called a

rhetorical question
1189 chapters in the Bible
3298 questions (English)
Only 453 chapters do not have a question
In NT 260 chapters
In NT 1024 questions!
Study of classes of interrogatories in the Bible is huge!
Positive affirmation, negative affirmation, affirmative negation, demonstration, reproaches,
absurdities, etc.
Example of the Affirmative Negation:
Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD?

© 2016 Village Missions 73 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Hyperbole – exaggeration to make a point

Judges 7:12 Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the
valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the
seashore in multitude.

Irony - words mean their exact opposite

Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the
days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know
that for all these God will bring you into judgment. (Luke 12:20 - Jesus calls that man a
fool)

Metonymy - "other name“

e.g., the White House said = it really means the administration
1. Cause stands for effect & vise versa
Mark 9:17 A mute spirit = demon caused muteness
2. Subject stands for associated idea or circumstance
Psalm 23:5 table = provision full cup = abundance
3. Sign spoken of stands for thing signified
Gen 49:10 scepter = kingship / Judah = Judah’s descendant(s)

Synecdoche - Part for whole or vise versa

John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to
wash one another's feet.

Enigma - allegory in the form of a riddle

Judges 14:14 eater>eats strong>sweets; Rev 13:18 666

Type - metaphor using persons or objects to foreshadow

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of
Man be lifted up,

Symbol - represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially

a material object used to represent something invisible. Daniel’s vision the beast/horns =
kingdoms/kings

© 2016 Village Missions 74 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

This page intentionally left blank for notes

© 2016 Village Missions 75 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Parable - story of natural events illustrating truth

Matt 13:3-8 Parable of the sower

Antithesis- impressing truth through contrasting expressions

Matt 7:13-14 Narrow vs. Wide gate / path

Climax - impressing truth through an ascending order of rhetorical intensity

Rom 8:29-30 foreknown>predestined>called>justified>glorified

Proverb - poetic form consisting of two parallelisms:

1. a)synonymous – both saying the same thing
2. b)antithetical – one positive the other negative
3. c)synthetic - one leading into the other

Apothegm – short pithy, witty saying

Luke 4:23 You will surely say this proverb to Me, “Physician, heal yourself!”
Assuredly, I say to you, "No prophet is accepted in his own country.”

Acrostic - arrangement of words based on first letter

Ps 119 is an acrostic using the Hebrew alphabet starting with aleph beth gimel dalet etc.

Paradox - truths that appear to be mutually exclusive.

Matt 8:22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

© 2016 Village Missions 76 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Chiasm – A chiasm is a writing style that uses a unique repetition pattern for clarification
and/or emphasis
Correspondence
Parallelism
Alternation
Introverted
Complex
Comes from the Greek letter X (chi)

Galatians 2:16
knowing that a man is justified
not by the works of the law
but [ justified ] by faith in Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Christ Jesus,
that we might be justified by faith in Christ
and not by the works of the law;
for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Ellipsis - something is missing! You the reader must supply it. In the example of a Chiasm
there was a word missing in Galatians 2:16 that the attentive reader would automatically
supply. Some translations supply the Ellipsis and indicate it by putting the text in italics
but [ justified ] by faith in Jesus Christ
This is not adding to the Word of God! To not supply the Ellipsis would actually be taking
away from the Word of God!
BUT – Who supplies the Ellipsis?

© 2016 Village Missions 77 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 8, PART 4 – HERMENEUTICS: IDIOMATIC USAGE

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Idiomatic usage
“Hebraisms” and Greek idioms

Things to note when studying scripture:

“Hebraisms” and Greek idioms

Idioms are sayings where the words do not convey their usual meaning:
“Step on it”
“Get the lead out”’
“Shake a leg”

These all mean hurry, but cannot be taken literally.

Knowing the idiom is essential to understanding the meaning.

Those who are ignorant of Hebrew and Greek idioms make many mistakes trying to
understand what the Bible is saying!

Identify multiple names for the same person place or thing

Identify multiple persons, places or things with the same name

Note lists enumerated or otherwise

Note repeated words or phrases

© 2016 Village Missions 78 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

TEST: FIGURE OF SPEECH QUIZ

Using the definition of Figures of Speech, identify, the figures of speech used by Jesus in
Matthew 7.

FIGURES OF SPEECH Quiz - indicate verse(s) from Matthew 7 for each:

Verse: Figure:

Acrostic

Antithesis

Antithetical Proverb

Apostrophe

Climax

Hyperbole

Interrogation

Irony

Metaphor

Parable

Simile

Synecdoche

Synthetic Proverb

Extra credit: Chiasm ______________ ; Ellipsis________________

© 2016 Village Missions 79 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Book to Study
“Figures of Speech in the Bible Explained and Illustrated” by Ethelbert Bullinger
ISBN-13: 978-1614271949

Bullinger sets out 217 distinct figures of speech present in Scripture. He gives for each the
pronunciation and etymology of its name, and then a number of passages of Scripture in
which it appears, accompanied by a full explanation.

© 2016 Village Missions 80 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 9 - HERMENEUTICS: RULES OF INTERPRETATION

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

The fundamental principle of hermeneutics

Seven rules of hermeneutics

The FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE in Biblical Interpretation

Scripture is its own best interpreter/commentator
"Comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual Things" - 1 Cor 2:13

Linear hermeneutic not circular.

SEVEN RULES OF HERMENEUTICS

1. TAKE THE WORDS IN THEIR USUAL AND ORDINARY SENSE

2. TAKE THE WORDS IN THE SENSE THAT THE WRITER NORMALLY USED THEM

3. TAKE THE WORDS IN THE SENSE THAT THE PHRASE INDICATES also called the "SHORT
CONTEXT"
Examples of context-sensitive words:

The word "Faith" system of belief or act of trusting

The word "Salvation" from disease or from sin
The word "Grace" free, unmerited favor or God-given gift / ability / ministry
The word "Flesh" meat, tissue or sin nature
The word "Blood" red, viscose liquid or life
Example: the Greek word Koinonia/Koinonos

© 2016 Village Missions 81 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Communion

Partake

Participation

Partnership

Fellowship

Benevolence

Contribution

Distribution(OKJV) / Sharing

Communication / Sharing

Communicating / Sharing

Partakers

Companions

Partner(s)

© 2016 Village Missions 82 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

4. TAKE THE WORDS IN CONTEXT also called the "LONG CONTEXT"

Example: the word "mystery” Eph 3:3

How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written
already)

The whole passage from Ephesians 1-3 (specifically 1:9 to 3:12) explains what is meant
by the word ‘mystery’ and we understand that it was something that had been unknown,
but was now being made known – not ‘mysterious’ – Not mystery religion

5. CONSIDER THE OBJECT OR DESIGN OF THE PASSAGE

a) general purpose of the writer - stated or unstated

b) specific purpose - stated or unstated

what is the point of view?

For example John, in his gospel toward the end, says,

“and truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not
written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30-31

6. CONSULT PARALLEL PASSAGES

a) Quotes: Where Scripture quotes Scripture NT<OT

b) Exact parallels: Less specific than a quote but directly addressing the same
subject
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge / Nave’s Topical Bible

c) Inexact or incomplete parallels: Where the subject is addressed elsewhere

indirectly or even antithetically.

© 2016 Village Missions 83 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

7. RECOGNIZE PARALLEL EXCLUSION

a) Any Bible doctrine is a doctrine of the whole Bible
Plenary Inspiration gives us this ‘negative’ rule

b) Note any lack of parallel passages in the rest of Scripture

Such lack would advise extreme caution
Remember the fundamental principle:
The Bible is its own best Interpreter/Commentator

c) ‘Proof Texting’ is not valid – Do not take a single verse and attempt to use it to
validate a peculiar doctrine or teaching!

© 2016 Village Missions 84 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

TEST: HERMENEUTICS

All tests and quizzes are open book and open notes. Rote memorization for a test is soon
forgotten. The idea is to learn how to use available resources.

Give four reasons why Hermeneutics is necessary.

Give three necessary requirements of the Biblical interpreter.

List two things we must avoid as interpreters of the Bible.

© 2016 Village Missions 85 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

What tools and/or special knowledge is required? Name one of each.

List six of the twelve questions to answer before interpretation begins.

What is THE fundamental principle in Biblical interpretation?

© 2016 Village Missions 86 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Give the name and explain three figures of speech used in the Bible.

List and explain the seven rules of Hermeneutics below:

© 2016 Village Missions 87 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 10, PART 1 – TYPOLOGY

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Typology (definition)
The relationship between OT & NT typology
The relationship between the type and antitype
Scriptural foundation for typology

Explore relationship between OT & NT typology

From a Scriptural perspective
Fundamental Principle of Hermeneutics: Bible is its own best Interpreter / Commentator

Definition of Typology: a type is an Old Testament person, place, thing, or occurrence that
prefigures a person, place, thing, or occurrence found in the New Testament called the
antitype.

acronym PPTO

an OT example is a type
the prefix anti in this case means ‘instead of’ rather than ‘against’

Scriptural Foundation for Typology

I Cor 10:6-11 EXAMPLES - TUPOS (too-pas) a die struck to leave an imprint.

Paul begins and ends this passage with the tupos translated examples.
In between he gives four examples from the OT of God’s people suffering judgment because
of sin.

Hebrews is the NT book of Typology.

Heb. 8:5 EXAMPLE/COPY - hupodeigma (hoop-od'-igue-mah) an exhibit for imitation or

warning. SHADOW - SKIA (skee'-ah) a shadow. PATTERN - TUPOS as above.

A type is a example, a copy, a shadow, a pattern.

It is not the important thing, it is pointing to the important thing:
the anti-type

© 2016 Village Missions 88 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Heb 9:9 FIGURE/ILLUSTRATION - PARABOLE (para-bo-lay) a simulation.

Heb 10:1 SHADOW - SKIA (skee-ah) as above.

Col 2:17 SHADOW - SKIA as above.

Luke 24:27; 44 - John 5:39 the Bible is CRISTO-CENTRIC

What did Jesus think of Typology?

Did Jesus teach using Typology?

Luke 24:27
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures
the things concerning Himself.

Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you,
that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and
the Psalms concerning Me."

John 5:39
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they
which testify of Me.

The Bible is Christocentric

The correct way to use the OT is to demonstrate Jesus.
He is the one casting the shadow!

Two varieties of Types

Strong Type:
Antithetical Type:

© 2016 Village Missions 89 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Types and Antitypes - Examples:

The Strong Type - Strong Similarity
Isaac Jesus
Promised Child Promised Child

Born Contrary to Nature Born Contrary to Nature

Heir to the Promise Heir to the Promise

Offered by Father Offered by Father

A Willing Sacrifice A Willing Sacrifice

Mount Moriah Mount Calvary

Restored to Father Restored to Father

The Antithetical Type - Sharp Contrast

Moses Jesus
Law Jn 1:17 Grace & Truth Jn 1:17-18

Fading Glory II Cor 3:7 Increasing Glory II Cor 3:6

People Ran from Him Ex 34:30 People Ran to Him Mark 9:15

Kills a Man Ex 2:12 Resurrects a Man John 11:43

Turns Water Blood Ex 7:20 Turns Water Wine Jn 2:1-10

Unable to Save Jer 15:1 Saves to the Uttermost Heb 7:25

Servant in the House Heb 3:5 Son over the House Heb 3:5-6

Law Broken in Hands Ex 32:19 Law Kept in Heart PS 40:8

Gave Earthly Bread Jn 6:31 Gave Heavenly Bread Jn 6:33

Prayed for a Leper Nu 12:15 Healed a Leper Matt 8:2-3

1st Passover Heb 11:28 Last Passover Lu 22:15

40 days on a Mountain Top and Was 40 days in the Desert and was Visited by
Visited by God Ex 34:28 the Devil Matt 4:2

© 2016 Village Missions 90 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

SESSION 10, PART 2 – TYPOLOGY

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Classifications of Types
Rules for Interpreting Types
Numerology

Classification of types:
PERSONS:

INSTITUTIONS:

OFFICES:

EVENTS:

OBJECTS:

ACTIONS:

© 2016 Village Missions 91 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

Interpreting Types

Numerology
Definition: The study of the spiritual significance of numbers
Danger:

Assignments: TAKE HOME MID-TERM AND COMPLETE STRONG TYPE

Take home Mid-Term Review (Test)

It is open book test that you can finish at home.

Complete The Strong Type of Joseph: find and record the NT fulfillment of Jesus

© 2016 Village Missions 92 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

TEST: MID-TERM REVIEW

Open book, open notes

24 Definitions for the 24 Fingers and Toes of the Son of Rapha:

1. General Revelation:

2. Special Revelation:

3. Special Inspiration:

4. Illumination:

5. Torah:

6. Pentateuch:

7. Apocrypha:

8. Pseudepigrapha:

9. Sopherim:

10. Papyrus:

11. Vellum:

12. Septuagint:

© 2016 Village Missions 93 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

13. Canon of Scripture:

14. Verbal Inspiration:

15. Plenary Inspiration:

16. Infallible:

17. Inerrant:

18. Immutable:

19. Hermeneutics:

20. Parallel Passage:

21. Parallel Exclusion:

22. Type:

23. Antitype:

24. Antithetical Type:

© 2016 Village Missions 94 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

14 Match ups for the 14 Generations from Abe to Dave to Bab to Babe:

1. Psalm 119
2. Matthew 13:52
3. 2 Timothy 2:4-6
4. 1 Corinthians 14:2-4
5. Revelation 20:5
6. Genesis 11:4
7. Romans 6:1
8. John 3:10
9. Luke 15:11-32
10. Ephesians 3:17-21
11. Proverbs 30:33
12. Judges 9:8-15
13. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15
14. Proverbs 12:21
15. Isaiah 40:13

Acrostic ______________________________

Antithesis ______________________________

Antithetical Proverb ______________________________

Apostrophe ______________________________

Climax ______________________________

Fable ______________________________

Hyperbole ______________________________

Interrogation ______________________________

Irony ______________________________

Metaphor ______________________________

Parable ______________________________

Simile ______________________________

Synecdoche ______________________________

Synthetic Proverb ______________________________

Ellipsis ______________________________

© 2016 Village Missions 95 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

12 Multiple Choice for the Twelve Princes of Ishmael:

1. John believes that God not only word of God. What is missing from Sue's
created the world but that He is still glowing testimony? The Bible is:
watching over it and reveals Himself to
mankind through the Bible. John is: A) inspired B) comprehensive
C) infallible D) inerrant
A) a nice guy B) an Atheist
C) a Deist D) a Theist
6. David Goldstein has a Torah, Nebi'im
2. When I go outside on a clear night and Kethubim. These are:
and look at the stars I am awestruck by
the vastness of God's creation. This is A) Law, Prophets and Writings
an example of: B) bagels, lox and cheese
C) the Septuagint
A) inspiration B) general revelation
C) special revelation D) worship

7. Phil told me that the major prophets

3. Bob read in the Bible that "the wages are different from the minor prophets.
of sin is death." This is an example of: He is:

A) illumination B) general revelation A) right because the minor prophets are

C) special revelation D) warning not as important as the major prophets
B) right because the major prophets
have more prophecies concerning
4. To study the original language of the messiah
Old Testament I would have to: C) wrong because God is no respecter of
persons
A) learn Greek B) learn Hebrew D) wrong because "major" and "minor"
C) move to Israel D) eat kosher refer to the length of book not to the
prophet
5. Sue said that she believes the Bible is
the most wonderful book imaginable and
while it might not be in step with modern 8. Theme and Scope are:
science that's okay because it was never
meant to be a science textbook anyway. A) oral hygiene products
She says it supplies her every need, has B) proofs of inspiration
never failed her and is in fact the very C) revelations
D) verbal & plenary

© 2016 Village Missions 96 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Bibliology, How to Study the Bible Student Guide

9. Carol's NIV has a note at the bottom 11. Gloria sees visions and hears God
of a page that says "oldest and best speak to her. Gloria listens to
manuscripts omit verses ..." Should everything God has to say and then
Carol investigate further? reads the Bible to find verses that
support her revelation. Gloria has:
A) yes; because oldest does not
necessarily mean the best. A) direct access to special revelation
B) yes but; many scholars agree with the B) experiential theology
Greek text translated by the NIV. C) Biblical theology
C) yes but; no major doctrine is in
dispute because of textual differences.
D) no; margin notes are inspired and 12. When Jesse found a contradiction in
should be accepted without question. the Bible he ignored it at first but it
began to bother him and he eventually
10. Jim says that the Bible contains the left the church because he couldn't trust
Word of God. What incorrect view of religion to be true. He should have:
inspiration does he have:
A) continued to ignore the difficulty
A) thematic insp. B) partial insp. B) bought a new Bible
C) incomplete insp. D) mechanical insp. C) explored it - not ignored it

10 True or False for the 10 Curtains of the Tabernacle:

T or F Jewish marriages were not consummated until the Rabbi filled out the papers.
T or F Jewish women enjoyed equal rights with the men.
T or F Cloak and tunic were different names for the same garment.
T or F The Jewish calendar had twenty eight days in each month.
T or F The Jewish day began at sundown.
T or F "Herod" was a family name.
T or F Jewish women are more likely to contract cervical cancer.
T or F The "Bundle of the Living" refers to the pouch that held food.
T or F The grape vine is a symbol of the nation Israel.
T or F Joseph walked while Mary rode the donkey.

© 2016 Village Missions 97 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

3 Fill in the Blank(s) for the 3 that bear Witness:

1. The ____ ______ is in the ___ ______ contained;

The ___________ is in the _________ explained.

2. The Bible is __________________________.

3. Scripture is its own __________________________.

1 Essay Question for the 1 True God:

Write out your doctrinal statement of faith concerning the Bible:

© 2016 Village Missions 98 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

The amazing Strong Type of Joseph is even more remarkable in that it is not mentioned
as a type in the New Testament. It was left for us to discover its marvelous fulfillment in
Jesus.

© 2016 Village Missions 99 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

ASSIGNMENT: STRONG TYPE OF JOSEPH - FIND THE FULFILLMENT

CONCERNING JESUS

The Strong Type Of Joseph

Supply Scripture:
COMPARE - Genesis & Gospels Joseph Jesus

Shepherd 37:2

Beloved Son 37:3

Father/Mother Noted His Words 37:11

Did His Father's Will 37:13

Sent to Brethren 37:14

Sought Out His Brethren 37:16

Hated by Brethren 37:4

Plotted Against By His Brethren 37:18

A Timid Attempt to Deliver Him 37:21-30

Stripped of His Robe 37:23

Held Captive 37:24

Tormentors Sat & Watched 37:25

Jude Sold Him 37:26

Sold for Pieces of Silver 37:28

Gentiles Carried Him Away 37:28

A Faithful Servant 39:1-2

Tempted without Sin 39:8-9

Suffered Though Innocent 37--41

Identified w/ Two Condemned Men 40:2-4

Saved One of Them 40:5-22

All Astonished at His Wisdom 41:39

All Had to Bow to His Authority 41:43

Savior of the World in his 30’s!!! 41:46-57

Brothers Blessed for His Sake 45:16-23

Gentile Bride 41:50

Forgiving Spirit 50:14-21

© 2016 Village Missions 100 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 11, PART 1 - REVIEW OF JOSEPH AND JESUS WORKSHEET

At the end of this session, you will have completed the following:

A review of the Jesus and Joseph worksheet.

Use your worksheet on the previous page and follow along with the video to check your
answers.

The New Testament writers used the Old Testament typology to demonstrate that Jesus
is the Christ.

What do you think of the fact that none of the New Testament writers mentioned the
strong type of Joseph?

Why didn’t they use such a detailed OT type to demonstrate the amazing fulfillment in
Jesus?

This a great ‘proof’ that the Holy Spirit of God is the author of the Bible who guides His
servants in selecting narratives and facts to include in the Inspired Special Revelation.

The glaring omission by the New Testament writers of the strong type of Joseph proves
to me beyond a shadow of doubt that:

1) The details of the story of Jesus were not contrived or Joseph would have been surely
have been mentioned

2) Jesus’ life is the fulfillment of something written thousands of years before

3) God the Holy Spirit does guide His revelation

© 2016 Village Missions 101 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 11, PART 2 - REVIEW OF MID-TERM

At the end of this session, you will have completed the following:

A review of the Mid-Term test

Explain the concepts and terms from the previous sessions.

24 Definitions for the 24 Fingers and Toes of the Son of Rapha:

2 Samuel 21:20 Son of Rapha had 6 fingers & toes

1. General Revelation: what may be known by all - nature, history, conscience

2. Special Revelation: reveal to some - Spoken Word, Written Word, Walking Word
3. Special Inspiration: process God caused Special Revelation communicated to man
4. Illumination: Holy Spirit makes written Word known to believers’ hearts
5. Torah: first five books of Hebrew Scripture
6. Pentateuch: same as Torah
7. Apocrypha: "hidden," Intertestamental, non-canonical, Jewish history, Catholic Bible
8. Pseudepigrapha: "false signature," non-canonical, Catholics call "apocrypha”
9. Sopherim: "counters," scribes who copied scripture manuscripts
10. Papyrus: writing material made from papyrus reed, not very durable
11. Vellum: writing material from animal skins, durable, also called parchment
12. Septuagint: Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures, LXX
13. Canon of Scripture: books of OT & NT measuring up to standard of Scripture, reed
14. Verbal Inspiration: each word of the original text is inspired
15. Plenary Inspiration: whole of Scripture inspired, both in substance and in structure
16. Infallible: cannot fail
17. Inerrant: without error
18. Immutable: cannot change
19. Hermeneutics: Science of Interpretation, especially Biblical, "make it clear & give the
meaning"
20. Parallel Passage: other Scripture passages that speak on same subject
21. Parallel Exclusion: absence of target text in other P.P. ~ absence target text in rest
of Bible
22. Type: OT person, place, thing, or occurrence prefigures P.P.T.O. in the NT
23. Antitype: P.P.T.O. prefigured, the real thing, more important than the type
24. Antithetical Type: a contrasting type

© 2016 Village Missions 102 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

14 Match Ups for the 14 Generations

From Abe to Dave to Bab to Babe:
Matthew 1:17 genealogy of Jesus divided into 3 groups of 14 generations

1. Psalm 119 Acrostic

2. Matthew 13:52 Simile
3. 2 Timothy 2:4-6 Metaphor
4. 1 Corinthians 14:2-4 Antithesis
5. Revelation 20:5 Apostrophe
6. Genesis 11:4 Hyperbole
7. Romans 6:1 Interrogation
8. John 3:10 Irony
9. Luke 15:11-32 Parable
10. Ephesians 3:17-21 Climax
11. Proverbs 30:33 Synthetic Proverb
12. Judges 9:8-15 Fable
13. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 Synecdoche
14. Proverbs 12:21 Antithetical Proverb
15. Isaiah 40:13 Ellipsis

12 Multiple Choice for the Twelve Princes of Ishmael:

Genesis 25:12-17 Genealogy of Abraham’s first son Ishmael – verse 16 he had 12 sons
called 12 princes each with his own tribe.

1. John believes that God not only created the world but that he is still watching over it
and reveals Himself to mankind through the Bible. John is:
A) a nice guy B) an Atheist
C) a Deist D) a Theist

2. When I go outside on a clear night and look at the stars I am awestruck by the
vastness of God's creation. This is an example of:
A) inspiration B) general revelation
C) special revelation D) worship

3. Bob read in the Bible that "the wages of sin is death." This is an example of:
A) illumination B) general revelation
C) special revelation D) warning
4. To study the original language of the Old Testament I would have to:
A) learn Greek B) learn Hebrew
C) move to Israel D) eat kosher

© 2016 Village Missions 103 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

5. Sue said that she believes the Bible is the most wonderful book imaginable and while it
might not be in step with modern science that's okay because it was never meant to be a
science textbook anyway. She says it supplies her every need, has never failed her and
is in fact the very word of God. What is missing from Sue's glowing testimony? The
Bible is:
A) inspired B) comprehensive
C) infallible D) inerrant

6. David Goldstein has a Torah, Nebi'im and Kethubim. These are:

A) Law, Prophets and Writings
B) bagels, lox and cheese
C) the Septuagint

7. Phil told me that the major prophets are different from the minor prophets. He is:
A) right because the minor prophets are not as important as the major prophets
B) right because the major prophets have more prophecies concerning messiah
C) wrong because God is no respecter of persons
D) wrong because "major" and "minor" refer to the length of book not to the prophet

8. Theme and Scope are:

A) oral hygiene products
B) proofs of inspiration
C) revelations
D) verbal & plenary

9. Carol's NIV has a note at the bottom of a page that says "oldest and best manuscripts
omit verses ..." Should investigate further?

A) yes; because oldest does not necessarily mean the best.

B) yes but; many scholars agree with the Greek text translated by the NIV.
C) yes but; no major doctrine is in dispute because of textual differences.
D) no; margin notes are inspired and should be accepted without question.

10. Jim says that the Bible contains the Word of God. What incorrect view of inspiration
does he have:
A) Thematic Insp. B) Partial Insp.
C) Incomplete Insp. D) Mechanical Insp.

© 2016 Village Missions 104 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

11. Gloria sees visions and hears God speak to her. Gloria listens to everything God has
to say and then reads the Bible to find verses that support her revelation. Gloria has:
A) direct access to special revelation
B) experiential theology
C) Biblical theology

12. When Jesse found a contradiction in the Bible he ignored it at first but it began to
bother him and he eventually left the church because he couldn't trust religion to be true.
He should have:
A) continued to ignore the difficulty
B) bought a new Bible
C) explored it - not ignored it

© 2016 Village Missions 105 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

10 True or False Questions

10 Curtains of the Tabernacle: Exodus 26:1, 36:8
Ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet embroidered with
cherubim
42’ long x 6’ wide

1. Jewish marriages were not consummated until the Rabbi filled out the papers. False
2. Jewish women enjoyed equal rights with the men. False
3. Cloak and tunic were different names for the same garment. False
4. The Jewish calendar had twenty eight days in each month. True
5. The Jewish day began at sundown. True
6. "Herod" was a family name. True
7. Jewish women are more likely to contract cervical cancer. False
8. The "Bundle of the Living" refers to the pouch that held food. True
9. The grape vine is a symbol of the nation Israel. True
10. Joseph walked while Mary rode the donkey. False

3 Fill in the Blank(s)

3 that bear Witness:
1 John 5:7-8

1. The NEW is in the OLD contained; The OLD is in the NEW explained.
2. The Bible is Christocentric .
3. Scripture is its own Best Interpreter.

1 Essay Question for the 1 True God: John 17

Should contain these elements:
1. Inspiration: verbal, plenary, original languages
2. Infallible, Inerrant, Immutable
3. Authority for faith and practice

© 2016 Village Missions 106 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 12, PART 1 - BIBLE STUDY TOOLS

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Bible Study Tools

Five-Step Bible Study Methods

Bible Study Tools

Bible
“Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance”
Lexical Aids: “Vine’s Expository Dictionary”, “Zodhiates Word Study” OT/NT, Dictionary
Bible Dictionaries: Unger’s
Bible Atlas: Baker’s

Computer-Aided Bible Study

Bible Study Software
e-sword.net is the number one Bible Software and it is FREE!
http://www.e-sword.net/ For your desktop/laptop PC
http://mysword.info/ For the Android
http://www.e-sword.net/ipad/ For your iPad

Online Bible Study Tools

http://biblehub.com/ This site has multiple Bible study tools.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/ This site offers word studies.

Check the vmcontenders.org website for the latest Bible study tools on the web.
You will find a complete list at:
http://www.vmcontenders.org/biblestudytools.html

eSword http://live.e-sword.net/app/
Whether you're looking for good free Bible software program or you've decided to invest
in a comprehensive digital study library, this collection is sure to offer the option that's
just right for your budget and your Bible study needs.

© 2016 Village Missions 107 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

e-Sword (Windows)
Starting with the best free Bible software program, e-Sword gives you more than you
might expect from a free program, including several free add-on Bible versions,
dictionaries and commentaries. It's easy to use with tutorials, manuals and training
demos all provided for free on the e-Sword Website. An Android version of e-Sword is
also available for free from your phone’s application store.

BibleHub.com

Bibleletterbible.com

BibleGateway.com
BibleGateway.com is my absolute favorite online Bible search tool! It's completely user
friendly and easy to navigate. You can search by passage (verse), keyword or topic. You
© 2016 Village Missions 108 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

can choose multiple versions of the Bible, including many of the contemporary
translations and paraphrases, along with several foreign language translations. The site
also offers a wealth of other Bible study resources such as an audio Bible, commentaries,
e-books, dictionaries and study tools.

Looking Up Words
Make sure you use some of the class time to discuss how to look up a Hebrew or Greek
along with an English word using Strong's Concordance.

The book that would allow you to look up usage of a particular Hebrew or Green word is
still called a concordance but rather than being an English word (or Spanish or any other
language) it would be called a Hebrew Concordance or a Greek Concordance.

Most editions of the book version of Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the KJV include
a Hebrew and a Greek Concordance.

Many online or Computer based electronic Bible Study programs also allow you to do a
search on the Hebrew and/or Greek words if you are searching a Bible version that
includes the Strong's numbers. For example, using e-Sword, select the KJV+ (which
includes Strong's numbers) then in the search window type g2842 for instances of
koinonia used in the New Testament.
Note that with e-Sword you can choose to search Strong's numbers with any Bible
version that has the + symbol such as LXX+ (Septuagint) GNT-WH+
(Westcott/Hort Greek New Testament) or even the HOT+ (Hebrew Old Testament
-Tanakh).

Searching on just one number will only give you instances of that particular root word so
you might want to also search on related roots like g2843 and g2844 for instance.

Another thing to keep in mind, is that when you look a word up in Strong's you are only
seeing the 'root' word. That is why we also want you to dig into the TVM
Tense/Voice/Mood of the word. When you actually look at the Hebrew or Greek
manuscript the word may appear differently that in the Strong's entry for that word. This
is because of the TVM.

The assignment for this session now appears at the end of Session 12, Part 2.
This might not match information in the video.

© 2016 Village Missions 109 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 12, PART 2 – FIVE-STEP BIBLE STUDY METHOD: EXEGESIS

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

The meaning of clear exegesis

The critical steps in the examination of Scripture in the original language

Five-Step Bible Study Method

1. Word Study ~ Exegesis
2. Circumstantial Study
3. Biographical Study
4. Topical Study
5. Paraphrase

EXEGESIS
Critical examination of a text -
Studying the words in the original language.

EXEGESIS
Answers the question: “What does it say?”
Necessary because of Verbal Inspiration

© 2016 Village Missions 110 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

EXEGESIS
Verbal inspiration applies to original languages:
Hebrew (OT) and Koine Greek (NT)
Differ from English in grammar & structure

EXEGESIS
Hermeneutics answers the question: “What does it mean?”
EXEGESIS comes before HERMENEUTICS

Steps to Clear Exegesis:

1. Select a limit and read the selected passage several times.
2. Look up the Strong’s definition for each word in the passage being studied and
write down noteworthy definitions. Computer Aided Bible Study (notes page)
3. Read the text in several different translations.
4. Look up the lexical definition for noteworthy word in the passage being studied
and write down definitions. Use VINES, Robertson’s Word Pictures (RWP), or
online word study tools
5. Examine the morphology of each word of the passage and write down
anything of note.
6. Write out the passage adding any alternate or noteworthy definitions to fill out
the meaning in English (similar to the Amplified addition.)

ASSIGNMENT: EXEGESIS

The assignment for this session now appears at the end of Session 12, Part 2.
This might not match information in the video.

Select a limit and read the selected passage several times.

The passage assigned is: 1 John 1:1-2:2

Follow the 5 steps Exegesis using:

Books, computer software or online tools

Write out the passage, adding any alternate or noteworthy definitions

© 2016 Village Missions 111 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 13 - EXEGESIS REVIEW AND CIRCUMSTANTIAL STUDY

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Exegesis
How to do a Circumstantial Study

2 Timothy 3:16 ~ Koine Greek

πᾶς γραφὴ θεόπνευστος καὶ ὠφέλιμος πρὸς διδασκαλία

πρὸς ἐλεγμόν πρὸς ἐπανόρθωσις πρὸς παιδεία τὴν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ

πᾶς γραφὴ θεόπνευστος - Greek

pas graphe theopneustos - Transliteration
pahs grahFEY theAHpneustahs - Pronunciation
every scripture God breathed - English

καὶ ὠφέλιμος πρὸς διδασκαλία

kai ophelimos pros didaskalia
ki oFELLeemos prahs deedaskaLEEah
and helpful for doctrine

πρὸς ἐλεγμόν
pros elegchos
prahs ellieKHASS
for reproof

πρὸς ἐπανόρθωσις
pros epanorthosis
prahs eppanORthosis
for correcting

© 2016 Village Missions 112 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

πρὸς παιδεία
pros paideia
prahs pieDIEah
for training

τὴν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ
ten en dikaiosune
tehn ehn deekiahSOONeh
in righteousness

Five-Step Bible Study Method

1. Word Study ~ Exegesis
2. Circumstantial Study
3. Biographical Study
4. Topical Study
5. Paraphrase

EXEGESIS
Critical examination of a text -
Studying the words in the original language.

EXEGESIS
Answers the question “What does it say?”
Necessary because of Verbal Inspiration

EXEGESIS
Verbal inspiration applies to original languages:
Hebrew (OT) and Koine Greek (NT)
Differ from English in grammar & structure

EXEGESIS
Hermeneutics answers the question “What does it mean?”
EXEGESIS comes before HERMENEUTICS

EXEGESIS 1 John 1:1-2:2

© 2016 Village Missions 113 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

1 John 1-2:2 New King James Version (NKJV)

What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our
eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of
life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that
eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have
seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our
fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to
you that your joy may be full.

Fellowship with Him and One Another

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light
and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses
us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is
not in us.

2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins,
we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the
propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Steps to Clear Exegesis:

1. Select a limit and read the selected passage several times.
2. Look up the Strong’s definition for each word in the passage being studied
and write down noteworthy definitions. Computer Aided Bible Study (notes
page)
3. Read the text in several different translations.
4. Look up the lexical definition for noteworthy word in the passage being
studied and write down definitions. Use VINES, Robertson’s Word Pictures
(RWP), or online word study tools
5. Examine the morphology of each word of the passage and write down
anything of note.
6. Write out the passage, adding any alternate or noteworthy definitions to fill
out the meaning in English (similar to the Amplified addition.)

© 2016 Village Missions 114 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Five-Step Bible Study Method

1. Word Study ~ Exegesis
2. Circumstantial Study
3. Biographical Study
4. Topical Study
5. Paraphrase

CIRCUMSTANTIAL STUDY
Answer the Twelve INTERNAL Questions:
1. Who is speaking?

2. Who is being spoken to?

3. What is the occasion?

4. What is the intent of the speaker?

5. What is the response of those spoken to?

6. When is this occurring?

7. Where is this occurring?

© 2016 Village Missions 115 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

8. Where does this appear in Scripture?

9. Are there any parallel passages?

10. Are there any significant numbers?

11. Are there any repeated phrases, words or themes?

12. How is the speaker speaking: plainly or figures of speech?

© 2016 Village Missions 116 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Additional questions about the EXTERNAL circumstances:

1. What was the Geographical situation?

2. What was the Cultural situation?

3. What was the Political situation?

4. What was the Ecclesiastical situation?

5. What was the Economic situation?

6. What was the Writer’s situation?

Resources for the EXTERNAL Questions:

Bible: Ephesians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Acts 19 & 20:16-38
Bible Dictionaries: Hard copy (Unger's) or digital/online
Internet Searches: Setting of 1 John

© 2016 Village Missions 117 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

ASSIGNMENT: CIRCUMSTANTIAL STUDY WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT

Perform a circumstantial study on 1 John to include Ephesians.

This includes the writer's residence and Ephesians (the writer's home church) also secular
events on the timeline.

Answer the 12 internal questions.

1. Who is speaking?

2. Who is being spoken to?

3. What is the occasion?

4. What is the intent of the speaker?

5. What is the response of those spoken to?

© 2016 Village Missions 118 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

6. When is this occurring?

7. Where is this occurring?

8. Where does this appear in Scripture?

9. Are there any parallel passages?

10. Are there any significant numbers?

11. Are there any repeated: Phrases, Words or Themes?

12. How is the speaker speaking: plainly or figures of speech?

© 2016 Village Missions 119 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Answer the 6 external questions

1. What was the Geographical situation?

2. What was the Cultural situation?

3. What was the Political situation?

4. What was the Ecclesiastical situation?

5. What was the Economic situation?

6. What was the Writer’s situation?

© 2016 Village Missions 120 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 14 - CIRCUMSTANTIAL REVIEW / BIOGRAPHICAL STUDY

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Circumstantial Study Review

How to do a Biographical Study

Five-Step Bible Study Method

1. Word Study ~ Exegesis
2. Circumstantial Study
3. Biographical Study
4. Topical Study
5. Paraphrase

© 2016 Village Missions 121 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

CIRCUMSTANTIAL STUDY
Answer Twelve INTERNAL Questions
Answer Six EXTERNAL Questions

1. Who is speaking? Apostle John

2. Who is being spoken to? Ephesians / all believers
3. What is the occasion? Antichrist / left 1st love
4. What is the intent of the speaker? Fellowship
5. What is the response of those spoken to? We Don’t Know
6. When is this occurring? Now
7. Where is this occurring? Whole World
8. Where does this appear in Scripture? NT near End
9. Are there any parallel passages? Yes: Jn, 2Th2, Rev
10. Are there any significant numbers? (3) 1 Jn 5:7-8
11. Are there any repeated phrases, words or themes? Light, Darkness, Love, Sin,
Forgiveness, Fellowship
12. How is the speaker speaking: plainly or figures of speech? Both: light/darkness are
figurative

Additional questions about the EXTERNAL circumstances:

1. What was the Geographical situation? Ephesus
2. What was the Cultural situation? Gnosticism
3. What was the Political situation? Persecution
4. What was the Ecclesiastical situation? Lost 1st Love
5. What was the Economic situation? Wealth
6. What was the Writer’s situation? Old Age/End

BIOGRAPHICAL STUDY
• Author of passage under study
• Others named in passage under study
• Brings personal context to study
• Allows application of Hermeneutics 2nd rule: “the writer’s context”

© 2016 Village Missions 122 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

ASSIGNMENT: BIOGRAPHICAL STUDY

List everyone identified in the passage.

Write a paper describing the change that took place in John.

There is a difference between young John the disciple and aged Apostle John. How are
we going to find out the difference?

Compare the three Synoptic gospels with the Gospel of John and how he writes about
himself.

© 2016 Village Missions 123 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 15 - BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW / TOPICAL STUDY

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Biographical Study Review

How to do a Topical Study

Five-Step Bible Study Method

1. Word Study ~ Exegesis
2. Circumstantial Study
3. Biographical Study
4. Topical Study
5. Paraphrase

© 2016 Village Missions 124 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Study the author of the passage

Study others named in the passage
To bring a personal context to study, and to allow application of the 2nd rule of
hermeneutics.
The writer’s context

Part 1 List everyone identified in the passage.

God the Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Antichrist, Devil, Cain, Able [Cain’s brother], false
prophets/spirits

Part 2 Write a paper describing the change that took place in John.

Young John the disciple > Aged Apostle John

Three Synoptics: Matthew, Mark and Luke
• Brash and youthful, brother of James, Son of Thunder
• Inner circle along with James & Peter
• Close affinity to Peter; more so than James or even Jesus

Young John the disciple > Aged Apostle John

Gospel of John
• Written on purpose with purpose
• Presents Jesus as God the Son yet the Son of Man
• Disciple Jesus loved ~ Ego or Revelation?

Young John the disciple > Aged Apostle John

Insight:
• John now realizes who Jesus was...not just a great prophet
• John now realizes what he witnessed
• John now realizes what that Jesus Love him
• John now has fellowship w/ Jesus & the Father & the Spirit

Young John the disciple > Aged Apostle John

Further Insight:
• Now after all the rest are gone: Peter, James, the rest of the Apostles, Mary the
mother of Jesus…all gone
• But he has fellowship with the one Who said, I will never leave you nor forsake
you – look, I’m with you until the very end!
• FELLOWSHIP with the Father through Jesus the Son in the Holy Spirit has become
John’s message...and he wrote 1 John to share with us that message of
Fellowship!
© 2016 Village Missions 125 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Five-Step Bible Study Method

1. Word Study ~ Exegesis
2. Circumstantial Study
3. Biographical Study
4. Topical Study
5. Paraphrase

Plenary Inspiration mandates Topical Studies

As does the fundamental principle of hermeneutics

Remember:
Any doctrine of the Bible is a doctrine of the whole Bible ~ not just one or two verses.

© 2016 Village Missions 126 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

With Topical Studies we search all of Scripture to let the Bible be its own best
commentator Tools for Topical Studies

Two Steps to Topical Studies

1. Find the topics in the passage and write them down
• Note Main Theme of passage
• Expressed purpose of the writer
• Inferred/deduced purpose of the writer
• Note Key Words of passage
• Repeated words/concepts
• Emphasized words/concepts
2. Study each of the topics found in the passage
• Outline the scope of each topic separately
• Identify sub-topics and write them down
• Study one sub-topic at a time
• Repeat for all sub-topics of each topic
• Study antithetical topics

Step 1 Find the topic suggested by the passage

Step 2 Find the sub-topic found in the passage

Tools for Topical Studies

Concordances
1. Strong’s Exhaustive
2. Young’s Analytical

Topical Bibles
1. Nave’s
2. Thompson’s Chained Reference

Example Topic
κοινός – common (unholy)
κοινόω – make common (defile)
κοινωνία – fellowship
κοινωνέω – to share with others
κοινωνικός – willing to give
κοινωνός – Companion

© 2016 Village Missions 127 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Topic mapped out as heavenly, earthly, eternal, temporal, spiritual or physical

Sub topics:
Father/Son/Holy Spirit
God/Man
Believers/Unbelievers
Believers/Works of Darkness

ASSIGNMENT: STUDY THE FELLOWSHIP IN 1 JOHN 1:1-2:2

Fellowship
Communion
Participation

1. Study the topic κοινωνία

2. Identity the sub-topic you want to study

3. Study it exhaustively from Genesis to Revelation

4. Take notes while you are doing your study

5. Write a paper expressing what you have learned

6. Use a Concordance or Nave’s Topical Bible or any other resource you need.

© 2016 Village Missions 128 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

SESSION 16 - TOPICAL STUDIES REVIEW / PARAPHRASE / FINAL TEST

At the end of this session, you will be able to explain the following:

Topical Studies Review

Seven Fundamental Rules of Hermeneutics
How to Paraphrase Scripture
Final Test Assigned

Five-Step Bible Study Method

1. Word Study ~ Exegesis
2. Circumstantial Study
3. Biographical Study
4. Topical Study
5. Paraphrase

© 2016 Village Missions 129 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Plenary Inspiration mandates topical studies

As does the Fundamental Principle of Hermeneutics

Remember:
Any doctrine of the Bible is a doctrine of the whole Bible ~ not just one or two verses.
With topical studies we search all of Scripture to let the Bible be its own best
commentator.

Steps to Topical Studies

Find the Topics in the passage and write them down

Note main theme of passage

Expressed purpose of the writer

Inferred/deduced purpose of the writer

Note key words of passage

Repeated words/concepts

Emphasized words/concepts

A “Word Cloud” is a visual representation of the frequency of word usage. What do you
think a Word Cloud of 1 John 1:1-2:2 would look like? I used www.wordle.net and
entered the NKLV English text of 1 John 1:1-2:2 and this is the Word Cloud that was
generated.

© 2016 Village Missions 130 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Note main theme of passage: κοινωνία

Expressed purpose of the writer : κοινωνία

Inferred/deduced purpose of the writer : κοινωνία

Note key words of passage: κοινωνία

Repeated words/concepts: κοινωνία
Emphasized words/concepts: κοινωνία

© 2016 Village Missions 131 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

G2842 κοινωνία and related words:

G2839 - G2844
κοινός – koiNAHs
κοινόω – koiNAHoh
κοινωνία - koinoNEEah
κοινωνέω – koinoNAYoh
κοινωνικός – koinoneeKAHs
κοινωνός – koinoNAHs

G2842 κοινωνία and related words:

G2839 - G2844
κοινός – common (unholy)
κοινόω – make common (defile)
κοινωνία – fellowship
κοινωνέω – to share with others
κοινωνικός – willing to give
κοινωνός – Companion

I John 1:,3,6,7 Fellowship

1 Cor 1:9 Fellowship
2 Cor 13:14 Communion
1 Cor 10:20-21 Partake
2 Cor 6:14 Participation
2 Cor 8:23 Partnership
2 Cor 8:4 Benevolence
Rom 15:26 Contribution

2 Cor 9:13; 1 Tim 6:18; Heb 13:16 Sharing

Philemon 1:6 Communicating your faith
Matt 23:30; 2 Cor 1:7; 1 Pet 5:1; 2 Pet 1:4 Partakers
Heb 10:33 Companions
Luke 5:10; Philemon 1:17 Partner(s)
The Short context (how the word is being used) is the reason why this same Greek word
needs many different English words to translate it ‘in context’.

© 2016 Village Missions 132 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Fellowship with God seems to be the ultimate message of 1 John: To Know God >Love
God > Walk with Him in the Light > To Walk with Him in the Light >Fellowship with Him

Ultimately this is the message of the whole Bible:

The fellowship that God created us to have with Him
The fellowship that was lost in the Garden of Eden
The fellowship that Jesus came to restore - reconcile
The fellowship that we now experience in the Spirit
Is the fellowship that will ultimately be fully restored
Revelation 22:4 And they shall see His face…

Five-Step Bible Study Method

1. Word Study ~ Exegesis
2. Circumstantial Study
3. Biographical Study
4. Topical Study
5. Paraphrase

© 2016 Village Missions 133 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Fundamental Principle: The Bible is its own best Interpreter / Commentator

Seven Rules of Hermeneutics:

1. Words in usual & ordinary sense (then & there)
2. Writer’s context (how writer used a word/phrase)
3. Short context (how the word is being used in place)
4. Long context (the word explained by the passage)
5. Purpose of passage (stated or unstated)
6. Parallel passages (exact quotes>similar ideas)
7. Note parallel exclusions (no apparent parallel)

Paraphrase
1. A restatement of a text in another form to clarify meaning
2. A restatement of a text in other words as a studying or teaching device

Review of Translation - Formal Equivalence aka Word for Word

"Formal Equivalence"
• translator attempts to render the exact words of the original language into the
receptor language [parent>daughter]
• aka “form for form” or “word for word”
• Requires interpretation of the short context
• Does not attempt to resolve figures of speech nor take into account idiomatic usage

“Dynamic Equivalence"
• reproduction in a receptor language of the closest natural equivalent of the source
language message
• aka “thought for thought”
• first in terms of meaning second in terms of style
• translation aims to have the same dynamic impact upon modern readers as the
original had upon its audience

© 2016 Village Missions 134 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Process of Paraphrasing
• Re-phrase the passage to bring out the dynamic equivalence – this is NOT a
translation
• Involves interpretation - must be supported by hermeneutics
• Review and reassessment will be necessary
• Provides the basis for Biblical teaching and preaching

Nehemiah 8:8 ”they read distinctly, gave the sense and helped the people understand
the meaning”

ASSIGNMENT: PARAPHRASE 1 JOHN 1:1-2:2

Paraphrase 1 John 1:1-2:2

Start work on the paraphrase assignment in class in small groups and then complete the
paraphrase individually outside of class. A follow up session should be devoted to sharing
the results of this paraphrase assignment.

For those using these videos as a distance learner, please share your completed
paraphrase assignment with another trusted individual for assessment and critique.

© 2016 Village Missions 135 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version 5.2
TEST: FINAL EXAM

I. HOW WE GOT OUR BIBLE

Quote: II Timothy 3:16-17 & II Peter 1:20-21 (use back of page)

Define:

1. General Revelation:

2. Special Revelation:

3. General Inspiration:

4. Special Inspiration:

5. Verbal Inspiration:

6. Plenary Inspiration:

7. Canon of Scripture:

8. Papyrus:

9. Vellum

10. Sopherim:

11. Manuscript:

12. Original Autograph:

13. Transcription:

14. Translation:

15. Paraphrase:

16. Apologetics:
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

List three of the internal proofs of inspiration of the Bible:

List three of the external proofs of the inspiration of the Bible:

© 2016 Village Missions 137 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

This page intentionally left blank for notes

© 2016 Village Missions 138 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

List the five methods God used in special inspiration:

Explain the relationship between the Old and the New Testament:

What two main languages was the Bible originally written in?

Why are the oldest manuscripts considered to be the best manuscripts?

Why are the oldest manuscripts considered not to be the best manuscripts?

II. HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

Quote: II Timothy 2:15 (use back of page)

Define:
1. Exegesis:
2. Hermeneutics:
3. Type:
4. Antitype:
5. Parallel Passage:
6. Parallel Exclusion:
7. Idiom:
8. Illumination:

© 2016 Village Missions 139 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

This page intentionally left blank for notes

© 2016 Village Missions 140 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

What question does Exegesis answer?

What question does Hermeneutics answer?

Give four of the eight reasons why Hermeneutics is necessary:

List the fundamental principle of Hermeneutics:

List the seven rules for Hermeneutics:

© 2016 Village Missions 141 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

List three of the five personal requirements of the interpreter:

List three of the six things the interpreter must avoid:

List six of the twelve preliminary questions to ask in Hermeneutics:

List three of the seven rules for interpreting types:

Define and give both a generic and a scriptural example of:

Simile

Metaphor

© 2016 Village Missions 142 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Hyperbole

Irony

Ellipsis

Synecdoche

Metonymy

Parenthesis

Digression

© 2016 Village Missions 143 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

APPENDIX A PROPHECIES CONCERNING MESSIAH AND THEIR

FULFILLMENT

Genesis 3:15  “seed of a woman” Luke 2:7; Galatians 4:4

Genesis 12:3  “descendant of Abraham” Matthew 1:1; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:16

Genesis 17:19  “descendant of Isaac” Matthew 1:2; Romans 9:7

Numbers 24:17  “descendant of Jacob” Matthew 1:2

Genesis 49:10  “descendant of Judah” Matthew 1:2

Isaiah 11:1  “descendant of Jesse” Matthew 1:6

Isaiah 9:7  “heir to the throne of David” Matthew 1:1; 1:6

Micah 5:2  “born in Bethlehem” Matthew 2:1

Isaiah 7:14  “born to a virgin” Matthew 1:18

Hosea 11:1  “called out of Egypt” Matthew 2:14-21

Isaiah 9:1b-2  “ministry in Galilee” Matthew 4:12-16

Deuteronomy 18:15  “ministered as a prophet” John 6:14

Psalm 110:4  “ministered as a priest (though not a Levite)” Hebrews 5:1-10; 7:1-
28

Isaiah 53:3  “rejected by the Jews” John 1:11; 5:43; Luke 23:18; Acts 3:14-15

Isaiah 11:2  “Spirit of wisdom and understanding” Matthew 13:54

Isaiah 35:5-6  “deaf, dumb, blind and lame healed” Luke 7:22

Isaiah 61:1  “good news preached to the poor and broken hearted” Luke 7:22

Zechariah 9:9  “humble entry on a donkey” John 12:13-14

Psalm 41:9  “betrayed by a friend” Mark 14:10

© 2016 Village Missions 144 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Zechariah 11:12  “sold for 30 pieces of silver” Matthew 26:15

Zechariah 11:13  “money cast down in temple” Matthew 27:5

Zechariah 11:13  “money given to a potter” Matthew 27:7

Isaiah 53:8  “condemned without a fair trial” Matthew 27:1

Psalm 35:11-12  “accused by false witnesses” Matthew 26:59-61

Isaiah 50:6  “beaten and spit upon” Mark 14:65, Matthew 27:30

Psalm 129:3  “scourged” John 19:1

Psalm 102:  “mocked” Matthew 27:29-31

Psalm 22:6-8  “taunted with ‘No help from God for you!’” Matthew 27:39-43

Psalm 22:16  “hands and feet pierced” John 19:23; 20:25

Psalm 22:18  “clothing parceled out, but one piece gambled for whole” John 19:23-
24

Psalm 22:7  “insulted while dying with wagging heads and scorn” Matthew 27:39

Isaiah 53:12  “crucified with sinners” Matthew 27:38

Psalm 69: 21  “given gall and vinegar to drink” Matthew 27:34; 48

Psalm 34:20  “no bones broken” John 19:33

Psalm 22:1  “forsaken of God” Matthew 27:46

Daniel 9:24-26  “died at the appointed time foretold to Daniel” note 1 below

Isaiah 53:9  “buried in a rich man’s tomb” Matthew 27:57-60

Psalm 16:10  “raised from the dead” Matthew 28:5-9

Hosea 6:2  “rise from the dead on the third day” Matthew 27:57-28:6 note 2 below
© 2016 Village Missions 145 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Note 1: Seven seventies (490 years) is the determined time. The death of Christ
happened at the Passover in the month Nisan, in the four thousand seven hundred
and forty-sixth year of the Julian period. Four hundred and ninety years, reckoned
back from the above year, leads us directly to the month Nisan in the four thousand
two hundred and fifty-sixth year of the same period; the very month and year in
which Ezra had his commission from Artaxerxes Longimanus, king of Persia, to
restore and rebuild Jerusalem.

Note 2: Christ was in the tomb for the part of one day, a whole day and the part of
another day. Legally three days as reckoned by the Jews, but closer to two days if
reckoned by the hour meter on the tomb.

© 2016 Village Missions 146 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

GLOSSARY

Amen -- means “so be it” or “it is certainly so.”

Aramaic - A family of languages (traditionally referred to as "dialects") belonging to

the Semitic family. More specifically, it is a part of the Northwest Semitic subfamily,
which also includes Canaanite languages such as Hebrew and Phoenician. The
Aramaic script was widely adopted for other languages and is ancestral to both the
Arabic and modern Hebrew alphabets. It was the language that Jesus probably used
the most and the language of large sections of the biblical books of Daniel and Ezra,
and is the main language of the Talmud.

Anthropomorphism - Ascribing human attributes to God.

Apocrypha - The Apocrypha is the title given to 14 books included in the Roman
Catholic cannon of Scripture between the OT and the NT Apocrypha means "hidden
things" and originally implied that these writings were only for the "inner circle - kept
for the wise among the people. Later it came to identify the obscurity of origin and
authorship of these books. They were never accepted as Scripture by the Jews and
were never quoted by Jesus, the Apostles. The early Church did not accept them as
Scripture.

Apologetics – Presents a rational basis for the Christian faith, defending the faith
against objections.

Bibliology – The Study of the Bible, including its origin, preservation, interpretation,
inerrancy, infallibility, canonicity, authority, and languages.

Biblical Worldview - A personal perspective on humanity, deity and the rest of the
universe based on the Bible. The Protestant biblical worldview includes eight beliefs:
• Absolute truth exists.
• The source of moral truth is the Bible.
• The Bible is without error in all of its teachings.
• That eternal spiritual salvation cannot be earned through works while on
earth.
• Jesus led a sinless life while on earth.
• Everyone has a responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others.
• Satan is a living entity, not just a symbol of evil.
• God is the creator of the universe, omnipotent, omniscient who still rules the
universe today.

© 2016 Village Missions 147 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Canon –canonicity – The issue of what books should be included as Holy Scripture
which has been settled. There are 66 books that are orthodox to all Christians.

Catastrophism – The doctrine that major changes in the earth's crust result from
catastrophes rather than evolutionary processes.

Digression - The subject actually changes to another subject.

Dynamic Equivalence – A method or style used to convert source text (e.g.

Hebrew or Greek) into another language (e.g. English). It attempts to convey the
thought expressed in the source text using equivalent expressions from a
contemporary language like English ('thought for thought' translating).

Enigma - Allegory in the form of a riddle.

Exegesis – From the Greek meaning to “lead out,” it is the critical explanation or
interpretation of Biblical text.

Fable - Narrative allegory using personification.

General Revelation - Can be known by all: nature, history, conscience.

Gospel - Gospel means “good news” or “glad tidings,” specifically the Good News of
Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for our salvation, healing, and provision; and the
hope of eternal life that Jesus made available to us by God's grace.

Hermeneutics - The study of the methodological principles of interpretation of the

Bible.

Hyperbole – Exaggeration to make a point.

Idiom – Localized figure of speech in which words do not convey their usual
meaning.

Infallible – Cannot fail.

Illumination - Process/God causes His special revelation to be understood by

human heart.

© 2016 Village Missions 148 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Inerrancy of the Scriptures - Scripture, having been inspired by God the Holy
Spirit, is free from all falsehood, fraud, or deceit. The sinfulness and human limits of
the writers of Scripture did not in introduce distortion or falsehood into God’s Word.

Inspiration- "to breathe in."

Interrogatory - Affirmation expressed in the form of a question sometimes called a

rhetorical question.

Immutable - Cannot change.

Koine - The common form of Greek spoken and written during Hellenistic and
Roman antiquity. Koine is the language of the Christian New Testament, of the
Septuagint (the 3rd-century BC Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible), and of most
early Christian theological writing by the Church Fathers. Koine Greek is also known
as "Biblical", "New Testament" or "patristic” Greek.

Paraphrase - A restatement of a text in another form to clarify meaning or a

restatement of a text in other words as a studying or teaching device.

Papyrus - Writing material made from papyrus reed, not very durable.

Personification - Ascribing personal attributes to animals or inanimate objects.

Plenary - Complete in every way.

Pentateuch - Same as Torah, first five books of Hebrew Scripture.

Pseudepigrapha - "Writings falsely attributed." Ongoing discovery and research

provide differing lists of contents. A recent publication listed 52 writings. Some of the
writings are anonymous; thus some scholars prefer the name "outside books" for all
of these writings, emphasizing that they did not become part of canon.

Septuagint - A version of the Old Testament, so called because it was the work of
seventy interpreters.

Sopherim - Jewish scholar and teacher (of law as based upon the Old Testament and
accumulated traditions). The Hebrew word sopherim literally means "the counters;" the
early scribes earned this title because they counted every letter of every book of
Scripture to make sure they didn't leave out anything.
© 2016 Village Missions 149 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

Special Inspiration - Process God caused Special Revelation communicated to

man.

Special Revelation - Given to some for all: spoken, written, Walking Word.

Synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Synoptic means with one eye,
signifying that the synoptic gospels, as opposed to the gospel according to John,
tend to have the same perspective on Jesus’ ministry.

Synecdoche - a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or

vice versa.

Symbol as a Figure of Speech - represents something else by association,

resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent
something invisible.

Testament - The name of each general division of the canonical books of the sacred
Scriptures; the Old Testament; the New Testament. The name is equivalent to
covenant, and in our use of it, we apply it to the books which contain the old and
new dispensations; that of Moses, and that of Jesus Christ.

Torah - first five books of Hebrew Scripture.

Type as a Figure of Speech - A metaphor using persons or objects to foreshadow.

Typology - An Old Testament person, place, thing, or occurrence that prefigures a

person, place, thing, or occurrence found in the New Testament called the antitype.

Uniformitarianism - A geological doctrine. It states that current geologic processes,

occurring at the same rates observed today, in the same manner, account for all of
Earth's geological features. It assumes that geological processes are essentially
unchanged today from those of the unobservable past, and that there have been no
cataclysmic events in earth's history. As present processes are thought to explain all
past events, the Uniformitarian slogan is, "the present is the key to the past."

Vellum - writing material from animal skins, durable, also called parchment.

Verbal Inspiration - each word of the original text is inspired.

© 2016 Village Missions 150 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

INDEX

A
H
Acrostic, 77
Allegory, 73 Hermeneutics, 14
Anthropomorphism, 74 Historical book, 23
Antithesis, 77 Hyperbole, 75
Apocrypha, 28
Apocryphal books, 29 I
Apologetics, 65
Apostrophe, 74 Interrogatory, 74

Apothegm, 77 Irony, 75

Aramaic, 49
M
B Metaphor, 73

Biblical Culture, 14 Metonymy, 75

C N

Chiasm, 78 Numerology, 93

Clay tablets, 44
Climax, 77 P
Course Schedule, 12
Papyrus, 44
Parable, 77
D Paradox, 77

Dead Sea Scrolls, 42 Paraphase, 135

Digression, 74 Parenthesis, 74

Doctrinal Statement of Faith, 68 Pentateuch, 23

Dynamic Equivalence, 55 Personification, 74

Plenary Inspiration, 59
Poetical books, 24
E
Process of Paraphrasing, 136
Ellipsis, 78 Prophetical books, 25
Enigma, 75 Proverb, 77
Pseudepigrapha, 30
F Pseudepigraphical books, 30

Fable, 73
Formal Equivalence, 135

© 2016 Village Missions 151 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2
 Contenders Bible School – Bibliology How To Study the Bible – Student Guide

S T
Scribes, 43
Theistic Belief Systems, 15
Scrolls and Codices, 44
Torah, 151
Septuagint, 49
Type, 75
Seven Rules of Hermeneutics, 135
Typology, 89
Simile, 73
Sopherim, 43
U
Statement of Faith Concerning, 66
Symbol, 75 Uniformitarianism, 151
Synecdoche, 75
V
Vellum, 44

© 2016 Village Missions 152 Bibliology and How to Study the Bible version
5.2