Church Planting International
Uganda Mission, Summer, 2002

BIBLE SURVEY:
The Strategic Grasp of Scripture
by

Donald T. Williams, PhD

Toccoa Falls College, Toccoa Falls, Ga.
University Church, Athens, Ga.
U.S.A.
Revised, December 2002

Church Planting International					               Uganda, Summer 2002

BIBLE SURVEY

The Strategic Grasp of Scripture
A Study Guide

Donald T. Williams, PhD

Revised, December 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OT Historical Books								3
OT Poetry and Wisdom Literature						10
OT Prophets									13
OT Minor Prophets								15
NT History (Gospels and Acts)							22
Emphases of the Evangelists (Chart)						24
NT Pauline Epistles								25
NT General Epistles								32
Hermeneutics									36
Appendix: Figures of Speech							37
Bibliography									37
Appendix:  Chronology of the Birth of Jesus					38
Appendix:  Pauline Chronology							39

"All Scripture is inspired by God 
and profitable for teaching,
 for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, 
equipped for every good work" 
(2 Tim. 3:1:6-17).

Church Planting International					                      Uganda, Summer 2002

BIBLE SURVEY

The Strategic Grasp of Scripture
A Study Guide

I.	THE OT HISTORICAL BOOKS

A.  The Pentateuch (5 Books of Moses)

GENESIS

Author:		Moses
Date Written: 	 	1450-1400 BC
Dates Covered:  	Creation-BC 1800 (approximately)

Epithets:  		The Book of Beginnings
			The Seedbed of Christian Doctrine

Contents:

Creation			chp.	1-2		Sodom and Gomorrah		18-19	
Fall					3		Sacrifice of Isaac		22
Flood, Noahic Covenant			6-9		History of Jacob		25 & following	
Tower of Babel				11		History of Joseph		37 & following
Call of Abraham			12		Pharoah's Dream		41
Melchizedek				14		Migration to Egypt		46-50
Abrahamic Covenant			15, 17		

Key Verses:	

1:1	In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
		
15:6	And Abraham believed God, and it was counted as righteousness for him.

EXODUS
	
Author: 			Moses
Date Written:			about 1450-1400 BC
Dates Covered:		BC 1530-1400 (approximately)

Epithets:			Book of the God who Acts
				The Gospel of the Old Testament
Contents:	

Israel in Bondage	 	     chp. 1-12		The Ten Commandments		20	
Plagues					7-12		Further Laws				21-24
Journey to Sinai				12-18		Instructions for Tabernacle		25-31
Crossing the Red Sea			14		Golden Calf				32-34
Israel at Sinai				19-40		Construction of Tabernacle	              35-40

Key Verses:	

3:14	And God said to Moses, "I Am who I Am";  and he said, "Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel,  'I Am has sent me to you.'"

20:2 	I Am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

LEVITICUS

Author:		Moses
Date Written:		about 1450-1400 BC
Dates Covered:	about 1440 or 1410 BC

Epithets:		The Priestly Book
			The Book of Sacrifice

Contents:	

Primary place to study the OT Sacrificial System.  Deals with the institution of various offerings, the Day of atonement (chp. 16), etc.  Important for understanding the Death of Christ, the fulfillment foreshadowed by these ceremonies.  Also explains OT religious festivals (Passover, Firstfruits, etc., chp. 23) which are referred to in the NT.

Key Verse:	

17:11	For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls;  for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.

NUMBERS

Author:		Moses
Date Written:		about 1450-1400 BC
Dates covered:		1440-1400 BC (approximately)

Epithets:		The Book of the Census
			The Most Boring Book of the Bible

Contents:

Reputation is undeserved.  Just skim the 1st 4 chp. with their difficult to read census records.  Contains some important history, including

The Failure at Kadesh Barnea	    	 chp. 13-14		   Balaam's Ass			        22
The Wilderness Wandering		15and following

Key verses:

6:24-26	The Lord bless you and keep you;  the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you;  the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

14:18	The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression;  but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations.

DEUTERONOMY

Author:		Moses
Date Written:		about 1400 BC
Dates covered:		about 1400 BC

Epithets:		The Second Giving of the Law
			A Favorite Book of Jesus

Contents:

Deuteronomy is the Constitution for the theocracy of Israel to live by when she is established in the Land.  The Law of Exodus 20-24 is re-summarized and expanded to meet the new conditions which will be encountered in Palestine.

Key Verses:

6:4-7	Hear, O Israel!  The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.  And these words which I am commanding you today shall be on your hear, and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit down in your house and when you walk by the way and when you sit down and when you rise up.

7:6-8	For you are a holy people to the Lord your God;  the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession out of all the people who are on the face of the earth.  The Lord did not set his love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath that he swore to your forefathers.

11:26-28	See I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:  the blessing if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today;  and the curse if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

JOSHUA

Author:		Joshua
Date Written:		about 1400-1370 BC
Dates Covered:	about 1400-1370 BC

Epithet:	 	The Book of Conquest

Contents:  

The history of the conquest and division of Palestine.  The failure of Israel to obey completely God's command to destroy/drive out the inhabitants.  See 15:63, 16:10, 17:12-13, and esp. chp. 23, which is the key to the rest of OT history.

Key Verses:

1:8	This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it;  for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

24:15	And if it be disagreeable in you sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

JUDGES

Author:		Unknown (possibly Samuel, according to Talmud)
Date written:		probably 1050-1000 BC
Dates Covered:	approximately 1380-1050 BC

Epithet:		The Book of Apostasy and Restoration

Contents:

The history of Israel from the Conquest to the Institution of the Monarchy.  The failure completely to obey the command to eradicate the Canaanites left Israel with a strong pagan influence, leading to a cycle of repeated falls into idolatry, oppression by the Philistines, repentance, and deliverance by a "Judge" raised up by God.  After the Judge's death, the cycle would usually repeat itself.  Shows the consequences of unfaithfulness and sin, and God's faithfulness in responding to repentance.  More famous Judges include Gideon (chp. 6-8) and Samson (13-16)

Key Verse:	

17:6		In those days there was no king in Israel;  every man did what was right in his own eyes.

RUTH

Author:		Unknown, possibly Samuel
Date Written:		about 1,000 BC
Dates Covered:	late 1100's BC

Epithet:		An Old-Testament Love Story

Contents:

The widowed Moabitess Ruth finds the true God and true love when she accompanies her mother in law Naomi back to Canaan and becomes an ancestor of King David (and the Messiah).  Boaz is the great example of a Kinsman Redeemer and thus a type of Christ.

Key Verse:

1:16	Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

I SAMUEL

Author(s):			possibly Samuel, Nathan, and/or Gad (see 1 Chron. 29:29)
Date Written:			930 BC and after
Dates Covered:		1125-1010 BC
	
Epithet:			The Rise and Fall of Samuel and Saul

Contents:	

The history of Eli and Samuel, the last two judges;  the coronation of Saul, the first king, his early success, disobedience, and rejection;  the rise to prominence of David:  his defeat of Goliath, friendship with Jonathan, persecution by Saul.  Ends with the death of Saul.

II SAMUEL

(In Hebrew Bible, = one book with  I Samuel)

Author(s):			possibly Samuel, Nathan, and/or Gad (see 1 Chron. 29:29)
Date Written:			930 BC and after
Dates Covered:		1010-940 BC

Epithet:			The Reign of David

Contents:

The history of David's reign.  Includes 
David's Coronation		    	     chp. 1-5		Sin with Bathsheba		11-12
Consolidation of the Realm			6		Rebellion of Absalom		14-18
Davidic Covenant				7		David's Last Words		23

Key Verse:

1 Sam. 15:22	And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams."

I KINGS

Author:			Unknown  Possibly Jeremiah (according to Tradition)
Date Written:			about 550 BC
Dates Covered:		about 940-850 BC

Epithet:			Title is self-explanatory.

Contents:

History of Israel and Judah from Solomon to Ahaziah.  Important topics include

Wisdom of Solomon			     chp. 3-4
Solomon's Temple				5-8
The Division of the Kingdom			12
The Ministry of Elijah				17and following

II KINGS

(In Hebrew Bible = one book with I Kings)

Author:			Unknown (see I Kings)
Date Written:			about 550 BC
Dates Covered:		about 850-586 BC

Contents:

Continues the story of the Divided Kingdoms of Judah and Israel until their dissolution, including

Elisha's ministry			     chp. 4-8
Fall of Israel (N. Kingdom)			17
Reign of Hezekiah (S. Kingdom)		18-25
Reign of Josiah					22-23
Fall of Judah					24-25

Key Verses:

I Kings 8:27	But will God indeed dwell on the earth?  Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built.

I Kings 18:21	And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long do you halt between two opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow him;  but if Baal, follow him."

I & II CHRONICLES

Author:			Unknown (possibly Ezra, according to Tradition)
Date Written:			450-25 BC
Dates Covered:		Creation-516 BC

Epithet:			The Old Testament in Miniature

Contents:		

Summary of history from Adam to the return of Judah under Cyrus from captivity.  Retells much of the history in I & II Kings with less historical detail but more attention to the spiritual heritage of Israel and the theological  lessons of its history.

Key Verses:

1 Ch. 28:9	As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with a whole heart and a willing mind;  for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him;  but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

2 Ch. 7:14	If . . . my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

EZRA

Author:			Ezra
Date Written:			456-444 BC
Dates Covered:		538-456 BC

Epithet:			Book of the Restoration

Contents:

The story of the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy (Jet. 25:11) that God would restore Judah to the land after 70 years of captivity in Babylon.  Includes Cyrus' decree permitting the return (chp. 1), the first return under Zerubbabel (1-6), including the rebuilding of the temple, and a later return under Ezra himself (7-10).

Key Verse:

7:10	For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel.

NEHEMIAH

Author:			Nehemiah
Date Written:			445-425 BC
Dates Covered:		445-433 BC

Epithets:			A Book of Answered Prayer
				A Book of Revival

Contents:

Hearing that the walls of Jerusalem had not been rebuilt, Nehemiah asks permission to return and undertake the job.  He becomes governor, rebuilds the walls, and leads the nation in spiritual rededication.

Key Verses:

2:4	Then the king said to me, "What would you request?"  So I prayed to the God of heaven.

9:3	While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshipped the Lord their God.

ESTHER

Author:			Unknown
Date Written:			About 465 BC
Dates Covered:		483-473 BC

Epithets:			A Book of Deliverance
				A Book of God's Providence

Contents:

The story of Esther, a Jewess during the captivity, who becomes a member of Xerxes (Ahasuerus) I's harem and saves the Jews from a plot against them by Haman.   The name of God does not even appear in the book, but his providential care shines from every page.

Key Verse:

4:14		Who knows whether you are come to the kingdom for such a time as this?	 

II.  OT POETRY AND WISDOM LITERATURE

JOB

Author:			Unknown--possibly Job himself, Elihu, Moses, or Solomon.
Date Written:			Unknown
Dates Covered:		About 2,000 BC

Epithet:			The Book of Suffering

Contents:

The suffering of Job, a righteous man;  the attempts of his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, to comfort him.  (They do not do a very good job, as their words boil down to "You must have sinned to deserve this.")  The speech of Elihu, who rejects their answers as shallow and says that God is just and may use suffering to purify the righteous as well as punish the wicked.  Finally God himself breaks in.  He gives no answer to the question why Job suffered, but when Job sees his greatness and majesty he submits to him (42:1-6).  God condemns the three friends (but not Elihu) and restores Job's fortunes.

Key Verses:

1:21	And he said, "Naked came I from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there.  The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;  blessed be the name of the Lord."

13:15a	Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.

19:25	And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will take his stand upon the earth.  
 
38:1-4	Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?  Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct me!  Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?"

42:1-6	Then Job answered the Lord and said, "I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted.  Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?  Therefore I have declared that which I do not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. . . .   I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear;  but now my eye sees thee.  Therefore, I retract, and repent in dust and ashes."

PSALMS

Authors:		David, Moses, Solomon, Asaph, Heman, Ethan, the Sons of Korah, and others.
Dates Written:	Most during the time of David and Solomon (1010-930 BC);  a few as early as Moses (1400's BC) or as late as the captivity (500's BC).

Epithets:	The Hymnbook of the Old Testament
	The First Hymnbook of the Church

Contents:

As varied as prayer, including

Praise Psalms 	(e.g., 30, 65, and many more)		
Lament Psalms	 (e.g., 3, 44)
Penitential Psalms 	(e.g., 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143)
Messianic Psalms 	(e.g., 2, 8, 16, 22, 40, 45, 72, 110, 118)
Wisdom Psalms	 (e.g., 1, 19, 119)
Psalms of Trust 	(e.g., 23, 11, etc.)

Parallelism:

Hebrew poetry depends on rhyming not sounds but thoughts; it is therefore providentially the most translatable poetic form known.  Thoughts are arranged in various kinds of parallelism, including

Synonymous Parallelism	(103:10, 18)
Antithetic Parallelism		(1:6, 103:16-17, Prvb. 10:1-4, 12:1, 13:1)
Synthetic Parallelism		(96:1-3, 7-8, 11-13, 98:4-6)
Emblematic Parallelism		(42:1, 103:11-13 [combined with synthetic] }
Chiastic Parallelism		(Prvb. 10:1-5)

PROVERBS

Author:			Solomon (mainly)
Date Written:			950-700 BC (final compilation under Hezekiah)

Epithets:			The Book of Wisdom
				An Encyclopedia of Godly Living

Contents:

Wisdom for godly living, including instruction on the nature of wisdom and folly and teaching about sin, goodness, wealth, poverty, speech, pride, humility, justice, strife, gluttony, love, marriage, lust, laziness, family, friends, life, death--i.e., everything.

Key Verse:

1:7a		The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

ECCLESIASTES

Author:			Solomon
Date Written:			About 935 BC

Epithets:			The Book of Vanity
				The Logical Conclusions of Secular Humanism

Contents:

Life appears totally futile and pointless when looked at from a consistently secular perspective ("under the sun").  Therefore, the best thing is to live it with joy and in obedience to God, realizing that he will eventually judge all men, and the meaning of life will appear then.

Key Verse:

1:2		"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity," says the Preacher.

SONG OF SOLOMON

Author:			Solomon
Date Written:			About 965 BC

Epithet:			The Book of Love

Contents:		

Describes Solomon's love for a Shulamite girl.  Shows the beauty and holiness of physical love in marriage.  May also be symbolic of the love of Christ for his bride, the Church.

Key Verse:

7:10		I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me.

III.	THE OT PROPHETS

ISAIAH

Author:			Isaiah
Date Written:			740-680 BC

Epithets:			The Greatest of the Writing Prophets
				The "Book of Romans" of the Old Testament

Historical Setting:

Judah, in the late 700's BC, seemed about to follow in the footsteps of Israel, which had gone into captivity for its idolatry in 722.  King Ahaz trusted in an alliance with Assyria, though Isaiah warned him that the North would fall to them.  His son Hezekiah was godly and led a revival, but it was too little and too late.  His son  Manasseh reinstated idolatry.  Isaiah then warned of the inevitability of the Babylonian captivity, but also promised the future restoration under Cyrus.

Contents:

Many condemnations of idolatry;  more about the redemptive work and nature of the Messiah than any other book.  The most important messianic passages include 9:1-7, 11:1-5, 52:13-53:12.

Key Verses:

7:14	Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:  Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel.

9:6	For unto us a child is born;  unto us a son is given.  And the government will be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

JEREMIAH

Author:		Jeremiah
Date Written:		627-585 BC

Epithet:		The Weeping Prophet

Historical Setting:

The last days of Judah's independence and the first years of her captivity.  Jeremiah denounced the evil of the last kings so forthrightly that he was constantly persecuted and imprisoned.  After the fall of Jerusalem, he was forcibly taken to Egypt, where he died.

Contents:

Warning against sin and of judgment predominate, but also a message of hope, including the coming of Messiah (23:5-6) and the New Covenant (31:31-34).

Key Verses:

31:31-34	"Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers . . . but this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the Lord," I will put my law within them, and on their hearts I will write it, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

LAMENTATIONS

Author:		Jeremiah
Date Written:		585 BC

Historical Background:		

See Jeremiah.

Contents: 

Five poems mourning the fall of Jerusalem.

Key Verses:

3:21-26	This I recall to mind;  therefore I have hope.  The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.  "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I have hope in him."  The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him.  It is good that he wait silently for the salvation of the Lord.

EZEKIEL

Author:		Exekiel
Date Written:		592-570 BC

Epithet:		The "Book of Revelation" of the Old Testament

Historical Setting:

Immediately before and after the deportation to Babylon.  Ezekiel's early ministry was contemporary with Jeremiah's, his later with Daniel.  He was carried to Babylon in 597 BC and lived there.

Contents:

Chp. 1-24, before the fall of Jerusalem, warn Judah of impending judgment but assure them that God will not forget his covenant.  Chp. 25-48, after the deportation, remind the exiles of the sins which led to judgment and look increasingly to the future millennial restoration of Israel under the Messiah.

Contains much symbolic language, bizarre object lessons, etc.  One of the most difficult OT books in details, but the broad sweep is unmistakable and majestic.

Key Phrase:	"Then shall they (you) know that I am the Lord."

DANIEL

Author:			Daniel
Date Written:			537 BC
Dates Covered:		605-537 BC

Epithet:			The Book of the Future

Historical Setting:

Daniel was carried into captivity as a youth and lived through the whole 70 years until just before the first returns in 536 BC.  He served under four kings:  Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar (whose destruction was foretold by the handwriting on the wall), Darius the Mede (who threw him into the Lion's Den), and Cyrus (who would eventually authorize the return).

Contents:

The most predictive of all the prophets, Daniel's prophecies include the Son of Man (7:13-14), the future of the Gentile empires (chp. 2, 7), the 70 weeks of years (9), and the Antichrist (11).  Famous stories are the Fiery Furnace (3) and the Lion's Den (6).

Key Verse:

2:28	However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days.

THE MINOR PROPHETS

HOSEA

Author:		Hosea
Date Written:		About 710 BC

Epithet:		The Book of God's Faithful Love

Historical Setting:	

Hosea prophesied to the N. Kingdom with his contemporary Amos, while Isaiah and Micah were preaching to the South.  Under Jereboam II (782-53 BC) the nation was outwardly prosperous but spiritually bankrupt.  Nobody could believe judgment was coming, but by 722 the N. Kingdom no longer existed.

Contents:

Hosea's wife was unfaithful to him and became a harlot and eventually a slave.  In spite of her unfaithfulness, he buys her back and takes her home (chp. 1-3).  The application is made that this represents God's love for Israel.

Key Verses:

4:6a		My people are destroyed by lack of knowledge.

6:1	Come, let us return to the Lord.  For he has torn us but he will heal us;  he has wounded us but he will bandage us.

6:6	For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

JOEL

Author:			Joel
Date Written:		 	835  BC

Epithet:			The Book of the Day of the Lord

Historical Setting:	

Occasioned by a severe drought and locust plague during the reign of young King Joash (835-796) in the S. Kingdom.

Contents:

The invasion of locusts, a punishment for Judah's sins, is a picture of the coming final judgment (he Day of the Lord).  2:28f was partially fulfilled at Pentecost.

Key Verse:

2:11b-13	The Day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome;  who can endure it?  "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "Return to me with all your heart and with fasting, weeping, and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments."

AMOS

Author:			Amos
Date Written:			755 BC

Epithet:			The Book of Judgment

Historical Setting:		

A contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah, Amos was a Southerner called to preach to the North.  The North was not too thrilled.  He returned to Judah and wrote his message down.  Uzziah was king of Judah, Jereboam II of Israel.  See under Hosea.

Contents:			

"For there transgressions of ____, yea for four, I will not revoke its punishment."  First addressed to the surrounding nations, this refrain keeps getting closer to home until it hits Israel.  Attacks social evils and pagan worship.  Only repentance will avert judgment.

Key Phrase:

For three transgressions of ____, yea for four . . .

OBADIAH

Author:			Obadiah
Date Written:			840 BC

Epithet:			The Shortest Book of the OT

Historical Setting:		

Edom revolted against Judah (2 Kgs. 8:20).  Jehoram failed to re-subjugate them.  They in turn made an alliance with Philistia and sacked Jerusalem, but could not conquer it (2 Chron. 21:16-17).

Contents:

Obadiah prophesies that Edom will be judged for her pride and treatment of Judah.

Key Verse:

1:4	"Though you build high like the eagle, though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," declares the Lord.

JONAH

Author:		Jonah
Date Written:		760 BC

Epithet:		The Missionary Book of the OT

Historical Setting:	

Jonah was from the N. Kingdom, sent to preach to Nineveh (in Assyria).  He lived during the reign of Jereboam II, and was therefore a contemporary of Hosea, Amos, and Isaiah.

Contents:

God drums into the head of his recalcitrant prophet that he is concerned for the salvation of all people, not just the Hebrews.

Key Verse:

4:10-11	Then the Lord said, "You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work, and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight.  And should I not have compassion of Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?"

MICAH

Author:			Micah
Date Written:			About 700 BC

Epithet:			The Prophecy of Bethlehem

Historical Setting:

While Isaiah prophesied to the court and city dwellers in Jerusalem, Micah preached to the common people of the S. Kingdom during the reigns of Jotham (750-736 BC;  good but ineffective), Ahaz (736-716;  evil), and Hezekiah (716-687;  good, but too late).

Contents:

Like other prophets of his time, warning of destruction and promise of future hope.  Important predictions include the place of Jesus' birth (5:2-5).

Key Verse:	

5:2	But as for you, Behlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you one shall go forth for me to be ruler in Israel.

NAHUM

Author:			Nahum
Date Written:			663-612 BC

Epithets:			Judgment for Nineveh
				The Book of God's Righteous Anger

Historical Setting:

One hundred years after Jonah's revival, Nineveh had returned to paganism, only now without excuse.  Assyria destroyed the N. Kingdom in 722 and was threatening the S.  Nahum prophesied against them from the S. Kingdom.

Contents:

Chapter 1 describes the majesty, sovereignty, holiness, and wrath of God.  Chp. 2-3 predicts that wrath will fall on Nineveh.  Nineveh was destroyed by the Medes and the Chaldeans in 612 BC.

Key Verse:

1:15		Behold on the mountains the feet of one who brings good news, who announced peace!

HABAKKUK

Author:		Habakkuk
Date Written:		607 BC

Epithets:		The Book of Theodicy
			The Problem of Evil

Historical Setting:

Habakkuk preached to the S. Kingdom just before Nebuchadnezzar's first invasion of Judah in 605 BC (when Daniel was captured).  He announced God's intention to punish Judah by captivity.

Contents:

Wrestles with the questions, (1) Why does evil go unpunished?  Answer:  The Babylonians will punish it.  (2)  How can God use them to do so when they are even more evil than we are?  Answer:  They'll get their judgment too, and besides, God can do as he pleases.  Then chp. 3 is a great hymn of praise.

Key Verses:

2:4		The just shall live by faith (quoted in Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11, Hebrew 10:38).

2:20		The Lord is in his holy temple;  let all the earth keep silent.

3:17-18	Though the fig three should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no more food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord;  I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

ZEPHANIAH

Author:			Zephaniah
Date Written:			About 625 BC

Epithet:			A Book of the Day of the Lord (compare Joel)

Historical Setting:

During the evil time of Manasseh (who undid Hezekiah's revival) and Amon, Zephaniah's preaching helped prepare for a revival under good king Josiah in 621.

Contents:

Judgment and blessing:  God will bring both.

Key Verse:

2:3	Seek the Lord, all you jumble of the earth who have carried out his ordinances.  Seek righteousness, seek humility.  Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger.

HAGGAI

Author:			Haggai
Date Written:			520 BC

Epithet:			Finish the Temple!

Historical Setting:

Haggai was the first prophet after the return from exile.

Contents:

Called the returnees to finish the temple, which they had begun but then neglected for 15 years.  To receive His blessing, they must "seek first the kingdom of God."

Key Verse:

1:6	You have sown much but harvest little;  you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied;  you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk;  you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough;  and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.

ZECHARIAH

Author:			Zechariah
Date Written:			About 520 BC

Epithet:			A Book of Messiah

Historical Setting:

Helped Haggai encourage the people to finish the temple.

Contents:

More messianic prophecies than any prophet except Isaiah, including 9:9 (the triumphal entry) and 13:6-9 (strike the shepherd that the sheep may be scattered).

Key Verse:

9:9	Rejoice greatly, oh daughter of Zion!  Shout for joy, oh daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold your king is coming to you.  He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even a colt, the foal of a donkey.

MALACHI

Author:			Malachi
Date:				450-400 BC

Epithet:			The Last Book of the OT (both in order and time)

Historical Setting:	

One hundred years after the return, the temple and city have been rebuilt, but the people are becoming lax, wondering "where is the promise of his coming?"

Contents:

Rebukes the people for their spiritual laxness and calls them back to the Lord.

Key Verses:

1:11	For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, my name will be great among the nations.

3:1-2	Behold, I am going to send my Messenger, and he will clear the way before me.  And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold he is coming, says the Lord of Hosts.  But who can endure the day of his coming?  And who can stand when he appears?  For he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap.

THE NEW TESTAMENT

MATTHEW

Author:		The Apostle Matthew
Date:		80's AD (according to most scholars;  maybe as early as the 60's).

Epithets:		The Gospel for the Jews
		Christ as the King of the Jews

Contents:

Contains more of the public teaching of Jesus than any of the other Gospels.  Views Jesus as the Messiah of Israel and has the most to say about the messianic kingdom--why it wasn't established, when it will be (Olivet Discourse, chp. 24-25).  Important chapters include

5-7	Sermon on the Mount			16	Establishment of Church prophesied
13	Parables of the Kingdom		28	Great Commission

Key Verse:

2:2		Where is he that is born King of the Jews?

MARK

Author:		John Mark, relying on notes from the Apostle Peter
Date:			50's AD

Epithets:		The Gospel for the Romans
			Christ as the Suffering Servant
			The Gospel of Action

Contents:

The first of the Gospels to be written according to most scholars.  Majors on deeds rather than words.  It is the shortest account, but what it does report is often given in greater detail.

Key Phrase:		And immediately . . .

LUKE

Author:		Luke the Physician, the traveling companion of the Apostle Paul
Date:			about 60 AD

Epithets:		The Gospel for the Greeks
			Christ as the Son of Man
			The Most Beautiful Book ever Written

Contents:

More emphasis on the humanity of Jesus than any other Gospel.  Based on general research rather than the memory of one apostle (1:1-4), it contains many events and parables unrecorded elsewhere.

Key Phrase:		The Son of Man came . . .

JOHN

Author:		The Beloved Apostle
Date:			80's AD

Epithets:		The Universal Gospel
			Christ as the Son of God

Contents:

Written last, John's account is the most distinctive (no point in repeating the others).  It is also the most theological.  Emphasizes Jesus' deeper lessons to his disciples rather than his public teaching.

Key Verse:

20:31	These have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Jesus, the same, yesterday, today, and forever!

EMPHASES OF THE EVANGELISTS:
A GUIDE TO THE G0SPELS

	MATTHEW	MARK	LUKE	JOHN	
Written to:	•	The Jews	•	The Romans	•	The Greeks	•	All	
Emphasizes:	•	Fulfillment of Prophecy
•	Public Teaching of Jesus	•	The Power of God
•	Action:  the Deeds of Jesus	•	Jesus' relation to secular history
•	Parables not recorded elsewhere	•	Miracles as Signs of Jesus' identity
•	Private Teaching of Jesus to his Disciples	
Presents Jesus as:	•	Son of David
•	King of the Jews
•	Messiah of Israel	•	Servant of God
•	The Suffering Servant	•	Son of Man
•	Savior of Gentiles
•	Friend of Sinners	•	Son of God 
•	The Living Word (logos)
•	The Light of the World	
Key Chapters:	•	5-7, Sermon on the Mount
•	13, Parables of the Kingdom
•	16, The Church
•	24-25, The Olivet Discourse
•	28, The Great Commission	•	Mark is very episodic; no chapter really stands out from the others.	•	2, Birth of Jesus
•	15, Prodigal Son
•	22-23, Crucifixion
•	24, Resurrection	•	1, The Word made flesh
•	3,  Conversa-tion with Nicodemus by night
•	4, The Samaritan Woman
•	14-16, The Paraclete (Holy Spirit)
•	17, The high-priestly Prayer	
The Author was:	•	Matthew the Publican
•	Also called Levi
•	One of the Twelve	•	John Mark, close associate of Peter and Paul
•	A missionary evangelist
•	Secretary to Peter, writing under his apostolic authority	•	Luke the Physician
•	Traveling companion of Paul, writing under his apostolic authority
•	A careful researcher and historian	•	John the Disciple
•	The beloved disciple
•	The last to write, having meditated deeply for years on Jesus' words and work.	
Date Written:	•	60's AD	•	50's AD	•	about 60 AD	•	80's AD	

ACTS

Author:		Luke the Physician, the traveling companion of the Apostle Paul
Date:			early 60's AD

Epithets:		The Acts of the Holy Spirit
			All that Jesus Continued to Do and to Teach
			The First Book of Church History
			Jerusalem, Judea, and the Uttermost Parts of the Earth

Contents:

The establishment and early history of the NT Church, its spread in the Roman Empire, the conversion of the Gentiles (chp. 9-10), of Paul (9), the Jerusalem Council (15), the missionary journeys of Paul.  Ends with Paul under house arrest in Rome apparently a few years prior to his martyrdom (AD 14-66).

Key Verse:

1:8	But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and even to the remotest part of the earth.

ROMANS

Author:			The Apostle Paul
Date:				Late 50's AD
Written from :			Corinth

Epithets:			The Systematic Theology of the NT
				The Book of Justification by Faith

Occasion: 	

Anxious to minister in the church of Rome, Paul wrote this epistle to pave the way for his visit, intending to stop by Rome on his way to Spain after delivering the collection for the Palestinian poor to Jerusalem.  Instead, he was arrested in Jerusalem and made it to Rome as a prisoner.

Contents:

The theme of Romans is the Righteousness of God:
		Needed		1:1-3:20   [the doctrine of Sin]
	Imputed	3:21-5	   [justification by faith]
	Imparted	6-8           [sanctification]
	Vindicated	9-11
	Practiced	12-15  (Outline from Charles Ryrie)

Key Verses:

3:21-24	But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe;  for there is no distinction.  For all have sinned 

	and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

8:1	There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

10:9-10	If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved;  for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

I CORINTHIANS

Author:		Paul
Date:			Mid 50's
Written from:		Ephesus

Epithet:		The Letter of Practical Problems

Occasion:	

A response to questions raised by the Corinthians in a letter to Paul (7:1).

Contents:

Corinth was in many ways the most immature church in the First Century.  Paul deals with many problems they had, including divisions (chp. 1), carnality (3), immorality (5), marriage (7), food offered to idols (8), the Lord's Supper (11), the abuse of spiritual gifts (12-14), the Resurrection (15).  Important chapters include The Love Chapter (13) and The Resurrection Chapter (15).

Key Verse:

10:31		Therefore whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

II CORINTHIANS

Author:		Paul
Date:			Approximately 1 year after I Corinthians
Written from:		Macedonia

Epithet:		The Defense of Paul's Ministry

Occasion:	

Follow up to the issues dealt with in 1 Corinthians.

Contents:

After I Cor. and a "sorrowful visit," the church at Corinth had finally disciplined the erring brother of I Cor. 5.  Now Paul writes to remind them to forgive him if he repents and to encourage them to participate in the collection for the saints at Jerusalem.  Many of the themes from I Cor. are elaborated on again (i.e., 

the Resurrection in 4:14-5:10).  Since his relationship with the Corinthians has been so rocky, Paul takes this opportunity to defend his ministry with many personal reminisces.  Also contains the longest NT passage on giving (8-9).

Key Verse:

5:20	Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us;  we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

GALATIANS

Author:		Paul
Date:			AD 49
Written from:		Syrian Antioch

Epithets:		The Magna Carta of Christian Liberty
			The "Other Gospel" Cursed

Occasion:	

Probably dashed off to the Galatian gentile Christians when Paul was on his way to the Jerusalem Council, and therefore the earliest letter of Paul and possibly the earliest book in the NT.

Contents:

What is the Gospel?  Justification by faith, not works.  Law-keeping as a means of salvation is condemned.  The ceremonial law (esp. circumcision) is not binding on the gentiles.  Therefore, stand fast in the liberty in which Christ has made you free!  Important verses include the different Gospel (1:6-8), Crucified with Christ (2:20), the purpose of the Law (3:24), and the Fruit of the Spirit (5:22).

Key Verse:

1:8	But even though we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a Gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

EPHESIANS

Author:		Paul
Date:			60-61 AD
Written from:		Prison in Rome

Epithets:		The Book of the Christian Life
			God's Eternal Purpose
			The Smaller Book of Romans

Occasion:		

Probably not to Ephesus as such, but a circular letter containing Paul's most systematic teaching on the Church and its life.

Contents:

God's eternal purpose is to build his Church.  He predestined her (1), saved her by grace (2), united her in one body (2-3).  As a result she should live "in a manner worthy of our calling" (4:1).  This involves how to use spiritual gifts (4:4-16), the new self (3:17-24), honoring God with our speech (4:25-32), our personal lives (5:1-20), in the family (5:21-6:9), and spiritual warfare (6:1-f).

Key Verses:

1:10	[God has done everything] with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth.

4:1	I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.

PHILIPPIANS
		
Author:			Paul
Date:			60-61
Written from:			Prison in Rome

Epithet:			The Book of Joy

Occasion:  	

To thank the Philippians for the gift they had sent with Epaphroditus.

Contents:

The most personal of all the epistles to a church.  Important passages include Christ's example of humility (2:1f) and the value of knowing Christ (3:8-14--Paul's testimony).

Key Verses:

2:5		Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.

4:4		Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice!

COLOSSIANS

Author:			Paul
Date:				60-61
Written from:			Prison in Rome

Epithet:			

The Book of Christ's Sufficiency

Occasion:	The need to deal with false teachings creeping into the church.

Contents:

Similar to Ephesians, with an additional emphasis on the futility of legalism and asceticism in the light of the sufficiency of Christ for all of life.

Key Verse:
2:16		Therefore, let no one act as your judge . . .

I and II THESSALONIANS

Author:			Paul
Date:				50-51
Written from :			Corinth

Epithet:			The Books of the Rapture

Occasion:	

Response to the report from Timothy's visit to Thessalonika (1 This. 3:5-6).

Contents:

The most detailed exposition of the doctrine of the Rapture.  II Thes. corrects misunderstandings of the teaching of I Thes. on the Rapture and deals with practical implications of eschatology, such as the necessity to keep working (3:10).

Key Verses:		

I Thes. 4:16-17	For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God;  and the dead in Christ shall rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.

I Thes. 5:4	But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thieand following

2 Thes. 2:3	Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the Apostasy comes first.

I TIMOTHY

Author:			Paul
Date:				62-64
Written from:			Macedonia

Epithets:			A Book of Church Life
				Fight the Good Fight; Keep the Faith

Occasion:	

Paul's desire to encourage Timothy in case his planned visit is delayed.

Contents:

How to live in the light of membership in the Church.  Includes qualifications for church office (chp. 3) and instructions for Timothy as pastor to teach and live sound doctrine.

Key Verse:

3:15	I write so you may know who one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and support of the Truth.

II TIMOTHY

Author:			Paul
Date:			66 or 67
Written from:			2nd Roman Imprisonment

Epithets:			Paul's Last Will and Testament
			A Book of Boldness for the Gospel

Occasion:	

Paul's desire to see Timothy before his imminent execution.

Contents:

Because of the Content of the Gospel (1:9-10) there will be Opposition to the Gospel (1:15, 2:3, 3:1) which may cause Suffering for the Gospel (1:8, 12, 2:10, 3:12, 4:6).  But when you consider the Source of the Gospel (1:10, 1:13, 2:2, 3:15-17), the Rewards of the Gospel (1:10, 2:11, 4:8), and the Power of the Gospel (1:7-8), you should have Boldness for the Gospel (1:8, 12) in the Preservation of the Gospel (1:13=14, 2:2) and the Proclamation of the Gospel (2:2, 4:2).

Key Verses:		

1:13	Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me in the faith and love which are in Jesus Christ.

2:2	And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust o faithful men who may be able to teach others also.

3:16	All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

TITUS

Author:			Paul
Date:			about 65
Written from:			Nicopolis or Macedonia

Epithet:			Advice to a Pastor

Contents:

Qualification for elders (1:5-9), instructions for various age groups (2:1-8), relationship to government (3:1-2), relations of Regeneration to Works and the Holy Spirit (2:5).

Key Verse:		

3:5	He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

PHILEMON

Author:		Paul
Date:		61
From:		Prison in Rome

Epithet:		Appeal for a Runaway Slave

Contents:

Onesimus had stolen from his master and run away.  He met Paul in Rome and was saved.  He now returns to his master.  Paul sends this letter with him to explain that he is now a different person and ask Philemon to forgive him.

Key Verses:

1:6	I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing that is in you for Chris's sake.

1:10	I appeal to you for my child whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, Onesimus . . .

HEBREWS

Author:			Unknown.  Possibly Paul, Luke, or Apollos
Date:				60's
Written from:			Unknown

Epithets:			The Book of  "Better"
				The Link Between the Testaments

Occasion:	

		Written to Jewish believers who were suffering persecution and possibly tempted by this experience to return to Judaism.

Contents:

Theme:  Christ is better!  Outlines the New Testament as the fulfillment of the Old in every way:  the priesthood of Christ, the sacrifice of Christ, the new covenant, etc.  Includes the Faith Chapter (11).
Key Verse:

7:22		So much the more also Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

JAMES

Author:			James the half brother of Jesus
Date:				40's (probably before the Jerusalem Council in 49)

Epithets:			The "Book of Proverbs" of the NT
				The Book of Faith in Action

Contents:

Little formal structure, discusses many topics, including

The Purpose of Trials	1:2-12			Equality in the Body		2:1-9
Temptation		1:13-16			The Unity of the Law		2:10-13
The Tongue		1:19-26, 3:1-12		Faith and Works		2:14-26
Pure Religion		1:27			True Wisdom			1:5-8, 3:13-18

Key Verse:

1:22		But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

I PETER

Author:			The Apostle Peter
Date:				63
Written from:			Rome

Epithet:			Training for Trials

Contents:	

Trials are necessary (v. 6).  We can be strengthened to face them by remembering the greatness of our hope and inheritance (chp. 1), by keeping our behavior excellent (2:11-12 etc.) with reference to the gentiles, the state, masters, family (3:1-7), etc., and supremely by remembering the example of Christ (3:18-4:19).  Contains the command to practice rational apologetics (3:15).

Key Verse:

2:21	For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow in his footsteps.

II PETER

Author:			Peter
Date:			66
Written from:			Rome

Epithet:			Peter's Last Wishes

Contents:

Peter, knowing that his time is short (1:4), writes to stir believers up and remind them (1:13) of the importance of growth (1:1-11), the firm ground of their faith (1:12-21), the importance of vigilance against error (2:1-22), and the certainty of the Lord's return (3).

Key Verse:

1:3		Seeing that his divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.

I JOHN

Author:			John the Beloved Disciple
Date:				about 90
Written from:			Ephesus

Epithets:			The Book of Assurance
				The Tests of Life (Robert Law)

Contents:

John is concerned with the believer's assurance that orthodox Christianity is true (against the gnostics) and that he truly has fellowship with the Father through Jesus Christ.  He develops three tests of the reality of Christian profession:  Moral (walking in the light--1:6, 2:3, etc.), Social (love--2:9, etc.), and 

Doctrinal (confessing that Christ came in the flesh--2:22-23).  These are returned to, elaborated on, and expanded for four chapters.  Then in chp. 5 he develops three "witnesses":  Water, the Spirit, and the Blood.

Key Verse:

1:7	But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin.

II and III JOHN

Author:			John
Date:				about 90
Written from:			Ephesus

Epithet:			The Epistles of Hospitality

Contents:

Both short letters deal with the problem of itinerant evangelists.  2nd John is negative:  test them for doctrine before you help them.  3rd John is positive:  do give them hospitality if they pass muster.

Key Verses:

2 Jn. 1:10	If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him.

3 Jn. 1:8	Therefore we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

JUDE

Author:			Jude the half brother of Jesus and brother of James
Date:				about 64-70
Written from:			Unknown

Epithet:			A Book of Apologetics

Occasion:

Jude quotes large chunks of 2 Peter (or vice versa).  Best theory:  Peter wrote 2 Peter to combat error and sent a copy to Jude with the suggestion that he write a similar letter to his own constituency.  

Contents:

False teachers are warned of (1-4), condemned (5-20), and fortified against (20-end).

Key Verse:

1:3b		Contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

REVELATION

Author:			John
Date:				90's
Written from:			Patmos

Epithet:			The Book of God's Victory

Occasion:

Probably the persecution of Domitian (AD 81-96).

Contents (futurist):

Things you have seen		1:1-20
Things which are		2:1-3:22  	[7 churches]
Things which are to come	4:1-22:5
	- Tribulation		4-19
	- Millennium		20
	- Eternity		21-22

Major Interpretations:

	Preterist				Idealist
	Historical				Futurist

Key Verse:

5:13b	To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	

"We must always ask, 'How does this passage teach us to love Jesus, to glorify his Name, to proclaim his Gospel, to advance his Kingdom, to edify his Church, or to please him by doing his Will?'  If you can consistently answer these questions for your people in your teaching and exemplify those answers in your life, you will be a good under-shepherd of Christ's Flock."  -- Donald T. Williams, PhD

HERMENEUTICS
The Science of Interpretation

EIGHT BASIC PRINCIPLES

1.	CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING.  A text without a context is a pretext.  There are three kinds of context.  Context is immediate (How does the passage fit into the argument or outline of the book?), biblical (How does it fit into the Canon of Scripture?) and historical (To whom was it originally written, in what circumstances, for what purpose?).

2.	THE LITERAL MEANING HAS PRIMACY.  The text means what it would have meant to the audience for whom it was originally written.  "Literal" interpretation in this context includes those figures of speech (metaphors, similes, etc.;  see Appendix, p. 35) intended to be taken as such by the author.  It excludes allegorical interpretation and spiritualizing.

3.	INTERPRET THE UNCLEAR BY THE CLEAR.  Because all of Scripture, being inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16), is consistent, the plain passages are the key to the meaning of the difficult or obscure passages.  

4.	USE THE "ANALOGY OF FAITH."  No passage of Scripture should be interpreted in such a way as to make it contradict any other passage of Scripture.  When it seems to do so, your interpretation of at least one of those passages is wrong.

5.	THERE IS SAFETY IN NUMBERS.  The great doctrines of Scripture are revealed consistently throughout its pages.  Never base a doctrine on only one verse or on an isolated passage taken out of context.

6.    GENRE IS IMPORTANT.  It makes a difference whether your passage is history, poetry, prophecy,                 epistle, parable, etc.  Each genre must be read according to its own rules.

7.	 ALL SCRIPTURE IS PROFITABLE (2 Tim. 3:16).  All our teaching should be good for doctrine, reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.  It should "further the administration of God which is by faith" and promote "love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim. 1:4-5).  Therefore, any interpretation that is merely speculative or which leads only to wrangling about words (1 Tim. 6:4) is either faulty or incomplete.

8.	CHRIST IS THE KEY TO ALL.  As Martin Luther said, "The whole Scripture is about Christ only, everywhere."  The Old Testament prepares for His coming and predicts it; the New Testament narrates it and explains and  applies it.  Therefore we must always ask, "How does this passage teach us to love Jesus, to glorify his Name, to proclaim his Gospel, to advance his Kingdom, to edify his Church, or to please him by doing his Will?"  If you can consistently answer those questions for your people in your teaching and exemplify those answers in your life, you will be a good under-shepherd of Christ's Flock.

APPENDIX: 
SOME IMPORTANT COMMON FIGURES OF SPEECH 
USED IN SCRIPTURE

Antithesis: contrasting ideas presented in parallel grammatical structure.
			"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
			But he who hates reproof is stupid' (Proverbs 12:1).

Hyperbole: Exaggeration for effect.
"Now Tobiah the Ammonite . . . said, "Even what they are building--if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down" (Nehemiah 4:3).

Irony: Words used to convey the opposite of their normal meaning.
		"Then Job responded, "Surely you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!" 
(Job 12:1)

Litotes: assertion that something is true by denying its opposite.
"A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country."
Jesus of Nazareth (Mat. 13:7)

Metaphor: comparison by identification.
		"Take, eat;  this is my body" (Mat. 26:26).

Metonomy: Substitution of something associated with a thing for the thing itself.
"You shall see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power on high" (Mark 14:62).

Personification: endows animals, ideas, or inanimate objects with humanity.
		"Wisdom has built her house;  she has hewed out her seven pillars . . ." (Proverbs 9:1).

Simile: comparison expressed with like or as.
		"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field" (Mat. 13:44).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Archer, Gleason.  A Survey of Old Testament Introduction.  Chicago:  Moody Pr., 1974.

Bruce,  F. F.  Israel and the Nations.  Grand Rapids:  Eerdmans, 1963.

----------.  New Testament History.  N.Y.:  Anchor Books, 1972.

Guthrie, Donald.  New Testament Introduction.  Downers Grove, IL:  Inter-Varsity Pr., 1970.

		

APPENDIX:
CHRONOLOGY OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS

EVENT	PASSAGE	PROBABLE DATE	
Eternal generation of the Son of God	John 1:1-13	Eternity past	
Annunciation to Zacharias and Elizabeth of the conception of John the Baptist	Luke 1:5-25	October,  BC 7	
Annunciation to Mary of he conception of Jesus	Luke 1:26-38	March,  BC 6	
Mary's visit to Elizabeth, singing of the Magnificat	Luke 1:39-56	April-June,  BC 6	
Joseph's dream (not to put Mary away), wedding of Joseph and Mary	Mat. 1:18-25	June or July,  BC 6	
Birth of John the Baptist, Prophecy of Zacharias	Luke 1:57-80	August,  BC 6	
Birth of Jesus, Visit of the Shepherds	Luke 2:1-20	December,  BC 6	
Dedication trip to Jerusalem, Prophecies of Simeon and Anna	Luke 2:21-39	January,  BC 5	
Visit of the Magi	Mat. 2:1-12	BC 5	
Flight to Egypt, Slaughter of the Innocents, Return to Nazareth	Mat. 2:13-23	BC 5-4	

NOTES:  None of these dates (except the first) is certain, but a reconstruction such as this is useful to give us an idea of the order and relationships of the events.  Though the actual years (and especially months) may be slightly different, the sense of spacing you get from the chart is probably quite accurate.
	The Romans took their census every 14 years.  Since records of one made in AD 20 have survived, the decree mentioned by Luke must have been issued in BC 8.  It usually took about two years for such decrees to be carried out in the outlying provinces, so the Holy Family's trip to Bethlehem probably occurred in BC 6.  
	Liberal critics used to claim that Quirinius was not governor of Syria at the time of this census, so Luke must be in error.  Inscriptions have since been found showing that he was in the area at that time as Imperial Legate.  The word Luke used can refer to either office, and since Quirinius was only there from 7-6 BC, his name would have done a better job of pinning down the date than that of the governor, who was there for a longer term.  Hence Luke turns out not only to be correct, but also careful and accurate as a historian.
	No one really knows the date of Jesus' birth.  The traditional date (Dec. 25) was recorded in the fourth century.  It used to be held that Dec. 25 was an impossible date, as shepherds did not abide in the fields in the winter months.  But we now have evidence that some flocks were kept in the open fields around Bethlehem as late as December.  It is a fascinating coincidence that these were lambs destined for the Temple sacrifices!  What a tantalizing possibility--that the arrival of the Lamb of God was announced precisely to those shepherds whose job was to care for his earthly types and symbols.
	At any rate, Dec. 25 now looks as likely a date as any.  If we assume Jesus was born on that day, the other months can roughly be worked out from there.  Mary's angelic visit came at the end of Elizabeth's fifth month.  She then stayed with her for three.  Joseph's awareness of her pregnancy must have occurred when she returned from that trip.  By the time the Wise Men came, they were out of the Stable and in a house in Bethlehem--sometime in early 5 BC, probably.  Assuming that the Star appeared at the time of conception and Herod threw in some extra time to be sure he had cast his net wide enough, those figures will all mesh.  The sojourn in Egypt would then last until Herod's death in BC 4.
	We may be off by a few months.   But I hope this framework will help you follow the whole coherent story from both Matthew and Luke and marvel even more at the wonder and accuracy of the records they left us of the birth of our Lord and Savior.

APPENDIX:
PAULINE CHRONOLOGY*

EVENT	PASSAGE	PROBABLE DATE	
Birth of St. Paul		After Passover, BC  1	
Conversion	Acts 9:1-22	January,  AD  32	
First Visit to Jerusalem	Gal. 1:18	34	
Second Visit to Jerusalem	Gal. 2:1	45	
First Missionary Journey begins	Acts 13:1-14:20	March,  46	
Return to Antioch (writes Galatians)	Acts 14:21-28	c. August,   48	
Third Visit to Jerusalem;  Jerusalem Council	Acts 15:1-35	Early  50	
Second Missionary Journey begins	Acts 15:36-17:34	After Passover,   50	
In Corinth (writes Thessalonian Epistles)	Acts 18:1-17	Sept., 51-Feb.,   53	
Return to Antioch	Acts 18:22	April,   53	
Third Missionary Journey begins	Acts 18:23	Early summer,   53	
In Ephesus (writes 1 Corinthians)	Acts 19:1-41	Dec.,  53-March,   56	
In Macedonia (writes 2 Corinthians)	Acts 20:1-4	Summer and Autumn,   56	
In Corinth (writes Epistle to the Romans)	Acts 20:1-4, cf. 1 Cor. 16:3	Winter,   56-57	
At Jerusalem at Pentecost;  Arrest	Acts 21:15-23:10	57	
Imprisonment in Caesaria	Acts 23:11-26:32	June,  57-June,   59	
Voyage to Rome	Acts 27:1-28:16	August,  59-Feb.,  60	
Imprisonment in Rome (writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon)	Acts 28:16-31	February,  60 to (at latest) February,   62	
Later Journeys (writes 1 Timothy)		62-66	
Taken Prisoner at Nicopolis (writes 2 Timothy)		Winter of   66-67	
Execution at Rome		67	

* Based on that of William M. Ramsay, Pauline and Other Studies  (N.Y.:  Armstrong & Sons, 1906;  rpt. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1970), p. 365;  compare F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977), p. 475.