Servant School – Bible Study Prep - Grammar
Servant
School
May
19, 2022
Introduction
Welcome to our Bible Study Preparation Class.
Whether you are someone who hopes to teach the Bible in front of church,
lead a small group Bible Study, or who just wants to know their Bible better,
it is my prayer that this class will help you to sharpen your skills at
studying your Bible as well as growing in how to communicate what you’ve
learned.
Each week we will start with a few minutes looking at…
Why Study the Bible?
The Bible is the word of God. And
that makes it amazing.
(Hebrews
4:12 NKJV) For the word of God is living and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division
of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
Three quick points…
It’s alive
It’s not a bunch of dead words written thousands of years ago that have no
value to us.
It’s alive and it works in our lives today.
You can be reading a passage written 3,000 years ago by King David and find
God using it to speak to your heart.
It’s a sword
It can be a weapon against the enemy if we learn to use it correctly.
The word used here speaks of a small sword designed for close combat.
Video: The Robe – Marcellus Sword Fight
Jesus used God’s word to counter Satan’s temptations.
Like a scalpel, God’s word can be a surgical tool to bring healing and
restoration.
It helps discern
Sometimes it’s pretty hard to understand our own
thoughts and motives.
God will use His word to help us and guide us.
(Psalm
119:105 NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to
my path.
It is my hope that you continue to grow to appreciate and depend on God’s
Word.
David wrote,
(Psalm 1:1–3 NKJV)
—1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in
the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his
delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be
like a tree Planted by
the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its
season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Tonight’s study focus is on…
Grammar
When it comes to “Hermeneutics”, or how we interpret the Bible, we use the
method involving “Grammar and History”
We talked last week about the importance of understanding history and
culture.
This week we want to talk about “grammar”, or really the importance of
understanding language.
Writing Styles
This means we need to take time to be thinking about what kind of style the
passage is written as.
Is it a historical account? Is it
prophetic? Is it poetic? Is it symbolic? Is it a parable? Is it a proverb? Is it a letter?
Each of these types of styles means that we need to adapt our
interpretation.
An historical account is written to be read in a literal sense.
When Jesus feeds 5,000 people with a few loaves and fishes, we understand
this as a miracle! It was a real
historical event.
Prophetic writing (like Isaiah, Jeremiah) are
filled with sometimes vague pictures, symbolic language, and may or may not
have already been fulfilled.
Books like Daniel and Revelation contain all sorts of passages that are
symbolic and need interpreting.
A poetic passage may also contain a non-literal or metaphorical
account.
When God hides us under His wings, don’t think He’s a big bird, it’s a
metaphor!
Hebrew Poetry is also written with pairs of lines. Usually two, sometimes three lines are used
to simply restate or contrast a single idea.
Example:
(Psalm 3:1 NKJV) Lord, how they
have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against
me.
The second sentence (many rise up)
simply restates the first sentence (those who trouble me) and elaborates on it.
Psalms, Proverbs, and most of the prophets are all written in a Hebrew
Poetic style.
Parables are earthly, natural sounding stories, but are meant to
teach a lesson and often require a measure of symbolic interpretation, though
you don’t want to go overboard (remember last week with the “Good Samaritan”?)
Proverbs are short, practical lessons.
They usually come in two or three lines, similar to
Hebrew Poetry.
Letters in the New Testament are just that. Letters.
An author writes to an audience and will convey doctrine and how we are to
live.
As you study and perhaps teach through the Bible, you will need to adapt
each time you start a new book with a different writing style.
Within each type of writing style there may be various…
Figures of speech
Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech, in which a word or phrase that ordinarily
means one thing is applied to another thing, in order to
suggest a likeness between the two. An example of a metaphor might be “a copper
sky”.
Ezekiel uses a metaphor to describe the “New Covenant”
(Ezekiel
36:26 NKJV) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit
within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give
you a heart of flesh.
Simile
A simile is also a comparison between two things, like a metaphor; only,
the comparison is indicated by the words “like,” or “as.” Examples of this are,
“a face like stone,” “as hard as nails,” and “his eyes were like
fire.”
You will see plenty of these in the Song of Solomon:
(Song of
Solomon 4:2 NKJV) Your teeth are like a
flock of shorn sheep Which have come up from the washing, Every one of
which bears twins, And none is barren among them.
Here’s one in Leviticus:
(Leviticus
26:19 NKJV) I will break the pride of your power; I will make
your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze.
Analogy
An analogy is a likeness in some ways between things that are otherwise
unlike. There is an analogy between the Lord and a shepherd, and the saints and
sheep.
Jesus said,
(John 10:9 NKJV) I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will
go in and out and find pasture.
He is not a piece of wood on a hinge. But He is a door in that He is the way in and
out of the place of safety.
Peter writes this to elders about how they are to be shepherds:
(1 Peter 5:2–4
NKJV) —2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers,
not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples
to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears,
you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
We know Peter isn’t talking about literal “sheep”, but
he’s talking about how the church is like a “flock of sheep”.
Hyperbole
The hyperbole is an exaggerated statement, used for effect, and not meant
to be taken literally. An example is in Matthew 7, where Jesus talks about the
person looking for the specks in his brother’s eye, while having beams in his
own eye.
Here’s another example of hyperbole:
(Matthew
5:29 NKJV) If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it
out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of
your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
I don’t think Jesus is recommending that we pluck out our
eyes. I think He is using exaggerated
language to simply say that we need to do whatever is necessary to repent from
our sin.
Personification
…Is a poetic device which takes inanimate objects, and
gives them human characteristics. An example is saying that the mountains sing, or clap their hands.
When Jesus was rebuked for allowing people to say He was the Messiah…
(Luke 19:40 NKJV) But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should
keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
I’m not sure Jesus was describing the first rock
band. He’s using “personification”.
Idiom
Every language and culture has certain peculiar phrases, which cannot be
analyzed by the usual grammatical process. Idioms are a mode of expression that
defies the rules, and depends on the society to supply
the definition. The dictionary defines idioms as, “a small group or collection
of words expressing a single notion.”
We often say that “we’re in a pickle,” or “it is raining cats and dogs”. These
are idioms, and we depend on everyone “getting the picture” because they live
in our society.
Example
We were recently reading through the life of David in 1Samuel. In chapter 25 there was a story about David
sending some men to a man named Nabal to see if Nabal would help provide some
food for David’s men. Nabal responded
with a firm “no”, and mocked David in the process. David was offended and decided he would teach
Nabal a lesson by sending some of his men to punish Nabal.
The Old King James is where you see the actual idiom. Forgive me if this sounds a little offensive…
(1 Samuel 25:22 AV) So and more also do God unto the
enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning
light any that pisseth against the wall.
That’s how the Hebrew text actually
reads. Some of us would feel a
little embarrassed to read that in mixed company.
But think about it.
Who can urinate against a wall?
Men.
Newer translations will take this “idiom” of urination and handle it a
little more delicately.
(1 Samuel 25:22 NKJV) May God do so, and more also, to the
enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by
morning light.”
(1 Samuel 25:22 NLT) May God strike me and kill me if
even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!”
How do you learn about “idioms”?
Comparing translations can help.
Reading commentaries by serious scholars can help.
Word meanings
Words mean something.
The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, and unless you have
learned those languages, you must rely on translators to give you something
close to the intended meaning of the author.
Yet words can sometimes have more than one definition. It’s the context that usually shows us how to
translate a Greek or Hebrew word into English.
For example, in English the word “see” can mean to “see with the eyes”, or
“to understand”.
We can look at an apple and say, “I see the apple”. Makes sense if we think about the eyes.
If someone tells the police officer that the reason they ran the red light
was because they were rushing their pregnant wife to the hospital, the officer
might respond with “I see”, or “I understand”.
I am treading on dangerous ground here.
Today, it is very easy to go to a website like the Blueletter Bible, and find
what the Greek and Hebrew words are beneath your text. Then you can look up the meanings of those
words.
But … I do have a concern that once a student learns how to look up Greek
and Hebrew words, they can start to feel that they are getting “secret” or
“hidden” meanings in the text.
Language and correct translation don’t work that way.
When a word has more than one meaning (like the English word “see”), you
don’t have the option to choose any definition you want. The definition is tied to the context.
Ie – the police officer saying “I
see” to the speeding ticket recipient doesn’t mean that he visually observed
the pregnant wife”. It means he
understands.
A Greek word that a lot of Bible teachers like to mention is the word dunamis.
This is usually mentioned when talking about the Holy Spirit and what He
offers to believers.
This will come up when they are teaching on:
(Acts 1:8 NKJV) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The common thing that preachers will say, “The word for
power is dunamis, which is where we get our
word “dynamite”. God wants to give you
the “explosive power” of the Holy Spirit!!!
Now it is true that “dynamite” comes from dunamis, but dynamite wasn’t invented until 1800
years after the book of Acts.
If you look up dunamis in a Greek lexicon (dictionary), you will
find something like this:
power – dunamis – strength, power, ability
The next thing I would love for you to learn to do is not to just rely on
the lexicon, but learn to find all the rest of the
places in the New Testament where dunamis is found (120x). Look
and see how many of those times sound like “dynamite” to you.
Here’s one:
(Luke 6:19 NKJV) And the whole multitude sought to
touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
If you dig a little deeper, you will find that the word dunamis
is the noun form of the verb dunamai (used
210x in NT). It is a very common word
meaning “be able, can”.
For example, you will find it in:
(Hebrews
2:18 NKJV) For in that He Himself has suffered, being
tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
So here’s my point: While it’s true you can connect “power” with
“dynamite”, it’s more likely to be connected with
“ability”.
How would that change the way you see Acts 1:8?
The Holy Spirit comes upon us and
we gain the “ability” to be His witnesses.
I like that better than dynamite.
Grammatical construction
I know for some of you I’m beginning to sound like your worst English class
nightmare. But grammar can be very
useful in understanding the Bible. Let
me give some quick examples…
Number
Nouns can be singular or plural.
(1
Corinthians 12:9 NKJV) to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
(1
Corinthians 12:9 AV) To another faith by the same Spirit;
to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
In the Greek, the words for “gifts” and
“healings” are both plural.
gifts – charisma
– a favor with which one receives without any merit of his own;
the gift of divine grace
This is one of the word
to describe what we call “spiritual gifts”
The word here is in the plural
form. It’s not a single “gift”, but
several “gifts”.
healing – iama – a means of healing, remedy, medicine; a healing.
This word is plural too, literally,
“gifts of healings”.
We often think of a person who is used to bring healing as having the “gift
of healing”, and I’m not sure that isn’t possibly the case. But it could very well be that the person who
is healed is the one who has received the gift, and the idea that these gifts
are plural or many, is that God offers healing to many of us. Possibly even the idea that there are
different kinds of healings: Different
physical diseases, emotional, social, spiritual...etc.
Tense
Verbs (action words) can be in a past tense, present tense, or future
tense.
The letter of 1John has some difficult passages to reconcile. Can you call yourself a Christian and still
sin? John can seem confusing at times.
(1 John 2:29 NKJV) If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices
righteousness is born of Him.
The word translated “practices” is a present participle, which carries the
idea of continually doing something.
:29 who practices – poieo – to make; to do
So the person who is born again
ought to be living a life of “righteousness”, of doing the right things.
Then in 1John 3:4-9, John will make it very difficult. He makes it sound as if a person who calls
themselves a Christian should never ever sin…
Yet when you look at the tenses in each of the verbs, they are all the
same. They are all present tenses,
containing the idea of “continuous” actions.
He will use these ideas in verses 4,6,7,8,9.
(1 John 3:4 NKJV) Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is
lawlessness.
:4 commits – poieo – to make; to do
Again, present tense in both places, speaking of a
continual action.
Present active participle (1st time), Present
active indicative (2nd time)
The same word was translated “practices” in 2:29
You could translate this “whoever continually practices
sin continually practices lawlessness”
(1 John 3:6 NKJV) Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen
Him nor known Him.
:6 abides – meno – to remain, abide
Present active participle
:6 sin … sins – hamartano – to
miss the mark; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor (off
roading)
Present active indicative (1st time), Present
active participle (2nd time)
Both times the word is present tense, speaking of continuous, habitual
sinning.
(1 John 3:7 NKJV) Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices
righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
:7 practices – poieo – to make;
to do
Again, that key word, present tense, speaking of a
continual “doing”
Present active participle
Same word translated “practices” in 2:29
(1 John 3:8 NKJV) He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
:8 He who sins
poieo – to make; to do
This is the word that has been translated
“commits” or “practices”, and it is also again a present tense, continual
“doing”
Present active participle
hamartia – sin, to miss the mark; to
miss or wander from the path of uprightness (off roading)
It
might be better in light of how the rest of the
passage has translated “poieo”
to translate it like this: “He who is
continually practicing sin is of the devil”
It’s not the act of committing a sin that makes you “of the devil”, but the
idea of continual practicing of sin that makes a person of the devil.
(1 John 3:9 NKJV) Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed
remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
When you look at the word for “does not”, you find that it is a present
tense.
There are two Greek words used to translate “does not sin” (“does not” +
“sin”).
The word for “does not” is also a present tense.
, and a better translation would be to say “whoever has been born of God does not
continually practice sin”
does not
– poieo – to make; to do
This is the word that has been translated “commits” or
“practices”
Present active indicative
hamartia – sin,
to miss the mark; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness
The point is this, John doesn’t mean to say that a child
of God never ever sins, but that a child of God does not live a life of
continuously practicing sin.
We will all struggle with temptation and sin in this life until we see
Jesus. God is concerned that we aren’t living a life of constant, habitual sin.
John says
(1 John 2:1 NLT) My dear children, I am writing this
to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate
who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus
Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
How do you learn about tenses if you don’t know the original languages?
Compare translations and look at good commentaries that deal with Greek
grammar.
I hope that helps
In Class
Play Video
Any comments from tonight’s teaching video?
Questions?
Next I’m thinking of not tapping into the worship
feed. I want to give us more time to
talk about our homework and polish our studying and teaching skills.
What do you recall from me talking about “writing styles”?
Why is it important to recognize what the “writing style” is for the book
you are studying?
What do you recall about “figures of speech”? Did it make sense? Why is it important?
What are the dangers of playing with Greek and Hebrew words when you don’t
know the language?
What do you recall about “grammatical construction”?
How does a person without the Greek skills learn about these things?
Share your pericopes from John 4
Perhaps have three or four share.
Share your “O-I-A” from John 4 (have everyone share)
Make one observation and explain it (without an application)
Make a second observation, explain it, and apply it.
From Sunday morning – identify an example of O-I-A
Here’s mine:
Observation:
(Genesis
4:17 NKJV) And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and
bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name
of the city after the name of his son—Enoch.
Interpretation:
Cain named a city after his son because he didn’t want to be “forgotten”
Application:
One of the dangers/fears in the world is the need to be “successful”, to
“not be forgotten”.
People want validation.
Be careful about living for validation from others.
Homework
Again, I want this week’s assignment to be similar to last week’s, but we will be looking at John 5.
1.
Read the passage at least three
times.
2.
Note the paragraphs and write a
pericope for each paragraph as well as for the entire chapter.
3.
We’ve assigned paragraphs this
week. Within your assigned paragraph, make an observation
from somewhere in the chapter as well as it’s
accompanying interpretation.
4.
Make a second observation from
another place in the chapter, an interpretation, and an application. Then find one verse from another place in the
Bible that supports your “application”.
Bonus: How would you “illustrate”
your application (don’t sweat this one, we’ll talk about illustrations next
week)
For extra credit, pay attention to Caleb’s message on Sunday and see if you
can identify an observation, interpretation, and application.