Bible Interpretation Overview and Table of Contents

This introductory eBook covers the basic concepts concerning the interpretation of the Bible. The major sections covered include personal preparation steps, kinds of interpretation, procedures for interpretation, rules of interpretation, types of biblical literature, special forms of literature, and personal application of Bible truths. There is an introduction to many Bible study tools. There is an emphasis on the literal method, which means to interpret the Bible in a plain, literal, straightforward manner using the normal rules of literature interpretation. It is about 126 pages.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

CHAPTER ONE: PREPARATION FOR BIBLE STUDY

I. Basic definition and importance

     A. Definition of hermeneutics 

     B. Importance of Bible study and teaching 

II. The nature of the Bible 

     A. Special revelation from God 

     B. Inspired by God 

     C. Inerrant in quality

     D. Unique in character

     F. Certain assumptions

III. Spiritual Preparation 

     A. Reason for Bible study 

     B. Spiritually born again

     C. Humble and clean heart  

     D. Prayer and Bible study 

     F. The Holy Spirit 

IV. Mental preparation

     A. Faith 

     B. Obedience

     C. Hard work

     D. Methodically and systematically 

V. Special issues

     A. Authority of the Bible  

     B. Comprehensive study for doctrine

     C. One perfect Author

     D. Bible study methods

Synthetic

Biographical

Doctrinal

Topical

Word Study

Historical

Types and Parable

Inductive

expository

VI. Bible study tools

     A. Translations

     B. Study Bibles

     C. Concordance

     D. Commentaries

     E. Handbook  

     F. Dictionaries

     G. Greek & Hebrew dictionaries

     H. Bible background

     I. Introductions 

     J. Systematic theology

     K. Grammars & texts

     L. Original language

VII. Chapter summary 

CHAPTER TWO: KINDS OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION

I. Allegorical method

     A. Definition

     B. Origin 

     C. Spiritualizing

     D. Impact on the church

     E. Standards for use

     F. Deficiencies of method 

II. Jewish Rabbi letterism 

III. The dogmatic method

     A. Definition

     B. Problems

IV. Naturalistic approaches

     A. Naturalism

     B. Rationalism

     C. Existentialism   

     D. Cultural relativism

     E. Partial inspiration

     F. Marxist 

     G. Problems with approaches

V. The historical critical method 

     A. Method Summarized

     B. The Key problem 

VI. Literal interpretation

VII. The history of interpretation

     A. The Old Testament 

     B. Allegorical method & early church

     C. The school at Antioch 

     D. Mysticism and the Middle Ages

     E. The Reformation 

     F. The Post Reformation

     G. The modern era 

     H. Summary observations & evaluation

VIII. Chapter summary

CHAPTER THREE: PROCEDURES FOR BIBLE INTERPRETATION.

I. Literal interpretation

     A. Definition 

     B. One meaning

     C. Figurative language

     D. Literal and spiritual

     B. Application

     F. Words have one meaning

II. The historical-cultural background & context 

     A. The birds-eye-view

     B. Finding the background

     C. Reasons for background 

III. The Bible message and time period context

     A. Purpose of the Bible 

     B. Basic structure of the Bible

     C. Dispensations 

IV. The six big questions

     A. Need for data

     B. The questions illustrated

V. The Specific book context and structure

     A. Introductory issues

     B. Establish the controlling idea

     C. Structural issues

Introduction

repetition of Words

Amount of Space

Transitional Words

Change in Subject Matter

Conclusion

expository

     D. Organizing the results

VI. The section and unit of thought context

     A. Identify the paragraphs 

     B. Cross references

     C. Cultural issues 

     D. Mood of the section

VII. Chapter summary 

CHAPTER FOUR: PROCEDURES FOR INTERPRETATION (Continued).

I. The grammar and sentence 

     A. Grammar considered

     B. Parts of speech 

Noun

Pronoun

Verb

Adjective

Adverb

Preposition

Conjunction

Interjection  

     C. Sentence defined

     D. Sentences classified

     E. Sentence functions

     F. Sentence parts 

     G. Sentence visualization 

     H. Sentence punctuation

II. The study of the word

     A. Goal of word study

     B. Problems in word study

     C. Choosing the words

     D. Process of word study

Root Meaning

Possible Meanings

Context Meaning

     E. Reference helps 

     F. Practical benefit from word study

     G Summary of procedures

III. Summary of chapter

CHAPTER FIVE: RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION.

I. Separate culture from absolute principles

     A. Culture vs. Universal principles

     B. Guide to finding Absollutes

 II. Center the passage on Christ

     A. Biblical 

     B. Jesus the theme 

III. Use the analogy of faith

IV. Recognize the progress of revelation

V. One interpretation, many applications

VI. Choose the simplest alternative

VII. Consider the context

VIII. Compare what others have written

IX. Consider figures of speech and literature types

X. Evaluate theological contributions

XI. Summary of rules 

CHAPTER SIX: TYPES OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE.

I. Literature genre or mold

     A. Genre defined 

     B. Genre classified

     C. Plan of presentation

II. Figures of speech

     A. Definition

     B. Purpose of figurative language 

     C. Kinds of figures of speech

     D. Identifying figures of speech 

     F. Interpreting figures of speech

III. The genre of biblical literature

     A. Introduction 

     B. Legal literature

     C. Narrative literature

     D. Epistolary literature

     E. Poetic literature

     F. Gospel literature

     G. Parable literature  

     H. Prophetic literature 

     I. Apocalyptic literature 

     J. Fable literature

IV. Chapter summary

CHAPTER SEVEN: SPECIAL FORMS OF BIBLE LITERATURE

I. Hebrew Poetry

     A. Definition

     B. Types of parallelism 

II. Bible Types

     A. Definition

     B. Examples of types

     C. Procedures for interpreting types

     D. Messianic types 

III. Parables in the Bible

     A. Definition of parables 

     B. Characteristics of parables

     C. Purpose of parables

     D. Interpretation of parables

IV. Symbols in the Bible 

     A. Definition 

     B. Categories of Bible symbols

     C. Identifying symbols 

     D. Interpreting symbols

V. Interpreting Bible prophecy

     A. Definition of prophecy

     B. Importance of prophecy 

     C. Special issues of prophecy 

     D. The Biblical prophets 

     E. Principles of prophetic interpretation 

VI. Chapter summary 

CHAPTER EIGHT: APPLICATION OF BIBLE TRUTH

I. Definition and objective of application 

     A. Definition 

     B. Objective

II. Procedures of Bible application

     A. Process of application 

     B. Guide-lines for application

     C. Dynamics for Bible application

     D. Building doctrine

III. Chapter summary 

APPENDIX

Bible study tools (Bibliography)

Work plan for Bible study

Example: how to study the Bible 

Example: work sheet, observation, interpretation, application 

Example: historical Bible study 

Example: topical Bible study 

Example: concordance word study 

Example: biographical study .

Example: historical background, book outline, commentary