The Living Word (Lesson 7)

Studying the Bible Historically

This lesson begins a segment of the course which will be more hands on. My goal for the rest of the course will be twofold: first, to give practical instruction and clear steps on how to study the bible in the manner that will be the most profitable. Previous lessons have been more theoretical; I hope that the following will be less theoretical and more practical. My second goal is to give all of us practice in using the processes which we are studying. I hope this will be valuable in two ways: first, in teaching us how to study the bible more carefully; and second, in opening our eyes to the riches that the bible has in the passages that we choose to study together. As you can probably guess, this will require real work for all of us. But it will be work that we will find thoroughly rewarding, as we trust in the Lord to open our eyes to the truths which we are studying.

To begin with, we will examine more closely a statement made in the last lesson: it is necessary to study the bible with a historical mindset. At the outset, let me mention three reasons why this is essential, and three levels at which we can put this into practice.

Reasons for studying the bible historically:

  1. To gain a better perspective on what is being said

    If you wrote a personal letter to a close friend, there may be certain thoughts contained in that letter which he would understand immediately, but which we would be completely lost on an outsider. This is because the two of you have a background and experiences in common, and these experiences may be a necessary backdrop for what you have written. The bible, too, was written to an original audience that had certain experiences in common with the authors who wrote to them. The better we can understand this background, the better we will be able to make sense of all that the bible contains. Example: Elisha takes up the cloak of Elijah, and strikes the waters of the Jordan with it, so that they part. This action may be better understood when we recount two events recorded for us in scriptures: the first, in 1 Kings 19, the second in 2 Kings 2.

  2. To develop the same mindset as the original audience.

    Beyond just a common background, the original audience had the same cultural mindset. Any of you who have traveled to a foreign country know that the culture you visited had certain ways of thinking and a certain understanding of various expressions that were foreign to you as an outsider. The more we learn the cultural mindset of the people to whom the bible was written, the more we will understand the foreign expressions of the bible.

    Example: Jesus commands his disciples not to pray as the heathen do. Understanding the heathen culture of the day, specifically the common manner of praying to pagan gods, will help us understand more clearly what Jesus was speaking against Mt. 6:7,8.

  3. To understand our own history and connection with God’s people of other ages.

    All throughout the bible we find commands to remember what God has done for us and our forefathers. We are to teach our children the history of God’s working among us as a people, and to think frequently, gratefully, and worshipfully of our past Ex. 13:3; Deut. 4:9-10; 7:17-19; 32:7-9 Many of the psalms are historical recollections of God’s working in his people Ps. 78. Reading the bible historically will give us a better sense of commonality with God’s children before our time. It will make us more personally appreciative of God’s great works of redemption and deliverance. It will give us greater faith in his continuing gracious work in our future.

Levels of studying a passage historically:

  1. Using indicators within the book you are studying

    The authors of scripture often wrote to address specific problems or concerns that they had with a specific group of people, cultural problem, etc. However, reading the book as a whole will oftentimes allow us to pick up on these specific problems. This in turn will allow us to understand certain passages more clearly.

    Example: Galatians 5:1 tells us to stand firm in the freedom to which Christ freed us. Reading The first two chapters of Galatians will give us a better understanding of the problem he was fighting, and therefore the reason for the command and a more precise idea of what he meant by it.

  2. Using other books of the bible to give you background

    Many of Paul’s letters were written to churches that he became acquainted with on his missionary travels. Understanding the situations in which he started and left these churches will help us understand the letters he wrote to them. The book of Acts is invaluable in providing background information for many of Paul’s New Testament letters. Similarly, reading in the books of Samuel the historical background of the psalms that David wrote will give us vital background for understanding many of those psalms.

    Example: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13; 5:23 in light of Acts 17:1-10 Example: Psalm 3 in light of 2 Samuel 15-18

  3. Using history books, commentaries, bible atlases, and other study helps

    We have an amazing amount of accurate and beneficial information available to us today in libraries, on the internet, and for sale in Christian bookstores. Learning what some of these sources are, and how to use them, will be a profitable endeavor for us.

    Examples: Alfred Edersheim’s works, IVP Bible Background Commentary, Oxford Bible Atlas

Study Questions:

  1. What are some benefits of studying the bible with a historical mindset?

  2. How could having a historical mindset affect the way you read and study scripture?

  3. Read Isaiah 58:1-12. What is Isaiah rebuking? Think about this in light of the history of the time. We know that Isaiah began his prophecy in the year King Uzziah died (Is. 6:1). We know that he continued prophesying through the days of Ahaz (Is. 7:1). We know as well that his ministry continued through Hezekiah’s reign, from the account we have in Isaiah chapters 36-39. Now, study the history of those kings. What does the bible say about the year Uzziah died (read 2 Chronicles 27:16-23)? What about the reign of Ahaz (read 2 Chron. 28)? Now, how about Hezekiah (read 2 Chron. 29-32)? Were there outward changes in the wickedness of the land of Judah after Ahaz died and Hezekiah began to reign? Were these outward changes pleasing to God, according to our passage in Isaiah 58 (written during Hezekiah’s good reign)? Does this history shed more light on the passage? Make it more applicable to our own respectable, church-going society? Does this study help you see how historical indicators within the book you are studying, as well as in other portions of scripture, can have a vital impact on understanding the passage you are studying? (Jot down observations/comments in the space below.)

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