GRASPING GOD’S WORD WEEK 4New Testament Interpretation

NEW TESTAMENT CATEGORIES

• Gospel

• Letters

• Acts

• Revelation

GOSPEL

GOSPEL BOOKS

• Matthew

• Mark

• Luke

• John

GOSPEL INTERPRETATION• Gospel translates the Greek word evangelion, which means "good news". These books denote

the good news by and of Jesus.

• The gospels are similar to OT Narrative. They are stories.

• The gospels are Christ centered biography, both his teachings and his life experiences.

• Matthew, Mark, & Luke are the Synoptic Gospels, "seen together", and contain many of the same records from various points of view.

• John takes an altogether different route and focuses on Jesus early Galiliean ministry and is focused on the Christology of Jesus.

GOSPEL INTERPRETATION STEPS1. What does this small story tell me about Jesus? Understand the main main

message of each story, a message usually focusing on the life and teachings of Jesus.

2. What is the writer trying to say to his readers by the way that he puts the smaller stories together? Look at how the gospels are tying in similar themes within this section or portion of the gospel.

3. What sort of interactions take place within the story? Answer the who (characters), what (story line), when (time), where (place), why (reason), how (means).

GOSPEL TIPS• Take note of details the gospel write add that may provide interpretational instructions.

Example, "When Jesus noticed....when Jesus saw....When the time came......

• Take note of anything that is repeated in the story.

• Be alert for places where the story shifts to direct discourse. This occurs when the characters are speaking directly to one another or to Jesus.

• Watch out for paraphrases, parables, similies, metaphors, and exaggeration. Example, "the kingdom of God is like...." These are not literal meanings but something that paints a picture.

GOSPEL APPLICATION

• Life is hard!

• Jesus is God incarnate, "God in the flesh" and thus gives us the best description of the characteristics of God.

• Jesus is sovereign over forces hostile to God.

• We should trust Jesus in the desperate situations of life.

LETTERS

LAW BOOKSPaul ? James Peter John Jude

Romans Hebrew James 1 & 2 Peter 1 John Jude1 & 2 Corinthians 2 John

Galatians 3 JohnEphesiansPhilippiansColossians

1 & 2 Thessalonians1 & 2 Timothy

TitusPhilemon

LETTER INTERPRETATION• Letters are authoratative substitutes for personal presence.

• People wrote letters for the same reason we write them today, because we cannot be there in person, so the letters carry our presence and thoughts with them.

• They came from one speaking with authority as an apostle of Christ.

• Letters are situational.

• This means they were written to address specific situations. They were written to address practical needs of those receiving the letters.

LETTER TIPS• Try to reconstruct the situation that called for the letter in the first place.

• Letters typically contain an introduction (writer, recipient, greeting, and prayer), body (instruction, persuasion, rebuke, exhortation, and more), conclusion (goodbye, final thoughts, grace benediction.)

• Remember these letters were written to the Christian community and were often exchanged between churches so it's relevance can be beneficial to the Big C as well as the litte c.

• The writers were most concerned with applying theology in practical ways to real-life situations.

ACTS

INFORMATION ON ACTS• The Book of Acts is the only account of the birth and growth of the early

church. It also contains the introduction of the Holy Spirit.

• Acts is where God's "chosen people" transferred from being the nation of Israel the the church of Christ (not the denomination).

• Acts can be viewed as a sequel to Luke.

• Acts is both a story & a theological history. It is a narrative of the early church and its leaders.

ACTS INTERPRETATION• Follow similar rules to OT narrative as well as gospels for interpretation.

• Look for characters, circumstances,and challenges.

• As a book of history, Luke is not necessarily agreeing with what happened as much as he is recording what happened. Be careful in choosing actions to duplicate.

• However, Luke was a theologian so many of this can teach help us understand God and His redemptive plan.

• Acts can also be viewed as a comprehensive discipleship manual, designed to reinforce the Christian faith for new believers.

ACTS MAIN THEMES• The Holy Spirit empowers the disciples of Jesus.

• God's sovereignty displays itself clearly in His control over circumstances of the early church for the sake of the gospel.

• The Spirit works chiefly through the church (the people of God) to accomplish His will.

• Prayer and suffering went hand in hand throughout the early church. The advancement of the gospel to the Gentiles was not without sacrfice.

REVELATION

REVELATION INTERPRETATION• Revelation combines 3 literary genres: letter, prophecy, and apocalyptic.

• Revelation is a situation letter "to the seven churches in the province of Asia." (Revelation 1:4), written to address specific situations.

• Revelation is a prophectic letter. It contains both the prediction of the future and proclamation of God's truth for the present. Unlike OT prophecy it is written for those in between the "already of the cross" and the "not yet of Christ's glorious return."

• Revelation is an apocalyptic letter. Apocalyptic refers to God's divine intervention in human history to overthrow evil empires and establish His kingdom.

STEPS TO READING REVELATION1. Read Revelation with humility.

2. Try to discover the message to the original readers.

3. DO NOT try to discover a strict chronological map of future events.

4. Take Revelation seriously, but don't always take it literally.

5. Pay attention when John identifies an image.

6. Look to the OT & historical context when interpreting images & symbols.

7. Focus on the main idea & don't press all the details.

INTRO TO THE INTERPRETIVE JOURNEY

1. Grasp the text in their town.

2. Measure the width of the river to cross.

3. Crossing the principlizing bridge.

4. Consult the Biblical Map.

5. Grasping the text in our town.