Resources
Interpretation
Focus: What Does it Mean?
I. Ask Questions
When you are studying a passage of the Bible, and come across an issue, phrase, topic, idea, or word that you do not understand, ask the question, "What does it mean?"
II. Find Answers
Sometimes we try to interpret too much at one time and get discouraged. When you find something in the passage that you don't understand, then start with a small part of the passage that isn't clear such as a word or phrase, and then work your way up until you have a better grasp of the unclear portion of scripture. Try using the following process.
1. Bible - Consider your question within the whole Bible. Look for other passages of scripture that might address the same idea, word, or phrase (Use cross-references or a concordance) God never contradicts Himself. Allowing His Word to give you understanding is a great place to begin.
2. Book - Your next step is to look at the overall theme or context of the whole book to find your answer. Who is the author? Who is he writing to? Why?
3. Chapter - After having looked for your answer in the paragraph, then consider the meaning and usage of the whole chapter.
4. Paragraph - If you still cannot find the answer to your question, after having looked at the phrase/sentence, then consider the paragraph and its meaning.
5. Phrase/Sentence - If the word alone doesn't answer your question, move to the phrase or sentence to get a better understanding of the unclear portion of the passage.
6. Word - Look at a specific word that you do not understand: define the word (try using a dictionary, Bible dictionary, or concordance) Ask God about the things you don't understand. If you still don't understand after you've completed the steps above, then bring your question to your small group on Sunday morning or at your Wednesday night C-group to find out what others think of your question - discuss the unclear issue and try to come to a conclusion.