BI103 Principles of Bible Interpretation
Overview
Join Dr. Craig Keener, a foremost expert in biblical backgrounds, as he provides principles for interpretation along with excellent examples. See the parable of the Prodigal Son through the eyes of a Pharisee, learn the dangers involved in using allegory rather than analogy, and appreciate the contrast between Emperor Augustus and Jesus in the story of the first Christmas. Dr. Keener draws from his meticulous research of the ancient world to show you how to interpret the Bible by understanding its cultural contexts, genres, and more.
Top Highlights
“The ideal is to read the Bible so thoroughly, to know it so well, that we recognize the context of these verses.” (source)
“The point is that saving faith in John’s Gospel is also persevering faith.” (source)
“Among basic Bible interpretation principles, the first one that I should mention, at least in passing, which hopefully most of us recognize, is the fear of the Lord. ‘The fear of the Lord,’ Proverbs says, ‘is the beginning of wisdom,’ or is the beginning of knowledge. If you care about understanding the text rightly—that’s an important prerequisite for approaching the text—rather than just twisting it to make it say what you want it to say or to back up what you want to believe.” (source)
“In the context, the thief is somebody who climbs up some other way, who doesn’t come through the door. He speaks of all that came before Him as thieves and robbers. The thieves, the robbers, and the wolves are predators who come to destroy the sheep, and in this context, it’s not referring to the devil; in this context it’s referring to false teachers that come to lead us away from Jesus.” (source)
“All Scripture is for all time, but not all Scripture is for all circumstances. To rightly apply it, we must apply it to the circumstances analogous to those that the biblical writers addressed. To do this accurately, we must understand something about the circumstances that they addressed. This is the importance of background. Sometimes, it makes for life and death issues.” (source)
- Title: BI103 Principles of Bible Interpretation
- Author: Craig Keener
- Series: Logos Mobile Education
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Print Publication Date: 2015
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Courseware
- Subjects: Bible › Hermeneutics; Bible › Study and teaching; Education › Bible--Hermeneutics; Education › Bible--Study and teaching
- Resource ID: LLS:BI103KEENER
- Resource Type: Courseware Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-11T17:14:48Z
Dr. Craig S. Keener (PhD, Duke University) is professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, and is the author of 17 books, four of which have won book awards in Christianity Today. One, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, has sold more than half a million copies. He has authored scholarly commentaries on Matthew, John (two volumes), Acts (four volumes), and more briefly on Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Revelation. Dr. Keener is married to Dr. Médine Moussounga Keener, who spent 18 months as a refugee in her nation of Congo before their marriage.