1. Introduction
On October 31, 2023, I posted an article entitled “Expanding on the Application Step for Bible Study” [link: EXPANDING ON THE APPLICATION STEP FOR BIBLE STUDY | Steve Belsheim. Recently, I came across a very interesting book entitled “A Visual Theology Guide to the Bible – Seeing and Knowing God’s Word” by Tim Challies and Josh Byers. The authors use diagrams to assist in teaching the substance of the book.
On pages 94-97, Challies et al. discuss the application step of the three-step Bible study method (observation, interpretation, and applications). This post supplements my earlier discussion with the authors’ questions in their book.
2. The Overarching Questions for the Application Step
Below are the overarching questions to ask in connection with the application step:
· What response(s) did the original writer intend to elicit from his intended audience?
· How culturally-bound are those responses? Does the intended response(s) apply only to the specific circumstance of the passage?
· If a response is culturally-bound, does it represent a cross-cultural principle?
3. Specific Questions from My Earlier Post
The specific questions from the book entitled “Putting the Bible to Work” by Daniel Doriani are below.
· Does the interpretation influence my character? Who should I be? That is, how can I become the person or obtain the character that allows me do what is right, i.e., live in a way consistent with the interpretation?
· Does the interpretation present a duty? What should I do? That is, what is my duty in light of the interpretation? How does my present conduct correspond to each applicable duty? How do I change my life to comply with the duty? Do I expect this change to be transformational? What do I plan to do to experience this transformation?
· Does the interpretation define a goal? To what causes should I devote my life energy? That is, what goal(s) as exemplified by the interpretation should I pursue?
· Does the interpretation relate to discernment? How does the interpretation help me to distinguish between truth and error? That is, how does the interpretation help me gain discernment?
4. Specific Questions from Challies et al.
Challies et al. use a head, heart, and hands approach to the questions of the application step. First, under the heading HEAD – Allowing the Word to Shape My Mind” the questions comprise:
· What does this passage teach me about God’s nature?
· What does this passage teach me about myself in relation to God?
· What does this passage teach me about doctrine or the Christian life?
Second, under the heading “HEART – Allowing the Word to Shape My Affections” the questions comprise:
· What does this passage tell me to feel?
· What does this passage tell me to love?
· What does this passage tell me to hate?
Third, under the heading “HANDS – Allowing the Word to Shape My Actions” the questions are:
· Do I have sin that needs to be confessed?
· Is there an explicit command that I need to follow?
· Is there an example that I need to follow?
· How can I advance God’s Kingdom based on this passage?
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, I believe that if you ask the above questions your application(s) of the single correct interpretation of a text you will develop legitimate application(s) of a properly interpreted text.
As I wrote in my earlier post, please keep in mind that this method is a work in progress and will undoubtedly develop over time.
If you are unsure about your salvation or are not a Christian, you must continue reading.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have a website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
… please (1) read through “God’s Plan of Salvation” so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God – saved – through Jesus Christ.
God’s Plan of Salvation
In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe. As a part of His creative actions, He made humans (male and female) in His image to know Him. For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve. But Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God, whereby Adam’s sin was passed down to all of humanity, creating a separation between God and humanity. We cannot do anything to bridge that separation so that without God’s intervention, hell is our eternal destination. Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy, God provided us with the only means of salvation through Abraham’s lineage by sending the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, God’s only unique Son. While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, thereby fulfilling the Law, and died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all people. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, thereby exhausting God’s wrath against humanity. God now calls on every unbeliever to repent of their sins and completely trust in Christ alone that Jesus died for their sins and rose to life from the dead. Every unbeliever who repents and trusts in Jesus Christ will be forgiven of all their sins (past, present, and future) and born again as a new creation in Christ, possessing guaranteed eternal life with God.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7-25; Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Matthew 1:18, 20, 24-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:17; 9:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.
“Sinner’s Prayer”
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever!
(Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).
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