Sam’s Process of Applying a Passage

An over-simplified hermeneutics primer

1. Genre.  Determine the genre(s) of your passage. Try to figure out how to read the words in the passage. Begin to identify some of the peculiarities of that genre.
2. Historical/Cultural Context.  Find out who wrote the book, when the book was written and when the events of the book happened. This will help you know what was going on in the world of the original audience. Try to read the passage with the original audience’s glasses. Keep this at the front of your mind as you exegete your passage, and as you apply it.
3. Literary Context.  Understand the point of the whole book (eg. Hebrews presents Jesus as the true Messiah and the fulfillment of the law). Determine how the pericope contributes toward the main point of the book (eg. Hebrews 1:1-3 demonstrates Jesus’ superiority over the prophets). Finally, try to determine the significance of your passage to the pericope in which it stands (eg. Hebrews1:2b emphasizes the significance of the word of the Son in creation). This requires you to read the book and your passage over and over and over and over.
   
   [Pay attention to how the author lays out sections of his book. He didn’t mark chapters, but he did break it up in clever ways. If you find him repeating key words or concepts, you may be able to figure out how what he intended to be pericopes (do you like this word yet?). Also, look for parallel structure, chiasm, inclusios, etc.]
4. Meaning. Put together everything you have learned. Stay in your book as much as possible. Try to avoid explaining Paul with something James wrote! Explain the language (exploring metaphorical and literal statements) to determine what the author is saying. Try to focus on the original audience as you reach for the meaning. In the end, try to state the meaning in one or two sentences.
5. Application. Begin by understanding the principle the author is presenting. Then determine the application the author expected of his audience. Next, determine if the principle is applicable to those outside the culture in which it was presented. If so (and be sure you are sure), determine what application is expected today. Challenge your own results. Be honest. God is big, and his word is powerful. Both can withstand a closer look.
   
   [Be careful and humble as you work through this. Slather the whole thing in prayer and meditation. Allow time for the process. Use only the highest quality tools and thinking.]

Some of the Tools for Good Study

1. One of the best tools to start with is a good study Bible. It will tell you the dates things happened, give you outlines of books, and have some good maps. Use the cross references to help you think about the passage, but don’t just assume that every cross reference is right. A good companion to your bible is an exhaustive concordance in the translation you are using (my preference is the updated NASB, but I give tacit approval to the NKJV).
2. A really helpful book is called, How to Read the Bible for all its Worth. This is a great starter book on studying the Bible. One caution is that one of the authors is a Reformed Theologian, and thus draws some incorrect conclusions at times about how to apply OT passages. On the whole, though, this is a very good little text.
3. We all need help when we study the Bible. Commentaries are books written to help explain different books of the Bible. Some are very good, some are not. One good series is called the Tyndale Commentary on the New and Old Testament.
4. As you get more serious, especially as you get toward college, you’ll want higher quality commentaries. Two really good ones are the Word Biblical Commentaries, and the NIV Application Commentaries.
5. I hope these have helped, but if you find you need more help when you are studying, never hesitate to ask your pastor, or give me a call if you can track me down.

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