» F O R T H E S E R M O N , B I B L E R E A D I N G , G O S P E L A D D R E S S
J - J OM I L E T I C A L H E L P S
---------— ----—
' v.. T '
B y
W I L L I A M • E V A N S
Ï
How to Get the Meaning Out of a Text
TT IS often difficult, after one has chosen -*■a text from which a sermon or Gospel address is to be preached or delivered, to get at the real teaching o f the text itself. The following principles, if rightly applied, will greatly help in the understanding of the text. In general, we should ask the text ques tions. It is surprising how quickly a text will talk back. Try it and see for yourself. Ask questions like the following: 1. Does the text mean exactly what it says? In other words, is the language lit eral or figurative ? Scripture does not always mean what it seems on the surface to teach. For illus tration, compare John 2:19, 21, 22. The Jews understood Christ to speak o f the temple on Mount Moriah, whereas He did not mean that at all. The same is true in connection with the Lord’s Supper (Mat thew 26:26, 27 ; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19- 20). Jesus did not mean that .they were to drink the literal cup. By the cup is meant that which it contains or symbolizes. The literal language o f Scripture is to be preferred unless the context or parallel passages demand otherwise. '2. Ask yourself, What is the meaning o f the words' o f the text? The_ same word may not be used in the same sense by different writers, nor even by the same writer. Compare the word faith, Galatians 1,:23 ; 1 Timothy 3:9; Acts 24:24; Romans 3 :3 ; Acts 17:3 l; Romans 14:23. The 'word flesh sometimes means the sinful nature, and again a sinless nat ure (compare Romans 8:13 ; Ephesians
2 :3 ; John 1:14; Romans 1:3). The best way to find out the exact meaning o f the words o f the text is to use a concordance like Strong’s or Young’s, Every student ought to possess one or the other o f these concordances ;■Cruden’s is not sufficient. < 3. One should ask under what circum stances the words were written. Any verses in Philemon, for example, can be better understood if the circum stances under which the book was written are known. Philemon was a Christian slave owner, living at Ephesus. One o f his slaves, Onesimus, ran away from him and went'to Rome. While there, he heard Paul preach and was converted. The apostle is sending the slave back to his master. The remembrance o f these circumstances would greatly aid in the understanding o f any te?ct found in this epistle. 4. How does Jthe teaching o f this text harmonize with the general teaching o f the Scripture as a whole? This is sometimes called the “analogy o f faith” or the “general tenor” o f Scrip ture. In Proverbs 16:4, for. example, we read: “ The Lord hath made all things for himself ; yea, even the wicked for the day o f evil.” Any teaching from this verse that would set forth the doctrine that the wicked were created in order that they might be condemned, would not be correct, because it Would be inconsistent with other parts o f the Scripture. Compare 2 Peter 3 :9, for example. 5. One should endeavor to find out what light the manners and customs o f the peo ple to whom the text was written, throws upon its understanding.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker