Mining the Bible for Better than Gold en Honey ( 3 of 3)

Dear Saints,

Thank you for joining with me on this discovery. In some ways perhaps the most important thing I've ever tried to teach. (I want to refine it and do the 12-week Sunday School version). Anyway, by believing to mine the Bible for better than gold en silver, what awaits you are the thousand truths that save & set free and the thousand principles of Christian living you desire.

#9. One gets more from the Bible believing that as a lay person one can mine and discover Scriptural treasure.

Here's a Verse: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13). Supporting Witnesses include: Psalm 19:7, 119:99.

If the central truth of the Reformation was justification by faith, it survived only because the Bible was given back to the people.

One of the most famous quotes in church history: “If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause a boy who drives a plough to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost.” (Said Bible Translator Wm. Tyndale to a fellow priest who thought Bible interpretation belonged alone to the pope).

We hold no contempt for advanced education; indeed, we honor it—but not to the point where we give up our own Bibles. And if the learned & erudite advance some truth beyond our immediate grasp, well even then let us play the Berean: “With all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things [are] so.” (Acts 17:11).

Not only can we mine better than gold en honey from our Bibles, in true humility we may find that God chooses us, the “foolish in the world to shame the wise; … what is weak in the world to shame the strong; … what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:27–29).

And our pastors, teachers, commentators—far from threatened—will say: “Would that all the Lord's people mined their Bible for better than gold en honey.” (rf. Numbers 11:29).

#10. One gets more from the Bible stopping to think and observe the contexts.

Here's a Verse: “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Timothy 2:7). Note: Paul said that about what would be recognized as New Testament Scripture. Supporting Witnesses include: John 14:26, Philippians 3:15.

This is arbitary for illustration: Let us say that 80% of mining technique is simply stopping long enough to think and ponder and mull what was read—yea! stopping long enough to look for treasure. Indeed, we won't discover the content of Scripture until we understand the contexts of Scripture. By stopping to think or jot notes (writing is thinking) one naturally begins to observe contexts?

Historical context: When was it written? Where was it written? By who and for whom was it written? What was the purpose, situation in view? What was going on culturally, politically, economically, ethnically? Are there other relavent historical factors?

Literary Context: What is the genre? Narrative; parable; letter—personal, open; poetry; tract; sermon; genealogy; law; prophecy; apocalyptic. For instance we take poetry more figuratively and letters more literally. Another example: Narrative may support doctrine but usually doesn't establish doctrine. In prophetic and apocalyptic we look not only for prediction but patterns.

Grammatical, Snytactical Context: This is what most of us think of related to context. That is, words have meaning in phrases, then sentences, then paragraphs, then chapters, then books, then the anthology called the Bible. Beyond that we notice verb tense, tone, comparison-contrast, passive-active voice, question-answer (catechism), type/shadow, if-then, doctrine-application, figures of speech (idioms), therefores. And once we know what to look for we can also detect other rhetorical devices like exaggeration or overstatement (hyperbole), sarcasm, repetition-emphasis (parallelism), chiastic structure (a.b.b.a. pattern of thought), hendiadys (two aspects of one event), prolipsis (declaring the future as now), etc.

But I'm advancing beyond my point. Humble thinking is most of Bible discovery (rf. Hebrews 11:6). Not we will show the Bible what's what, but Bible show us! Let us do as Mary did with the Word of God: “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19).

As for a Bible we'll want one we can read. The average American reads at the 7th grade level. That's ok in this sense: The New Testament was written in Konine Greek, the language of the people not the academy. Many popular Bibles are written at this grade-level: NIV, CSB, NLT, NRSV. More literal Bibles are about 10th-12th grade reading level: KJV, NKJV, RSV, LSB, NASB. Why I use ESV: It is in my opinion the best blend of traditional language, literalness, and readability.

Many suggest a possible three Bible approach: one literal (more word-for-word), one dynamic equivalent (more phrase-for-phrase or thought for thought), and “possibly” one paraphrase (color commentary, sermonic). To give a sense of the above I'll ask: “Do you want your Bible to say: “Mary was having it in the belly” (hyper literal words) or “with child” (near literal/idiom) or “pregnant” (correct thought) or “bun in the oven” (jargon). The truth is we all want a Bible in the middle—some “leaning” towards the literal words, some “leaning” towards the literal meaning.

#11. One gets more from the Bible looking for the plain meaning and plain parallels.

Here's a Verse: “They read from the Book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.” (Nehemiah 8:8). Supporting Witnesses include: Acts 17:2-3, Luke 24:27.

So we want the plain sense of a Verse or Passage. When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense [or you'll end up with nonsense]. (Dr. David Cooper plus a friendly augment). Note: We say plain rather than literal due to figurative language. Ex. “He will cover you with His pinions.” (Psalm 91:4). Does God have a down comforter or protection for us?

Helps in finding the plain sense. All our observations above are usually suggesting a plain meaning. I also find the following helpful:

• It's not necessarily what I what it to mean. Beware of scratches you want itched. Rf. 2 Timothy 4:3–4.

• Let Scripture help interpret Scripture. I call them other Witnesses above. Can you think of other Scripture cross references that seem to harmonize or contradict the plain sense?

• Remember at first digging causes turbidity. Be patient and let things settle.

• Church history can be of help. “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Scripture is our authority, but it can be helpful to see how the church dealt with certain ideas in the past.

• Ask a trusted pastor or teacher (rf. Hebrews 13:7). Me too, I seek out other pastors, surely I do.

• Remember the meaning must pertain to all. Rf. 2 Peter 1:20.

• It's not my truth, your truth, but The Truth and nothing but The Truth. Rf. John 14:6.

• This is huge when it is really done: Mine the Bible in community. Iron sharpens iron. Rf. Proverbs 27:17.

• When there are disagreements (sometimes honest, seaching scholars aren't sure). But before agreeing to disagree examine if culture, preference, tradition, scratches/tickles, assumptions, trauma, personal background is being read into the text. This is the bane called eisegesis.

There are more helps I'm forgetting. The big point is to simply be honest—a plain, straight, non-twisted, uncontorted meaning.

#12. One gets more from the Bible by applying the plain meaning—usually to believe something or do something.

Here's a Verse: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:17). Supporting Witnesses include: Romans 2:13, 18–21; James 1:22, 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:10.

Most Scriptures come down to propositions to believe, yea love or imperatives to do/obey. Of course, it could also be something not to believe and practice. And deeper yet these are as an act of worship.

A couple things I've learned about application:

• My “ought to” of agreement isn't that powerful. I think of Augustine: “Give what You command [O Lord], and then command whatever You will.” His point: My agreement and willpower aren't enough—grace me, grace me! (rf. Zechariah 4:7).

• Our subconscience thinks hearing and knowing is doing. And it thinks someone elses light is our light while  we are sitting under it. Don't be deceived (rf. Romans 2:13, 18–21).

• Sometimes the Verses we know best need the most time. It's called: Helper help! I know it, I believe it, help me love it!!! It is called Romans 7:24–25 and 2 Thessalonians 2:10.

#13. Mining Example:

I'll close with a devotional example I had recently. My “prayer closet” consists mainly of reading a short Passage of Scripture. I then think generally and then specifically on a couple few Verses. Once I discern the “sense” (Nehemiah 8:8), I pray it out asking for grace to love and live it. And I extend that prayer as intercession for my family, prodigal & Patmos saints, other flocks & shepherds, other ministers & ministries throughout the Iron Range and for Jews of the diaspora & Israel. I'll sometimes name a couple-few individuals as loaves & fishes to be multiplied as it were.

So this particular day I came to two Verses almost none would think devotional worthy: “54Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”

By simply pausing to think the following thoughts were mined in a mere 5—15 minutes:

• Don't skip this just because it is seemingly unpleasant, difficult. Rf. Acts 20:20, 27.

• Noticed the parallelism: “enraged” and “ground their teeth.”

• Stephen was in trouble for doing right, specifically preaching Jesus. Rf. 1 Peter 4:15–16, Philippians 1:29, 2 Timothy 1:8, 3:12.

• On the horizontal plain graphic persersecution. On the vertical plain three-fold wonder: open heaven vs. brass (rf. Genesis 28:12, John 1:51, Deuteronomy 28:23), the glory of God (rf. 1 Peter 4:14, Exodus 33:18), and Jesus standing (royalty sits, Jesus standing to receive is massive honor to Stephen).

• Noticed the Trinitarian sense of V.55.

• Asked: How was this possible? “Filled with the Holy Spirit".” So great was that unction, anointing, grace that he forgave his stoners in the midst of being stoned!! (rf. Acts 7:60). And though this ended in death for Stephen, it was a glorious, martyr's, rewarded death. But that can happen but once, meaning dozens and hundreds of times in similar perils throughout one's life one is delivered (rf. 2 Timothy 4:17–18, 2 Corinthians 1:10).

• Came up with a couple applications to consider (and verify): #1. When the horizontal plain is ugly go vertical! (rf. Psalm 46:10, Luke 21:28). #2. Stand up for Jesus and He will stand up for you. (rf. Exodus 14:14, 1 Peter 5:6, 10).

I have a lifetime of mining, so the references (rf.) come quickly these days. But the basic reflection is simply for pausing to think at Jesus feet. I wasn't looking for a sermon, teaching, etc. I was simply wanting to enjoy time with God and I soo did. But if warranted that 5–15 minutes produced a sermon I could preach for 45 minutes (smile).

A two Verse summary of mining the Bible: #1. Believe it is better that gold en honey (rf. Psalm 19:10) and having read the Bible stop to lovingly think and pray (rf. 2 Timothy 2:7).

In such glad hope,

tIM

PS. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4).