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What do you think each of the six macro-observation questions of “Who, What, How, Where, When and Why” contribute to understanding a book of the Bible?
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Who identifies the writer, the recipient(s), and the nature of their relationship. It helps us to understand the writer’s perspective. What helps us to discover the book’s main ideas or theme(s) so we can accurately interpret specific passages in the book as well as the genre or writing style. How the writer organized the material helps us understand what role a specific passage plays in the book’s purpose and theme. Identifying Where the writer and reader were is essential to interpreting a Bible book. When a book was written is important to interpreting the content and making sense of it. Why each book was written is essential to interpreting its content.
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These will all help you make sense of the book and give you a much more clear understanding.
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Who investigates the author and audience – who wrote to whom? – as well as their relationship to one another.
What investigates what the genre is, what the main theme(s) is/are.
How investigates how the writer arranged his material – e.g. is it a narrative in chronological order? is it a long logical argument that culminates in a conclusion? is there a break in between that transits to another topic? does the writer repeat in circular argument (as in 1 John)?
Where investigates where the writer and readers were. This helps us to decipher the context and purpose of the writing, and may also clear up some doubts later in the passages.
When investigates when it was written. This helps us to decipher the context and purpose of the writing, and may also clear up some doubts later in the passages.
Why investigates why the writer wrote this book to these readers. This is often very crucial for interpretation. It also helps us to uncover the theme of the book and draw up an outline of the book later, if we know what his overall purpose is. -
It is helpful to gaining a deeper perspective of the micro-observation when the context of the macro-observation answers the setting of the book
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These questions help get a better understanding of the details of the book.