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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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We must know who wrote the book and to whom – by knowing the culture and background of the author and recipients we can understand things such as what might have been assumed rather than needing to be explicitly stated or explained.
Knowing what the purpose of the book was will provide a filter for all of the information written in the book. This helps us not to take passages out of context. It also help to center our focus while we read.
Knowing how a book is organized will help us in understanding how the book as well as each passage was meant to be interpreted. Issues such as the greetings and closings of epistles, or the acrostic nature of psalm 25, or the symmetrical way much of the poetry books are written, to the symbolic nature of Revelation give us important information to how we are supposed to understand a book.
Knowing where and when the author and recipients were when a book was written will give us insight into context surrounding the book. Knowing that Paul was able to send a message of Joy while in prison makes Philippians much more impactful, and knowing where a book was written also gives clues to cultural references that we may miss otherwise. Knowing when a book was written allows us to know what was happening historically surrounding the story, which changes the meaning. Had the Temple been destroyed? Were they living in exile? Were the events recent enough for the writer to have seen them first-hand? These questions will give a much clearer picture of how to interpret the text.
And finally, why the book was written will help us to be mindful of taking things out of context, and will help us to know how to focus our minds and hearts as we read. Is the purpose of the book to record history, instruct, or give hope to those who are facing persecution? This will help us to understand the mindset we should use when reading.
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I think you get to see the big picture instead of bits and pieces of it.
It’s like collecting evidence to find the truth.
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This systematic study of the bible will help keep things in the right context as we study the bible for all it’s worth.
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Gives us a better insight and the fulness of it’s purpose.
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They all are designed to make us dig deeper to find the answer. You cannot give one words answers to these questions. One leads to the next to develop understanding.
