Let’s practice: I Thessalonians 5:14

Context

• The verses around
• Who is the speaker and the intended audience?
• What is the main point of the surrounding verses?

Translations

• Compare other translations of the same verse.

Word studies

• Find other passages using the same words (use a concordance, Strong’s numbers, etc.)
• “admonish” “warn”
• “unruly” “out of line”

Harmony

• Don’t interpret one passage so that it contradicts another passage for which the meaning is plain.
• Titus 1:9
• Galatians 6:1
• I Kings 19:18

Figurative language

Attitude

• If your attitude is wrong, you’ll miss the meaning of the passage completely!

Final discussion

• What is Benchley gong to look like in 20 years if we don’t know how to study our Bibles (we just depend on the preacher or elders to study for us)? II Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 8:4; II Timothy 2:2
• When people do not know how to study the Bible itself, who/what might they turn to when they need help and guidance? (Isaiah 8:19-20)
• If God’s word is still powerful, why isn’t it making more of a difference in today’s world? (Hosea 4:1-6; Jeremiah 5:30-31)