ABTI Hermeneutics 5 - Observation

Step One: Observe the Text

“What does it say?”

Observation asks questions of the text!

“I keep six honest serving-men(They taught me all I knew);

Their names are What and Why and WhenAnd How and Where and Who.”

— Rudyard Kipling

Where to start with observation

• Read the background material related to the book

• Read the whole book straight through to get an overview

• Identify the author, audience, date, location, and main theme

• Identify the genre (exposition, narrative, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, apocalyptic)

Where to start with observation

Where to start with observation

• Read and summarize each paragraph; make a general outline of the book

• Read each paragraph slowly and carefully; record any important facts• Look for things that are emphasized, repeated, related, alike,

unlike, true to life

• Notice the key terms, basic grammatical structure of each sentence

Questions to ask of a text

•Background questions

•Fact questions

•Meaning questions

•Application questions

How to study a section of text

• Read the entire section completely.

• Identify the paragraphs, and put a label or title on each paragraph.

• Evaluate each paragraph in light of the other paragraphs (look for relationships).

• Evaluate how the section as a whole relates to the rest of the book.

• Identify the MIT (main idea of the text).

How to study a section of text

• Keep a list of observations on the section.

• Study the persons and places mentioned.

• Keep a list of unanswered questions and unresolved problems.

• Ask “What have I seen in this section that challenges the way I live?”

• Share the results of your study with someone else.

Six things to look for

Six things to look for in a text

1. Things that are emphasized2. Things that are repeated3. Things that are related4. Things that are alike5. Things that are unalike6. Things that are true to life

1. Things that are emphasized

•Amount of space given to a topic•The author’s stated purpose•Order in which topics are arranged•Movement from lesser to greater, and vice versa

2. Things that are repeated

•Terms, phrases, and clauses•Characters• Incidents and circumstances•Patterns•NT use of OT passages

3. Things that are related

•Movement from the general to the specific•Questions and answers•Cause and effect

4. Things that are alike

•Similes•Metaphors

5. Things that are unalike

•Use of but•Metaphor• Irony

6. Things that are true to life

•What about this passage is true today?•What about this passage is true for anyone,

anywhere, in any time, and under any circumstances?

Other things to look for

•Look for “hinges” in the text, where a phrase connects what comes before it with what comes after it (therefore, and, but).•Pay close attention to lists of words. Look them

up!

Analysis by Diagram

Visualize the relationships between words in a passage

Analysis by Diagram

There are two primary types of diagrams used in studying a text of the Bible:

1. Grammatical diagram

2. Mechanical layout or block diagram

Analysis by Diagram

Analysis by Diagram

Mechanical Layout

Advantages of producing a mechanical layout:

1. Developing a mechanical layout slows the interpreter down and forces him or her to ask questions and make observations about the structure and relationships between words in a passage.

2. The mechanical layout becomes an ideal worksheet for recording notes and observations.

3. The mechanical layout helps develop a teaching outline by noting the main ideas of a passage.

Mechanical Layout

Additional notes on mechanical layouts:

1. There is no “right way” to lay out each passage of the Bible.

2. The thoroughness with which a mechanical layout is made will depend on the passage and the purpose of study.

3. Mechanical layouts are simple, but require some grammatical awareness. Pay attention to:1. Independent clauses (complete thoughts)

2. Dependent clauses (incomplete thoughts or modifying phrases)

3. Coordinating conjunctions (connecting words)

Work with a text

1 Peter 2:9-10

Work with a paragraph

“The paragraph is the basic unit of study—not the verse, not the chapter… It is a group of related

sentences and statements that deal with one main topic or idea. That makes it ideal for observational

study.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.”

What is the background of 1 Peter?

•Audience: the “elect exiles” of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

•Purpose: To encourage Jewish Christians scattered around Asia Minor to stand firm in their faith in the midst of persecution.

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we see?

• Peter contrasts you (his readers) with unbelievers.

• Peter says believers were once like nonbelievers (in darkness, separated from God, without mercy).

• Peter says believers are now chosen by God as His people, receiving mercy.

• God chose believers to proclaim His excellencies.

1 Peter 2:9-10—what is the main idea?

“God delivers and unites his people so they may glorify Him

by telling others what He has done.”

1 Peter 2:9-10—what do we do?

“Because God has saved me and uniting me with His people, I

should join others in proclaiming His greatness by sharing with

others what He has done in my life.”

Next Step: Interpretation

“What does it mean?”