Commentaries and explanations to the bible. "Explanatory Bible. Old Testament and New Testament" Alexander Lopukhin. Hebrew and Greek Definitions

Contains over 20,000 high-quality notes and explanations covering virtually the entire spectrum of text Holy Scripture. Particular attention is paid to the interpretation of difficult places in the Bible. John MacArthur's Study Bible with Commentary is a unique work that brings together the study of the Holy Scriptures, which Dr. MacArthur has been engaged in for 30 years.

This translation of the Bible marked a special page in the history of the approach of Russian-speaking people to the “verbs of eternal life” set forth in the Word of God. It is this text that is used in the Russian edition of the study Bible with MacArthur's commentary. Many corrections have been made to the text of the study Bible with comments by B. Getze, as well as corrections to the text of the Bible published by the missionary union "Light in the East". In the aforementioned editions of the Russian Bible, many inaccuracies and mechanical errors made in its first editions have been eliminated.

The synodal translation is one of the best and most accurate, but it contains many words and phrases borrowed from other languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek - and, as a rule, difficult to understand for a modern reader. These words and expressions have been replaced by their exact equivalents or explained by notes in the cross-reference column. Many Old Church Slavonic words have also been replaced, which have become archaic since the first edition of the Synodal Translation.

The special design of the study Bible is intended to improve understanding and encourage serious reflection on the Holy Scriptures.

• Topic headings help the reader easily navigate the Bible text by topic or main storyline.
• The verses are numbered in an easy-to-read font.
• Italic words or phrases are typed that are not in the original and added by Bible translators for clarity and coherence of speech
• oblique quotations from the Old Testament are highlighted in type in the New Testament
• Prose is organized into paragraphs, showing the structure of the text
• Poetry is framed as a poetic text, reflecting the poetic form and beauty of the verse in the original language
• Direct speech is in quotation marks for greater clarity and expressiveness.
• Punctuation marks are arranged in accordance with the general set of punctuation rules of the modern Russian language, as far as it seemed possible due to the outdated sentence structure and vocabulary of the Synodal text of the Bible

Hello brother Ivan!

I had the same thing at first. But the more time I gave to God: service and His Word, the more understandable it became to me. I wrote about this in the chapter “The Bible Must Be Studyed” in my book “Returning to the Origins Christian doctrine". To correctly understand the Bible, you need to follow certain rules when interpreting it, which can be read by clicking on the link. However, knowing how important this issue is, we will discuss it a little more.

Bible interpretation- not a simple matter. Scripture must be analyzed and understood in context. Today, many Christians are accustomed to paying attention to individual verses of the Bible, and even often a doctrine is built on a single text. Often, however, these verses tell a different story when viewed in the context of nearby chapters or the epistle as a whole. Previously, there was no division of texts into verses and chapters, they were read as indivisible books (scrolls). Therefore, attention was rarely focused on individual verses without taking into account the whole message. Also, when interpreting the Bible, it must be taken into account that these words were spoken in a different historical setting. The messengers of God spoke not only to future generations, but also directly to those who were addressed. Real people spoke to real people in their language, taking into account their mentality inherent in that time and that area, and naturally understood each other. So for a correct understanding (interpretation) of the Bible, we need to delve into the nuances of their life and life as much as possible. And then a lot of things will become clearer to us.

Therefore, my advice to you is to study the Bible seriously, not forgetting to get acquainted with the history of the peoples it tells about. And at the same time, do not “get hung up” on individual texts, but look at them solely with regard to the context. And of course, he prays before reading the Bible with a request to God for the gift of wisdom for interpreting the Bible, understanding and remembering His Word.

Today, the spiritual authorities of the mainstream churches claim that they alone have the right to interpret the Bible. Like, such an important thing as understanding the Scriptures is possible only within the church by its faithful holy subjects. And of course, each denomination believes that only their spiritual teachers interpret the Bible correctly. The flock of these churches believes their spiritual leaders that it is they who correctly understand the Word of God, while other Christian churches are mistaken. It turns out a strange picture: there are many churches, there seem to be many positive "holy" people in them ... But they all interpret the Bible in different ways. One gets the impression that it is not possible to understand Holy Scripture in general, since so many educated theologians argue about its texts.

However, it is not. It's all about authority—prioritization. No wonder Jesus warned that believers should consider their true teacher and mentor (see Matt. 23 chapter) not any person (or group of people), but directly God - His Word. Then it would be difficult for believers studying the Bible to be led astray, since the authority for them would be not their spiritual mentors, but the Lord. Meanwhile, "sinful" mortal people took upon themselves the interpretation of the Bible, and other people recognized this right for them. As a result, different teachers led their flocks in different directions. This problem is not new to Christianity, it was also inherent in the Jews. Remember how Jesus repeatedly rebuked the spiritual leaders of the Jewish people (the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes) for misinterpreting Scripture. Then (and still) any Jew, expressing his thoughts about the teachings and text of the Holy Scriptures, necessarily had to refer to the words of some famous rabbi. Doesn't this remind you of anything? Today it is also customary in popular churches to quote the holy fathers to support their statements about the teachings of the Bible. So it turns out that people themselves do not delve into the essence of the Word of God, and each will trust their spiritual mentors. It is also worth noting that both earlier and still there are many currents in Judaism, each led by its own teachers. Pharisees and Sadducees are mentioned in the New Testament. Also in those days there were large religious groups of Zealots and Issei. So the division into confessions is not new for Christianity.

Meanwhile, both the Old Testament and the New were given not to teachers for teaching and interpretation to the flock, but to ordinary believers. The word of God was to be studied by all—kings and simple people including women and children. All this is clearly seen from the texts of the Old and New Testaments, which is discussed in the chapter The Word of God you need to know. How to study the Holy Scriptures of the book "Returning to the Origins of Christian Doctrine"). The interpretation of the Bible is not magical and esoteric secret knowledge, but the result of a simple knowledge of all the books of Scripture and an analysis of their texts, taking into account the fact that biblical controversial phrases must be interpreted taking into account the context of the entire message, while understanding that the Bible is one and cannot contradict. That is, when understanding the Holy Scriptures, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that its texts, when interpreted, do not conflict with its other texts. After all, the Bible is whole, and its author is one, "with whom there is no variation and no shadow of turning" (James 1:17).

Valery Tatarkin

Title: Explanatory Bible. Old Testament And New Testament

About the book “Explanatory Bible. Old Testament and New Testament" Alexander Lopukhin

"Explanatory Bible. The Old Testament and the New Testament is a twelve-volume work by the Russian Orthodox writer, biblical scholar, theologian, translator, researcher, and interpreter of the Holy Scriptures Alexander Lopukhin. Written in an easy and accessible way, this book explains the miracles recorded in the Bible and ties them to historical events. To date, the work has been reprinted more than 20 times.

The author of the book was born in the family of a priest. After graduating from the seminary, Alexander Lopukhin became a student at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. For two years he was a psalmist at the church of the Russian embassy in New York. Then he returned to his homeland, defended his dissertation and took up teaching and literary activities.

Critics note that each work of the writer is of both literary and scientific value. So, in the book “Explanatory Bible. Old Testament and New Testament” is an incredibly deep understanding of biblical history. The writer proves that the stories about the creation of man, the fall into sin, the flood, the confusion of languages ​​have a real historical basis. This book provides many explanations of life, realities, traditions of the time when the Bible was created. They help to understand the depth and meaning of Biblical Scripture.

In addition, the creator of the work sought to explain certain events of biblical history from scientific positions, that is, with an eye to the data of modern (i.e. pre-revolutionary) biology, physics, geology, archeology, history and other sciences to the author. However, it is worth remembering that, first of all, this book acts as a kind of spiritual edification to the reader, and references to the sciences serve only to confirm the authenticity of the stories presented in the Bible.

The author himself noted that this book is intended for a wide range of readers. After all, he believed that biblical history would be the best "teacher" for every sane person. The work was created in order to clarify especially incomprehensible places in the Bible, as well as to avoid "false interpretation".

Please note that in the book of Alexander Lopukhin “Explanatory Bible. Old Testament and New Testament” you will find wonderful engravings by Gustave Dore, an unsurpassed master of his craft, whose works adorn many ancient works on history and religion.

On our site about books lifeinbooks.net you can download for free without registration or read online book"Explanatory Bible. Old Testament and New Testament” Alexander Lopukhin in epub, fb2, txt, rtf, pdf formats for iPad, iPhone, Android and Kindle. The book will give you a lot of pleasant moments and a real pleasure to read. Buy full version you can have our partner. Also, here you will find last news from literary world, find out the biography of your favorite authors. For novice writers, there is a separate section with useful tips and tricks, interesting articles, thanks to which you can try your hand at writing.

Not only interesting, but also correct ... The Bible is important not only to read, but also to understand correctly. Today we want to present you a chapter from Steve Kinnard's book.

Principles of Bible Interpretation

"God's Word in the Bible is like a soul in a body." Peter Taylor Forsythe, Congregational theologian

When my family and I lived in Jerusalem for a year, I interacted with many of the archaeologists who live there. I spoke with a geologist who was studying new data from Hezekiah's tunnel at Siloam. I spoke with the chief archaeologist at the excavations of the Palestinian Caesarea. I spoke with the archaeologist who oversaw work at Bet-Shin in summer period. Archaeologists often face difficulties when excavating. They find data in separate layers of the earth that contradict existing theses. When they find themselves in such a dead end, they have a tried and tested method to find a solution to the dilemma - to dig deeper. In archeology, when you need an answer, you dig deeper.

The same applies to Bible study. When you find material in a text that you don't understand, dig deeper. But what tools should we use to delve into the Bible? Below are four principles for interpreting (interpreting) the Bible to help you delve into the text. Examples are provided to clarify these principles. Happy diving!

First Principle of Bible Interpretation:
Interpret the Passage in the Light of Its Context

A passage of Scripture must always be seen in its context. An elderly village preacher once said to me, "A passage taken out of context is an excuse" 1 . You can prove anything by taking passages out of context. You may have heard the story of the man who told God that he would open the Bible and point his finger at three passages. Whatever those passages said, the man was going to prove his faith in God by immediately obeying those three random passages. In the first attempt, his finger pointed to a passage that says that Judas "came out, went and strangled himself." The second opened: "Go, and you do the same." The third attempt pointed to the ominous words: "What you are doing, do it quickly." Moral of the story: We will strangle ourselves by taking passages out of context.

Near Context

When reading a passage, first look at the passages immediately surrounding the verse in question. This simple procedure will often help you understand the meaning of the verse. Isaiah 58:11 can be used to say that if a person is part of God's kingdom, their troubles will end. I have heard religious Israelis use similar verses to claim that God himself has ordained that the Israelis should control the territory of Palestine.

“The Lord will always guide you, He will feed your souls in dry lands and give you strength, You will be like a garden by the water, Like a stream that never dries up.” 2

But when you consider the immediate context, you will see that this promise is based on the conditions laid out in verses 9b-10. A careful reading of the near context may help clarify this verse:

“You should no longer bring trouble to people, you should not blame others and speak bitter words. You must feel compassion for the hungry and give them bread, You must help people in misfortune, Then your light will shine in the darkness, your sorrow will pass away, and you will shine like the noonday sun. (Isaiah 58:9b-10)

Far Context

The "distant context" is the context of the entire Bible. Consider how this passage or verse fits into its entire context. Verses 16-17 of 1 Thessalonians 4 are often used as proof that there will be two resurrections, one for the righteous and later another for the wicked. They are also used as proof that after the first resurrection those left on earth will face a time of trials and tribulations. However, it is necessary to consider both the near and far context of these verses.

In the near context, we see that Paul is addressing the question raised by the early church about what would happen to their dead brothers and sisters. He says that the dead in Christ will rise first. Then all who are alive will be lifted up with them in the clouds. In other words, there will be one resurrection for the dead and the living. First the dead will be resurrected, then the living will be taken to meet God. Continuing to read the following verses (5:1-3), we see that on the same "day of the Lord" - "suddenly destruction overtakes them (i.e., the ungodly ones)." In context, it is clear that the resurrection of the righteous and the judgment of the wicked will take place on the same day, and that no one will be left on earth. Now compare this passage with its distant context in the rest of the Bible. describes the resurrection in John 5:28-29 as a single resurrection of both the wicked and the righteous. Jesus says:

“Do not be surprised at this, for the time is approaching when all those lying in the graves will hear the voice of the Son of Man and will rise from their graves. Those who have done righteous deeds will be resurrected to life, those who have done evil will be resurrected to be judged” (John 5:28-29)

The distant context of the passage supports the claim that there will be one resurrection, not two. Therefore, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 must fit into the context of the rest of the Bible.

When we talk about viewing Scripture in the light of a distant context, we are advocating that Scripture interpret Scripture. Here are some basic principles:

• No passage of Scripture can be interpreted to contradict another. Always interpret a less clear passage in the light of a more understandable one.
• Read the Bible a lot and study it regularly so that you know its main ideas.
• Perhaps the most important question to ask constantly when studying Scripture is the question of context: "What does this passage mean in its context?" If you answer this question, the most difficult verses will become clear.

The second principle of Bible interpretation is:
Interpret According to the Correct Meaning of the Words

Words can have multiple meanings. For example, the word "heaven" can mean the sky above us, or it can mean an eternal home for the righteous. To interpret the Scriptures correctly, we must understand the correct definition of the words in the passage.

Wrongful Change of Concept

Matthew 24:34 is the main verse for understanding Jesus' teaching about the end time. If you study Matthew 24 carefully, you will see that Jesus answers two questions: (1) what will be the signs of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem; and (2) what will be the signs of the end time? Jesus answers the first question and then moves on to answer the second. Verse 34 is the transition from the first question to the second. Jesus says, “Truly I say, all this will happen in this generation.” "Generation" is a thirty-forty-year span of time. This is how the word is consistently used throughout the Bible. All the signs that precede this verse - wars and rumors of war, famines and earthquakes - refer to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 70 AD.

Supporters of the theory of the thousand-year reign of Christ 3 relate the above signs to the second question about the end of time. They are constantly monitoring political events around the world, trying to predict when Jesus will appear and establish what they call His "thousand-year kingdom" on earth. However, verse 34 gives them a problem. If the signs preceding verse 34 are from the generation of the first disciples, then they cannot be applied to the end of time. Therefore, they gave a different definition to the word "generation". For them, "generation" becomes a distribution of historical periods 4 . They reject the usual, normal definition of the term (a definition that makes sense in the context of Scripture) and revise it to fit their doctrine. This is an example of how a play on words can lead to a false doctrine. But what are the basic principles for defining words?

Context, Context, Context

Often the context (the words immediately preceding or following the word in question) defines the word. For example, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 in the synodal translation sounds like this:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God be perfect, to everyone good deed cooked.

What does the word "perfect" mean here? The usual definition would be "flawless, infallible". Does the Bible make us infallible? No - even with the Bible, we still sin and are not worthy of the glory of God. The context defines the word. The verse says, "complete...prepared for every good work." In context, the word "perfect" means that the Bible fully equips us to follow God. Modern translation 6 clarifies this by translating this phrase as: "that the man of God may do all that is required of him, and be armed to do good works." As you can see, looking at the context helps define the word.

Parallelism

Jewish poetry was built more on parallel images than on rhymes. The two most common types of parallelism in Scripture are synonymous and opposite parallelisms.

Synonymous parallelism is when two similar thoughts are expressed together. One idea closely follows another. The second clarifies and expands the first. For example, Psalm 7:14 says, “He took the weapon of death, he prepared burning arrows!” 7. The first idea, "the weapon of death" is explained and defined by the second parallel idea - "burning arrows". Although this passage does not present a deep doctrinal issue, it does show the thinking of Jewish authors, who usually express their ideas through parallelism.

Opposite parallelism is when two opposing thoughts are expressed in parallel. One idea helps to characterize another by asserting the opposite of the previous one. For example, Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer subdues anger, but a harsh answer kindles it.” The second idea mirrors the opposite of the first. In doing so, it helps to define and explain what is stated in the first idea. The book of Proverbs contains many examples of this parallelism.

Another example of the opposite parallelism is found in Genesis 29:17, where Laban's daughters Leah and Rachel are compared. In the Synodal Translation, they are described as follows: "Leah was weak in her eyes, but Rachel was beautiful in shape and beautiful in face" 8 . What does "weak eyes" mean? We don't usually use this definition to describe people. If you look at the description of Rachel, you will see the opposite of weak eyes: "beautiful in shape and beautiful in face." "Weak eyes" is a euphemism for "not beautiful." It was a delicate way of saying that Leah was not a pretty sister; but Rachel was.

Important Terms

• « hermeneutics» - the study of the principles of the correct interpretation of Scripture. In other words, hermeneutics is the study of how to interpret.
• « Exegesis» - the practical application of the principles of correct Biblical interpretation. This should be what we do whenever we study the Bible.
• « exposition” is the transmission of the interpretation of Scripture to others. This happens whenever we preach or teach the scriptures.

Understanding Jewish parallelism is very helpful in understanding Scripture. These were simple, easy examples that did not involve doctrine. But other examples can be given that show how understanding Jewish parallelism can help clarify important issues Scriptures. What is meant by the word "faith" in the gospel of John? IN modern world, "faith" means to accept something as true. Does John define "faith" in the same way? He uses the Jewish parallelism in John 3:36 to clarify his meaning of "faith." The synodal translation reflects this not so clearly:

He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Consider the option in modern translation RBO, which is much closer to the Greek meaning:

He who believes in the Son has found eternal life, but he who disobeys the Son will never see life: God's wrath will be on him forever.

John expresses his thought through the opposite parallelism - if you believe, you will have eternal life, but if you disobey, you will not see life. The opposite parallel between faith and disobedience.

The idea that faith and obedience are one and the same permeates the entire gospel of John. For John, faith is more than just accepting something as true. Faith means obedience. John 3:16 should be explained in relation to John 3:36.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 9

Understanding Jewish parallelism helps us see how John used the word "faith" in his gospel.

Words in a Distant Context

The Bible Symphonies give a list of word usage throughout the Bible. Using the complete symphony, you can find definitions for words in light of how they are used in other parts of the Bible. (Just remember to always pay attention to the immediate context.) The symphonies are also great for thematic study. You can do a study on "mercy" with them and see how the word is used throughout the Bible. Complete symphonies list every passage where the word is used. There are many publications for synodal translation. Computerized versions of the symphonies are available from a variety of sources as search engines online and bible programs. These easy-to-use resources are great tools to help you quickly locate useful information.

Hebrew and Greek Definitions

Since the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Ancient Greek, and partly in Ancient Aramaic, Dictionary in our own language is not very helpful in defining Biblical terms. It can help us explain the words of the translation, but it will not show what was meant in the original language. Whenever I hear a preacher say, "I looked up that word in the dictionary, and it means..." I cringe. The dictionary does not define Biblical terms. You must go from our language to the original Greek or Hebrew word. How can a person without an acceptable knowledge of these languages ​​do so? It's not easy, but here are some helpful suggestions.

First, you can study the Greek and Hebrew alphabets and use interlinear (interlinear) translations, which, in addition to the current translation, give words in the original text. By reading a synodal or other translation, you can find the original word used in the passage of Scripture. In John 3:16, "For God so loved the world..." you can see that the word "peace" is kosmon. Then you can look up kosmon in the Greek dictionary and the different ways to use it. Some of the more complex electronic symphonies allow you to switch to interlinear translation after you have found the lyrics in your favorite native language version.

Secondly, there are many Bible dictionaries that are compiled according to the words in the native language. Using them, you can go from mother tongue to the original word in ancient Greek or Hebrew. So, for example, for in English, one of the best is the four-volume The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Good book for Hebrew words, the two-volume Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Barclay's comments often provide a useful study of words in the original language. His edition of New Testament Words will also be helpful in this.

If you study words, base on the original word, not the translation. A word should always be given its literal meaning, as long as other arguments do not prevent it. The rule of thumb when studying the Bible is to always take the literal meaning of the verse first. If the verse makes sense in its literal meaning, then stop at that meaning. If a verse contradicts others or goes against the biblical understanding of God and his character, then you need to look for another meaning instead of the literal one. Also, if the verse does not make sense when taken literally, then another meaning must be sought.

Consider the example from Luke 14:26. Jesus said:

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be Mine. eleven

Almost every time I have studied this verse with someone, they have seen an obvious contradiction between the words of Jesus and his character. Literally, Jesus is saying that his disciples should hate their families and themselves. But a literal interpretation of this passage contradicts everything we know about Jesus. How to explain the use of the word "hate" here? Jesus knew that the main deterrent to discipleship would be our closest relationships and our selfish natures. If one does not touch us, then another. Jesus uses a harsh, harsh word to make us wake up and pay attention to what he is saying. He uses a figure of speech called hyperbole: a blatant exaggeration. It does not mean that we literally have to hate (that is, be bitter, resentful, or vindictive) our families or ourselves. Jesus teaches us to love everywhere—even our enemies. But he wants us to be aware strong influence relationships and selfishness. 12

Grammar 13

When you read the Bible, you are reading it in a specific language. Every language has own rules grammar. Knowing these rules can help you understand what has been written and make it easier to interpret. For example, the KJV translates 1 Corinthians 11:27 as: Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

In context, Paul writes about the celebration of the Lord's Supper in churches. Some use this passage as proof that ours should be "closed," literally, that only disciples of Christ can participate in communion. Can this passage be used to support this idea? Does the word "unworthily" describe the person taking communion? No, it doesn't describe. "Unworthily" is an adverb, not an adjective. It does not describe a person, place, thing, or idea—an adjective does. An adverb modifies a verb. "Unworthily" describes how we take communion. We must examine our hearts and partake in the proper way—focusing on the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Other translations help in this case by translating "unworthily" as "in an unworthy manner". This makes it clear that an adverb is being used here, not an adjective.

Third Principle of Bible Interpretation:
Interpret Scripture in the Light of Historical, Geographical and Cultural Context

Of all principles, interpreting the Scriptures in light of the historical, geographical, and cultural context of Biblical times is the most difficult to put into practice. This means going beyond the Bible and delving into texts about the history, geography and culture of Biblical times. It takes time and work, but of all Bible study principles, this one can pay the most dividends. The Bible can come to life for us like never before. For example, when we realize how Abraham lived, or the political climate of first century Palestine, or how the crucifixion took place in the first century, it greatly enhances our understanding of the Scriptures.

Distorting Glasses

For the average Bible reader today, probably the biggest problem is that we are reading the Bible through the glasses of Western thinking in the twenty-first century. The Bible is an oriental book written between 1500 B.C. and 100 AD. To properly understand the Bible, we must turn off our 21st century, critical, historical, Western thinking and immerse ourselves in the world of the ancient Near East. John Stott, a Protestant writer, argues that we need to go back in time to understand the Bible. Life in the first century was different. Their views on the world, science, history and society differed. Of course, their culture and daily life differ sharply from ours. If we are aware of these differences, we can come closer to understanding what the Bible says in its context.

A good illustration of our tendency to interpret the Bible through our own context is the wonderful painting by Leonardo da Vinci “ Last Supper". Da Vinci depicted the apostles sitting around the table on chairs around Jesus, enjoying a joint dinner. In the first century, people reclined on pillows while eating. The tables were not more than 45-60 centimeters from the floor. Da Vinci took the biblical story and put it in his own context. We must do the exact opposite. We must leave our situation and enter into the context of the Biblical story.

Valuable Details

When we delve into the context of the Biblical story, the Bible comes to life. Consider the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) in the light of some historical details. In the parable, a beggar named Lazarus is at the door of the rich man. He is hungry for the crumbs that fall off the table. Historically, we know that some of these falling pieces are yesterday's bread that were used as napkins: people wiped their faces with them. They could take these pieces and throw them to the dogs. That's what Lazar wanted to eat. In addition, the tables were about 45-60 cm from the floor. Lazar wanted to crawl under one of these tables and eat the crumbs and the rich man's used "napkins" - food meant for dogs. Dogs, however, were not interested in such food. They were more interested in licking Lazarus' wounds. To eat, Lazar had to fight off dogs to get to the food. It's a pathetic, hopeless picture. However, the rich man did not take pity on Lazarus. He turned away from his need. Among other things, the end of the story shows the condemnation of such people.

Why do we need to spend time studying the socio-historical background of the Bible? The Bible was written in a cultural context. God chose to give universal truths by placing them within a specific cultural framework. We must be able to separate cultural phenomena from universal truth, but when we separate the images of the Bible from their cultural setting, it is like taking a play out of its historical context - the play will lose its meaning. John Stott remarked:

Although God's revelation is addressed to all people at all times and in all countries, each part of it was primarily addressed to specific people at specific times, in a specific country. Therefore, the unchanging and universal message of the Scriptures can only be understood in the light of the circumstances in which it was originally given. 14

History and Politics

What should we consider when approaching the Bible from a historical and socio-political point of view? We must take into account the history of the group to which the passage is originally addressed. We can better understand the ceremonies of the Israelites when we have an understanding of their historical circumstances. It is necessary to study the physical and material parts of the environment. Knowing the geography of the Holy Land is very helpful and can add to our study of the Scriptures. Language and material culture (houses, household items, tools for work and tools for obtaining food, clothes, weapons, vehicles and other items used in Everyday life people) are also subject to study.

We must take into account the political climate of those days. We need to know whether Israel was free or enslaved in the books of the minor prophets. We must examine the economy - what was the economic situation of the Jerusalem church in the first century? We must study the religious, moral and philosophical environment. All these aspects need to be taken into account when researching historical installations. bible stories.
What principles should be observed when studying the historical circumstances of the background? Here are some of them:

• Cultural differences within the Bible. Moving from one book to another, we must change one cultural environment for another. For example, we should be familiar with the changes in Judaism during the Babylonian captivity. Judaism in the first century AD differed significantly from Judaism before 586 BC, the time of the destruction of the temple.
• Biblical culture in comparison with modern. We must compare the culture of the studied text with the modern one. By comparing these two different cultures, we can separate cultural manifestations from universal truth. No doubt there will be some ambiguities and gray areas, but the serious student of the Bible must look for universal principles among cultural phenomena.
• Obscure and confusing places. Contact external sources to find out the meaning of an unknown term. Look for direct, internal evidence in the scriptures to define specific cultural terms or identify historical places or events.
• Initial, historical circumstances. Place yourself in the history of the text to determine what this passage meant to the people at that time. Only then can you move on to apply the passage to your contemporary life. This is very important step. If we miss it, we will misinterpret Scripture.
• Seek to understand how such a meaning applies to contemporary culture, and do so. If we are going to change our lives and influence our society with the word of God, we must discover the truth from the Bible and apply it.

Useful tips. T. Norton Sterrett, in his excellent book How to Understand Your Bible, provides the following useful insights into the cultural/historical context of Biblical material:

• Study the Bible. Read, read, read it. The more familiar you are with the entire Bible, the more knowledge you will have to help you understand it.
• Keep notes as you read. Write down details about biblical figures, customs, and country characteristics.
• If you have a Bible with parallel references or indexes, use them.
  Use the maps in your Bible to locate geographical points.
• If other books are available, use them. The first is Bible dictionaries. They explain many cultural terms. 15

Cultural or Universal Truth

One of the most important problems facing the student of the Bible is the need to recognize the differences between temporary, cultural phenomena and unchanging universal truth. God chose to reveal his commandments through people in a particular cultural environment. The student must distinguish between the cultural obligations of the passage and the universal ones. Must separate cultural manifestations from universal truth, for which it is necessary to examine the cultural environment of the passage.

We must understand the cultural phenomena in the Bible so that we do not take such teachings from the history of Israel as a duty. modern people. How can a student distinguish a cultural doctrine from a universal one? One of the resources needed to use this is common sense. Another rule of thumb is to remember that if an injunction is culturally related, then it is temporary in nature. When a prescription is given in intercultural language, it is permanent.

For example, in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul uses cultural terms to communicate general principle. He uses phrases and terms like "veil", "shaved head", "hair is an honor" 16 and other cultural phenomena to show that there are different roles in society that men and women must assume. Men are to be husbands and fathers, and women are to be wives and mothers. When these roles are mixed up, everything falls apart.

The veil at Corinth in the first century was a long piece of cloth that sometimes reached to the ground. It was similar to the veils worn by women in many Islamic communities today. They were used to show chastity and respect for authority. If we were to say that women should wear them today, we should be consistent and wear the same veils as in the first century. The modern example of women from some denominations wearing cloth the size of a small napkin on their heads is not even close to what was worn then.

What about the length of our hair? The prostitutes of Corinth did not wear veils. They often shaved their heads or were forced to shave them. It became a sign of their activity. The women in the church should not have wanted to look like such ritual prostitutes. Therefore, in first century Corinth, long hair was the glory of a woman. The same is true for some societies in the world today.

Paul uses cultural elements and customs (coverage and length of hair) to teach a universal principle (women should be decent). Note that he states that nature or custom teaches that hair is glory, and that society teaches that a veil is glory. Both are obligatory only in Corinth of the first century. Today, in most of the countries where the disciples live, we do not have traditions equivalent to a veil or length of hair, but the universal truth certainly applies to God's people. These types of cultural issues are important to our understanding when reading the Bible.

Fourth Principle of Bible Interpretation:
Seek Practical Applications of the Passage: "What Does the Passage Tell Me Today?"

"It's one thing to say the Bible has power because it's inspired, and it's another to feel your heart jump out and grasp its truth." Leslie Weatherhead, British minister and writer.

Imagine a person who goes to the doctor because of an illness that causes great pain. The doctor does not find the cause of the pain and prescribes a series of tests, trying to find both the source of the pain and the remedy for it. After numerous tests, the doctor finally determines the source of the pain and prescribes a pill that will fix the problem and help the patient. Now imagine that the patient who endured all the trials, paid the medical bills and spent time with the doctor, forgot to take the pill and continues to suffer. The question would arise whether he is a masochist, striving for pain. It is strange to undergo all the trials to ignore the treatment.

It is just as ridiculous to spend time and effort studying the Bible and then not apply the Bible to your life. I went through seminary—and doctoral-level Bible classes taught by professors who knew far more about the Bible than I ever hope to know. They had a knowledge of the Bible in Hebrew and Ancient Greek. They wrote books about the Bible. But in the lives of many of them, you would never know that they ever touched the Bible. For them, the study of the Bible was only an academic discipline. They failed to apply the Bible to their own lives.

The study of the Bible must end with the application of the Scriptures. Ask yourself, "What am I going to change today from this Bible study?" During the day, take time to meditate on your Bible, study it, and let it change your life. After all, the goal of Bible study should be a changed life.

Why Worry?

We live in a world torn apart by religious differences and schisms. There are hundreds of denominations that teach dissimilar ideas about the Bible. Sometimes they look like trivial questions, but upon closer examination they are not so trivial. Churches are divided in doctrines about salvation, baptism, the essence of God, divinity, the inspiration of the Bible, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of the church.

How to make a way in such turbulent waters? Based on the Bible. If we know what the Bible says, then we can confidently state what we believe in matters of doctrine. Paul said to Timothy:

Do everything in your power to earn God's approval as a worker who has nothing to be ashamed of and who brings the word of truth with all frankness. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Jesus said:

“You will comprehend the truth, and the truth will bring you deliverance” (John 8:32).

He also said:

The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words will be condemned by something else: My word will judge him at the last day. (John 12:48)

We can draw three conclusions from these verses. First, there is a right way and a wrong way to interpret the word of truth. We must be careful to handle it properly. Second, we can know the truth. Third, the Scriptures apply to us because we will be judged by them (also, Acts 17:30-31). Since the word of Jesus will judge us at the last day, doesn't it make sense to live according to His word every day?

1 "A scripture taken out of context is a pretext" - approx. per.
2 Hereinafter - unless otherwise noted - Modern translation of the WBTC - approx.
3 The teachings of premillennialism - approx.per.
4 The doctrine of dispensationalism - approx.pere
5 i.e. - "perfect" - approx.
6 Translation published by the World Bible Translation Center (WBTC).
7 Translation of RBO 2011. - approx.
8 In a modern translation, it sounds like: "Rachel was beautiful; Leah had a meek look." - approx.
9 Synodal translation - approx.
10 The rule of thumb is a decision rule whereby decisions are made based on the best available this moment option. - approx.
11 Synodal translation - approx. per.
12 A popular explanation for this passage is that the word "hate" used here means "to love less" in Greek. This is wrong. A comparison of this text with Matthew 10:37 might lead to this conclusion, but in Luke 14 Jesus uses the usual word "hate" but in an exaggerated manner. - approx.
13 In this section, the translator leaves examples in English without analogy in Russian. - approx.
14 John R. W. Stott, Understanding the Bible (Minneapolis: World Wide Publication, 1972), 224.
15 T. Norton Sterrett, How to Understand Your Bible (Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1973), 81.
16 These specific terms are from my own translation. (Author's note)

Steve Kinnard

Chapter from Getting the Most from the Bible

Translation: Alexey Chernikin

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