Bible with interpretation and commentary to read. Study Bible with commentary by John MacArthur. History and Politics

Not only interesting, but also correct... It is important not only to read the Bible, but also to understand it correctly. Today we would like to introduce you to a chapter from Steve Kinnard's book.

Principles of Bible Interpretation

“God’s Word is in the Bible as the soul is in the body.” Peter Taylor Forsyth, Congregational theologian

When my family and I lived in Jerusalem for a year, I interacted with many archaeologists living there. I spoke with a geologist who was studying new data from the Hezekiah Tunnel at Siloam. I spoke with the chief archaeologist at the excavations of Palestinian Caesarea. I talked with the archaeologist who oversaw the work at Bet Shin during the summer. Archaeologists often encounter difficulties during excavations. 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-true method for finding a solution to the dilemma—dig deeper. In archaeology, when you want an answer, you dig deeper.

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

The first principle of biblical interpretation is:
Interpret a Passage in the Light of Its Context

A passage of Scripture must always be viewed in its context. An old country preacher once told me, “A passage taken out of context is a cop-out.” 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. No matter what those passages said, the man was going to prove his faith in God by immediately submitting to those three random passages. On his first attempt, his finger pointed to a passage that says Judas “went out and hung himself.” The second opened: “Go and do the same.” The third attempt pointed to the ominous words: “What are you doing, do it quickly.” Moral of the story: We choke 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 a verse. Isaiah 58:11 can be used to say that if a person is part of God's kingdom, his troubles will end. I have heard religious Israelis use similar verses to claim that God himself decreed that the Israelites should control the territory of Palestine.

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

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

“You should no longer bring trouble to people, you should not blame others and say 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 sadness will pass, 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 overall context. Verses 16-17 from 1 Thessalonians 4 are often used as evidence that there will be two resurrections, one for the righteous and one later for the wicked. They are also used as evidence that after the first resurrection, those remaining on earth will face a time of trial and tribulation. However, it is necessary to consider both the near and distant context of these verses.

In the immediate 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 those who have died in Christ will be resurrected first. Then all who are alive will be taken 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 wicked). 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 one resurrection of both the wicked and the righteous. Jesus says:

“Do not be surprised at this, for the time is approaching when all who lie in their 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, but 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 its distant context, we are arguing for Scripture to interpret Scripture. Here are some basic principles:

• No passage of Scripture can be interpreted so as to contradict another. Always interpret a less clear passage in the light of a clearer one.
• Read the Bible a lot and study it regularly so that you know its main ideas.
• Perhaps the most important question to continually ask 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 Biblical Interpretation:
Interpret According to the Correct Meaning of Words

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

Unlawful Change of Concept

Matthew 24:34 is a key verse for understanding Jesus' teaching about the end times. If you study Matthew 24 carefully, you will see that Jesus is answering 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 a transition from the first question to the second. Jesus says: “Truly I say, all these things will happen within the lifetime of this generation.” “Generation” is a period of thirty to forty years. This is how the word is used consistently 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 occurred in 70 AD.

Proponents of the theory of the thousand-year reign of Christ 3 attribute the above-mentioned signs to the second question about the end of times. They constantly monitor political events around the world, trying to predict when Jesus will appear and establish what they call His "millennial kingdom" on earth. However, verse 34 gives them a problem. If the signs preceding verse 34 refer to 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, a “generation” becomes a distribution of historical periods 4 . They reject the usual, normal definition of a term (a definition that makes sense in the context of Scripture) and revise it to fit their doctrine. This is an example of how wordplay can lead to 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) gives the word its definition. For example, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads like this:

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

What does the word “perfect” mean here? The usual definition would be “flawless, faultless.” Does the Bible Make Us Inerrant? No - even with the Bible, we still sin and are not worthy of the glory of God. Context determines the word. The verse says, “perfect… equipped for every good work.” In context, the word "perfect" means that the Bible fully equips us to follow God. Modern Version 6 makes this clear by translating the phrase as, “that the man of God may be able to do all that is required of him, and may be equipped to do good works.” As you can see, looking at context helps define a word.

Parallelism

Hebrew poetry was built more on parallel imagery than on rhyme. The two most common types of parallelism in Scripture are synonymous and antithetical parallelism.

Synonymous parallelism is when two similar ideas are expressed together. One idea follows closely after another. The second clarifies and expands the first. For example, Psalm 7:14 says, “He has taken the weapon of death, he has prepared flaming arrows!” 7. The first idea, “weapons 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 the Jewish authors, who typically expressed their ideas through parallelism.

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

Another example of opposite parallelism is found in Genesis 29:17, which compares Laban's daughters Leah and Rachel. In the Synodal translation they are described in this way: “Leah was weak-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in face” 8 . What does “weak eyes” mean? We don't usually use this term to describe people. If you look at the description of Rachel, you will see the opposite of weak eyes: “beautiful in form and beautiful in face.” "Weak eyes" is a euphemism for "not beautiful." This was a delicate way of saying that Leah was not a pretty sister; but Rachel was.

Important Terms

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

Understanding Hebrew parallelism is very helpful in understanding Scripture. These were simple, easy examples that did not involve doctrine. But there are other examples that show how understanding Hebrew parallelism can help clarify important issues in Scripture. What is meant by the word "faith" in John's gospel? In the modern world, "faith" means accepting something as true. Does John define “faith” in the same way? He uses Hebrew parallelism in John 3:36 to clarify his meaning of “faith.” The Synodal translation reflects this less clearly:

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

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

He who believes in the Son has gained eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will never see life: God's wrath will be upon him forever.

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

The idea that faith and obedience are one thing permeates the entire gospel of John. For John, faith is more than just accepting something as true. Faith implies obedience. John 3:16 must 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 the Hebrew parallelism helps us see how John used the word “faith” in his gospel.

Words in Remote Context

Bible Symphonies provides a list of word usage throughout the Bible. Using the complete symphony, you can find definitions of words in light of how they are used in other parts of the Bible. (Just remember to always pay attention to the immediate context.) Symphonies are also great for topical study. You can do a study on mercy using them and look at how the word is used throughout the Bible. Complete symphonies include every passage where a word is used. There are many editions for synodal translation. Computerized versions of the symphonies are available from a variety of sources in the form of Internet search engines and Bible programs. Easy-to-use resources like these 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, a dictionary in our native language is not very helpful in defining Biblical terms. It can help us explain the words of the translation, but it will not demonstrate what was meant in the original language. Whenever I hear a preacher say, “I looked this word up in the dictionary and it means…” I cringe. The dictionary does not define Biblical terms. You must go from our language to the original word in ancient Greek or Hebrew. How can a person without reasonable knowledge of these languages ​​do this? It's not easy, but here are some helpful suggestions.

First, you can study the Greek and Hebrew alphabets and use interlinear translations, which give words in the original text in addition to the current translation. When reading a biblical or other translation, you can find the original word used in a passage of Scripture. In John 3:16: “For God so loved the world...” you can see that the word “world” 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 give you the option to switch to interlinear translation once you've 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 your native language to the original word in ancient Greek or Hebrew. For example, for the English language, one of the best is the four-volume The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. A good book for Hebrew words is the two-volume Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Barkley's commentaries often provide useful study of words in the original language. His edition of New Testament Words will also be helpful in this regard.

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

Consider an 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, moreover, 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 Jesus' words 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 can we explain the use of the word “hate” here? Jesus knew that the greatest limiting force on discipleship would be our closest relationships and our selfish characters. If one doesn't move us, then the other does. Jesus uses harsh, harsh words to get us to wake up and pay attention to what he is saying. He uses a figure of speech called hyperbole: flamboyant 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 of the powerful influence of relationships and selfishness. 12

Grammar 13

When you read the Bible, you read it in a specific language. Each language has its own grammar rules. Knowing these rules can help you understand what was written and make interpretation easier. For example, the KJV translates 1 Corinthians 11:27 as follows: 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 regarding the administration of the Lord's Supper in the churches. Some use this passage as evidence 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 it. "Unworthily" is an adverb and not an adjective. It doesn't describe a person, place, thing, or idea—an adjective does. An adverb modifies a verb. “Unworthily” describes how we receive 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.

The third principle of biblical interpretation:
Interpret Scripture in Light of Historical, Geographical and Cultural Context

Of all the principles, interpreting the Scriptures in light of the historical, geographic, 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 greatest dividends. The Bible can come alive to us like never before. For example, when we understand how Abraham lived, or the political climate of first century Palestine, or how the crucifixion happened in the first century, all greatly enhance our understanding of the Scriptures.

Distorting Glasses

For the average Bible reader today, perhaps the biggest problem is that we read the Bible through the lens of Western thinking in the twenty-first century. The Bible is an Eastern book written between 1500 BC. 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 are sharply different from ours. If we recognize 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 Leonardo da Vinci's wonderful painting of The Last Supper. Da Vinci depicted the apostles sitting around Jesus at a table on chairs, enjoying a meal together. In the first century, people reclined on pillows while eating. The tables were no more than 45-60 centimeters from the floor. Da Vinci took the biblical story and put it into his own context. We must do just the opposite. We must leave our situation and enter the context of Biblical history.

Valuable Details

When we go deeper into the context of Biblical history, the Bible comes alive. Let's look at the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) in light of some historical details. In the parable, a beggar named Lazarus is at the door of a rich man. He longs to eat the crumbs that fall from the table. Historically, we know that some of these falling pieces are yesterday's bread that was used as napkins: people wiped their faces with them. They could take these pieces and throw them to the dogs. This is what Lazarus wanted to eat. In addition, the tables were about 45-60 cm from the floor. Lazarus wanted to crawl under one of these tables and eat the rich man's crumbs and used "napkins" - food intended for dogs. The dogs, however, were not interested in such food. They were more interested in licking Lazarus' wounds. To eat, Lazarus had to fight off dogs to get to the food. This is a pitiful, hopeless picture. However, the rich man did not spare Lazarus. He turned away from his need. Apart from the rest, 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 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 frame, it is like taking a play out of its historical context - the play will lose its meaning. John Stott noted:

Although God's revelation is addressed to all people in all times and 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 sociopolitical perspective? We must take into account the history of the group to which the passage was originally addressed. We can better understand the ceremonies of the Israelites when we have an understanding of their historical circumstances. The physical and material parts of the environment need to be examined. A knowledge of the geography of the Holy Land is very useful and can add to our study of the Scriptures. Language and material culture (houses, household items, tools for work and tools for obtaining food, clothing, weapons, vehicles and other objects used in everyday life by 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 economics - what was the economic situation of the Jerusalem church in the first century? We must study the religious, moral and philosophical environment. All of these aspects must be taken into account when examining the historical setting of the Bible stories.
What principles should be followed 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 to another. For example, we should be familiar with the changes in Judaism during the Babylonian captivity. Judaism of 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 one. We must compare the culture of the text being studied with the modern one. By comparing these two different cultures, we can separate cultural manifestations from universal truth. There will undoubtedly be some ambiguities and gray areas, but the serious Bible student must look for universal principles among cultural phenomena.
• Unclear and confusing places. Consult external sources to find out the meaning of an unknown term. Look for direct, internal evidence in scripture 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 of that time. Only then can you begin to apply the passage to your modern life. This is a very important step. If we leave it out, we will misinterpret Scripture.
• Seek to understand how such meaning applies to contemporary culture, and do so. If we are going to change our lives and influence our communities 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, gives the following helpful ideas for identifying the cultural, historical circumstances of Bible 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. Record 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 geographic points.
• If there are other books available, use them. The first is Bible dictionaries. They explain many cultural terms. 15

Cultural or Universal Truth

One of the most important challenges facing the biblical student is the need to discern 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 the cultural commitments of a passage from the universal ones. Must separate cultural manifestations from universal truth by examining the cultural background of the passage.

We must understand the cultural phenomena in the Bible so that we do not transfer such teachings from the history of Israel as the responsibility of modern people. How can a student distinguish cultural teaching from universal teaching? One of the resources needed to use this is common sense. Another rule of thumb is to remember that if a prescription is related to cultural phenomena, 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 convey a general principle. He uses phrases and terms like “veil,” “shaved head,” “hair is honor,” 16 and other cultural phenomena to show that there are different roles that men and women must assume in society. Men should be husbands and fathers, and women should be wives and mothers. When these roles are confused, everything falls apart.

The cover in first century Corinth was a long piece of cloth that sometimes reached to the ground. This was similar to the veils worn by women in many Islamic societies 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 coverings 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. This became a sign of their activity. 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 (hair covering and length) to teach a universal principle (women should be decent). Notice that he states that nature or custom teaches that hair is glory, and that society teaches that covering is glory. Both are obligatory only in first-century Corinth. Today, in most countries where the disciples live, we do not have traditions equivalent to the covering or length of hair, but the universal truth certainly applies to God's people. These types of cultural issues are important for our understanding when reading the Bible.

The Fourth Principle of Bible Interpretation:
Seek Practical Application of the Passage: “What is the Passage Telling Me Today?”

“It is one thing to say that the Bible has authority because it is inspired, and 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 a cure for it. After numerous tests, the doctor finally determines the source of the pain and prescribes a pill that will eliminate the problem and help the patient. Now imagine that the patient, who has endured all the trials, paid the medical bills and spent time with the doctor, forgot to take a pill and continues to suffer. The question would arise whether he is a masochist, seeking pain. It's strange to go through all the troubles to ignore treatment.

Likewise, it is absurd 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 could ever hope to know. They had knowledge of the Bible in Hebrew and Greek. They wrote books about the Bible. But in the lives of many of them, you would never know that they had ever touched the Bible. For them, Bible study was just an academic discipline. They failed to apply the Bible to their own lives.

Bible study should end with the application of the Scriptures. Ask yourself, “What am I going to change from this Bible study today?” During the day, take time to meditate on your Bible, study, and allow it to 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 seem like trivial questions, but after closer examination they are not so trivial. Churches are divided on doctrines about salvation, baptism, the nature of God, Divinity, the inspiration of the Bible, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of the church.

How to navigate through such stormy 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 all in your power to earn the approval of God as a worker who has nothing to be ashamed of and who presents the word of truth with all integrity. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Jesus said:

“You will understand the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

He also said:

He who rejects Me and does not accept 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 correctly. Secondly, we can know the truth. Third, the Scriptures apply to us because we will be judged by them (also, Acts 17:30-31). Since Jesus' word will judge us on 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. lane
2 Hereinafter - unless otherwise indicated - Modern translation of WBTC - approx.
3 The doctrine of premillennialism - approx.
4 The doctrine of dispensationalism - approx.
5 That is – “perfect” – approx.
6 Translation published by the World Bible Translation Center (WBTC).
7 Translation of RBO 2011 - approx.
8 In modern translation it sounds like: “Rachel was beautiful, but Leah had gentle eyes.” - approx.
9 Synodal translation - approx.
10 Rule of thumb is a decision-making rule in which decisions are made based on the best option currently available. - approx.
11 Synodal translation - approx.
12 A popular explanation for this passage is that the word “hate” used here in Greek means “to love less.” This is wrong. Comparing this text with Matthew 10:37 might lead to this conclusion, but in Luke 14 Jesus uses the common word “hate,” but in an exaggerated manner. - approx.
13 In this section, the translator leaves examples in English without analogies 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 the book “Getting the most from the Bible”

Translation: Alexey Chernikin

, if you have questions related to the Christian faith.

Take it if you want to test your knowledge of the Bible and the basics of Christianity.

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Title: Explanatory Bible. Old Testament and New Testament

About the book “The 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 to understand manner, this book explains the miracles described in the Bible and relates them to historical events. To date, the work has been republished more than 20 times.

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

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

In addition, the creator of the work sought to explain certain events of biblical history from a scientific point of view, that is, with an eye to the data of the author’s contemporary (i.e., pre-revolutionary) biology, physics, geology, archeology, history and other sciences. However, it is worth remembering that, first of all, this book acts as a kind of spiritual edification for the reader, and references to science 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 particularly unclear passages in the Bible, as well as to avoid “false interpretation.”

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

On our website about books lifeinbooks.net you can download for free without registration or read online the book “The 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 real pleasure from reading. You can buy the full version from our partner. Also, here you will find the latest news from the literary world, learn the biography of your favorite authors. For beginning writers, there is a separate section with useful tips and tricks, interesting articles, thanks to which you yourself can try your hand at literary crafts.

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

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. It contains many corrections to the text of the study Bible with comments by B. Getse, as well as corrections to the text of the Bible published by the missionary union “Light in the East”. In the above-mentioned 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 the modern reader. These words and expressions have been replaced by exact equivalents or explained by notes in the cross-reference column. Many Old Church Slavonic words, which had become archaic since the first edition of the Synodal Translation, have also been replaced.

The study Bible's distinctive design is designed to enhance understanding and encourage serious reflection on the Scriptures.

• Topical headings help readers easily navigate the Bible by topic or major storyline.
• Verse numbers are in an easy to read font
• Italic words or phrases that are not in the original and added by Bible translators for clarity and coherence of speech are typed
• Oblique Quotes from the Old Testament are highlighted in the New Testament font
• Prose is organized into paragraphs, displaying 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 placed in quotation marks for greater clarity and emphasis
• Punctuation marks are placed in accordance with the general set of punctuation rules of the modern Russian language, as far as this was possible due to the outdated sentence structure and vocabulary of the Synodal Text of the Bible

Commentaries on the Bible. We asked - we answer, page 2 TATYANA ASKS Did people know God's law before God gave the commandments to the Jews on Mount Sinai? Was there God's law before Sinai? When did the Lord give commandments to people? Does grace abolish the law? STANISLAV ASKS Please help me figure it out. Jehovah's Witnesses quite logically prove from the Bible that Jesus Christ was not born of God, but was created by Him. ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Was Jesus Christ created or begotten? Interpretation NATALIA ASKS Are Jehovah's Witnesses right when they claim that only God the Father is worthy of people's true worship? Worship God! The Divinity of Christ in the Context of Literal Worship OLGA ASKS Jehovah's Witnesses talk a lot about the name of God and use the Holy Scriptures to justify its importance. Are they right? Help me to understand ANSWER (Bible commentary): The name of God in the Bible. Are Jehovah's Witnesses correct about the name Tetragrammaton? . RAISA ASKS You can hear from you an interpretation of the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ - Gospel of Matthew chapter 5 from 3 to 12 verses ANSWER (Bible commentary): The Beatitudes. Interpretation DENIS ASKS I would like to ask you about the gift of tongues; they practice it all the time in our church. How do you feel about praying in other languages? ANSWER (Bible commentary): Tongues. Is prayer in tongues necessary? QUESTION ABOUT THE BIBLE FROM SERGEY Hello. Points of Interest: Jude verse 20, what does this verse say? Are we talking about other languages ​​here? ANSWER: Praying with the Holy Spirit is not the gift of tongues SERGEY ASKS I read your articles about the Holy Spirit and praying in tongues and I have a question: Rom. 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses; for we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be expressed.” How to consider unspeakable sighs? ANSWER (Bible commentary): Prayer - unutterable groanings of the Holy Spirit JULIA ASKS What does the phrase in the fourth commandment mean: “The stranger in your house shall rest on the Sabbath day”? I'm specifically interested in who is meant by the alien? Thank you! ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Who are the aliens in the Old Testament? ALEXANDER ASKS Do you have any tips for studying the Bible? ANSWER (Bible Commentaries): Bible Study SERGEY ASKS When do you think the Christian church began to move away from its original foundations? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): History of the Christian Church. Digression from the Bible IGOR ASKS What does the Bible say about the dangers of smoking as a sin? more about this ANSWER (Bible commentary): According to the Bible, smoking is a sin ALEKEY ASKS I would like to ask one question regarding the Bible’s relationship to meat. There are texts of Holy Scripture that show a negative attitude towards killing animals and eating their meat. It turns out that vegetarians are right in not eating meat? ANSWER (Bible commentary): Vegetarianism and the Bible. Does God allow you to eat meat? ALEXANDER ASKS Is the resurrection of the dead the day that will happen at the second coming of Christ or is it a process that happens to a believer while he lives his life in his physical body, as it is written, “Arise, rise from the dead, rise from the dead, may Christ sanctify you,” and this process ends with the death of a person? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): The Bible's Teaching on Eternal Life and Conversion OLGA ASKS Why did Noah curse not Ham, but Canaan? ANSWER (Bible commentary): Why did Noah curse Canaan and not Ham? YURI ASKS What did Jesus mean when he said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven”? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): What is the will of God? Sermon on the Mount of Jesus Christ LOLITA ASKS Why and in what other form did Christ appear to his disciples after the resurrection that they did not recognize him? And why was it necessary to change appearance if we are talking about the physical body? ANSWER (Bible commentary): Why did Jesus appear to the disciples in a different form after the resurrection? VASILY ASKS When studying the Bible, questions arise. Here are some of them: Does the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire take place today, and what is it? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. What is this? ARTHUR ASKS I am just starting to read spiritual literature and get to know God. I have formed this opinion about God, about my relationship with Him. I would like to know your opinion. Is our life reduced to constant work, continuous acquisition of knowledge and the search for God? If we constantly work and gain knowledge, will we achieve the “divine” state and His favor? Otherwise, why did He create the Universe and us in His image, why did He endow us with thinking and consciousness? ANSWER (comments on the Bible): What is the meaning of life: in work and knowledge of God? EUGENIYA ASKS Please answer in the Gospel of John, chapter 9, when healing a blind man, Jesus not only healed, but sent him to the pool to wash himself, why? The pool is called the Sent One, does this mean that Jesus is the messenger of God? ANSWER (Bible commentary): Jesus healing the blind man. A comment ELIZAVETA ASKS We are told in the church that only we are God’s one church. Therefore, I don’t understand, does this mean that, apart from our parishioners, believers from other churches will not be saved? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): One Church. Who belongs to her? VERA ASKS In your answers to questions about who will enter the Kingdom of God, you often refer to the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. The question arises: Who can be saved? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Will all Christians be saved? HOPE ASKS What really happened to the inhabitants of Rabbah and the cities of Ammon? In 2 Kings. 12:31 and 1 Chron. 20:3 The Bible says that they were put under saws, iron axes, and kilns. And in the modern translation of the Russian Bible Society it is written that David took them captive, and destroyed the city itself with saws, iron spades and axes. ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Did David kill the Ammonites with saws, axes, and furnaces? Interpretation of 2 Kings. 12:31, 1 Chron. 20:3 OKSANA ASKS Hello, I have been looking for a very long time where I can get answers to my questions and it seems that I have found it))) You have quite reasoned answers that are based on the Bible, this is important to me. Please tell me what the Bible means in Gen. 6:1-4 under the titles “sons of God” and “daughters of men” – who are we talking about? ANSWER (Bible commentary): Who are the sons of God and the daughters of men. Interpretation of Genesis 6:4 ALEXEY ASKS Hello, please answer, why is there so much evil in the Bible? God allows evil, murder, and even causes disasters Himself. What does it mean? ANSWER (Bible commentary): Why does God allow evil when there is so much cruelty and death in the Bible? GENNADY ASKS In 1 Cor. 10:2 is written about the baptism of Moses. How can one be baptized into a person? How is this passage translated in the modern Bible or in other translations? Thank you. ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Baptism in Moses. Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:2 GALINA ASKS Good afternoon I can't figure out what I can and can't do on Saturdays. Thank you! ANSWER (Bible Commentary): What are some things you can and can't do on the Sabbath? GREGORY ASKS Greetings! I am concerned about the topic of predestination. Do you have anything for this? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Is there divine predestination? TATYANA ASKS I can’t understand how to do the right thing according to the Bible? Many people say that women need to cover their heads in church, but in some churches this is not practiced. And in general it is not clear why there is a difference for men and women? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Should I cover my head in church or not? Why is there a difference for men and women? ANATOLY ASKS The first part of the text of Jer. 48:10 “Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord carelessly, and cursed is he who withholds His sword from blood!” often acts as a Christian "horror story". So why and to whom was this word spoken? ANSWER (Bible commentary): How do we understand God's curses in the Bible? OKSANA ASKS My husband has become addicted to the computer, he plays computer games. At the same time, he considers himself a believer and regularly attends church. Is there any therapy similar to drug addiction therapy? ANSWER: Computer game addiction. How to get rid of computer addiction? NATALIA ASKS According to Matthew 4:1, Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. I can’t understand what kind of Spirit this is? Do you mean the Holy Spirit? What for?? No, I understand why, for temptation, but why? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): The Temptation of Jesus Christ in the Wilderness DAVID ASKS Question about dreams. For the first time in my life, dreams manifest themselves in such a way that they somehow come true, or maybe I didn’t pay attention to it before? I can’t understand what all this means and what to do? If possible in detail. ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Prophetic dreams. Predictions. Interpretation of dreams in the Bible DANIK ASKS When Moses led Israel out of Egypt, he told Pharaoh that they were going into the desert for a sacrifice for 3 days. But Moses knew that they were going to Canaan forever, so how did he say that? It turns out that God allows lies for salvation? ANSWER (Bible commentary): White lies. The Bible is about lies ELENA ASKS A person pays with death for his original sin and sins committed during life, but why do animals, birds, and insects die? - they are sinless. The question is not to doubt, but to strengthen faith. ANSWER (Bible commentary): Why do animals die if man is guilty of sin? MAXIM ASKS The New Testament says that believers now enter the sanctuary with confidence. What does this mean? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): What does “with boldness” mean? Differences and similarities between the New and Old Testaments of the Bible YURI ASKS In Matt. 11:17 says: “We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; We sang sad songs to you, and you did not cry.” What are we talking about here? “We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang sad songs to you, and you did not cry" TATYANA ASKS 1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful for me...” Why then do you write about unclean food on your website? Thank you in advance! ANSWER (Bible commentary): Interpretation of the Bible “Everything is lawful for me, but not everything is profitable” NATALIA ASKS There are many examples in the Bible that when a city, or rather the people living in it, sin, He leaves them... probably Ukraine deserves this... Half of the people simply do not understand, or do not want to understand, what is happening. .. people are divided, and everyone thinks that he is right. Where is the greater evil? ANSWER (Bible commentary): Interpretation of the Bible “All who take the sword will perish by the sword. A look at the grief of Ukraine through the teachings of the Bible" AXENIA ASKS Hello! Please write which prayers a believer would like to know by heart? Thank you in advance. ANSWER (commentary on the Bible): Interpretation of the Bible “What prayers should you know by heart?” EUGENIYA ASKS In our church they teach that the law has long been unnecessary for Christians. But I know that many Christians continue to honor God's law. Who is right? Help me understand. Thank you ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Bible Interpretation “Is God’s law still relevant today?” RUSTAM ASKS Hello, brother Valery. I thank you for the book, which I downloaded over the Internet onto my tablet. I have a question for you about Kabbalah. How do you feel about the teachings of Kabbalah? I think this teaching amounts to fortune telling. Thank you in advance ANSWER (Bible commentary): Interpretation of the Bible “What is Kabbalah? A Christian's View" ELIZAVETA ASKS Hello. Tell me, who should I pray to? Tell me your opinion, everyone says different things about this. Thank you ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Bible Interpretation “Who Should Pray Based on the Teachings of the Bible” ANDRIAN ASKS Why do you write that the Law of Moses is relevant? But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus changed the law of Moses beyond recognition. “It is written in the law.., but I say..” “It is written - fulfill your oaths before God, but I say - do not swear at all.” Those. With these words, the commandment about swearing is actually REMOVED from the law! ANSWER (commentary to the Bible): Interpretation of the Bible “Sermon on the Mount. Interpretation. Did Jesus abolish the commandments of the Law of Moses, such as an eye for an eye? “You heard what was said, but I tell you” IRINA ASKS How can I find out God's will if God is silent or I cannot hear him? Can I make my own choices without waiting for His answer? The choice concerns the profession. But for me, a profession is like a calling. How to figure this out? ANSWER (Bible commentary): STANISLAV ASKS How to explain the fact that people in a coma fly away from their body and say that they were somewhere in a beautiful bright world and saw the room where they were lying and even themselves from the outside? ANSWER (Bible Commentaries): Visions in a coma. Does the soul live separately from the body? Benjamin asks My mother is an unbeliever, but very decent. There are also many excellent people among believers of other religions. Who do you think will be saved? ANSWER (Bible commentary): Are only Christians saved? Will believers of other religions and atheists be saved? TATYANA ASKS It is not clear what kind of goat is described as a sacrifice for the sin of the people in the 16th chapter of the book of Levites and what is a scapegoat? Why were more sacrifices needed if people constantly brought sacrifices for their sins to the sanctuary? ANSWER (Bible commentary): What is Yom Kippur? What does a scapegoat and a goat mean to the Lord? IGOR ASKS There are many churches and everyone says that they have the truth, that they are the people of God. I heard that the Bible mentions God's remnant. I wonder who belongs to him? ANSWER (Bible commentary): God's remnant. Who belongs to him? DMITRY ASKS Recently I heard this version that when we receive a new type of international passport, where biometric data is taken, we give our consent to voluntarily draw three sixes, the sign of the devil. Should this be perceived as something very dangerous? ANSWER (Bible commentary): What does the number 666 mean? What is the number of the beast? ROMAN ASKS Answer my question: why did Jesus, when he cast out demons from a possessed man, put them in pigs and they rushed into the sea, is this question very concerning. Why did Jesus allow demons to possess the pigs and they rushed into the sea? VLADIMIR ASKS The words from the Gospel “From the days of John the Baptist until now” imply the period of time of the gospel. And the Kingdom itself probably came during the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Have I interpreted these fragments correctly? WE ANSWER (Bible commentary): The Law and the Prophets until John, from now on the Kingdom of God is preached - interpretation LYUDMILA ASKS I have a relative who attends a popular church and says that the church I attend is not true, it was formed just a few centuries ago. How can you determine how true a church is? ANSWER (Bible Commentary): Marks of the True Church QUESTION FROM PETER How can we understand that those who have wives should be like those who do not? Is there a call for celibacy here? Also confusing is the text from Revelation about 144,000 virgins. Is celibacy really pleasing to God? Celibacy. Remarriage. Divorce QUESTION FROM ANATOLY Greetings! I'm interested in your account of being born again. Can you introduce me to them? ANSWER (Bible commentary): What is being born again (regeneration)? QUESTION FROM EUGENE Peace to you! Why can't we understand the heavenly tabernacle and its service simply as a symbolic reference to human spirituality? WE ANSWER (commentary on the Bible): The heavenly sanctuary. Is there a heavenly temple (tabernacle)? QUESTION FROM DMITRY Look at Rev. 14:11 “they will have no rest day or night.” You write in your book that fire and smoke will be eternal, not suffering, but this verse says that torment will be eternal.

 

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