This document outlines a 5-step method for interpreting biblical texts: 1. Grasp the text's meaning for the original audience by studying the historical and literary context. 2. Identify differences between the original audience and modern readers, such as culture and covenant. 3. Derive a broad theological principle by balancing these differences and similarities. 4. Check that the principle aligns with the rest of the Bible. 5. Apply the principle to contemporary Christian living. The method is demonstrated through interpreting Joshua 1:1-9, resulting in a principle about drawing strength from God's presence and obeying his word.

1. THE INTERPRETATIVE
JOURNEY

2. Introduction
WHY DO PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE WORLD
READ THE BIBLE?

3. Introduction
WHY DO YOU
READ THE BIBLE?

4. Introduction
Three Methods of Biblical Interpretation
• Intuitive or Feels-right Approach
• Spiritualizing Approach
• Shrug Your Shoulders Approach

5. Introduction
LESSONS FROM THE WEST WING
• All Christians must be able to interpret
Scripture.
• An Intuitive Approach will ultimately fail!

6. Basics of the Journey

7. Basics of the Journey
Step 1: Grasping
the Text in Their
Town
Question: What did
the text mean to the
biblical audience?

8. Basics of the Journey
Completing Step 1
• Read the text carefully and make
observations.
• Study the historical and literary context.
• Synthesize the meaning of the passage for
the biblical audience.

9. Basics of the Journey
Step 2: Measuring
the Width of the
River to Cross
Question: What are
the differences
between the biblical
audience and us?

10. Basics of the Journey
Completing Step 2
• Account for common differences: culture,
language situation, time and covenant.
• Focus on the unique differences found in a
specific text.
• If you are studying an Old Testament
passage, you must account for the life and
work of Jesus Christ.

11. Basics of the Journey
Step 3: Crossing
the Principlizing
Bridge
Question: What is
the theological
principle in this text?

12. Basics of the Journey
Completing Step 3
• Recall the differences identified in Step 2.
• Identify any similarities between the
biblical audience and contemporary life.
• Holding the differences and similarities
together, identify a broad theological
principle.
• Write out the theological principle, using
present tense verbs.

13. Basics of the Journey
A theological principle should…
• be reflected in the text.
• be timeless and not tied to a specific
situation.
• not be culturally bound.
• correspond to the teaching of the rest of
Scripture.
• be relevant to both the biblical and
contemporary audience.

14. Basics of the Journey
Step 4: Consult the
Biblical Map
Question: How does
our theological
principle fit with the
rest of the Bible?

15. Basics of the Journey
Completing Step 4
• Does this principle correlate with the rest
of the Bible?
• If in the Old Testament, run your
theological principle through the grid of
the New Testament.

16. Basics of the Journey
Step 5: Grasping the Text in Our Town
Question: How should individual Christians
today live out the theological principles?

17. Basics of the Journey

18. Basics of the Journey
Completing Step 5
• Apply the theological principle to the
specific situation of a contemporary
Christian.
• There are numerous applicational
possibilities, because Christians today find
themselves in a variety of situations.

19. The Interpretative Journey
AN EXAMPLE
JOSHUA 1:1-9

20. The Interpretative Journey
Step 1: Grasping the Text in Their Town
• “after the death of Moses” –Time of
Transition
• Moses & Joshua—divinely sanctioned
leaders
• “the Lord said to Joshua” –Divine Speech
• Jordan River, Promised Land—Geographic
Locations
• Series of Exhortations (vs. 6-9)

21. The Interpretative Journey
Step 1: Grasping the Text in Their Town
• Presence –vs. 5, 9
• Strength & Courage –vs. 6, 7, 9
• Law –vs. 7, 8
• Success –vs. 7, 8

22. The Interpretative Journey
Step 1: Grasping the Text in Their Town
The Lord commanded Joshua, the new leader
of Israel, to draw strength and courage from
God’s empowering presence, to be obedient
to the law of Moses, and to mediate on the
law so that he would be successful in the
conquest of the Promised Land.

23. The Interpretative Journey
Step 2: Measuring the Width
of the River to Cross
• We are not leaders of the nation of Israel.
• We are not setting out on the conquest of
the Promised Land.
• We are not under the old covenant of law.

24. The Interpretative Journey
Step 3: Crossing the Principlizing Bridge
• Similarities:
1. God has a calling on the life of each person.
2. God is present with us.
3. God’s Word requires obedience.

25. The Interpretative Journey
Step 3: Crossing the Principlizing Bridge
• Differences
1. We are not leaders of Israel
2. We are not on a journey to conquer the
Promised Land
3. We are not living under the Old Covenant.

26. The Interpretative Journey
Step 3: Crossing the Principlizing Bridge
To be effective in serving God and successful
in the task to which he has called us, we must
draw strength and courage from his
presence. We must also be obedient to God’s
Word, meditating on it constantly.

27. The Interpretative Journey
Step 4: Consult the Biblical Map
The whole of Scripture affirms that God’s
people can draw strength and courage from
his presence. In the New Testament the Holy
Spirit mediates God’s presence to his People.
Also, in both the Old and New Testament
God’s people are exhorted to mediate on
Scripture.

28. The Interpretive Journey
Step 5: Grasping the Text in Our Town
• Spend more time meditating on God’s Word
by listening to Christian music in your car.
• If God calls you to a new, scary ministry
be strengthened and encouraged by his
presence.

29. • A common misunderstanding of Leviticus. There are three types of laws in Leviticus, but people
lump them together and confuse which ones they should follow.
• 1st type: The commands that have the phrase "speak to the sons of Israel" are addressed to Jews
only, and never applied to non-Jews.
• Example: "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall not eat any fat from an ox, a sheep or a
goat' (Levi 7:23) The food restrictions in this category expired with Acts 10:13-16 (God made all
foods clean after Jesus died and rose again).
• 2nd type: The laws specific to the system of the Jewish civil government (comprised of judges).
This government was disintegrated when Israel became a monarchy through King Saul. So its laws
also expired.
• Example: 'You may even bequeath them to your sons after you, to receive as a possession; you can
use them as permanent slaves. But in respect to your countrymen, the sons of Israel, you shall not
rule with severity over one another.' (Levi 25:46)
• 3rd type: The parts of Leviticus that have "I am the Lord" are derived from God's character, so
they apply to every human being, regardless of race. It's clarified by verses outside Leviticus (like
Ecclesiastes 12:13 and Micah 6:8).
• Example: 'The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as
yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.' (Levi 19:34) Homosexuality (Levi 18:22), along with
incest, bestiality are in this “I am the Lord Category, which is why they still apply to today’s morality.

30. THE INTERPRETATIVE
JOURNEY