The "stop" on the treasure map of biblical interpretation that helps us understand what the Bible meant to the original audience.
What is "Them / Then"?
The genre of Colossians.
What is an epistle?
The genre of Ruth.
What is narrative?
This instruction is necessary when your disciple becomes an Arian after reading Colossians 1:15.
What is a firstborn, in context?
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The chorus sung by a book of the Bible.
What is the Melodic Line?
The nickname for Colossians 1:15-20.
What is the Christ hymn?
The woman whom the Lord dealt bitterly with.
Who is Naomi (Mara)?
The fundamental tools your disciple needs for reading biblical narrative?
What is setting, plot, and characterization?
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
This helps us understand that 1 Corinthians 13 is a rebuke, not a soft love note.
What is context?
Paul tells this man to "fulfill the ministry that [he] has received in the Lord."
Who is Archippus?
Boaz lived for this king during a time when no one did.
Who is the Lord?
As Job's friends had (for a time), we too must have this when counselling individuals who are hurting, like Naomi.
What is love and patience?
And he prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster."
Jonah 4:2
The organization of a biblical text, similar to that of a skeleton on a person.
What is structure?
Paul and Epaphras struggle in this for the sake of the church.
What is prayer?
A literary technique where concepts are repeated in reverse order, creating a mirror or "X" shape to emphasize what resides in the middle.
What is a chiasm?
We must have this, like Ruth, when hearing of a promise.
What is patience?
Obadiah 21
Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion
to rule Mount Esau,
and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.
In addition to proper meditation, prayer, and study, we need this to understand the Bible.
What is illumination by the Spirit?
Paul tells the Colossians of his struggles for this purpose.
What is encouragement and strength?
In addition to His sovereignty, the book of Ruth highlights this aspect of God so powerfully for His people.
What is God's love?
The principle we should counsel others with when someone is stuck in their sin.
What is the "put off / put on" principle?
The message that Jesus tells us to proclaim, just as He did, from Mark 1:15.
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”