1. Using the Tools at Your Disposal

2. Start with Foundations  Understanding the difference between doctrine and text  Read the Introduction to the Bible translation  Recognize assumptions in translation  Theological perspective  Literal vs. Dynamic Equivalence  Dealing with idioms

3. Some Examples  NIV translates sarx.  NIV removes gar.  NASB, NIV, NKJV translates ekklesia.  NASB, NIV, NKJV, RSV, NRSV, NLB translates hadash – kaine  John 1:17 “but” added in KJV, NKJV  Many more

4. Comparative Texts  Look at multiple translations – notice differences  Do a quick search of the Greek or Hebrew – notice oddities  Do a little etymological research – look for umbrella meanings  Remember HOW the language works

5. Greek  Analytical  Nuanced  Cognitive  Internal  Noun based  Tense structure similar to English

6. Hebrew  Phenomenological  Sparse  Behavioral  External – community conscious  Verb based  Tense structure not similar to English

7. Rules for Exegesis 1. Context, context, context 2. What genre is the text? 3. What is the grammar/syntax of the text? 4. What would it mean to the audience that first heard it? 5. What was the cultural setting of the author? 6. What parts of the text are culturally located; what parts are not? 7. How is the text used in this passage?

8. TOOLS – Blue Letter Bible

9. TOOLS – Hebrew4Christians

10. TOOLS – Eshavbooks.org

11. TOOLS – David Fohrman

12. TOOLS - http://www.abu.nb.ca/courses/NTIntro/OTinNT.htm

13. TEXTS

14. Interlinear with Strong’s Numbers

15. A Strong’s-related Dictionary

18. Dictionaries

20. Commentaries

23. Practice

28. Community and Prayer  Debate is Healthy  More minds = better thought  The leading of the Spirit  A word of caution

29. Join Us