BBST: Interpretation Principles

OT Narrative

• take big bites of text (context)

• three levels of narrative

• God is the ultimate hero

• Record of what happened, not moral application

The Law

• gift to Israel, bringing blessing

• Not direct command, but binding when renewed in NT

• Reveals God’s justice, love, holiness

• Inspired word for you

Psalms

• read as whole

• parallelisms

• experience, emotion, theology

Wisdom Literature

• poetic guidelines for good behavior

• examine God’s role in story (job)

• live life as gift from God (Ecc.)

• simple + complex wisdom

• not legal document from God

• memorable, not theologically accurate

Prophets

• FOREtelling/FORTHtelling

• require background study

• make specific/holistic contributions

• “covenant enforcers/defenders”