Study the Bible

In Psalm 19, David wrote about two things that declare God's glory: the heavens and God's written word (vv. 1-6, 7-14). Of the two, which more effectively communicates detailed truth about God? Certainly, the beauty of a sunset reveals God's power, grandeur, majesty, and His love of color, but can it reveal detailed doctrine? Can a sunset reveal how to please God? No. In fact, a sunset can't even tell you which God made it. The heavens might make you think great thoughts about God, but what if the god you're thinking about is Baal? God's primary revelation of Himself is in words, not pictures—and for good reason. Words are more precise; they explain details far better. A familiar saying claims that a picture is worth a thousand words. That's true in the sense that a picture sparks emotion more easily than words can: one picture of desperate, dirty, starving street orphans will stir your compassion more quickly than a thousand-word newspaper article describing the same scene. Nonetheless, pictures have a crippling weakness: they can be interpreted however you please. That's why pictures require captions—you need words to interpret them correctly. For example, when it comes to telling you which God made the world, a sunset would benefit greatly from this caption: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Those ten words are worth a million sunsets, because they tell you that the universe was not made by Baal, Allah, or anyone else except Yahweh, the God of the Bible. When it comes to divine revelation, words are better than pictures. Paul said to the Corinthians, "God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor 1:21, emphasis added). Sinners are not saved through the foolishness of the message drawn or danced. Salvation requires words—the words of Scripture read or the words of Scripture preached. In short, as a preacher of the gospel, you must deal with words. Since God revealed Himself in words, not pictures, you must have a basic knowledge of how words and language work. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 44 RIFLES AND SWORDS Even the rawest recruit in the army can fire his rifle if his sergeant shows him where the safety catch and the trigger are. However, only a highly trained marksman can hit a target four hundred meters away. Why? The marksman knows that a bullet fired from that kind of rifle drops a certain number of centimeters while traveling that distance. Because of his expertise, when the marksman shoots, he hits the bull's-eye ten times out of ten. Because of his lack of knowledge, ten times out of ten the recruit kills dirt in front of the target. You don't want to kill dirt when it comes to interpreting God's word. You want to hit the center of the target every time. How? By knowing your weapon—in this case, not a rifle but a sword, the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17). Whether you are studying from Hebrew and Greek or an English translation, you must know enough about language to handle the sword of the Spirit deftly, with the skill and precision of a master (2 Tim 2:15). As I said in an earlier chapter, most people aren't masters when it comes to grammar and syntax. They know just enough of the rules of language to get by. Preachers are not most people. As a preacher, you handle the words of God Himself. When it comes to language, you need a marksman's knowledge of his rifle, a swordsman's knowledge of his blade. Therefore, this chapter provides a review of basic English grammar to help you study for God so you can preach for God. It is not my aim to turn you into a professional grammarian (I'm not one myself); however, to be a good preacher you need to be familiar with these terms and concepts for two reasons. First, the best Bible commentaries use grammatical and syntactical terms all the time, assuming that you know what they mean. To use technical commentaries to their full value, you need to have a basic grasp of grammar. Second, knowing grammatical and syntactical terms will make your exegetical work easier. How so? Study goes faster when you know the name of what you are looking at. For example, if I told you that while walking by the lake I saw a large, powerful, dark brown bird with a white head, neck, and shoulders, you might be able to figure out that I saw an African fish eagle. However, if I had known the name of that majestic bird, no guessing would have been necessary. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 45 In the same way, when interpreting Scripture, you can call a group of words that starts with in order that "a group of words that starts with in order that." Or you can call it a purpose clause. Knowing the name of what you're looking at makes interpreting the Bible faster, more precise. Imagine if a mechanic had no specialized names for his different spanners. It's a lot easier to ask for a socket set than to ask for "the spanner that when you move it in one direction it exerts power, but when you move it the other direction, it goes clickety, clickety, clickety." In the same way, your sermon preparation will go more smoothly if you know the names of the common birds and spanners of language. Still not convinced? Does a bricklayer need to know the difference between a brick and mortar? Of course he does—they are the basic materials of his job. In fact, you would fire him by lunchtime the first day if he didn't know the difference. As a Bible interpreter, words and language are your basic materials, and you should be fired if you aren't developing a craftsman's knowledge of them. You don't need to be a professional grammarian; however, you do need enough expertise to be able to handle God's words with precision—if you can't, who in your congregation will? This chapter is important: it lays the critical groundwork for block diagramming, the study method we'll learn shortly.* WORDS Words are the bricks and mortar that God employed to construct the Bible. To understand what God said well enough to preach for Him, you must know what kinds of bricks and mortar He used. Noun: A noun represents a person, place, thing, or abstract idea. Examples: John, Africa, ball, justice * This chapter is intended to be a review of English grammar. If these things are completely new to you, you might want to borrow a grade five or six textbook on English grammar from one of the students in your church and study it in detail. "A child's grammar?" you howl. Sure. God's men must be humble. Be encouraged as you do so: if a child can learn this stuff, you can too. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 46 Pronoun: A pronoun is used in the place of a noun. Examples: he, she, they, it, you, them Verb: A verb represents an action or a state of being. Action verbs: run, jump, write, preach State of being verbs: is, are, was, were, am State of being verbs do not refer to something you do, but to something you are. Paul is an apostle. Paul is tall. Paul doesn't do those things; he is those things; he exists in that state. State of being verbs act like an equal sign: Paul=apostle. Paul=tall. Adjective: An adjective describes a noun or pronoun. Examples: the red ball, a dull lecture; a great preacher Adverb: An adverb describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It tells how, when, why, where, or to what extent, and usually ends in ly. Examples: He ran quickly. (how he ran) Initially he was afraid. (when he was afraid) a terribly dull lecture (to what extent it was dull) Preposition: A preposition shows a relationship between the words before and after it. Examples: the king of France (Of points out a relationship between king and France.) Billy collapsed into the chair. (Into describes the relationship between Billy's collapse and the chair.) Participle: Participles are verb-like words that end in ing, ed, or en. They act either as adjectives (describing a noun) or adverbs (describing a verb). Examples: He sat down by the running stream. (Running describes the noun stream.) Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 47 John slipped, dropping his books on the pavement. (Dropping… describes what happened when John slipped.) Important note: when joined with a state of being verb, participles become part of the verb: Examples: I am asking you to sit down. (When joined with am, the participle asking becomes part of the verb.) Billy was going to school. Gerund: Participles that act like nouns are called gerunds.They make actions into nouns. Examples: I love singing. Running is my favorite exercise. Infinitive: An infinitive is a verb with to in front of it: to sing, to run, to believe. Infinitives are very flexible. They can function as a noun, an adjective, an adverb, or a verb in purpose clauses. Examples: To live is Christ, to die is gain. (The infinitives make the actions of living and dying into nouns.) Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (Expresses purpose.) SENTENCES Bricks and mortar provide the basic materials for building a house. However, depending on how you combine them, you can make a wall, a floor, or a doorway. Words can also be combined in different ways, resulting in totally different meanings. Billy hit the ball doesn't mean the same thing as The ball hit Billy. The following are the most common ways that words are used to build a sentence. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 48 Verbs: Meaning is in the verbs. If you want to know what a Bible passage is about, look at the verbs. They are the road signs that point you to the author's message. Verbs can be active, passive, or refer to a state of being. Billy hit the ball. (active) Billy was hit by the ball. (passive—the action is done to the subject) Billy is tall. (state of being) Subject: The subject is the part of the sentence about which something is said. Billy ran home. John is my brother. Paul was imprisoned in Philippi. [You] Stand by the door. Direct object: The direct object is the part of the sentence that receives the action of an active verb. Billy hit the ball. The ball receives the action of the active verb hit. I believe that Jesus is God. What is receiving the action of I believe? In this case, a group of words, that Jesus is God, receives the action of believing. That group of words acts just like one noun, and is the direct object of I believe. Although it seems more complex, I believe that Jesus is God is no different than saying I believe the truth. Predicate nominative and predicate adjective: State of being verbs don't have direct objects. They have predicate nominatives (nouns) or predicate adjectives. They are the part of the sentence that equals the subject. Billy is my friend. Billy=friend. (predicate nominative) Billy is tall. Billy=tall. (predicate adjective)Apposition: An apposition occurs when two names for the same person or thing are placed side by side. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given. After listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation… Although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but… Direct address: Direct address occurs when a person or group of people are spoken to by name. It has no direct grammatical relationship to the rest of the sentence. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials… O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you… Developing words or modifiers: Developing words include adjectives, adverbs, and groups of words that act like them. They are servants, not kings. They serve other words by describing, limiting, or qualifying them. Billy caught the red ball. Billy caught the ball that ricocheted off the head of the opposing side's most prolific goalscorer. What develops the noun ball in these two examples? In the first, it is the word red. In the second, it is the group of words that ricocheted off the head of the opposing side's most prolific goal-scorer. Although there are twelve words following ball, they all work together to describe which ball Billy caught. GROUPS OF WORDS Like all writers, the Bible's authors grouped their words together in three different ways: phrases, clauses, and paragraphs. These are the trailers, buses, and airplanes of how God transports truth to human beings. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 50 PHRASES A phrase is a group of words that works together, but does not contain a verb. Since phrases don't have a verb, they can't be the main part of the sentence; they always develop something else. Phrases are like a trailer that is towed behind a bus to haul extra luggage on a long trip. The trailer can't go by itself, but at the same time, you don't want to lose the trailer because there's a lot of important stuff in those suitcases. Because they can't go by themselves, trailers (participles, prepositions, and infinitives) always serve some other part of the sentence. Participle phrase: We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers. (The participle phrase explains either when or how Paul gave thanks.) Prepositional phrase: Most prepositional phrases develop verbs. He eagerly searched for me. (for whom he searched) He came and preached peace to you … (to whom he preached) by grace you have been saved (how you were saved) We were dead in our transgressions (where we were dead) Some prepositions develop nouns. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus (which apostle) the truth about Jesus (which truth) people without hope (which people) Infinitive phrase: He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (The infinitive to guard develops the idea of God's ability, explaining what He is able to do.) CLAUSES A clause is a group of words that has both a subject and a verb. A clause is like a bus: it carries more passengers than a phrase; therefore, it is more important. Clauses divide into two kinds of buses, those that can drive by themselves and those that can't. Those that can drive by themselves are called main clauses; those that can't are called dependent or developing clauses. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 51 MAIN CLAUSES A main clause stands by itself as a complete thought even if other parts of the sentence are subtracted. It can drive by itself. For example, consider the sentence Paul preached until the sun went down. The words Paul preached stand by themselves as a complete thought. We can add or subtract the words until the sun went down, but Paul preached remains complete. It is the main clause. We could also say Paul preached to the Corinthians. In this case, Paul preached is towing a trailer, a prepositional phrase (to the Corinthians). The subject and verb, Paul preached, don't need that extra luggage to drive; they go by themselves. However, we're glad those suitcases are along for the ride; they tell us to whom Paul was preaching. Main clauses drive by themselves; the rest of the sentence develops or serves them. DEPENDENT OR DEVELOPING CLAUSES Paul preached until the sun went down. (main) (developing) The words until the sun went down are a dependent or developing clause. They can't drive by themselves. When you take away Paul preached, they stand by the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. Here are three more examples: Until I come, [you] give attention to the public reading of Scripture. (developing) (main) All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (developing) (main) Take up the full armor of God so that you will be able to resist in the evil day. (main) (developing) Where do you think the author's main point will be—in the main clause or in the developing clause? It's not a trick question: the author's main point will always be in the mainclause. Therefore, sharpening your ability to separate a main clause from its developing clauses is one of the most important things you'll do as a Bible interpreter. You can't preach for God until you know what His main thought is. Once you've found that main thought, you can handle the sword of the Spirit with the skill of a master swordsman, but not before. In the next chapter, you'll find a number exercises to help you develop this important skill. PARAGRAPHS A paragraph is a group of sentences that work together to address one topic. A paragraph is like an airplane: it has three hundred passengers, but they are all going to the same destination. For example, Ephesians 5:22-6:9 consists of six short paragraphs. Each one speaks to a different group of people. 1. Eph 5:22-24 wives 2. Eph 5:25-33 husbands 3. Eph 6:1-3 children 4. Eph 6:4 fathers 5. Eph 6:5-8 slaves 6. Eph 6:9 masters A paragraph's theme will usually be found in the opening sentence or two; the sentences that follow work together to develop that theme. For example, the paragraph addressing husbands opens: "Husbands, love your wives" (Eph 5:25). The theme of a husband's love for his wife is then developed in the rest of the paragraph by focusing his attention on the example of Christ's love for the church. TOW BARS AND DEVELOPING CLAUSES To pull a trailer you need a tow bar, something to connect the trailer or the rear portion of an articulated bus to the main vehicle. The same is true of developing clauses. They don't go Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 53 unless they are hitched to the main clause with a tow bar. We'll call these tow bars connector words. Let's go back to our sentence, Paul preached until the sun went down. Paul preached the sun went down. Paul preached until the sun went down. What is the tow bar that links Paul preached with its developing clause? The word until. It shows that the second clause works for the first. Developing clauses are almost always marked by a tow bar or connector words. Furthermore, when you change the connector word, you change the meaning of the sentence. Paul preached because the people believed. Paul preached so that the people believed. Paul preached until the people believed. Paul preached unless the people believed. Paul preached if the people believed. In each case, changing the tow bar changes the meaning of the sentence. The first sentence emphasizes why Paul preached; the second emphasizes the result of his preaching. The third sentence tells how long Paul preached. The last two sentences give different conditions under which Paul would or would not preach. The authors of the Bible used connector words and developing clauses all the time. In fact, they used them so much that if you can't identify them and the work they're doing, you can't interpret the Bible accurately. On the next two pages you'll find a list of the most important kinds of developing clauses and the tow bars that mark them. Outside of the Bible, these are the two most important pages in your library. I'm not exaggerating. To be a good interpreter, you must master these pages. You should become so familiar with them that at any point you can stop and say, "That's a purpose clause," or "That's a result clause." It's no different than a bricklayer saying, "Those are the bricks; this is a trowel; that's a wheelbarrow, and there's the mortar." Words and language are your tools. Learn them so that you can preach for God. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 54 Study the following types of clauses and their tow bars (the tow bars or connector words are given in bold). As you do so, remember that connector words can also serve as a tow bar hitching together two sentences. In other words, they mark the relationships between sentences just as well as they mark the relationships within a sentence. TYPES OF CLAUSES Relative: Acts as an adjective, describing a noun or pronoun. (who, which, whom, that.) These tow bars are sometimes combined with prepositions: by which, in which, among whom, etc.  He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world.  God, who cannot lie…  The God who made the world and all things in it...does not dwell in temples made with hands. Temporal: Tells when the action of the main clause is happening. (when, while, after, then, since, before, as, etc.)  When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer.  His spirit was provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. Purpose: Describes the purpose or goal of the verb it develops. (in order that, that, so that)  Christ Jesus...gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us...  They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. Result: Describes the result of the clause it develops. (therefore, as a result, so, thus, so that)  God has not given us a spirit of timidity...therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.  All these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow... Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 55 Causal: Expresses the reason for the action of the verb it develops. (because, for, since)  He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd.  He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.  You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman. Explanatory: Explains the preceding thought—often very close to causal. (for, you see, that is, namely)  May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? Contrast: Contrasts something with what was just said. (but, yet, nevertheless)  Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification... Conditional: Establishes a condition that must be true before the main clause will come to pass. (if, unless)  I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills.  If the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert ... Comparison: Introduces a comparison. (as, even as, just as, so)  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Concessive: Introduces something slightly surprising in light of the main clause. (although, though, even though)  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while...you have been distressed by various trials...  Although He existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped... Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 56 Sequential: Used often in narrative, it expresses progress in the story. (then, now)  The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. Noun: A group of words acting like a noun, most often found as a direct object or as an apposition. Used regularly with the verbs know and pray, giving the content of the knowledge or the prayer. (that, what)  For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person ... has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  I pray that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened. Note: There is an exercise at the end of this chapter that will give you practice at identifying and naming these clauses. PARTICIPLE PHRASES Participles work the same way clauses do, except that the connector words are often implied by the context rather than directly stated. In the examples below, I've noted the implied connections. Purpose: Expresses the purpose of the verb.  Let us see if Elijah comes [for the purpose of] saving him. Temporal: Establishes the time of the verb.  Seeing [when they saw] the star, they rejoiced. Causal: Expresses the reason for the action of the verb.  They received Him, seeing [because they saw] all that He did. Conditional: Used as the if portion of an if-then statement.  How shall we escape, neglecting [if we neglect] so great a salvation? Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 57 Concessive: Introduces something that makes the action of the verb slightly surprising.  ...and he went out, not knowing [even though he did not know] where he was going. Instrumental: Indicates the means by which an action is accomplished.  Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [by means of] fixing our eyes on Jesus... Circumstantial: Expresses something that takes place at the same time as the verb.  They went forth, [at the same time] preaching everywhere. CLAUSE EXERCISE Practice is important; therefore, I want you to complete the following exercise. Read each verse below, giving special attention to the clauses in italics. Using the clause pages you just studied as your guide, write the name of each italicized clause in the space provided. There is an answer key at the end of the exercise so that you can check your answers. Example: Those 1 who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. Who marks a relative clause. Therefore, the answer is: 1. relative clause Exercises: No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, 1 so that he may please the one 2who enlisted him as a soldier. 1._____________________ 2. _____________________ 3 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 3. _____________________ Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 58 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, 4 for it will lead to further ungodliness. 4. _____________________ He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, 5 so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 5. _____________________ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman 6who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 6. _____________________ And 7 although they know the ordinance of God, 8 that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those 9 who practice them. 7. _____________________ 8. _____________________ 9. _____________________ Also 10 if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize 11unless he competes according to the rules. 10. _____________________ 11. _____________________ But thanks be to God 12 that 13 though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching 14to which you were committed. 12. _____________________ 13. _____________________ 14. _____________________ Retain the standard of sound words 15which you have heard from me, in the faith and love 16which are in Christ Jesus. 15. _____________________ 16. _____________________ 17"Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 18yet 19because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection." 17. _____________________ 18. _____________________ 19. _____________________ 20Now21after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem. 20. _____________________ 21. _____________________ For this you know with certainty, 22 that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, 23who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 22. _____________________ 23. _____________________ Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 59 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 24so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 24. _____________________ "Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, 25"Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; 26though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool." 25. _____________________ 26. _____________________ Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, 27so that it will give grace to those who hear. 27. _____________________ We know that we have passed out of death into life, 28because we love the brethren. 28. _____________________ Whoever confesses 29that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 29. _____________________ The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, 30for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 30. _____________________ For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, 31so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. 31. _____________________ But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, 32as is proper among saints. 32. _____________________ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through 33what has been made, 34so that they are without excuse. 33. _____________________ 34. _____________________ Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 60 ANSWER KEY: 1. Purpose—telling why a soldier doesn't entangle himself. 2. Relative—describing one. 3. Conditional—confessing is the condition for forgiveness. 4. Causal—explaining why to avoid such chatter. 5. Purpose—identifying the goal of the ex-thief's labor. 6. Relative—describes which workman: the unashamed one. 7. Concessive—in spite of their knowledge, they still sin. 8. Noun—an apposition renaming the ordinance of God. 9. Relative—telling which those. 10. Conditional—competing is the condition required for being eligible to win the prize. 11. Conditional—competing according to the rules is the condition required to win the prize. 12. Noun—the content of the thanksgiving. 13. Concessive—in spite of their previous slavery to sin, they obeyed. 14. Relative—describes which teaching: the one they were committed to. 15. Relative—describes which words to retain: those heard from Paul. 16. Relative—describing which faith and love: the ones found in Christ Jesus. 17. Concessive—in spite of the fact that he does not fear God, the judge will give protection. 18. Contrast—contrasts the judge's lack of fear with his intent to provide protection. 19. Causal—explains why the judge will give the unexpected protection. 20. Sequential—advances the story. 21. Temporal—tells when the magi came. 22. Noun—in apposition with this, giving the content of the knowledge. 23. Relative—describes the coveter as an idol worshiper, bowing before that which he covets. 24. Result—the complete equipping of God's man is the result of the inspiration and profitability of Scripture. It could also be interpreted as a purpose clause. 25. Concessive—in spite of their scarlet sin, the whiteness of the main clause will result. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 61 26. Concessive—in spite of redness of their sin, wooly whiteness will be given. 27. Purpose—the reason for speaking the edifying word. 28. Causal—explains why we are certain we are spiritually alive. 29. Noun—direct object of the verb confesses. 30. Causal—tells why Onesiphorus was a worthy candidate for mercy. 31. Purpose—tells why Paul endured so many sufferings: the salvation of God's elect. 32. Comparison—equates the verbal restraint of the main clause with saintly behavior. 33. Noun—object of the preposition through; the same as saying "through creation." 34. Result—God's self-revelation makes sinners' guilt indefensible. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 62 CHAPTER SIX STRIPPING A SENTENCE Have you ever seen a car that has been stripped by thieves? All that is left is the body, the frame, and the engine. The radio, seats, and steering wheel have been ripped out of the interior. The wheels, lights, wipers, and muffler have been removed from the outside. The battery, spark plugs, and air filter have been stolen from the under the bonnet. In fact, all that's left are the most basic components of the vehicle—the stuff too big to move. While I normally discourage criminal activity of all kinds, in this section I want to teach you to strip a sentence. I want to teach you to remove all the secondary components—spark plugs, wiper blades, and wheels—so that you can isolate the main part of a sentence, the author's dominant thought. The dominant thought is the main part of the main clause. It is the part of the sentence that stands by itself as a complete thought. If you take away the other parts of the sentence, it still makes sense. Consider the two sentences from the last chapter: Paul preached until the sun went down and Paul preached to the Corinthians. Let's strip them of their developing words. Paul preached until the sun went down. Paul preached to the Corinthians. What is the dominant thought of those two sentences? Paul preached. Why is that important? If you were to preach those sentences, your theme wouldn't be sunsets or people who live in Corinth. Your theme would be Paul's preaching. People who live in Corinth and sunsets are important only because they explain to whom Paul preached and when Paul preached. To prove that Paul preached is the dominant thought of those sentences, let's try crossing it out, and see what remains. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 63 Paul preached until the sun went down. Paul preached to the Corinthians. Do the remaining words form a complete thought? They don't. When you took away Paul preached, you didn't strip the car; you hauled away the body, frame, and engine—the things that make a car a car or a sentence a sentence. When you cross out Paul preached, what remains are spare parts. To preach for God, your sermon must always be built around the dominant thought of the passage, not the spare parts. You find that dominant thought by stripping away all the parts of the sentence that don't go by themselves: prepositions, participles, infinitives, and developing clauses. Let's start by learning to strip a sentence of its prepositions. FINDING AND STRIPPING PREPOSITIONS Prepositions are words that highlight relationships. Many highlight a physical relationship: on the house, under the house, beside the house, outside the house. Other prepositions highlight time relationships: after the sermon, before the sermon, during the sermon. A few prepositions identify general or abstract relationships: about the truth, of the Lord, according to the Bible. Read through the list of prepositions provided below, so that you will be able to identify them in the exercises that follow.36 Physical relationships: above over up down below under beneath near by off on next to with in inside into out outside beside around along between across through throughout past to toward from against at behind 36 This list of prepositions is adapted from a list in Wanda C. Phillips, Easy Grammar: Grades 4 and 5 (Scottsdale, Arizona: Easy Grammar Systems, 1996), 1. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 64 Time relationships: before during until after General or abstract relationships: about for as of except according to without with Having reviewed that list of common prepositions, now let's practice stripping them from a sentence in order to find the dominant thought. Using sentences from Paul's letter to the Philippians, we'll strip away the prepositional phrases by drawing a line through them. That doesn't mean that they aren't important; we're just indicating that they aren't the dominant thought. The prepositions are in bold. In this I rejoice. Dominant thought: Paul's rejoicing. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. Dominant thought: Paul's thanks to God In the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. Dominant thought: the shared partaking of Paul and the Philippians I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. Dominant thought: Paul's longing He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace… Dominant thought: God's predestining workWhat remains when you strip a sentence is the heart of the main clause: the main verb, its subject, and its direct object (if it has one). With state of being verbs, what remains is the verb, its subject, and the subject's predicate noun or predicate adjective. We can employ the same stripping away process with participles and infinitives.* I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ… preposition participle infinitives preposition Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. participle preposition What is the main thought of this verse? Christ's humbling of Himself. All the other words develop that thought. I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent… participle preposition DEVELOPING CLAUSES We can strip developing clauses from a sentence the same way, leaving behind only the dominant thought of the main clause. When stripping away developing clauses, the key is finding the tow bars or connector words that start them. Once you've found its tow bar, a developing clause can't escape your pencil. Let's look at some more examples. The connector words are in bold. * Occasionally a gerund or an infinitive phrase will be the subject or direct object of a sentence. If so, don't strip it; it is part of the dominant thought. Example: "To write the same things again is no trouble to me…" In this case, the infinitive to write is the subject of is. The dominant thought is to write is no trouble. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 66 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. conditional temporal Notice that we did not cross out himself, the direct object. We'll include it as part of the dominant thought. The same is true with the word heart in the next example. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. causal conditional I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. purpose relative Once you remove the purpose clause and its relative clause, you find that the dominant thought of the sentence is Paul's pressing on. In this case, we did not cross out on because it is an adverb describing press, not a preposition. Observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. relative After removing the relative clause that develops the word those, the dominant thought is observing people. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. explanatory The for clause explains why Paul can speak without want. This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment. noun Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 67 That starts a noun clause that gives the content of Paul's prayer. The whole noun clause is in apposition with the word this. Even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice … concessive God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… relative purpose EXERCISES Now that you've seen some examples of how to strip a sentence in order to isolate the dominant thought, I want you to practice this important skill. In the exercises below, strip each sentence of all its developing words, including prepositions, infinitives, participles, and developing clauses. You can cross them out lightly with a pencil (unless this is a library book!). Do the exercises carefully: this skill is critical to block diagramming. I've done the first sentence for you. When you are done, check your work against the answer key that follows. EXERCISE 1: MATTHEW'S GOSPEL 1. Unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. 2. If your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 3. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 4. Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you. 5. When they came to the multitude, a man came up to Him, falling on his knees before Him. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 68 6. Sending away the multitudes, He got into the boat, and came to the region of Magadan. 7. Departing from there, Jesus went along by the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up to the mountain, He was sitting there. 8. Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 9. Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 10. Seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. 11. You shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins. 12. If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you. ANSWER KEY 1. Unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. 2. If your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 3. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 4. Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you. 5. When they came to the multitude, a man came up to Him, falling on his knees before Him. 6. Sending away the multitudes, He got into the boat, and came to the region of Magadan. 7. Departing from there, Jesus went along by the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up to the mountain, He was sitting there. 8. Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 69 9. Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 10. Seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. 11. You shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins. 12. If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you. EXERCISE 2: ROMANS To isolate the dominant thought of these verses, strip each sentence of its developing words, including prepositions, infinitives, participles, and developing clauses. Do so by crossing them out lightly with a pencil until all that remains is the dominant thought. 1. For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established. 2. Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 3. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper. 4. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God. 5. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. 6. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance. 7. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 8. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 9. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. 10. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 70 11. For the outcome of those things is death. 12. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ANSWER KEY 1. For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established. 2. Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 3. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper. 4. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God. 5. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. 6. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance. 7. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 8. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 9. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. 10. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? 11. For the outcome of those things is death. 12. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Sentence number twelve is Romans 8:1. If you were to preach that verse, what would your theme be? It would be God's theme: no condemnation. You need the developing words, for those who are in Christ Jesus, to fill out the thought—they specify who will not be condemned. Copyright © Joel James, 2008. Used by permission. 71 However, the dominant thought is found in the main clause: no condemnation. And what a great thought it is for those who have believed in Christ!