Interpreting OT Narrative pt 2: True or False + Narrative Principles Flashcards
TRUE or FALSE:
Old Testament narratives are not just stories about people who lived in Old Testament times.
TRUE
Old Testament narratives are just stories about PEOPLE who lived in Old Testament times.
Narratives are are first and foremost stories about what God did to and through those people. God is a _____ character.
• There are many events, characters, developments, etc., some which are _____, many which are _____,
Narratives are are first and foremost stories about what God did to and through those people. God is a CENTRAL character.
• There are many events, characters, developments, etc., some which are POSITIVE, many which are NEGATIVE,
but behind all these, God is the supreme good guy and leading Character.
TRUE OR FALSE:
Old Testament narratives are not allegories or stories filled with hidden meanings
TRUE
Old Testament narratives are NOT ALLEGORIES or stories filled with hidden meanings
The stories do not always explain the way that God works in history, or why God does what he does. There is much that must remain in the realm of ______.
But this is far different than supposing that the Biblical stories have some _____ meaning other than what Scripture assigns to them.
The stories do not always explain the way that God works in history, or why God does what he does. There is much that must remain in the realm of MYSTERY.
But this is far different than supposing that the Biblical stories have some HIDDEN meaning other than what Scripture assigns to them.
TRUE OR FALSE:
Old Testament narratives always teach directly.
Old Testament narratives DO NOT always teach directly.
Any story, whether it be a serious novel, short story, or Children’s story are designed to teach indirectly. The lesson(s) are learned not by rote, but by “______ ______.”
• We learn to distinguish between what is of God, and what is not, what is ____, and what is _____, between the nature of true ____, and false _____.
- Any story, whether it be a serious novel, short story, or Children’s story are designed to teach indirectly. The lesson(s) are learned not by rote, but by “VICARIOUS EXPERIENCE.”
- By following the fortunes and misfortunes of the various characters, we learn to distinguish between what is of God, and what is not, what is RIGHT, and what is WRONG, between the nature of true FAITH, and false RELIGION.
- Rather than simply doctrine, narrative is a three dimensional word picture. In a sense you must ________ the truth rather than simply ________ what is taught to you. [THE DYNAMIC OF RELATIONSHIP]
- Old Testament history is your history since you have been brought into the spiritual heritage of the people of God. These stories _______ teach what is often _______ taught elsewhere in Scripture.
Rather than simply doctrine, narrative is a three dimensional word picture. In a sense you must EXPERIENCE the truth rather than simply UNDERSTANDING what is taught to you. [THE DYNAMIC OF RELATIONSHIP]
• Old Testament history is your history since you have been brought into the spiritual heritage of the people of God. These stories IMPLICITLY teach what is often EXPLICITLY taught elsewhere in Scripture.
TRUE or FALSE
Each individual narrative or episode within a narrative does not necessarily have a moral all its own.
TRUE.
Narratives cannot be interpreted in a FRAGMENTED fashion, as if every single expression, statement, or word has some spiritual meaning. [in isolation]
- Bible stories often record the STATEMENTS of evil men, godless men, foolish men, and even the devil himself.
- Each story is like a PARABLE, in that you must interpret it as a complete unit. There is a structure to the story and a movement that leads to a conclusion and usually a single overall point.
Principles for Interpreting Narratives
An Old Testament narrative usually does not _______ teach a doctrine.
It usually _______ a doctrine or doctrines taught propositionally elsewhere.
An Old Testament narrative usually does not DIRECTLY teach a doctrine.
• An old Testament narrative usually ILLUSTRATES a doctrine or doctrines taught propositionally elsewhere.
Principles for Interpreting Narratives
Narratives record what ______, not necessarily what _____ ____ happened or what ought to happen every time. Therefore, not every narrative has an individual identifiable moral of its own. (I.e. Rachel’s lie, Jacob’s deception, etc.)
Narratives record what HAPPENED, not necessarily what SHOULD HAVE have happened or what ought to happen every time. Therefore, not every narrative has an individual identifiable moral of its own. (I.e. Rachel’s lie, Jacob’s deception, etc.)
Principles for Interpreting Narratives
What people do in narratives is not necessarily a good ______ for us. It is often the _____.
What people do in narratives is not necessarily a good EXAMPLE for us. It is often the OPPOSITE.
• Most of the characters in Old Testament narratives are far from perfect, even the O.T. “saint.” NOT everything they do can be taken as positive example for us.
Principles for Interpreting Narratives
We are not always told whether what happened was good or bad. This must be determined from propositional truth taught elsewhere in ______.
• All narratives are _____ and ______.
We are not always told whether what happened was good or bad. This must be determined from propositional truth taught elsewhere in SCRIPTURE.
• All narratives are SELECTIVE and INCOMPLETE.
- Not all chronological material is included, just that which the inspired author thought to be important
to the overall purpose. [there is both room for and the need of sanctified imagination
Narratives are not written to answer all of our ______ questions. They teach either ______ or _______.
Narratives are not written to answer all of our THEOLOGICAL questions.
They teach either EXPLICITLY (by clearly stating something) or IMPLICITLY (by clearly implying something without actually stating it).
______ meaning does not mean ______ meaning.
IMPLICIT meaning does not mean SECRET meaning.
Implicit means that the message is ______ of being understood from what is said, though it is not stated in so many words. Your task is to take note of all that the narrative actually tells you—______ and ______, not ______ or ______.
•
In the final analysis, God is the HERO of the biblical narrative.
Implicit means that the message is CAPABLE of being understood from what is said, though it is not stated in so many words. Your task is to take note of all that the narrative actually tells you—DIRECTLY and INDIRECTLY, not MYSTICALLY or PRIVATELY.
•In the final analysis, God is the HERO of the biblical narrative.
