Questions on How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Fee and Stuart

Instructions

       It is important that you answer the questions in your own words; this demonstrates that you understand the concepts. Simply quoting from the book will not be considered adequate. Answers to all questions should be at least a paragraph (that is, at least five typewritten lines) long. Some questions, to be adequately answered, will require considerably more than this.
       Be sure to read each chapter's questions before you read the relevant chapter. This will help guide your reading, giving you some idea what to expect from the chapter.
       Remember, your purpose here is to learn, not simply to complete a set of requirements. Your goal is an education, not units and a grade.

Chapter One

1. What is the aim of good interpretation?
2. What can hinder a proper understanding of the text?
3. Discuss the nature of Scripture.
4. Define exegesis.
5. Define hermeneutics.

Chapter Two

1. Why is it a good idea to use more than one translation?
2. Explain what is meant by a literal translation, a free translation, and dynamic equivalence? Why is dynamic equivalence preferred?
3. What were the three languages that the Bible was originally written in and what parts of the Bible are in those languages?
4. What is textual criticism and why is it necessary?
5. Why should you use practically any modern translation rather than the KJV?

Chapter Three

1. Discuss the nature of the epistles; what is the most important thing to remember about them?
2. What is the historical context and why is it so important?
3. What is the literary context and why is it so important?
4. Describe how one should go about studying an epistle.
5. Follow the suggested approach with 1 Corinthians 1-4 as given on pages 52-53:

a. Read 1 Corinthians 1-4 twice
b. List everything you can find out about the recipients and their problem
c. Make a list of key words and repeated phrases that indicate the subject matter of Paul's answer

Chapter Four

1. What is the hermeneutical problem and how is it illustrated by "common sense" hermeneutics?
2. Why must exegesis always precede hermeneutics?
3. What are the two basic rules of hermeneutics?
4. Explain the problem of extended application.
5. Explain the problem of particulars that are not comparable.
6. Explain the problem of cultural relativity.
7. Explain the problem of task theology.

Chapter Five

1. Explain what narratives are.
2. What are the three levels of narratives? Explain.
3. What are narratives not?
4. Summarize the principles for interpreting narratives.
5. List and describe the eight most common errors of interpretation.

Chapter Six

1. As the authors suggest on page 97:

a. Read Acts all the way through.
b. Make mental notes of key people, places, recurring motifs, and the natural divisions of the book.
c. Skim the book and write down, with references, what before were simply mental notes.
d. Explain why Luke wrote the book of Acts.
e. Follow these four points above before finishing chapter six. Check yourself with the observations and conclusions the authors make and decide if you agree with them. Explain why or why not.

Chapter Seven

1. Explain the nature of the gospels and some of the difficulties associated with interpreting them.
2. Discuss the historical context of the four gospels.
3. Discuss the literary context of the four gospels.
4. What is so important about the concept "the kingdom of God" in the teaching of Jesus?

Chapter Eight

1. Why have the parables suffered so much misinterpretation?
2. What is a parable? Define and discuss the various kinds.
3. What is the function of a parable?
4. What is the hermeneutical task posed by the parables?

Chapter Nine

1. Summarize the six initial guidelines for understanding the relationship of the Christian to the Law. Do you agree with them all? Why or why not?
2. Define apodictic law. Explain.
3. Define casuistic law. Explain.
4. How was the Law a benefit to ancient Israel?

Chapter Ten

1. Are the prophets of the Old Testament primarily prophesying about our future? Explain.
2. Discuss the nature of the prophets and prophetic writings in the Old Testament.
3. What three things about the role and function of prophets must be emphasized? Explain.
4. Why is the historical context so important for understanding the prophets? How would one go about discovering this historical context?
5. What three things characterized the time of the writing prophets? Why are the writing prophets confined to a three hundred year span?
6. Explain the three most common forms of prophetic utterance.
7. Discuss the poetic nature of the written Old Testament prophesies.
8. Explain the interpretive caution, concern, and the benefit of the prophets.

Chapter Eleven

1. Discuss the nature and character of Hebrew poetry.
2. Explain some of the stumbling blocks in the way of correctly understanding the psalms.
3. List and discuss the various types or categories of psalms.
4. What are the imprecatory psalms? How are they to be understood?
5. What are three benefits of the psalms? Explain.

Chapter Twelve

1. What parts of the Old Testament can be classified as wisdom literature?
2. How have the wisdom books been misused?
3. How would you define wisdom?
4. Discuss the value and point of Ecclesiastes.
5. Define and explain the types of wisdom literature: speculative, proverbial, and lyrical.
6. What is the problem with the theology of Job's friends?
7. How have the Proverbs been misused?
8. What are some guidelines for the proper use and understanding of the Proverbs? Explain.
9. Discuss the nature and reasons for the common misinterpretations of the Song of Songs. How should the Song of Song be properly understood?

Chapter Thirteen

1. To what class of literature does Revelation belong? Describe this genre's characteristics and nature.
2. What is so critical about understanding that Revelation is both prophesy and epistle?
3. Discuss the basic exegetical principles necessary to properly understanding Revelation.
4. Discuss the historical context of Revelation.
5. Discuss the literary context of Revelation.
6. Discuss the hermeneutical questions of Revelation.

Appendix: The Evaluation and Use of Commentaries

1. A commentary should supply you with what three things? Explain.
2. How do you evaluate a commentary? Discuss the seven criteria.