The bible is a very old text. We must gain meaning from it in a way that honours its original intentions. There are many details we need to pay attention to before we decide to give any meaning or application to the text. Choosing not to pay attention to these details will cause false theology and bad interpretations.

Resources used for Elementary Biblical Research

In addition to the C.O.M.A method that is being used for Bible Journaling. The Three Worlds approach is another elementary tool for Biblical research.

The world behind the text is a window. Through this window, we look to the past, to the time of the author who produced the text, and to the time sometime earlier in which the text was set. The general approach is historical.

The world behind the text is a window. Through this window, we look to the past, to the time of the author who produced the text, and to the time sometime earlier in which the text was set. The general approach is historical.

The world of the text (also known as the world within the text) is a picture. This picture shows us the text as it is and what it says now through its literary features. The general approach is literary.

The world in front of the text is a mirror. In this mirror the reader sees oneself within the text, and sees other readers, the believing Church over many years, challenged to respond to it now and into the future. The general approach is theological (‘faith seeking understanding’).

The window, picture, and mirror are ways of seeing the one beautiful scene. All ‘three worlds’ overlap and interact with each other. Biblical interpretation is incomplete if one world is unduly emphasised to the neglect of the other two. We bring our questions to the Biblical text and it – the Word of God – in turn, questions us.

We are going to go through the Three Worlds Scaffold, and I will guide you through this process by looking at John 3:1-17.

Three Worlds Scaffold

Answer the following questions in the quiz.

• Why is using the Three Worlds Scaffold important?

1. World Behind the Text

Elements of historical and cultural context that impact the interpretation of a biblical topic.

The Bible is not only full of history, but it is a part of history. It informs us what was going on historically and culturally at the time the stories were recorded. God’s people were affected by history, and history was affected by God’s people. This weaving of history with the events of the Bible is a crucial piece of the puzzle for any student of God’s Word. So exactly why is historical and cultural context important when you are studying the Bible?

The historical and cultural context of any verse, book, or passage you read needs to be a factor in how you interpret what you are reading. Every word of the Bible was written at a certain point in history, in the midst of a certain set of circumstances. Often, this outside information will give you a lot of insight as to the purpose of what has been written. The why, when, and where details of the passage will be connected to the historical context. f you allow the historical and cultural context to set the scene for you, the words on the page will become much more real and meaningful to you because you will know why it was significant to its original audience. Understanding the historical context will allow you to garner new insights and therefore a deeper understanding.

This will definitely take researching into outside sources, like commentaries, history books, and cross-referenced biblical passages that might explain what was going on at the time your particular verses were written.

As you study, ask yourself questions like these:

• Who is the author of this passage, and what is known about him?
• Who is the audience, and what circumstances did they find themselves in?
• At what point in history were these people living?
• What was going on politically, economically, culturally, and religiously at the time?
• What is the relationship between the text and the world from which it emerged? Research the following:
  • Geographic setting – e.g., location, geographic features, climate.
  • Historical setting – e.g., historical period, politics, religion, economy.
  • Social/cultural setting – e.g., institutions, customs groups such as Pharisees, etc. concepts, customs.

Answer the following questions in the quiz.

• Open your Study Bible to the Introductory Notes for the Gospel of John that you are studying. Open your Study Bible to the Introductory Notes for the Gospel of John that you are studying. Explain how you used the contents pages and indices to locate texts in the Bible. 
• Identify information about who, what, where, and when, and record any relevant information.
  • Who wrote this book?
  • Who is it written to?
  • What is the theme or meaning of this book as a whole? Why was it written?   
• Identify information about who, what, where, and when, and record any relevant information.
  • What was happening?
  • Where is it written?
  • When was it written?
• Locate at least 2 other Biblical tools that could be used to understand this passage. List some below.
• Acknowledge the sources that you have used by referencing them below.

2. World of the Text

Answer the following questions in the quiz.

• Within the book, where does this passage take place? How do they relate to God’s Big Picture?
• What keywords, phrases, or themes need further exploration?
• Using the reference and index sections, what information did you find that will help you to understand this passage?
• Locate specific passages in the Old Testament and New Testament that provide meaning to some of the words and themes. What are the key themes and messages of this biblical text?
• Locate 2 other Christian resources that shed light on this text.
• Acknowledge the sources that you have used by referencing them below.
• Summarise what each of these Christian resources say about how to interpret this passage.

3. World in Front of the Text

Strategies for reporting findings including citing sources

In order to help you complete the following exegesis on John 3:1-17, find two sources that you will help guide your research and reference them below using the outlined citation method. 

Citing Sources:

A source may be physical or electronic content (e.g. article, video, sound recording, image) or a person, a book, or a location. When citing your sources, you need to:

1. Identify the source i.e. who or what is the source and how can I find them? (Book name, URL, person’s name and where they are from, e.g. John Smith, Minister at New Life Christian Church)

Citing examples:

Book: Author last name, Year & Title (in italics).

Example: Book – Donald K.M (2017). Reformation Questions, Reformation Answers: 95 Key Events, People, and Issues

Article: author (the person or organisation responsible for the site, year (date created or revised) site name (in italics), name of article , accessed day month year (the date you viewed the site), URL or Internet address (between pointed brackets).

Example: Article – DeYoung.K, (2015), The Gospel Coalition. A Brief Defense of Infant Baptism . Accessed October 2019. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/a-brief-defense-of-infant-baptism/

YouTube Clip: Author, A.A. (year, month day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL http://xxxxx.

Example: Wolfmueller, B (2018, May 10). Is infant baptism Biblical [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZurA93_jNdc

2. Establish the credibility or authority of the source i.e. Who is the publisher? What are their qualifications? What community or tradition are they part of? What is their place in their community? (e.g. Joe has a degree in History and has been a minister for five years).

Answer the following questions in the quiz.

• What could be the ancient reader’s response to this passage?
• What might this passage be saying to the modern culture with reference to its context?
• Is there anything in the text that might be open to challenge or questioning by a modern reader?
• How might gender, culture, or life experience, including experiences with religion or religious groups, affect the way a modern reader might respond to this text?
• What does this passage mean for the Church? What does it teach me about God and about Jesus? What does it teach me about humanity? What is it saying to me personally? Substantiate ideas with examples and references.
• Describe one practical application that you could make to your life, after thoroughly exploring this scripture?
• What different areas of your life could this information impact if you were to put what you have learned into action?
• Was this approach helpful in helping in interpreting the passage? Which biblical tool did you find most useful?