INTRO

An Introduction of
Bible Interpretation
The Importance of Bible Interpretation

“You don’t have to interpret the Bible;

just read it and do what it says.”

The single most serious problem people have with

the bible is not with lack of understanding but the
fact that they understand most things too well. That
often times they know it but they don’t obey what it
says.
 Basic Reasons of Different
Interpretations
1. We all understand DIFFERENTLY form others-
Every interpreter have different bias. Biases like
Personal, Cultural, Theological background.

2. We Jump into CONCLUSION- Read and come up

into conclusion. Jump quickly to conclusion, we don’t dig
or make a research.

3. Not open to NEW things- “Kung anong

kinagisnan yun ang kakamatayan.”
 Basic Reasons of Different
Interpretations
4. We understand the part and not the WHOLE- It
is the whole that gives part the meaning. “You
understand the WHOLE first before you can
understand the part.”
BEAK

EAR OF A RABBIT
DUCK

Because you miss to understand the

WHOLE you miss to understand the
PART
 Basic Reasons of Different
Interpretations
5. We tend to read our IDEAS back into the bible –
We use words & ideas to understand the bible. This
is ok! But how if the idea is not the same with the
bible? A lot of times we use the bible because of
our emotions and try to twist it and shape it the way
that it will meet our needs.

“We are not to interpret Scripture in the light

of our EXPERIENCE; but we are
to interpret our experience in the light of the
SCRIPTURE.”
 Basic Reasons of Different
Interpretations

6. Indiscriminately APPLY passages to

justify our beliefs. – We use the bible to
back up our opinions. We use the bible to
justify our beliefs.
 Basic Reasons of Different
Interpretations

“We have all biases but allow the

bible to CHALLENGE, to
QUESTION, even CHANGE
those biases.”
 QBA
The Question- Based Approach
Method of Teaching
QBA is a Course in Preaching and
Bible Study Leading
 The Importance of asking Questions

1. Asking a question is EFFECTIVE TOOL

for communication.

 God used it. –Gen.3:8-9, 8 Then the man and his

wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was
walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they
hid from the Lord God among the trees of the
garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man,
"Where are you?"
 The Importance of asking Questions

 Jesus Christ used it. –John 8:7-11, 7 When they kept

on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them,
"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to
throw a stone at her." 8 Again he stooped down and
wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to
go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only
Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10
Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where
are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 "No one, sir,"
she said."Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus
declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
 The Importance of asking Questions

 Satan used it. –Gen.3:1, Now the serpent

was more crafty than any of the wild animals
the Lord God had made. He said to the
woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat
from any tree in the garden'?"
 The Importance of asking Questions

2. The one asking the question is usually the one in CONTROL

of the proceedings. Relevant and Right questions are
needed .
3. People tend to love or want to answer questions because
questions are usually STIMULATING to their minds. The
stimulation takes place because a question arouses
CURIORSITY, and ANALYSIS and invites
PARTICIPATION.

4. A question forces the people to FOCUS on the topic you

want them to think about.
5. A good question is the FOUNDATION of good hermeneutics.
 Guidelines when asking Questions
1. The question must be CLEAR and linguistically
PRECISE. The question is understand
QUICKLY and EASILY.

2. The question must FOCUS on one issue.

3. The question must LOOK for answer at the

SOURCE you have identified.

4. The question must not bring the discussion

OUTSIDE of the topic.
 Guidelines when asking Questions

5. The question MUST NOT ALLOW an opinionated

person to GO OUTSIDE the discussion.

6. Don’t worry about the PREGNANT pause.

Repeat or Rephrase.
7. Learn to distinguish between an EFFICIENT
and an EFFECTIVE question. Efficient is well-
crafted and easy to understand and but does
not generate the desired discussion. An
effective question is easy to understand and
generates the right discussion.
 QR
The Question Rule
Section
 QR 1
WHAT IS THE VERSE
ACTUALLY SAYING?

(Ano ang sinasabi ng

talata?)
 Example: QR1 – NO INTERPRETATION
1. Get a Text or Passage
JOHN 3:16
2.Look for a Noun (Name Person, Place & Things)
GOD, WORLD, SON.
3. Use the Noun in a Question Statement f Form
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD?
4. Answer the question from the text or passage.
GOD LOVES THE WORLD
GOD GAVE HIS ONLY SON
GOD PROVIDED ETERNAL LIFE
 Example: QR1 – NO INTERPRETATION
1. Get a Text or Passage
JOHN 3:16
2.Look for a Noun (Name Person, Place & Things)
GOD, WORLD, SON.
3. Use the Noun in a Question Statement f Form
HOW DID GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS LOVE?
4. Answer the question from the text or passage.
BY LOVING THE WORLD
BY GIVING HIS ONLY SON
BY PROVIDING ETERNAL LIFE
 Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for
you," declares the LORD, "plans to
prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a
future.(NIV)
Question: What are the plans of God to us?

1. TO PROSPER US
2. TO GIVE US HOPE
3. TO GIVE US A FUTURE
 QR 2
WHAT IS THE VERSE
CAPABLE OF IMPLYING?
(Ano ang
Ipinapahiwatig O maaring Ipahiwatig
ng talata?)
 Example: QR2 – WITH INTERPRETATION
1. Get a Text or Passage
JOHN 3:16
2.Look for a Noun (Name Person, Place & Things)
GOD, WORLD, SON.
3. Use the Noun in a Question Statement f Form
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD?
4. Answer the question from the text or passage.
GOD IS A LOVER
GOD IS A GIVER
GOD IS A PROVIDER
 QR 3
WHAT IS THE VERSE
NOT SAYING?
(Ano ang hindi
sinasabi ng talata?)
Example: QR3 – CHECKING OF QR2 IF CORRECT OR
NOT INTERPRETATION
TEXT: JOHN 3:16
QUESTION: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD?

CHECK QR2 ANSWER IF CORRECT OR NOT BY USING QR3- What is

the verse not saying.

QR2 – ANSWERS

GOD IS A LOVER
GOD IS A GIVER
GOD IS A PROVIDER

• God is Man. Suspicious answer. Is the answer found in the verse 16?
If not go to QR4 rules.
 QR 4
WHAT IS THE VERSE
INCAPABLE OF SAYING?
(Ano ang hindi maaring ituro ng
talata?)
Example: QR4 – Validation of QR2 & QR3 by
TEXT: JOHN 3:16 using QR4 rules.
QUESTION: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD?
CHECK QR2 & QR3 ANSWER IF CORRECT OR NOT BY USING QR4-
What is the verse not capable of saying.
QR2 & QR3 – ANSWER
• God is Man. Suspicious answer. Is the answer found in the verse 16?
If not, go to QR4 rules.
QR4 – ANSWERS
1. Intra textual within the TEXT If the answer found in John 3;16?

2. Contextual within the CONTEXT Find the answer within the context starts and
ends. John 3:1-21. In v. 13 “Son of God” – this
is the title of God.
3. Intra- Biblical within the bible. Find the answer within the whole bible. John
1:14 and the “ Word became Flesh”.

4. Extra- Biblical - outside the bible. Find the answer outside the bible.
Commentary, Historical books and etc.
 Four Types of Cross references
• INTRA-TEXTUAL- the cross references is found
within the designated text.
• CONTEXTUAL- the cross reference found
within the surrounding verses of the context.
• INTRA-BIBLICAL- the cross reference is found
within the Bible.
• EXTRA-BIBLICAL- the cross reference is found
outside of the bible.
 THE VERSATILITY OF QBA
HERMENUETICS HOMILETICS
Bible PREACHING for
Interpretation Large Group
QUESTION
BASED
APPROACH
(QBA)

BIBLE STUDY
Teaching for Small Group
 VERY IMPORTANT!
“The purpose of the studying
the bible is to KNOW CHRIST
and EXPERIENCE HIM in a
PERSONAL and DEEPER
way.”
 QG
The Question Guide
Section
 QG 1
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITE TEXT?
LOOK FOR A VERSE IN THE SCRIPTURE
QG 1 - JOHN 3:16 (TEXT)
 QG 2
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITE NOUN
FROM THE TEXT?
CHOOSE A NOUN FROM THE VERSE IN THE SCRIPTURE
QG 1 - JOHN 3:16 (TEXT)
QG 2 - GOD ( NOUN )
 QG 3
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITE
QUESTION FROM THE TEXT?
FROM THE TEXT USE THE NOUN IN A
QUESTION FORM STATEMENT
QG 1 - JOHN 3:16 (TEXT)
QG 2 - GOD ( NOUN )
QG 3 - WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY
ABOUT GOD?
( QUESTION )
 QG 4
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITE
ANSWER FROM THE TEXT?
ANSWER THE QUESTION FROM THE TEXT
QG 1 - JOHN 3:16 (TEXT)
QG 2 - GOD (NOUN)
QG 3 - WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT
GOD? (QUESTION )

QG 4 - GOD IS A LOVER (ANSWER)

GOD IS A GIVER
GOD IS A FATHER
GOD IS A SAVIOUR
GOD IS ETERNAL
 QG 5
WHAT IS YOUR HOMILETICAL
OUTLINE?
ARRANGE YOUR TEXT, QUESTION & ANSWERS FROM
THE VERSE IN A SERMON OUTLINE FORM
TEXT: JOHN 3:16 (TEXT)
TITLE: THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD
THEME: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD?
(QUESTION )

BODY: 1. GOD IS A LOVER (ANSWER)

2. GOD IS A GIVER (v.16)
3. GOD IS A FATHER (v.16)
4. GOD IS A SAVIOUR (v.16)
5. GOD IS ETERNAL (v.16)
CONCLUSION:
 THE VERSATILITY OF QBA
HERMENUETICS HOMILETICS
Bible PREACHING for
Interpretation Large Group
QUESTION
BASED
APPROACH
(QBA)

BIBLE STUDY
Teaching for Small Group
 VERY IMPORTANT!
“The purpose of the studying
the bible is to KNOW CHRIST
and EXPERIENCE HIM in a
PERSONAL and DEEPER
way.”
 QP
The Question Pattern
for
Discussion Section
 QP1
QPTS
Question, Passage, Truth,
Summary
 EXAMPLE - QPTS
QUESTION: What does the bible say about God? Do really know
Him? What did you discover about His personality? What do
you think will happen to you if know Him by experience? (Let
them answer the questions to create discussion)
PASSAGE: Let us open our bible in John 3:16 and know and study of who
really God is.
TRUTH: In this passage it reveals the following truths; 1) God is
Lover, 2) God is Giver, 3) God is a Father , 4) God is a Savior
5) and God is Eternal. (Explain the underline words one by
one in order for you to expound the verse.)
SUMMARY: Based on our study about God in John 3:16, the passage
shown to us that, He is a Lover, Giver, Father, Savior and He is Eternal.
What situation you are in now, I know that He is able to help you
because He is God and He wants you to experience Him even more.
 QP2
QTPS
Question, Truth, Passage,
Summary
 EXAMPLE - QTPS
QUESTION: What does the bible say about God? Do really know
Him? What did you discover about His personality? What do
you think will happen to you if know Him by experience? (Let
them answer the questions to create discussion)
TRUTH: In this passage it reveals the following truths 1)
God is Lover, 2) God is Giver, 3) God is a Provider
(Explain the underline words one by one in order for
you to expound the verse.)
PASSAGE: In John 3:16 you will find these truths about God .

SUMMARY: Based on our study about God in John 3:16, the passage
shown to us that, He is a Lover, Giver, Father, Savior and He is Eternal.
What situation you are in now, I know that He is able to help you
because He is God and He wants you to experience Him even more.
 QP3
QPQTS
Question, Passage,
Question, Truth, Summary
 EXAMPLE - QPQTS
QUESTION: Do you really know God? (Let them answer the questions to
create discussion)

PASSAGE: Let us open our bible in John 3:16 and know and study of who really
God is.

QUESTION: In our verse for today, What do you discover about the characteristics or
personalities of God? What are words that describe Him? How many characteristics
of God do you see in the passage? Can you name it one by one?(Let them read and
analyze the passage and answer the questions to create discussion)

TRUTH: In this passage it reveals the following characteristics of God; 1)

God is Lover, 2) God is Giver, 3) God is a Provider (Explain the
underline words one by one in order for you to expound the verse.)
SUMMARY: Based on our study about God in John 3:16, the passage
shown to us that, He is a Lover, Giver, Father, Savior and He is Eternal.
What situation you are in now, I know that He is able to help you
because He is God and He wants you to experience Him even more.
 QP4
PQFVCTS
Passage, Question For Verse
Cutting, Truth, Summary
(Use for long verse only)
 EXAMPLE – PQFVCTS John 3:1-21
PASSAGE: Let us open our bible in John 3: 1-21 , to know and study the love of Father by giving you His salvation thru
His Son Jesus Christ.

QFVC: In verses 1-2, Why Nicodemus went to Jesus?(Allow them to answer.) In verses 3-8,
What did Jesus said about being born again? (Allow them to answer) In verses 9-15 ,
Why there is a conversion between Jesus and Nicodemus about believing? What do
you think is Jesus trying to point out about faith in connection to be born again?
(Allow them to answer). In verses 16-18, How God loves the world? How one person
might be saved and be forgiven and have eternal life? To whom he may believe at be
saved? What would happen if one person believe & not believe to the Son of God?
( Allow them to answer). In verses 19-21, What is the purpose of Jesus
in saying these verses? Is He trying to warn or encourage us? Do you think that in
these verses Jesus showing to us that being save is your choice? (Allow them to
answer)
TRUTH: The passage reveals the following truth about God’s salvation; 1) God’s Salvation is being born in the
Spirit (vv.3-8), 2) God’s Salvation is believing in the Son of God (vv.9-15), 3) God’s Salvation is Gift of love
from God (vv.16-18), 4) God’s Salvation is a choice of Man (vv.19-21).(No need to expound the verse.)

SUMMARY: Based on our study about God ‘s salvation in John 3:1-21, the passage shown to us that salvation is,
being born in the Spirit, believing in the Son, a gift from God, and it is a choice of Man. What situation you are
in now, I know that He is able to save you because He is God and He wants you to experience His salvation.
 THE VERSATILITY OF QBA
HERMENUETICS -QR HOMILETICS - QG
Bible PREACHING for
Interpretation Large Group
QUESTION
BASED
APPROACH
(QBA)

BIBLE STUDY - QP
Teaching for Small Group
 VERY IMPORTANT!
“The purpose of the studying
the bible is to KNOW CHRIST
and EXPERIENCE HIM in a
PERSONAL and DEEPER
way.”
END OF THE
SESSION