In this course Professor Brian Tabb presents fresh teaching on interpreting the Gospels, Letters, and Revelation in their historical-cultural, literary, and whole-Bible theological contexts, while offering training in key inductive Bible study skills such as word studies, cross-references, and phrasing so that learners may live out God’s Word in their daily lives.

This course is provided courtesy of The Worship Initiative Used with Permission.

Brian Tabb (PhD, London School of Theology) is Academic Dean and Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Resources prepared by Tyler Stitt from Bethlehem College & Seminary.

1. How does asking questions of the text deepen our understanding, even if we have read the text multiple times before?
2. What kinds of questions should we ask? What patterns or kinds of words should we be looking for?

1. How does studying a text in context illuminate our understanding of the real meaning?
2. What are the three different contexts we should consider when studying a passage of Scripture?

1. How would you define a “Gospel” as a literary genre?
2. What are the standard components to most of Paul’s letters?

1. What is the purpose of symbolic imagery in Revelation? How does understanding the Old Testament background help us understand these images (e.g., lampstands, beasts, lamb)?
2. Where in Revelation do we hear a call to keep faith, resist compromise, and hold fast to the testimony of Jesus?

1. Why is the doctrine of inspiration crucial to believing the coherency to the biblical storyline?
2. Comparing Luke 24:44-49 and Acts 26:22-23, how do both Jesus and Paul summarize the central message of the Bible?

1. What is the difference between a “word-for-word” approach to Bible translation and the “idea-for-idea” approach?
2. What are the benefits to consulting multiple translations when you are doing a Bible study?

1. What are the steps to doing a successful word study?
2. How does phrasing help us trace the flow of an argument? What are some of the benefits to representing the text visually in this way?

1. Why are faith, obedience, and trust necessary responses to reading and studying the word of God?
2. How does connecting the gospel to our response to God’s Word remind us of our gracious place in his family? How does the gospel empower our response?