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BASICINTRODUCTIONTOSTUDYINGTHEBIBLEUSINGRELEVANTSTUDYAIDSANDTOOLS

ByRandolphBarnwell

Thiswritingisnotintendedtobeexhaustiveorcomprehensivebutelementary,servingasa‘basic’introduction to studying God’s Word. The Bible is God's Word to humanity. It contains thethoughts,mindandintelligenceofGod.ItpresentsHisplansforhowhumanityistofunctionasHissonsincreation,exactlyrepresentingHiminnatureandinthefulfillmentofHiswill.Thus,tolivesuccessfullywithrespectofthis,demandsthatweunderstandGod’snatureandpurposesassetforth and communicated in Hisword. Reading, studying,meditating and obeying the principlescontainedintheWordofGodisabsolutelyessential.This brief writing provides some principles for reading and studying God’sWord, to accuratelyunderstand it and access God’s voice through it. In some instances, my personal, subjectivepreferenceisindicatedandisnotmeanttobeprescriptive.InyourreadingandstudyoftheBible,rememberGod’sWordisthemeansbywhichGod…§ Speakstoyou. (Deut.32:1,2)§ DisclosesHimselftoyou,revealingHisnatureandcharacterinwhichyoumay§ Betransformed.InstudyingtheBible,youaregettingtoknowGodHimself.(John14:21-23)§ Cleansesyou. (Eph.5:26-27)§ Instructsyouinrighteousliving. (2Tim.3:16;Heb.5:13)§ Progressivelymaturesyouintosonship. (1Pet.2:2;Heb.5:14)§ WillmakeHispurposeandwillforyourlifeclear.(Luke4:21)§ Willdirectyourlife. (Psalm119:105)God’sWordisALIVEandinteractive.

Heb.4:12a ForthewordofGodislivingandactive… (NASB)ForthewordofGodislivingandpowerful… (NKJV)

TheBibleisnotadeadletter.Itisa‘livingbook’,throughwhichGodwillspeaktoyou.TheHolySpiritwillenlivenit,providingilluminationofitsmeaningandmessagetoyou.

N.B.:OnemustdevelopanINTENSEandDEEPLOVEforGodandHISWORD.YoumustloveTRUTH- theabsolute truthaspresented in Scripture (see2 Thess.2:8-10). Iwill STRONGLYADVISE thereadertostudythefollowingteachingseries’freelyavailableonmywebsite.Thesedealwiththemindsetandapproachoneshouldhaveinreferencetoreading,studying,meditatingandobeyingGod’sWord. There are audios aswell as accompanying PDF documents. Here are the relevantTitlesintheorderIthinkyoushouldstudythemandtheirlinks(eachtitlehasafewsessions):

ThePrimacyoftheWord Gathering TheSpiritualMan SoulProsperity Meditation (Seelinksoverleaf)

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⇒ AudioLinks: Gotohttp://www.randolphbarnwell.com/audio.htmlandscrolldowntotherelevanttitle.

⇒ PDFDocs: Gotohttp://www.randolphbarnwell.com/pdf_topical.htmlandscrolldowntotherelevanttitle.

BIBLEHERMENEUTICS:BiblicalhermeneuticsisthestudyoftheprinciplesandmethodsofinterpretingthetextoftheBible.The purpose of biblical hermeneutics is to help us to know how to properly interpret,understandandapplytheprinciplesofGod’sWordpracticallytoourlives.2Tim.2:15 BediligenttopresentyourselfapprovedtoGodasaworkmanwhodoesnotneed

tobeashamed,accuratelyhandlingthewordoftruth.ü HEARING,STUDYINGANDAMPLIFYINGTHECURRENTTEACHINGOFONE’SSPIRITUALLEADERIn your quest to know the Bible and to afford God to speak to you through it in a powerfulmanner, I firmlybelievethateverysonofGodshouldbestronglycovenantally joinedtohis/herspiritual father, the onewho releases impartations of grace through the teaching/preaching ofGod’sWord.Thisspiritualfather,ifhe/sheisnotanapostle,shouldbestronglyconnectedtoone.Authentic apostles are able todecode revelation andmysteries of the Scripture (Eph. 3:5). Theearly churchcontinued steadfastly inapostles’doctrine, i.e. teachingsand truthsestablishedbyapostles or apostolic ministry. Paul, Timothy’s spiritual father, encouraged him at length tocontinue in the things that Paul taught him. As Timothy meditates on Paul’s teachings, Godprovideshimunderstandingofallthings.2Tim.2:7 ConsiderwhatIsay,fortheLordwillgiveyouunderstandingineverything.Tracking and ardently hearing, studying and meditating upon core teachings of your spiritualfather, provides a sound and solid framework in which God’s voice to you may be amplified.Ultimately, every ordinary believermust be able to skillfully study God’sWord and decode itshiddenmeaningforhimselforherself;spiritualfatheringiskeytorealisingthisgoal.OntheroadtoEmmaus,Jesus,…(1)OpenedtheScripturestothem (Luke24:27)(2)OpenedtheireyestorecogniseHIM (Luke24:31)(3)OpenedtheirmindstounderstandtheScriptures (Luke24:44-45)[*AcomprehensivetreatmentofJesus’sencounterwiththetwodisciplesisavailableinaudioandtextformatsonmywebsiteunderthe‘PRIMACYOFTHEWORDseries]

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YourspiritualleadermustopentheScripturestoyou,sothatyouseeChristandbecomelikeHim-but ultimately your leader must also open your mind so that you can open the scriptures foryourselftoo.Iencouragetwofocalareasforbiblereading/study:(a) Oneshouldreadthebibledaily.Youshoulddososystematically,e.g.

(i)Readawholebookofthebible–byreadingthroughachapterorfewversesadayslowly,

thoughtfully,meditativelyandprayerfully.QuickspeedreadsdonotmakeforgoodBiblestudy.

(ii)Ifyouarewantingtoexploreacertainthemeorissue,thenuseaconcordanceorthesearch facilityonmostbible softwareprogrammes,and readall theversespertaining tothattopicoverafewdays/weeks/months.

(b) Apartfromtheabovepoint,oneshouldalsofollowcloselythecurrentteachingsofyour spiritualleaderandprivatelystudythesametopicissueby…

(i) Rehearsingthesermonteachingeachweek(bythenotesyoutakeorviewinganyaudioor videorecordings).

(ii)Privatelytrackingandstudyingtheteachingthemeyourspiritualleaderiscurrently teaching-insamemannerasinpoint(a)(ii)above.Forfurtherreadingandexplanationontheimportanceoftheaboveprinciples,pleaseconsultthefollowingdocumentonmywebsite:http://www.randolphbarnwell.com/PDF's/Grace/13.%20Sight%20of%20and%20Tracking%20Your%20Spiritual%20Father%20.pdfü THEILLUMINATIONOFTHEHOLYSPIRITTheHolySpiritistheauthoroftheWordofGod,andthuswecannotunderstandthewordofGodwithoutconsultingandrelyingupontheHolySpirittomakethetextunderstandabletous.2Tim.3:16a AllScriptureisinspiredbyGod… (Literally read : “All scripture is God-breathed”)God’sthoughtsandwaysarehigherthanours,butwearecalledintotheprivilegeofknowingthem.Isaiah55:8-9 “ForMythoughtsarenotyourthoughts,NorareyourwaysMyways,”declares

theLord.“Forastheheavensarehigherthantheearth,SoareMywayshigherthanyourwaysAndMythoughtsthanyourthoughts.

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1Cor.2:9-149 butjustasitiswritten,“Thingswhicheyehasnotseenandearhasnotheard,Andwhich

havenotenteredtheheartofman,AllthatGodhaspreparedforthosewholoveHim.”10 FortousGodrevealedthemthroughtheSpirit;fortheSpiritsearchesallthings,eventhe

depthsofGod.11 Forwhoamongmenknowsthethoughtsofamanexceptthespiritofthemanwhichisin

him?EvensothethoughtsofGodnooneknowsexcepttheSpiritofGod.12 Nowwehavereceived,notthespiritoftheworld,buttheSpiritwhoisfromGod,sothat

wemayknowthethingsfreelygiventousbyGod,13 whichthingswealsospeak,notinwordstaughtbyhumanwisdom,butinthosetaughtby

theSpirit,combiningspiritualthoughtswithspiritualwords.14 ButanaturalmandoesnotacceptthethingsoftheSpiritofGod,fortheyarefoolishness

tohim;andhecannotunderstandthem,becausetheyarespirituallyappraised.15 Buthewhoisspiritualappraisesallthings,yethehimselfisappraisedbynoone.Forwho

hasknownthemindoftheLord,thathewillinstructHim?ButwehavethemindofChrist.John14:26 ButtheHelper,theHolySpirit,whomtheFatherwillsendinMyname,Hewill

teachyouallthings,andbringtoyourremembranceallthatIsaidtoyou.

John16:12-1512 “Ihavemanymorethingstosaytoyou,butyoucannotbearthemnow.13 ButwhenHe,theSpiritoftruth,comes,Hewillguideyouintoallthetruth;forHewillnot

speakonHisowninitiative,butwhateverHehears,Hewillspeak;andHewilldisclosetoyouwhatistocome.

14 HewillglorifyMe,forHewilltakeofMineandwilldiscloseittoyou.15 All things that theFatherhasareMine; therefore I said thatHe takes ofMine andwill

discloseittoyou.ü SCRIPTUREHASONEINTERPRETATIONBUTMANYAPPLICATIONSA particular text has onemeaning, whichmay be literal or symbolic at its heart, but may beapplied toa rangeofapplications.Theapplicationmademust,however,bear relevance to thecontextinwhichtheScriptureisfound.ExegesisandEisegesis:

Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful,

objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to lead out of.” That means

that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text. The opposite approach

to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a

subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means “to lead

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into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean

whatever he wants. Obviously, only exegesis does justice to the text. Eisegesis is a

mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation. Exegesis is concerned

with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and

setting. Eisegesis is concerned only with making a point, even at the expense of the

meaning of words. (Source: gotquestions.org)

ü THEBIBLE ISTOBEUNDERSTOODFIRSTLITERALLY,HISTORICALLY,GRAMMATICALLYAND

CONTEXTUALLY.

Literal: First read it literally and seek to understand the text plainly. Then seek tounderstanditsymbolically,onlyifthetextlendsitselftothis.Donotgolookingforallegoricalorsymbolicapplicationsifthetextdoesnotwarrantit.

Historical: Seektounderstandthehistorical,culturalandsituationalbackgroundinwhichthe

textislocated.Whoistheaudience?Whoisbeingspokento?Canwhatissaidbeapplied to all people or just to those spoken to in the text?What prompted thetext?Whatleduptoit?Doesthetexthaveaculturalapplicationorcontext?(e.g.washingoffeet)

Contextual: Tounderstandaspecifictextorphase,readtheversesprecedingandfollowingit.

Attimesyouwillhavetoreadtheentirechapterinwhichtheverseislocated,andat other times, read the entire book inwhich the verse is located. Example: Thephrase “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” literally meansexactly that, viz. that you can do anything by the power, strength and grace ofChrist in you. You could ‘apply’ this verse to any situation in which you needencouragement to assert Christ’s overpowering strength in you to overcomeanything that places limitations on your capacity to obey Him in a particularrespect.BUT,theCONTEXTinwhichtheverseisfoundspeaksdirectlytoyoubeingCONTENT inconditionsofpovertyorprosperity,and ineitherone,youcandoallthings through Christ who strengthens you. The ‘all things’ here is the art oflearningCONTENTMENT,nomatterwhatyourmaterialoffinancialconditionsare.

Phil.4:11b-13 NotthatIspeakfromwant,forIhavelearnedtobecontent

inwhatevercircumstancesIam.Iknowhowtogetalongwithhumblemeans,andIalsoknowhowtoliveinprosperity;inany and every circumstance I have learned the secret ofbeingfilledandgoinghungry,bothofhavingabundanceandsuffering need. I can do all things through Him whostrengthensme.

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Grammatical: Pay careful note to the grammatical constructionof the verse. Thiswill preventyoufromdrawinginaccurateconclusions.

ü THE BIBLE IS ALSO TO BE FIGURATIVELY, ALLEGORICALLY, SYMBOLICALLY AND/OR

PROPHETICALLYINTERPRETEDANDAPPLIEDWhilst you first seek to understand the ‘PLAIN’ (LITERAL) text, also seek, where applicable, tounderstandtheallegoricalorpropheticapplication.Example1: After celebrating the Passover meal on a particular night, the exodus of theIsraelitesfromEgypt’s430yearenslavementwasaliteralandhistoricalfact,butthereareahostofsymbolicapplicationsthatareextremelycrucial.Egyptmayrepresenttheworld,afalsechurchor a general inaccurate spiritual location. The sprinklingof thebloodof a spotless lambon thelintelsanddoorpostsatthefirstPassoverhasreferencetotheredemptiveandprotectivepowerof thebloodofChrist inandoverour lives.Eating the lamband theunleavenedbreadand thespecificmannerandmindsetinwhichIsraelate,provideveryimportantprinciplesofMIGRATIONthatwecouldapply toaphaseofTRANSITIONthatwemaybe in. Also, theentireexoduswasabout the releaseofGod’s firstborn son represented in Israel as anation - so firstborn sonshipprinciplescouldbestudiedhere.Example2: IntheFeedingoftheFiveThousand,theplainfactsarethatfivethousandmen(notcountingwomenandchildren)werefedwhenJesusmultipliedfiveloavesofbreadandtwofishgiventohimfromalittleboyfoundbyAndrew.ThebreadwasblessedbyJesusandgivenintothehandsofhistwelvedisciples/apostlestodistributetothepeople,whowerefirstmadetositdowningroupsoffifty(andgroupsofhundred).Thereismuchspiritualencouragementandenrichmentthatcouldbegleanedfromasimpleanalysisofliteralfactsofthistext.Butifyousimplystopattheliteralapplication,youcouldbemissingoutagreatdeal.Prov.25:2 ItisthegloryofGodtoconcealamatter,Butthegloryofkingsistosearchouta

matter.Examples:§ BreaddenotestheWordofGodorDoctrine.§ Fishdenotesfoodforatransformedimmortalisedbody–orfoodforthe‘spirit’.§ 5000and50denotesamplifiedgrace(5beingthenumberofgrace).§ 100 denotes maximum possible productivity, completeness, sonship and grace

empowerment.§ The12apostlesdenoteapostolicministryorapostolicgovernment.§ 12basketsofbreadlefttobe‘raisedupatthelastday’refertotheperpetuationofapostolic

grace.

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DrSagieGovender,anapostleandbond-servantofChrist,offersthefollowingGUIDELINESFORSYMBOLICINTERPRETATIONOFSCRIPTURE:

Symbolism is the use of one object to represent another, which is essentially different from itself, but

has certain common features. The symbolic method of interpretation is the method whereby the

interpretation of the scriptures is determined by the interpretation of the symbol. The old saying

applies, "when the plain sense does not make common sense, then seek another sense."

John 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. (NKJV)

John 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. (NKJV)

One of the reasons that many of his disciples went back, is that they did not understand symbolic

language. Any ordinary person would have interpreted Jesus' requirement as cannibalism instead of

a covenantal relationship.

GUIDELINES FOR SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION A) FEATURE LINK There must be features common to both.

B) CONTEXT LINK Because an object may symbolise more than one thing, the context must

be examined to determine what is being symbolised (e.g. lion may

symbolise satan, Jesus or an overcoming believer.)

C) BIBLICAL LINK Because the Bible interprets its own symbols, the scriptures must be

searched to determine the interpretation of the symbol.

D) CULTURE LINK The symbol must be interpreted in its cultural context.

E) LANGUAGE LINK Interpret the symbol in the language in which it was communicated.

F) SYMBOLIC LINK If the verses under consideration make literal sense, then symbolic

interpretation is valid if the contextual scriptures suggest this or the

Bible uses the object as a common symbol.

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ü SCRIPTUREMUSTINTERPRETSCRIPTUREOneormoreotherscripturesusuallyprovideilluminationorexplanationonanotherscripture.Thewordorphrasesearchfacilityonmostbiblesoftwareprogrammeswillgreatlyhelpyouinthisregard.Itisessentialthatthescripture(s)youemploytoprovideelucidationonanotherscripture,bearsrelevancetotheissueunderconsideration.ü WORDSTUDIESThe Bible was not written in English, but in Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT). Some phrases andexpressionsoftheNTareinAramaic.HavingaccesstoabasicHebrew/Greekdictionarywillhelpgreatlytouncovertheoriginalmeaningofcertainwords.TheapplaudedworksofHebrew/GreekscholarslikeJamesStrong,SpriosZodhiates,WarrenBaker,Thayer,Brown,Driver,Briggs,Vines,Mounceandothersareavailableinhardcopyanddigitalformats.ü BIBLEVERSIONS

Comparingaverse indifferentversionsof theBible ishelpful. I stronglysuggestusing theNKJVandtheNASBasabasisforyourreadingandthenusingotherversionstosupplement.TheotherversionsIusuallyusearetheAMP,NIV,ESVandtheNLT.Agoodtranslation/versionisonethatremainsas faithfulaspossible to the literalmeaningof theoriginalHebrew/Greekand remainstruetothespiritoftheoriginaltexts.Modernbibles liketheMessageBiblebyEugenePetersonarenotatranslationbutaparaphraseandshouldbeusedasanancillaryworksbutnotasyourprimary source. The Messageis not a translation and should not be used as your core Biblereference. However, it is sometimes powerful and brilliant while at other times it is seriouslymissingtheintentoftheoriginalHebrew/Greektexts.TheE-SwordbiblesoftwareprogrammehasawonderfulfacilitywherebyyoucanlookatonespecificverseinarangeofBibletranslations/paraphrasesallononescreen.ELECTRONIC/DIGITALBIBLETOOLSANDAIDSFREEONLINERESOURCESTherearemanyversionsof theBible,HebrewandGreekDictionaries,Commentarieswhicharefreely accessible via the internet. Use of these obviously requires internet connectivity and itsassociateddatacosts.Checkoutthesetwo,whichIamfamiliarwith:www.biblestudytools.comwww.biblegateway.com

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BIBLESOFTWAREAPPLICATIONSThesecouldbeusedonyourpersonalcomputerorcellularphone.ThetwomostcommonlyusedBibleStudyApplicationsare:

• OliveTree• E-Sword

[Seehttps://churchtechtoday.com/2019/03/13/5-best-bible-study-programs-on-the-market-today-2/foralistofothergoodbiblestudyapps;Logosisgoodbutveryexpensive;Accordanceisalsoverypopular][E-SwordcanbedownloadedontheiOSAppleplatform;onAndroidplatformsitcannot,butaversionofitcalledMYSWORDcanbe:Hereisalink:https://mysword-bible.dlnow.co/]

Anyoneoftheseplatformsisequallybeneficial.IpersonallyhavebothonmyPC,andOliveTreeonly onmy cellular phone.On both apps, themost commonly used resources are available onboth.OliveTreeisbecomingverypopular.E-Swordhasbeenaroundforalongwhileandoffersthebenefitofmultiplesub-resourcestobeopenedinonescreen.Also,E-Swordhasthepossibilityof opening in one screen all versions of the Bible downloaded so as to compare a single verseacrossallselectedversions.WORKINGWITHOLIVETREEBIBLESTUDYAPPMost ofwhat is available throughOlive Tree is also available through E-Sword. Thedesign andlayoutofthetwoaredifferent.Ipersonallyuseboth,butpreferOliveTree.TodownloadtheOliveTreeBIBLEAPPtoyourdevice,goto:www.olivetree.comTodownloadtheE-SwordBIBLEAPPtoyourdevice,goto:www.e-sword.netOliveTreeDesign

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E-SwordDesign

Thenotes followingaredone in reference to theOliveTreeApp–butmostof theprinciplesequallyapplytoE-Sword.

Once you have the APP on your device, download the resources you need. I suggest youdownload:• Bibles• Greek/HebrewDictionaries(UsuallytheseareconnectedtosomeBibles–seenotebelow)• DictionariesofBiblesNamesandPlaces• CommentariesA. BIBLES

FreeBibles:Therearenumerousfreebibles.Themostcommonlyusedare…• KingJamesVersion(KJV)• NewKingJamesVersion(NKJV)• NewInternationalVersion(NIV)• EnglishStandardVersion(ESV)

• TheBibleinBasicEnglish(BBE)• TheInternationalStandardVersion(ISV)• Young’sLiteralTranslation(YLT)

Istronglysuggestyoudownloadtheaboveandanyotherofyourpreference.ThefollowingBiblesarereasonablypricedandIstronglysuggestyouinvestinthese–Thepricesreflectedforeachexistasat17:06:2019

TheNewAmericanStandardBible(NASB) -R150TheCompleteWordstudyBible(CWSB) -R1200*****(seenotesbelow)TheAmplifiedBible(AMP) -R225

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TheNewLivingTranslation(NLT) -R150TheMessageBible(Msg) -R150Before you go aheadwithdownloading anyBible, first read thenext section. Youmaywant topurchasetheBibleversionthatisalsolinkedtoStrong’sConcordanceand/oronethatcomeswitha‘studyguide.’B. HEBREWANDGREEKDICTIONARIES-ANDCONCORDANCES1.Strong'sExhaustiveConcordanceoftheBible–BYJAMESSTRONG

James Strong is probably the most well-known Hebrew/Greek scholar. For the concordance,StrongnumberedeveryHebreworGreekrootwordwhichwasfound,foreaseofreference.Thisnumberingsystem(8674Hebrewrootsand5523Greekroots)isnowwidelyused.HisnumberingreferencingsystemhasbecomeastandardamongBiblescholars.YouNEEDNOT buy this concordanceasa separate item,becausemostbiblesalreadyhave the‘Strong’snumbers’keyedorlinkedandcanbeaccessedbysimplyhighlightingthewordyouwishto study. I would strongly suggest that you first decideWHICH BIBLEwould be yourmain andregularreadingbible.ThencheckwhetherOlivetreehasthisbiblekeyedtoStrong’snumbers.Example - IfyouprefertousetheNASB,thendoesnotpurchasetheNASBbutratherpurchaseNASB-WITHSTRONGS.Itwillbeslightlymoreexpensive:e.g.NASB=R150;andNASBSTRONGS=R450.ThesameappliestotheKJV,NKJV,ESVandsomeotherversions.2.TheCompleteWordStudyBible(SpriosZodhiates-editor)

This Hebrew/Greek resource ismy absolute favourite!Note – If you do decide to purchase it,thereisnoneedtodownloadtheKJVBibletoyourdevicebecausethisresourceusestheKJVasabase.

ExtractofOliveTree’spromotionofthisresource:

Thisalandmarkworkoffortysixyearsofscholarshipbyitseditor,Dr.SpirosZodhiates.ThissetofresourcesequipsanydedicatedBiblereadertogodeeperintoGod’swordviastudyoftheGreekand Hebrew Languages. New Testament and Old Testament each have a lexicon counterpart,eachofwhichcontainhyperlinks toStrong’sNumbersandgrammar-allowingyoutodiscoverNewTestamentGreekwordsandOldTestamentHebrewwordsasyoudesire.These innovative,ground-breaking volumes include complete research information per volume. Read the KingJamesVersionasitbecomesanimatedwithvitalGreekandHebrewMeanings.

Includesfourvolumes:

• TheCompleteWordStudyOldTestament• TheCompleteWordStudyNewTestament• TheCompleteWordStudyDictionary:OldTestament• TheCompleteWordStudyDictionary:NewTestament

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PrimaryFeatures

• Explanatoryprefacestoeachbook• Footnotesonessentialpassages• HebrewandGreekDictionarieskeyedtoStrong'sNumbers• HebrewandGreekConcordances• GrammaticalDefinitions• TranslationalReferenceIndexes

N.B.TheabovetwoHebrew/GreekresourcesIregardasmyprimaryones.Inadditiontotheabove,Ihavethefollowingaswell:3.Thayer’sGreekDefinitions(AvailablefreeonE-Swordoronline)4.Brown-Driver-Brigg’sHebrewDefinitions(AvailablefreeonE-Swordoronline)5.VinesCompleteExpositoryDictionaryofOldandNewTestamentWords(R620)6.Mounce’sCompleteExpositoryDictionaryofOldandNewTestamentWords(R495)C. GENERALDICTIONARIESTherearemanyavailable.Onegoodandfreeresourceis…Easton’sDictionary.D. DICTIONARIESOFBIBLENAMESANDPLACESIt is important to know that names and places have wide ranges of meanings. Thus it isrecommendedyouuseasmanydictionarieswhenresearchingthemeaningsofnamesandplaces.Notethatthespecificmeaningyouapplytoanameorplaceinaparticularpassageorversewillusuallydependonthecontext.HereIrecommendthefollowinginorderofmypersonalpreference:1.ExhaustiveDictionaryofBibleNames(StelmanSmithandJudsonCornwall)–R120ThisresourceisBRILLIANT!Itisthoroughandexhaustive!Yougottohaveit!2.Strong’sConcordanceStrong’sConcordancealsoprovidestheoriginalmeaningofnamesandplaces.3.Jackson’sDictionaryofProperNames(Availableontheinternetfreely)http://biblecentre.org/content.php?mode=7&item=13534.Hitchcock’sBibleNamesDictionary(Free)

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E. DICTIONARIESOFBIBLICALIMAGERYANDNUMBERSThesetypesofdictionariesareextremelyusefultotrackingthemesorsymbolicmeanings.Therearemanyavailable.OneofthemostusefulIhavefoundis:

DictionaryofBiblicalImagery(Longman,Ryken)-(R375)RecommendedBooks:(Availableonwww.amazon.com;ANDwww.christianbooks.com)InterpretingtheTypesandSymbolsbyKevinConnor(R180Paperback;KindleR265)NumbersinScripturebyE.W.Bullinger(R154;Kindle:R18)F. COMMENTARIESThefollowingcommentaries,amongstmanyothers,are freelyavailableonbothappsaswellasonline:

1. MatthewHenry’sCommentary2. Jamieson,FaussetandBrownCommentary3. AdamClark(E-Sword)4. JohnGill(E-Sword)5. FBMeyer(E-Sword)6. TSKCrossReference(E-Sword)7. Vincent’sWordStudies(E-Sword)

Thereareahostofothercommentariesavailableforsale.Selectyourcommentariescarefully,astheauthorswritethesefromspecificlevelsofunderstandingorspiritualpersuasions.

Commentaries should be used only as secondary reading and not the primary source in yourresearch.Remember, a commentary is someoneelse’s ‘comments’on the scriptures. Thesearetheviewsand insightspenneddownbyaperson. Ipersonallyuse themat theend-stageofmyprocess of study, so as to prevent the ideas of someone else shaping or determiningmymainthoughts.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ContinuedOverleaf

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BASICPOINTS♥ Readthetext.♥ Re-readitafewtimes.♥ Readthecontextafewtimes.♥ Write down immediate thoughts or principles the Holy Spirit brings to mind. Keep a

systematicjournalofyourthoughts.♥ AskYourself:WhataspectsaboutChrist–His(i)Nature(ii)Will-doesthetextreveal?♥ ConsultotherversionsoftheBibleforamplification.♥ Doawordstudyofkeywordsorphrases.♥ TakethetimeforMEDITATIONevenbeyondthetimeofactualstudytime.Deeplythinkover

andreflectonwhatyouhave read/studied.Youwillbesurprisedathowmuch illuminationtheHoly Spiritwill give you. (Refer tomy teaching series onMEDITATION available onmywebsite)

♥ DiscussthewordwithyourspiritualfatherandbrothersandsistersinChrist.Theymayhaveinsightsorkeysthatcanunlockdeeplyhiddentreasuresinthescripturesyouarestudying.

LOVEGOD-LOVEHISWORD

Psalm1:1-3 Howblessedisthemanwhodoesnotwalkinthecounselofthewicked,Norstandinthepathofsinners,Norsitintheseatofscoffers!ButhisdelightisinthelawoftheLORD,AndinHis lawhemeditatesdayandnight.Hewillbe likeatreefirmlyplantedbystreamsofwater,WhichyieldsitsfruitinitsseasonAnditsleafdoesnotwither;Andinwhateverhedoes,heprospers.

Acts20:32 "Andnow I commendyou toGodand to theword of his grace,which is able tobuildyouupandtogiveyoutheinheritanceamongallthosewhoaresanctified.

NOTE:

§ Checkmywebsiteand/orFacebookpageforupdatedrevisionsofthisdocument-asitbecomesnecessarytoaddnewinformationtoit,especiallyinreferencetonewresources.

§ IfyouareawareofanyBIBLERESOURCEthathasbenefittedyouinsomeway,whichisnotcoveredinthispresentation,PLEASEemailthedetailstorandolph@gatedc.co.za.

GreatGraceandPeacebeyoursinChrist,theWord,RandolphBarnwell,June2019***************************************************************

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StayConnectedThematerialpresentedhereisavailableinAUDIOformatonmywebsite,www.randolphbarnwell.com.ItisalsoaccessibleinVIDEOformatontheGateMinistriesDurbanCentralYoutubeChannel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBpQ9IAukyZlWeSV8EQlKMg;WeencourageyoutoSUBSCRIBEtothischanneltotrackourweeklyteachingsatourSundayMorningmeetings.Accessmoreinformationaboutourministry,GateMinistriesDurbanCentral,viathislink:http://randolphbarnwell.com/gate-ministries.htmlHereisalinktoourFacebookPage:https://www.facebook.com/GateMinistriesDurbanCentral/YoumayaccesstheOtherYoutubeVideoteachingsofRANDOLPHBARNWELLsharedatlocalandinternationalConferencesbeyondGateMinistriesDConhispersonalYoutubeChannel-YouareencouragedtoSUBSCRIBEtothischannelaswell.Hereisalink:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZQqiYmNUPmxk7q5ysBOpOA/videosOnRandolph'swebsite,www.randolphbarnwell.com,undertheRESOURCESTab,youmayaccessawiderangeofFREEresourcesinaudioandtextformats.MayGreatGraceandPeacebemultipliedtoyoualways,GateMinistriesDurbanCentralMedia