John Bible Study Lesson 5

John Bible Study Lesson 5 Answers

1.Do some research on "literal" Bible interpretation and give a definition and an example.
Literal Bible interpretation; Many fundamentalists believed the Holy Spirit dictated the Bible to its human authors word-for-word. They reasoned that "inerrancy of Scripture" meant that everything in the Bible must be absolutely, literally, scientifically and historically true. Anything less would be unworthy of God. According to this view, the Bible, in all its detail, is inerrant on matters of history and science, as well as doctrine. Any apparent conflict between the Bible and another source (science, history, etc.) should be resolved in favor of the Bible because of its Divine origin.

Bible verses such as these are often quoted to support the literal view:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (KJV, 2nd Timothy 3:16)

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (NAS, 2nd Peter 1:20-21)

However, interpreting the entire Bible as literal divine revelation poses severe problems for serious Bible study. Besides the apparent conflicts with science and history, there is evidence within the Bible itself that it has both human and divine origins. Luke attributed his Gospel to his own research:

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. (NIV, Luke 1:1-4)

Paul's letters (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, etc.) were originally written as letters to churches he had founded, not as part of Scripture. They dealt not only with divine revelation but also with many mundane matters like disputes among church factions. Paul often stated his own personal opinions:

To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. (NIV, 1 Corinthians 7:12)

There is also evidence within the Bible that portions of it are intended to be interpreted figuratively rather than literally (John 16:25, Galatians 4:24, Revelation 1:20, 17:18, etc.)

2.Do some research on "metaphor" and give definition and a Biblical example of its use.

Metaphor - indeed there are many metaphors in the Bible. Jesus used metaphors very effectively as a teaching tool. For example, at Matthew 19:24, Jesus said that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man (one who pursues wealth as a god) to get into God's Kingdom. Pretty easy to get that point, right?
Here's some more examples.
Jesus used a metaphor when he told his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13) No, the disciples were not literally salt. But salt is a preservative, and the disciples had a message that would preserve the lives of many people. By saying, “You are the salt” (a metaphor) Jesus was being much more forceful than if he had said, “You are like salt” (a simile).
We see some more examples in these other words of Jesus: “I am the door”; “You are the light of the world. . . . Let your light shine.”—John 10:7-9, 11; Matthew 5:14-16.

Please take a quick look at why we can put implicit trust in the Bible.
Prophecy - The prophecies recorded in the Bible are provably accurate to the minutest of details even though the prophecies were uttered sometimes hundreds of years in advance. Consider, for example, the prophecy recorded at Isaiah 44:24, 27, 28; 45:1-4 about how the great walled city of Babylon would fall. Absolutely unimaginable as Babylon was the world power at the time. Yet, some 150 years later, it all happened exactly as Isaiah had foretold. In fact, Cyrus was named as the man who would orchestrate this attack and he wasn't even born yet when this prophecy was recorded. There are far too many more prophecies recorded in the Bible to be able to say that it is not historically accurate.
In fact, recent discoveries have proven that Pharaoh's army did indeed all drown at the Red Sea.

The Bible is not a scientific textbook and yet, where it does touch on scientific matters, it is absolutely accurate. For example, consider that the Bible correctly referred to the earth as a circle or a sphere (Isaiah 40:22) long before Columbus figured it out. It also said that the hare was a cud-chewer. Science only figured this out recently.
The Bible was written by over 40 different individuals over a time period of some 1600 years. They came from many different backgrounds and different walks of life. There were farmers and fishermen and shepherds. There were prophets and judges and kings. The Gospel writer Luke, was a doctor. All of this and yet the Bible is absolutely harmonious throughout.

3.Do some research on "simile" and give definition and a biblical example. A simile is a comparison between people or things with something else which throws light on the description of the people or the meaning of the thing / concept / idea. The clue to the presence of a simile is the use of like / as.

Here are five examples of similes:

They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts [Judges 6:5]

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. [Matt. 13:44] Metaphors describe something in terms of something else, so creating a picture which throws light on the thing described. So when Jesus said, ‘I am the Good Shepherd’ [John 10:11] he was using a metaphor ‘shepherd’ to describe his role and he contrasts his way of being a shepherd – laying down his life for his sheep – with that of others.
4.Do some research on an "allegory" and give definition and a Biblical example. Allegory is an extended metaphor; this is a meaning intended in the original text

Some examples of allegory in the Bible include:

The parable of the trees, Judges 9. The trees represent the lords of Shechem, and the bramble represents Abimelech.

The vine in Psalm 80. The vine represents Israel and its relationship with God.

Nathan's prophecy against David, 2 Samuel 12. As Nathan explains, King David is the rich man who steals from the poor.

Many parables of Jesus, e.g. the weeds and the wheat, Matthew 13:24-30; the good Samaritan, Luke 10:37-37; the vineyard, Mark 12:1-9

5.When we speak of Bible "typology" or we using it in literal or figurative way? Explain your answer. Typology is a foreshadowing of later events; this is a secondary meaning that often can only be seen after the fact

Typology is found throughout the New Testament. Some examples:

Matthew 2:15 quoting Hosea 11:1, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." The original refers to the Exodus; Matthew uses this typologically to refer to Joseph taking Mary and Jesus to Egypt. Israel's exodus from Egypt foreshadows Jesus' return from Egypt.

Hebrews 7 refers to King Melchizedek as "a priest forever", foreshadowing Jesus, who for Christians is the true "priest forever".

In Matthew 12:39-40 Jesus refers to Jonah's three days and nights in the belly of the whale as a "sign" foreshadowing Jesus' three days and nights in the tomb.

In John 3:14 the pole lifted by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:9) foreshadows Jesus being "lifted up" on the cross.

Romans 5:14 explicitly calls Adam "a type of the one who was to come". The death which Adam brought to all of humanity foreshadows the life which Christ brings.

6.Read and explain John 10:7.

John 10:7 I am the door of the sheep. Joh 10:1-5 speak of shepherds in general. These shepherds enter into the fold and go out by the same door as the sheep. Christ is that door; the door of the sheep, the one door for all, both sheep and shepherds. There is no other way in, for there is no other name, under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved (Ac 4:12).

7.Read and explain John 10:8.

John10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers. Abbott holds that the idea is All who came, not entering through the door, but claiming to be before me, having the precedence, independent of me, are thieves and robbers. This seems to harmonize with the context, and is probably the Savior's meaning. He included the Jewish rabbis, the Greek philosophers, the pretended prophets, and the Infallible Pope. These all refuse to bow to his authority.

8.Read and explain John 10:9. John10:9 If any one - As a sheep, enter in by me - Through faith, he shall be safe - From the wolf, and from those murdering shepherds. And shall go in and out - Shall continually attend on the shepherds whom I have sent; and shall find pasture - Food for his soul in all circumstances.

9.Read and explain John 10:10.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy - That is, nothing else can be the consequence of a shepherd's coming, who does not enter in by me.

10.Are the "I AM" statements a "figure of speech" or a "literal" statement. If it is a "figure of speech", which type?

Yes I AM  statement is  a figure of speech. A figure of speech is sometimes called a rhetorical figure or a locution.

 When Jesus used the "I AM" construction he was speaking in the style of deity. In conclusion, we contend that in the claim, "I AM the bread of life," Jesus is making His heavenly origins known, and the fact that He alone supplies the spiritual need of His hearers. I AM" sayings prove the deity of Jesus the Christ. And that when Jesus uttered these solemn words, He sought to convey the astounding fact of his divine nature - as did the Apostle John when he recorded these life-giving words. Some good examples of Jesus’ metaphors are also in the gospels. In these examples, Jesus compares Himself to, bread water and light.

Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again. – John 6:35