restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations

                

How to Study the New Testament with All Your Heart and Mind: A Beginner's Guide to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the New Testament

 David Alan Black 

Introduction: The Importance of Prayer in Studying the New Testament

Part 1: Getting Started

1. The Joy of Studying the New Testament: Why Studying the New Testament Is Fun and Exciting

2. Qualifications for Studying the New Testament: Three Essential Prerequisites

·         Conversion to Christ

·         A Spirit-Filled Life

·         Diligence

3. What Studying the New Testament Will Do for You: Get Ready for a Changed Life!

 

Part 2: Reading the New Testament

4. It’s All Greek to Me: The Canon, Text, and Language of the New Testament

·         Why the New Testament Books Are Arranged the Way They Are

·         Why Variant Readings in the New Testament Exist

·         Why God Chose Greek as the Language of the New Testament

5. The KJV and Beyond: Choosing a New Testament Translation

·         Basic Techniques of Bible Translation

·         The Major English Translations

·         Which One(s) Should I Use?

6. Herman Who? General Rules for Interpreting the New Testament

·         The Big Three: Background, Meaning, and Message

·         Unpacking the Big Three

 

Part 3: Interpreting the New Testament    

7. Getting the Big Picture: Historical and Literary Analysis

·         Historical Background – Essential!

·         Literary Context – Indispensable!

·         Don’t Forget the Genre!

8. Those Pesky Variants: Handling Textual Problems

·         How Many Significant Variants Are There in the New Testament?

·         How Do We Decide Which Reading Is Likely to be the Original One?

·         Example: Should Christians Ever Get Angry?

9. There’s a Word for It: How to Do a Word Study (and How Not to Do It)

·         Basic Principles of Word Study

·         Fallacies to Be Avoided at All Costs

10. Moving Beyond Words: Observing the Grammar and Structure of the Text

·         Pay Close Attention to the Syntax

·         Pay Even Closer Attention to the Structure

11. The Medium Is the Message: Poetry and Other Rhetorical Devices

·         The Poetry of the New Testament

·         Other Common Rhetorical Devices and Their Significance

 

Part 4: Applying the New Testament

12. Truth That Transforms: Theological and Homiletical Analysis

·         The Importance of Application

·         Mistakes to Avoid When Applying the New Testament

·         How to Take a Timeless Truth and Communicate It in a Timeless Fashion

13. The Goal: Becoming Obedient Followers of Jesus

·         Why Knowledge Is Not Enough

·         The Goal of Our Instruction Is Love

14. Using What You’ve Learned: A Study of Philippians

·         So It’s Not about Joy?

·         The Meaning and Message of Philippians

 

Conclusion: The Power of the New Testament in Your Life

Appendix 1: The Discourse Structure of Philippians

Appendix 2: Tools for Further Study

 

November 26, 2020

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.

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