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H O W T O R E A D T H E B I B L E
F O R A L L I T S W O RT H
The primary task of Bible study is to determine what the Scriptures
meant at the time they were written and how that meaning applies
to us today. This vital guide focuses on the historical contexts of the
Bible and explains differences between the Old Testament narratives,
the Epistles, Gospels, Parables, Psalms, and more. It's a practical
approach to Bible study -- one that makes good sense and is easy to
understand. This new edition includes, among other changes, a new
section on the Song of Songs and an updated list of recommended
commentaries and resources.
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“A practical approach to Bible study in an easy to understand style.”
—Bookstore Journal
“A very useful reference book for the layperson who is engaged in study of the
Bible.”
—Booklist
“...provides keys to interpreting the genre, and discusses the hermeneutical
questions it raises for today’s Christians.”
—New Testament Abstracts
“This is a book about hermeneutics, without jargon or footnotes. It is very
readable and makes good sense.... Carefully thought out and written.”
—Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
“...readable, clear, and well-written book on hermeneutics.”
—Christian Standard
“Fee and Stuart have delineated the hermeneutical principles for the valid
interpretation of the variety of literary genres found in Scriptures. Fee and
Stuart fulfill the objectives they set for themselves admirably. A book with this
focus meets an obvious need.”
—Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
“...stimulating in helping the earnest Bible student understand the Old and
New Testaments better.”
—The Preacher’s Magazine
“...makes significant advances over most other books of the genre and which is
certain to be highly useful.”
—Interpretation
“...will be a blessing to all who want to enjoy the Bible....a ‘must’ for all who
are bothered about angels, trumpets, earthquakes, beasts, dragons and bottom-
less pits.”
—The Presbyterian Record
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C O N T E N T S
Preface 10
1. Introduction: The Need to Interpret 15
2. The Basic Tool: A Good Translation 31
3. The Epistles: Learning to Think Contextually 49
4. The Epistles: The Hermeneutical Questions 66
5. The Old Testament Narratives: Their Proper Use 85
6. Acts: The Question of Historical Precedent 103
7. The Gospels: One Story, Many Dimensions 124
8. The Parables: Do You Get the Point? 148
9. The Law(s): Covenant Stipulations for Israel 163
10. The Prophets: Enforcing the Covenant in Israel 181
11. The Psalms: Israel’s Prayers and Ours 205
12. Wisdom: Then and Now 226
13. The Revelation: Images of Judgment and Hope 254
Appendix: The Evaluation and Use of Commentaries 270
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We want to hear from you. Please send your comments about this
ebook to us in care of the address below. Thank you.
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How to
R E A D
the
BIBLE
for Al l I ts
WORTH
Second Edition
A Guide to
Understanding
the Bib le
Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart
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How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
TM
Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader format
Copyright © 1981, 1993 by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
All rights reserved.
ISBN 0-310-24480-3
Cover design: Zondervan
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For our parents
Donald and Grace Fee
and
Streeter and Merle Stuart
from whom we learned
our love for the Word
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A B B R E V I AT I O N S O F
T R A N S L AT I O N S
GNB The Good News Bible (formerly Today’s English
Version), 1976
JB The Jerusalem Bible, 1966
KJV The King James Version (also, the Authorized
Version), 1611
LB The Living Bible, 1971
NAB The New American Bible, 1970
NASB The New American Standard Bible, 1960
NEB The New English Bible, 1961
NIV The New International Version, 1973
NRSV The New Revised Standard Version, 1991
RSV The Revised Standard Version, 1952
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P R E FA C E
In one of our lighter moments we toyed with the idea of calling this
book Not Just Another Book on How to Understand the Bible. Wisdom
prevailed, and the “title” lost out. But such a title would in fact
describe the kind of urgency that caused this book to be written.
How-to-understand-the-Bible books abound. Some are good;
others are not so good. Few are written by biblical scholars. Some of
these books approach the subject from the variety of methods one can
use in studying Scripture; others try to be basic primers in hermeneu-
tics (the science of interpretation) for the layperson. The latter usually
give a long section of general rules (rules that apply to all biblical texts)
and another section of specific rules (rules that govern special types of
problems: prophecy, typology, figures of speech, etc.).
Of the “basic primer” type books we recommend especially
Knowing Scripture, by R. C. Sproul (InterVarsity). For a heavier and
less readable, but very helpful, dose of the same one should see A.
Berkeley Mickelson’s Interpreting the Bible (Eerdmans). The closest
thing to the kind of book we have written is Better Bible Study, by
Berkeley and Alvera Mickelson (Regal).
But this is “not just another book”—we hope. The uniqueness
of what we have tried to do has several facets:
1. As one may note from a glance at the table of contents, the
basic concern of this book is with the understanding of the different
types of literature (the genres) that make up the Bible. Although we
do speak to other issues, this generic approach has controlled all that
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