5 Top Tips for biblical interpretation

A short and very simple summary of the last two weeks at Trendlewood. Listen to the talks online for more. When reading a passage ask:

1. What kind of writing is this? History, gospel, letter, prophecy etc.

2. What is the context - historically, geographically, back story and culturally.

3. What did it mean to them then? Do this before working out what does it mean to us now?

4. Everything gets interpreted through the lens of Jesus' teaching, death and resurrection which fulfils prophecy and givs us a new gospel message.

5. The Bible has a developing understanding of ethics. Don't proof-text ethical matters.