TABLE DISCUSSION: UNDERSTANDING THE SETTING
Objective: To search out the historical, physical, and cultural setting of Bible
passages in order to shed light on the meaning of that passage, using the
following:
a. Observation and questions, as necessary, to identify significant content.
b. Marginal references (study Bible or topical Bible) and/or a concordance to
link data to other parts of the Bible.
c. Dictionaries, handbooks, encyclopedias, atlases, and other sources which
provide information on history, geography and culture.
I. HISTORICAL SETTING
1. Author's situation: Acts 16:12. Locate Philippi on a map. What was the political
status of the city at the time of Paul? How does the status of Philippi shed light
on Acts 16:37 and Philippians 3:20? Potential sources: www.blueletterbible.org
and www.bible-history.com
2. Historical setting: Christ was crucified during Passover. What is the
significance? Potential sources: www.bible-history.com
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II. PHYSICAL SETTING
3.
Geography: Read Acts 16:6-10 and locate every place-name on a map. Check a
Bible dictionary or atlas and briefly define Asia, Bithynia, Galatia and
Macedonia, in geographic terms. Then note three ways in which geography
helps in understanding and interpreting this passage. Potential sources:
www.bible-history.com, www.blueletterbible.org, and www.biblestudytools.com
Asia (Abby’s table):
Bithynia (Jonathan’s table):
Galatia (Jason’s table):
Macedonia (Kyle’s table):
Note three “geographical” contributions to your understanding of this passage:
a.
b.
c.
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II. PHYSICAL SETTING (CONT.)
4.
Grass: How did grass get on housetops (2 Kings 19:26; Psalm 129:6; Isaiah
37:27). Why is it an especially apt illustration? How does understanding
housetop grass help in understanding the passages? Potential sources:
www.blueletterbible.org and www.bible-history.com
III. CULTURAL SETTING
5. In John 10:1-6 Jesus calls himself the "shepherd," and then, in verse 7, calls
himself the "door." How do the two relate? How does an understanding of the
customs of shepherding in that day help interpret this passage?
Potential sources: www.blueletterbible.org, www.biblestudytools.com and
www.bible-history.com
6.
Extra-Credit: Cultural thought-provoker: respond with a brief paragraph.
Should we literally obey Christ's clear command to wash one another's feet
(John 13:14)? If not, how do you respond to those who say that commands
concerning the authority of the husband in the home are also cultural and are not
binding on us today?
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