From Exegesis to Theology

So how do we get from exegesis from interpreting the Scriptures to theology stage for the line of fire with your host activist, author, international speaker and theologian Dr. Michael Brown your voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution Michael Brown is the director of the coalition of conscience and president of fire school of ministry get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH. That's 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown friends to align with my broadcast I thought I do something a little bit differently today and today rather than focusing on specific questions will take some questions but I will look at some larger issues will look at larger issues of how we do theology. How we interpret Scripture how we can get get from reading the Bible instead of the Bible to theology to systematic theology when these things can be useful when they can hinder our interpretation of Scripture are only some things out. If your student of the word.

This will help you if you're getting doctorate in seminary. This will help you if you're brand-new believer reading the Bible for the first time this will help you write so let's throw some terms out exegesis is the interpretation of Scripture is reading out of the Bible. What God put in the Bible so we have acts as an exit right going out EX go exit this going out so exegesis is reading out from the Scriptures that which God put in their so there's a plain sense.

There's an attended meeting were just reading it rightly dealt I said Jesus is to read into the Bible our own interpretation problem is often were not aware that were doing that right because reading it through her eyes so we have to do our very best to read the Bible as honestly as we can to pray that God would help us to receive what is written to help us overcome our biases and our blind spots so we could take in what God's word says sometimes were so accustomed to hearing it a certain way understanding in a certain way that once you hear it rightly, it sounds wrong. It's like if you heard a song sung to the wrong melody for years and then you hear it sung the right way. I Thessalonians.

That's not the way it goes.

We can do the same thing with the Bible were so used to hearing it in a certain translation with a certain interpretation, but it doesn't dawn on us.

It's not really what the text is saying so it's important to keep reading to read prayerfully to read asking God for his grace and his help, not just understand what to receive and to act on what's written.

Sometimes we know what's written, but we do not want to act on it so reading the Bible as is intended to be read understanding and interpreting it as it is intended to be understood and interpreted.

That's exegesis.

I see Jesus is reading our ideas, our interpretations into the Scripture. Hermeneutics big word but it's simply system of interpretation. It's really all it is, we speak about hermeneutics. It is system of interpretation are we going to read the Bible as literal as poetic as allegorical's figurative metaphor is Smith or is it that some of it is allegorical and some of it is literal. How do we read a history book versus how we read poetry system of interpretation then theology which is literally the study of God.

That's we kind of put your conclusions together. Who is God or his characteristics were the things that please him and displease him or the ways that he looks at human beings. What is our state in terms of sin is the meaning of redemption. These are the conclusions to our study now sometimes we come to faith in certain church that has a certain theology right in the really strong on the theology they teach it. They preach it on a regular basis. They do a good job of indoctrinating their people with their theology because they believe it's true. So many people know the theology better than they know the Bible.

Many people know the theological conclusions better than they know the Scriptures that lead to those conclusion. So whatever they go to read the Bible.

They read the Bible through that grid. In other words, there theology comes first, and then they interpret everything based on the theology of the verse seems to say this but my theology goes this way, so will have to reinterpret the verse. That's a dangerous position to be in the best thing to do is this boy that verse seems to challenge my theology repair? Next to it? To that particular aspect of my theology that's contradicted here and then let me look at other verses. What if you end up with what seems to be 5400 versus that contradict what your theology is been only two or three that supported then you have to say okay is my theology based on Scripture was based more on unchurched tradition on people coming to conclusions for various reasons and then imposing that theology under a subscription order. All of us can do that none of us are exempt. There is there is a long German word which means without presuppositions literally presupposition lists as this was advocated by a famous critical German scholar. Decades ago, but you have to read the Bible without presuppositions and overage.

You don't know anything about it. You have no preconceived ideas just reading it for the first time and going with whatever it says not that that's a a wonderful concept on a certain level of atomic to come in there with my biases and preconceptions_reader for what it's worth, the problem is, none of us do that all of us have some preconception either the Bible is God's word for that isn't God's word that it's a holy book or its mix words inspired or claims to be inspired when assuring and it is it's not as if we discovered this book and none of us have had any exposure to Mr. reading it for the first time in what is said, and in even so, we still have the biases of how we were raised they were raised in an antireligious home made were raised in zealously atheistic home. They were raised in and as I was Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or Hindu, Buddhist, or whatever whatever back as we come with certain ideas to the text, which is why once again, it's good to pray my heart open my mind. Wonderful prayer from Psalm 119 Gaal a knife of Beta. The ultimate protection open my eyes literally uncover my eyes, but not me, that I may behold wonders from your teacher. As Paul prayed for the Ephesians in Ephesians 1 that God would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation that they would know him better. Lord, give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation that we would know you better as we reach her work and Lord give us the courage to follow you to follow your truth wherever it leads. So first things first before we get to theology we have to do solid exegesis we have to do our best to interpret Scripture as given as intended. Now having been studying the word on different levels of intensity and focus for the last 47+ years. Obviously I have many conclusions which have come.

Obviously I have strong beliefs but what I am evaluating other positions, such as when I did my debate with Trinity denier Dr. Dale tugging so-called biblical unitary Knights, a so-called because I believe it's a biblical position that he holds to but looking looking at his arguments.

Listen to what he had to say. Listen to his critiques of Trinity and things like that where it breaks down for me as I look at specific verses a look at this interpretation of Hebrews one. It is utterly and completely untenable.

Same with this interpretation of Colossians 1 say with this interpretation of John one of a fun interpretations utterly and completely untenable. Same with his interpretation of John 2028 of the past that there are passages we can debate go back and forth.

You have your view up yet.

That's a good argument is a counterargument Evelyn about this counterargument and back and forth with the text actually say let's debate. Let's dig deeper in this Greek word can mean one of two things. What is it mean here this Hebrew word that can have a different meaning to different context. As we understand. Go back and forth at I am all for having serious debate and dialogue about different issues and matters of real real focus zero micro micro focus down to the tiniest grammatical units and things like that.

That's my background feel absolutely let's do it when I see something completely break down when I see in exegesis or interpretation of a passage and completely breaks down to support a particular position with which I differ then II cannot give that position any credence whatsoever. I cannot. I cannot even let it in the front door because it completely breaks down now.

Sometimes someone will say what years and interpretation of this verse.

I think I never saw that before I will agree with it but I see where you're coming from. I see where your position comes from there some weights to it when I was a fairly new believer, and in the days when I was reading the word day and night. Numerous Scripture day and night, and would spend at least six hours with the Lord every day and concentrated focus prayer, study of the word, including one hour a day memorizing Scripture. Mr. Miller is 20 versus Dan came James got this grace and focus.

To do that, that every day were missing a day for six months so II had a real strong grid I was 17, 18 years old and had a real strong grid for interpretational roads. When you raise your position.

Hundreds of verses are thousands of verses are readily available in my head, with which I can evaluate your position against which I can compare your your viewpoints and your arguments and I was listening to a Seventh-day Adventist talking about a particular point, a point with with which there is difference within the church. Different believers over the centuries have different sports is not a matter of heresy, etc. matter that would disqualify you for your salvation and as a Seventh-day Adventist was presenting his viewpoint was different than mine. But as he went through the Scriptures.

I thought okay he makes a reasonable case.

I see why he holds to that position. Therefore, I recognize that this is an area where believers can differ. That's one thing in there plenty of areas like that where believers can have differences and I see your point. I see the verses that used to support your point. But here's why differ out.

Conversely, the your point so completely breaks down we come to these passages which would support my point and and and and upon which I build my theology that your interpretation so completely breaks down because completely shipwrecked. Your boat crashes on the rocks and and is now unworthy the sale. That's ultimately the dealbreaker for me and and when I see that whatever the argument is when it whatever the point of view is be at be occult be at someone holding to a professed other Christian position with someone from another religion that was to debate with me. What Scripture says when I see their position so totally and completely break down on certain passages and if it such as 1234. You know there's no possible way to entertain their theological conclusion. You know the theological conclusions back just like when I debated for predators the other day and he's trying to argue that were living now in the new Jerusalem and that there's no more death or sign all morning and that the resurrection has we have experiences… Glittering positions right now, utterly and redeem back and talked about some important principles studying the word here on the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown, the voice of more cultural and spiritual revolution there again is Dr. Michael Brown. Looking back, friends to the line of fire brought his this is Michael Brown doing diesel differently today and wanted to lay some foundations in Scripture and understanding for you.

Talk about how we get from biblical interpretation, from exegesis to theology and in some of what I say here and there will be a little bit dense little depot for the most part I think that you'll all be able to follow me with you in advance during events. Theology student or whether your brand-new to the Scriptures first illegally throughout another term for you. Full apology full apology is a what's that sounds cool. Well it it is the this study of language is the study of text in their original languages. It's a little different from linguistics, which is kind of the science of language and how it works. Philology is really that the study of texts in their original languages is that the exact dictionary definition that's what I focused on in college and grad school. My bachelors degree was in Hebrew my Masters and PhD degrees were in near Eastern languages and literatures in virtually every class we were reading text reading text in Babylonian history, which is called Katie. We were reading text in Syriac reading text in Judeo Arabic which is Arabic written in in Hebrew characters were reading text in classical Arabic.

We were reading text and call you Karen Nickerson: Ugaritic assistive language to Hebrew. We were reading text and different faces of the Hebrew language from biblical Hebrew to rabbinic Hebrew. We were we were reading ancient texts and and for the Phoenician inscriptions and Moabite inscriptions. These limited texts and things like that. Every class basically was reading texts.

That's what we did so the idea of theology came much much much much much much much much later.

Even the idea of exegesis interpreting the text came later. First we were gonna translate the text first. Understand what the text was originally saying and then from there we would do exegesis. We would do interpretation we would try to understand what the text was saying and in many cases that was never even the issue.

All we were doing was interpreting all meaning translating all we were doing was just understanding what what the text was sent with the words actually meant it. In fact, I remember in the third year Arabic class I was taking it at New York University that the professor would tell us remember one principal translating is your translation must make sense. So if if I'm reading a passage in Arabic and I translated into English and it says and when the up came down around and the sun was cloud and upset yes hello what's now up around it was obvious I got wrong that make this give the makes no sense whatsoever. The just complete gibberish jobs that I didn't get it right and and we would read. Maybe there is like this dramatic story and we weren't quite sure the conclusion was recovered the class all the students are working hard on the Texas like I think it's a death no.

I think it's a death I think it's of this erotic notes follow the professor says and got it right and got wrong will one time he came in and we were all baffle role utterly baffle and we were translating attacks on on the stations of the Sufi mystic and a sub so this is the spiritual, mystical Islam and we could make head or tail of we literally could make head or tail came in.

The professor said I have to apologize you said in this case by rule to support the text itself, makes no sense whatsoever.

But the first thing is get translated now you say all Dr. Brown I don't know any Hebrew, and I don't know any Greek and I don't think I could really learn the language as well. Well bottom line is, most people are not can learn biblical languages, and even when you learn the biblical languages is to realize that their ambiguities and points of debate, etc. but here's the good news we have lots and lots and lots of Bible translation.

So what you can do is you can compare side-by-side lots of different translations from the King James and James to the modern English version, which are all of a similar genre, or you can compare the NASB and the ESV which of a similar zone.

The NIV breaks a little different direction.

The NET was in a different direction. The CSB in the direction the TLV yet another the the complete Jewish Bible yet another at an and on and on.

The translations go in the mild paraphrase like that NLT you compare them side-by-side. I'm looking now at my accordance Bible software. The folks in accordance have been super super helpful getting me oriented with their software after using some other software. Over the years and I'm just looking at one window you can open multiple windows and I will get one which is a translation comparison.

So I've got appear a KJV, NKJV, NAS, ESV, NIV, CSB NET, NLT and RSV TLV and for the Old Testament new JPS. Those laws have up there I could pull up more if I wanted and you sell. I know all the stuff okay good Bible Gateway.com look up reverser study, and then you'll see 20 3040 different options of different translations including translations into other languages. Maybe Spanish is your first language and some it may be to read Arabic. That's up there lots of different options are right. You can then compare and if you will see the translations one after another after another after another after another basically say at the same way you can be sure you can be sure that's with the original set now. If you see four or five in the each read it a little differently now you can focus in and see okay what is it that's different that word fear or that phrase there and you can see the different options we save hello. I do then read in context and see what makes the most sense in context now if you reading Proverbs say problems.

Tanner problems €15.25 or so.

The that's just single personal for those ports and conversing over single birth is not of context for both you reading Paul's letter to the Romans interfering first Kings if you're in the gospel of Luke. If you're in the book of Exodus.

If context you have what's come before. What's come after and you can now evaluate that verse in context, you can see okay what seems to make the most sense in this particular context is it's not that hard to do one thing is everybody can basically do it. You can compare different translations when I was doing my translation for the book of Job. My commentary that's due out in in October as I was working hard on that I would look at the Hebrew struggle with it work on it.

Try to understand it and then sometimes I'd look at a bunch of different translations and see how the translators looked at it and see.

Was there, was there something was missing. Or maybe there is a nuance that and I compare and think about and do my best to come up with with what I felt was the best understanding of diversity, here's here's another principle on the same author is using the same word in the same context, the same book it. It likely has the same meaning. For example, the, the Hebrew word for righteousness said that it can have varied meanings and simply mean righteousness is in one's righteous deeds. Sometimes they can can speak of of of victory or triumph tzedakah collar can speak of righteousness, but more the sense of righteous actually carry the things like that because Sunni in Greek righteousness. Sometimes it can be leaning an illegal direction in a righteous meaning not guilty and things like that. But when you see say Paul in Romans right about the righteousness of God. So many translations will do their best when it's the same context. In the same word being used. To keep translating it the same way that you know that's the point. The authors make an and that way it carries through well.

For example, when when Paul spoke about strengthening manifesting weakness is the word weakness over and over and over in 1st to 2nd Corinthians, and to be weak over and over and over. You have, for example, he talks about posting his weaknesses in the 11th chapter, second Corinthians in the 12 tractor second Corinthians at and then the King James translates changes from weakness to affliction, even though it's same word and you can so they think is starting with physical illness would've been better.

There to stay with weakness because that was what Paul was saying and you still translations enough for the most part, the King James does well with the same word the same context will often be very consistent with that and some of the translations they wanted to have a better literary feeling more of a free flow and they buried the words but context is really really helpful look reading the word with common sense is one of the best ways to read.

If I had a choice of being able to read fluently and Hebrew little Aramaic in the Old Testament to say Hebrew and Aramaic and read fluently in Greek, the New Testament, but have no common sense. In my reading of the Bob or read the Bible in a good English translation with common sense. I would take the latter because a lot of it's written is just written in a commonsense plane and direct and straightway at an author were trying to deduce all these mystical spiritual meanings in these elusive cruising was just common sense know Nancy's office said to me many years ago you you're very smart and very dumb. The way some smart my mind works well and ended it sharpens good there other ways it's like all we I ordered this Matt this Jim Matt for working out my garage is 8' x 4' right so in my mind.

When the box comes the box has to be at least 8 feet long so it arrives yesterday and it's it's 4 feet tall residency. It must be rolled over. She said when he assembles body rollover is a because she said I want to citizen for free to sit or feet roll figure out how easily it is because the Iraqi legalization takes it very politely let out common sense those long line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH dear Jim is Dr. Michael Brown welcome welcome to the line of fire, were talking about studying the word of God today, going from exegesis to interpreting the Scriptures rightly to theology building our system of the things that we believe and hold to want to give you some practical guidelines and things that are been really helpful to me over the years. Now look some of you have a lot of training in systematic theology that's great you have a large grid you have ways of looking at who God is and who man is and what is the nature of salvation and redemption things in and in good clear methods of thinking that that's wonderful, very helpful that the question is, is all grounded in solid interpretation of Scripture, can we go from interpretation of Scripture to our conclusions about the nature of God about the nature of sin, about the nature of redemption. We start with what the text says we go from there, and often a good way to understand what the text that says this is to do micro studies of individual versus you dig into John 11 as deep as you can get always in context you dig and you dig in the grammar and the meaning of Lagos and and on and on and on you. You look at one particular section in Scripture one particular theme and you threw it over and over and you dig in the day.

Can you dig this very helpful and then there is this the kind of the worm's eye view in the Birdseye view.

You just keep reading through the Bible reading through the Bob. I recommend that just as a lifestyle be reading through the Bible, whether it's annually or whatever your paces and then be doing focus studies of things are interested. The reason is good to do both is because if you just keep reading through the Bible, you'll never stop long enough to really study the difficult passages were the more meaty issues or the things of special interest to you within the God speaking to about you'll never do that on the flipside, if you spend all your time digging dig into one passage in overextending Ephesians 1 for a year, then you can forget within the rest of the Bible.

This was good to just be reading through the Bible regularly see keep the Birdseye view, but then also regularly be digging deeper there for me with my training in language and and writing my doctoral dissertation on one Hebrew word in its ancient recent context of done a lot of word studies of done word studies that are found in the new International dictionary of Old Testament theology and exegesis as well. As a contribution to the theological dictionary of the Old Testament is based on word studies in the word studies Inc. from a Job commentary Jeremiah commentary and things like that.

And, again, for those who are aware, Jeremiah came out in the revised edition of the expositor's Bible commentary few years back and Michael commentary due out October of this year right so let me give an example of how I went about this because it's the kind of thing that anyone can do many on the depth that I did because my language background with the same principle holds true right so here's what happened. I had been praying about what subject to dive into for my doctoral dissertation and my professor had basically told us doctoral students that you'll know you'll know it when you get your sub guy falling in love with, you'll know it when it happens and he said if if you are working on something. It turns out someone else really wrote on that you like, no big deal and that's that's at your sub you want to be passionate about.

You want your baby so I I was. Maybe this is talking about one subject within newsroom may be that mythically fit me maybe about that and then then was on my knees one day I been praying about issues having to do with with divine healing of what Scripture said the Bible actually taught about that was the meeting was a 53 was it spiritual with spiritual and literal is literal only Prema that, and I had open the Hebrew concordance always use now, and in those days, so this was in the early 1980s I Cheryl my thesis from maybe 3 to 85. So the early 1980s, 82 L three surrender. When you have Bible software fact that in get my first PC until 1985 so little Bible software would have PCs with their personal computers so, some of the 1700s under mount 1983, 1985, first computer rose work on my doctoral dissertation, 1985 and us to remember a paid $3000 for onerous memory of the money from those days not making much $3000.

My first PC. It was a compact it was, of course, monochrome soap was whatever the college pelicans holding old screen tiny little screen, tiny little screen your if you have a smartwatch or smartwatch as thousands more memory in the computed did have a hard drive in a two floppy drives, 250 6K each. So you put in the word processor program and the one in your disk and the other a for your whatever your writing and if you do spellcheck debasing him enough room for everything that's that's that's what it was like an ice I still remember I did some of the best research ever did of the great erratic language in the occurrence of rough in Ugaritic and I had been working on a bunch of stuff and probably an hour hour and 1/2 inputting data in a stack of books piled up nose inputting and its assistance disinherit Kim and her like a funny noise and select what I hit what was an elixir of a computer rose my computer. This now. I just lost everything I do some leftist insightful work I've ever done everything out of the gutter fully recovered. The guy forgot so the grievance I forgot online is after that I incessantly within the every new sentence is been a habit for decades. Everything you said control is control is the sadist, and now got set which saves automatically as you make changes anywhere in a long story I would like to tell it so I'm on my knees praying I've got the concordance opens the metal concordance and I'm looking at the usage of the. The Hebrew rough in the Hebrew Bible right and it occurred verbally about 67 times and in some nominal form some forms as nouns, some looking I think it's interesting here. It means he like physical body means repair like a broken down altar here in this form it means make undrinkable orders drinkable. Click refresh here at soma meant that there's a split in the earth like mending the Earth's fishers and then I thought in Arabic it means this and eat the opposite sesame phone which means this extent that my heads like second fundamental meaning here is to restore make whole, out of which we have means like heel repair man store and and it all came together form.

So what I've done over the years as I've been word studies. Sometimes the word occurs several hundred times the root Barack to bless and I wrote an article on that in the theological dictionary.

So what I want to do, sometimes, that the verb or the now Lakers 2030 times like these are the but you try to look at all the different usages in their original context, original line, then say what these words have in common is there a common denominator between them is the one fundamental meaning and all the other meanings are now secondary to that is, is that the case and for me the big insight was that fundamentally rough father did not mean to heal, but to restore make whole, out of which came these of the meetings and therefore it when God said I'm the larger healer then just me physical body scan of the context. Exodus 1526 all the diseases upon Egypt. On put on you over the diseases and others replace all kinds of this physical illnesses were natural place in different things because I will put those on you to some of the larger healer healer at a broader meaning than just physical, it became very easy for me to understand how these ideas flowed together so the point is simple. I looked at looked at the word and saw they were used was what sold me Nefesh and Hebrew suitcase in Greek. What is the word spirit mean rule often Hebrew in Greek. So what you do and there even concordances like this. The Englishman's Greek concordance with Englishman Seabrook and court or if you have any good Bible software now you just click on the particular Hebrew or Greek word that you're looking at what you look in English final with the Hebrew, Greek word is and then you click on that. See, I just want to search for that particular word and then you see all the ways it comes up in each one. You have an English translation heed to it gives is very easy to do with the purpose Bible software these days and now you look okay now here here Roth means when in here Roth means.

And here Roth means breath be the same with and then you think this was like the fundamental concept or meaning of that that helps you and and then and then you look you think okay what was it will in this verse. Genesis 1 to root out humor P memo in the spirit of God hovered over the face was that the wind of God the breath of God is the spirit of God involved in creation best way to understand that there so for me that's been very helpful to do intensive word studies and you have of gotten more ability to do them because of my background than your average student Scripture but again these days with Bible software. It's not that hard to do.

You pull up say it but seal the gifts of the New Testament Greek soup of the English translation next review.

You will look at the New Testament Greek and you hover over the English word you're interested in and I'll tell you this is the Greek word, and then you click on that. Okay I want to search for me. Thomas workers New Testament in the listed on one side and Greek your picture English this year in this asset. That's what the word really means or attorneys. In this context versus in that context. So you use these things as building blocks you put these things together and then whatever it remember. Remember whatever conclusion you come to it has to make sense and contact right so so if if you sit, now I see the real meaning of this word is sumo wrestler.

That's it.sumo wrestling. That's what this concept of humans have discovered. So now let's see how works in context and the sumo wrestler was a wonderful ballet dancer and was able to pirouette on 1 foot. As she jumped and swirled. Maybe it's not superfast maybe cut pet wrong so you go with amazing insight.

If it doesn't work in context. Don't try to change everything that although Roger in there somewhere, but otherwise you see odd. That's why the translation says it like that and that's why the translation says it like that. Now it makes sense now I see with the differences. If you dig French you make all kinds of discoveries so we come back on a minute sum this up as we talk about going from exegesis to theology, but will give some practical thoughts of practical tips and practical understanding studies, and even if all you have is is five videos. Translation insight increases wisdom received that word is in an word will change your life you will be right back. The line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution. Your again is Dr. Michael Brown. Looking back the life I he friends I hope you have found this helpful. Talk about studying the word, how to study the Bible and use different translations and use Bible software I want to go from here and talk about how we get to theology we get to the conclusions how we put some type of system together.

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It does not say a bunch of disparate contradictory things about the nature of man, it does not say a bunch of disparate contradictory things about the nature of salvation out there are different nuances and some authors will will emphasize one point versus another point. Critical scholars will say there's a fundamental difference between Paul and James take or this is a fundamental difference between Jesus and Paul or this a fundamental difference between Leviticus and Deuteronomy of this a fundamental difference between Ecclesiastes, Job, and say Psalms or things like that critical scholars will read these things differently but those of us who believe that God's word is divinely inspired, and you see the evidence from it in the text that we then read it and understand that we put the different nuances together to paint the larger picture, but overall, we believe it's one picture that's being painted so, what conclusions can we draw about God.

What we do is we look at the verses that state things the most plain. For example, we know from Scripture that God is love. That's a forthright state. We know that God is holy.

We we know that God is righteous. We know that God is eternal. We know that God is omnipotent, we know that God is omniscient. We see these things stated in plain verse form in plain text for from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalm 90 on the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

The first and the last being these are things that are categorical statements about the nature of God. So what we do is we put these things together and we build the big picture. This is who God is. This is how God operates. This is what God requires of us. This is the nature of human beings is what were capable of is were not capable of is what we can do is we can't do this with salvation is here's here's what is secondary in terms of of issues that that are not pertinent to that that are interesting. The printed it and then you put together a systematic theology now is the problem. The Bible itself is that this systematic theology textbook right is not written for that purpose. Jonathan Edwards during the great awakening address critics and said look at the Bible is not a book of physic. It is not a book about anatomy and and about human body and how it responds.

At certain times. Jonathan Edwards was careful to point out that in times of revival.

God did not give us a Bible that said no when the Holy Spirit is moving the pulse will be between person.

This ERs will flutter this rate, the heartbeat at this rate, there will be two years there will not be tears will be shaking. There will not be sick. He said no, that wasn't the purpose of the Bible wrote the purpose of the Bible is to help us be watchman over people's souls.

And that's what you judge by city people fall or not. Not the issue. They shake or not the issue that they weep or not the issue. They cry out or not. Not the issue. What's the issue with.

They believe they live. That's the that's how you judge if you see people converted from darkness to light from rejecting God to accepting God from bowing down to the Jesus of the Scriptures. After not following him to living a holy, godly lives devoted to him to have been transformed then that was the Holy Spirit that did the work because the flesh can't do it in the devil won't do it.

Pretty simple. So that's that's the bottom line.

There right that's that's the bottom one the same way the Bible was not given to us as a systematic theology textbook, meaning we may not be able to put everything in a neat compartment but for the most part because God is speaking through his word and the word is inspired we can draw conclusions about God and in those conclusions become our theology was one God and one God only recognize it is complex in his unity that he is a tri-unity. The father is God the son is God the Spirit is God with the fathers that the sun son is not the father son is not spirit. The spirit is not some the spirit is not the father, etc. and then we base that on trip in verse after verse after verse after verse of diverse. Now you're going to have areas where there is more controversy, the nature of the law on the believer's relationship to the law.

For example, where that fits you can you can do a poll of believers about the Sabbath 10 Commandments was binding today will everything but the Sabbath will yes Sabbath is spiritually replied yes Sabbath, but sadly change the Sunday yes Sabbath, but still static. You have disagreements over these things with will be general agreement that by the works of the law no flesh is righteous that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works.

There will be questions about Jewish believers living is Jews that Gentile believers do it as well is okay for Gentile should Jewish believers look like user to the leave all vestige of yours is like Christians you have these debates but we still understand that both Jew and Gentile. The Jesus as Savior. There are differences between Calvinists and Arminians. As you know, but not in terms of what salvation fundamentally is, and who Jesus fundamentally is and our lostness and what it means to be say how much victory. Can we have over sin can it be that we don't say that all sin always going to be something we didn't deal with Russell. We all agree with is that sin is damnable, but in ourselves we can overcome a that through Jesus requested washroom sent and that through Jesus we have power over sin and then there are the specific things we walk out and differ with that guy up convictions about different issues and things I hold to funny things I hold to lightly their secondary matter. Scripture met Prof. Craig Keener. I have a book coming out March 19. I encourage you to get it. But if you're interested in the end times called, not afraid of the antichrists why we don't believe in a pretrip rapture.

We clearly lay out why having come to faith in pretrip churches and dispensational churches. We abandon that system of interpretation. Decades ago, based in Austin. The work that being said, we both know and love and honor dispensational scholars and professors and believers.

Some of the finest Christians on the planet hold to a pretrip rapture and probably so my best friends. I don't even know. So they believe is really disgusted older pre-direction. We don't divide over that.

But here's what we believe what we believe other things we divide over other things are life-and-death matters of the faith and to deny them is to deny the fundamentals, but all all of it comes from careful study of the word exegesis interpretation of Scripture dig into the languages really in context. The context of the book the context of the chapter. The context of the order flow. The author, all of that, those of the building blocks for theology and theology is that final structure hey friends, something fun really helpful is to go to Esther to Brown.org right is Kadir Brown.org and just click on the search engine like to see that the search icon and type in debate debate and you'll be able to watch many many debates that I have had with many many different people.

Rabbis beat within the faith. Like with my friend James Wiley or Pastor Bruce Bennett or debates with those we have stronger differences like those deny the Trinity creditors debates as part of the health of his voice with everything will