• a. Psalms 119:34 “Give me understanding
• b. That I may observe your law
• c. And keep it with all my heart

Ps 25:4-5

• d. Show me thy ways, O LORD
• e. Teach me thy paths.
• f. Lead me in thy truth, and

Jesus opens their mind
Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (KJV)

CONTENT
The content is the raw material the database with which you will interpret the text.
Remember to look for
a. Terms
b. Structure
c. Literary form
d. Atmosphere
e. Observation

CONTEXT
Context refers to that which goes before and that which follows after.
Read and examined the third letter of John

a. I love in the truth
b. I pray
c. faithfulness to the truth
d. walking in the truth
e. faithful in what you are doing
f. they have told the church
g. for the sake of the name
h. work together for the truth
I. loves to be first
j. I will call attention
k. do not imitate evil
l. by the truth itself
m. I have much to write
n. talk face to face

LITERARY CONTEXT
Words before and after. Also that which relates to something, or dealing with something.
Acts Chapter
6:7 the word
6:8 the man
6:9 the persecution

HISTORICAL CONTEXT
a. When studying the historical context we must look for
b. When it took place?
c. Where does this passage fit in history?
d. What else was taking place in the world at this time?
e. What were some of the social, political, and technological inferences on the writer and on those to whom he was writing

CULTURAL CONTEXT
Know about the culture around the time of the writing
a. speech
b. clothes
c. practices
d. music
e. foods
f. dancing

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT
Geography is very important in order to understand the text. Investigating the geographical context enters questions such as:
a. What was the weather like?
b. How far was this town from places mentioned in the text?
c. What were the transportation routes for these people?
d. What size City was this?
e. What was the layout of this town?
f. What was this location known for?

THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
The theological structure of the context tells of the relationship between the author and God.
The questions that are asked here are:
a. What did this author know about God?
b. What was the relationship of his readers to God?
c. How did people worship him at that point?
d. How much Scripture did the writer and his audience have access to?
e. What other religions and worldviews were competing for influence?

THINGS TO USE IN YOUR STUDIES
CONCORDANCE
BIBLE DICTIONARIES
BIBLE HANDBOOKS
ATLASES
BIBLE COMMENTARIES

ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PASSAGE, SUCH AS:

• WHO?
• WHAT?
• WHERE?
• WHEN?
• WHY?
• HOW?