Vocabulary, People, Places, and Customs
I must know what the words before me mean before I can interpret a passage. On my first reading, I make a list all the words, people, places, and customs that I don’t recognize. Then I do a bit of research.
Vocabulary
An English dictionary is essential for good bible study. I need to make sure I understand the words in front of me. If I have any question, I look up the word and make notes. This can shed a great deal of light on a good translation.
I also want a good word study of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. (List recommended examples) Later, we will look at how to do a word study.
People
You should start by using a concordance to look up other passages that refer to this person The names can then be looked up in a good encyclopedia, an Old or New Testament handbook, or in a commentary. It is good to not make too many assumptions. II Timothy begins:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise
of life that is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I remember one student sharing that this passage showed that Paul was a family man with at least one son. This is not an outrageous conclusion from this passage alone, but it is wrong. When we search through the rest of Scripture, we learn that Paul was not married but that Paul has a close association with Timothy’s family and that he has been Timothy’s spiritual father.
Places
The location of many stories is important. You should look up other passages that talk about the same location, then use bible handbooks, encyclopedias, and commentaries.
Customs
Customs can be a bit tougher. They are such an assumption of cultural life that they are seldom explained. The gospels tend to do some explanation since their audience was usually intended to be gentiles who had little or no exposure to Jewish culture, but you are on your own for most of Scripture. A good bible handbook is helpful.