The Bible is the written Word of God, and it is treasured by many. But it is also an ancient book about people and cultures very different than us. Thus, while we know we should read it, many of us have a hard time understanding the Bible.

In this updated edition of Knowing Scripture, R. C. Sproul helps us dig out the meaning of Scripture for ourselves. The author says, "The theme of this book is not how to read the Bible but how to study the Bible." He presents in simple, basic terms a commonsense approach to studying Scripture and gives eleven practical guidelines for biblical interpretation and applying what we learn. With a minimum of technical jargon, Sproul tackles some of the knotty questions regarding differences of interpreting the Bible, including



- discovering the meanings of biblical words

- understanding Hebrew poetry, proverbs and parables

- approaching historical and didactic passages

- being careful with predictive prophecy

- discerning how culture conditions the Bible

- choosing and using Bible translations, commentaries, Bible software and other helps

Knowing Scripture is a basic book for both beginning Bible readers and experienced students of Scripture.



R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Florida. He was also copastor of Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. His radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online.Sproul contributed dozens of articles tonational evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and schools around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone's a Theologian. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible.



J. I. Packer (1926–2020) is regarded as one of the most well-known theologians of our time. Once named to Time magazine's list of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America, Packer served as Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. His books include Knowing God, Praying, A Quest for Godliness, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, and Rediscovering Holiness.



Foreword by J. I. Packer



Preface



1. Why Study the Bible



Two Myths



The Clarity of Scripture



The Problem of Motivation



The Biblical Basis for Bible Study



The Bible as Revelation



Theory and Practice



The Sensuous Christian



A Matter of Duty



2. Personal Bible Study and Private Interpretation



Martin Luther and Private Interpretation



Objectivity and Subjectivity



The Role of the Teacher



3. Hermeneutics: The Science of Interpretation



The Analogy of Faith



Interpreting the Bible Literally



Literal Interpretation and Genre Analysis



The Problem of Metaphor



The Medieval Quadriga



The Grammatical-Historical Method



Source Criticism



Authorship and Dating



Grammatical Errors



4. Practical Rules for Biblical Interpretation



Rule 1. Read the Bible Like Any Other Book



Rule 2. Read the Bible Existentially



Rule 3. Interpret the Historical Narratives by the Didactic



Rule 4. Interpret the Implicit by the Explicit



Rule 5. Determine Carefully the Meaning of Words



Rule 6. Note the Presence of Parallelisms



Rule 7. Note the Difference Between Proverb and Law



Rule 8. Observe the Difference Between the Spirit and the Letter of the Law



Rule 9. Be Careful with Parables



Rule 10. Be Careful with Predictive Prophecy



Rule 11. Interpret the Bible with a Spirit of Humility



5. Culture and the Bible



Cultural Conditioning and the Bible



Cultural Conditioning and the Reader



Principle and Custom



Practical Guidelines



6. Practical Tools for Bible Study



Bible Translations



Study Bibles



The King James Bible



Commentaries



Concordances, Bible Dictionaries and Atlases



Word Studies



Foreign Translations



What About Greek and Hebrew?



Bible Software



Bible Reading Program for Beginners



Conclusion



Notes



Glossary



"Probably the best, most readable introduction to biblical interpretation available."



"A contemporary classic to learning, understanding and applying scripture for beginning Bible students and practiced theologians. Sproul is a master at both teaching the Bible and in studying in a way that draws you closer to the heart and mind of God. In this revised edition of the worl, Sproul provides even more guidelines for reading, study and application of the Bible's truths."



"This little book should be required reading for any beginning student of the Bible."



"The Bible excites him and his excitement is infectious."