Observation

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OBSERVATION – What do I see? 

Basic Premise 

  1. You already are an interpreter of God’s Word

 

  1. Therefore, the object is to make me a more accurate and consistent interpreter

 

Primary Goal 

We must never forget our primary goal in studying God’s Word is to understand what God has said

      ( observation & interpretation) 

so we can respond in the way He intended,

          (application) 

and live to bring glory to Him.

      (implication) 

Definition of Observation 

Illustration:  There are different levels of seeing the facts. 

Read John 20:1-8 and note the verse numbers which explain what (and how) the disciples observed.  What do you learn about their way(s) of seeing? 

    v. 1,5 ____blepo -- I see_____ 

    v. 6 __theoreo – To look in amazement___ 

    v. 8 ____arao – To have it sink in_____ 

    According to Robert Traina in his book, Methodical Bible Study, observation is nothing more than: 

    “the ___act____  or _____faculty____ of ____taking_____  ___notice_____! 

    In order to do effective observation, I must know what I’m

    __supposed___ ___to___ ______see______! 

    What did God put in the Bible?      2 Timothy 3:16 

  1. Doctrine –  Organized teaching with application

 

  1. Reproof –   Stop that!

 

  1. Correction –  Start this!

 

  1. Instruction in Right Living –  here’s how to live rightly!

 
 

Focus of Observation 

Since observation precedes interpretation (that is, explanation), we must see all of the elements of a text which we will want to explain later. 

  1. Terms  -- A word in it’s context

 

  1. Structure  -- All the relationships between words

 

  1. Literary Form – Style of communication (:poetry, narrative, gospel, epistle, ????

 

  1. Atmosphere – The spirit of the passage

 
 

How can we make good observations? 

Good observations…

  1. Are written down
  2.   Say something about the text
  3.   See the parts & the whole-unit reading
  4.   Made over a period of time -- meditatively
  5.   Thorough
  6. Ask questions mentally, using Kipling’s Six Serving Men:

 

 

I had six honest serving men

  Who taught me all I know

Their names were __who___ and ___when____

    and ____why______

and _____what_____ and _____where  _______     and

                  _________how___________.    

 

 

    Special Considerations When Observing Terms 

    Some terms are worth more study time than others.  Here are some guidelines: 

       Is it _____difficult____________to understand? 

       Is it a _____figure__________ of ____speech___? 

       Is it _______central_________ for the passage? 

       Is it a _____profound_______theological idea? 
     

    Take a Look! 

Write out some observation notes on Ephesians 2:1-10.  Pay special attention to the terms you see there. 
 
 
 
 
 

Special Considerations When Observing  Structure 

Structural Units of our Language 

  1. Phrase:  A group of two or more terms constituting a partial unit of thought and expression.
  2. Clause:  A group of terms (including a subject, verb and sometimes one or more phrases) constituting a partial (or whole unit of thought and expression.  Normally dependent upon the main sentence.
  3. Sentence:  One or more clauses constituting a unit of thought and expression.
  4. Paragraph:  A group of sentences constituting a unit of thought and expression.
  5. Section:  A group of paragraphs constituting a unit of thought and expression.
  6. Division:  A group of sections constituting a unit of thought and expression.
  7. Book:  A group of divisions constituting a unit of thought and expression.

 

Parts of Speech 

  1. Noun:  A word which represents a person, place, thing, or idea.
  2. Pronoun:  A word standing in place of a noun.
  3. Verb:  A word which expresses action, occurrence, or mode of being.
  4. Adjective:  A word which modifies the meaning of a pronoun or a noun.
  5. Adverb:  A word which modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb
  6. Preposition:  A word used with a noun or pronoun to form a phrase.  The phrase then functions as an adjective, an adverb, and sometimes a substantive.
  7. Conjunction:  A word which joins together sentences, clauses, phrases, or words.
  8. Interjections:  An exclamatory word that usually expresses strong emotion.
  9. Articles:  The words “a” or “an” (indefinite), and “the” (definite) used as adjectives.

 
 

Observing connectives will give you a key to any kind of literature that is primarily built out of ideas (e.g. the New Testament epistles). 

  1. Chronological connectives  (Time) after, as, before, now, then, when
  2. Emphatic connectives  indeed, behold
  3. Logical connectives
    1. Reason – for, because, since
    2. Result – so, therefore
    3. Purpose – so that, in order that
    4. Contrast – but, rather, nevertheless
    5. Comparison – as, like
    6. Series of facts – also, and
    7. Condition -- if
    8. Conclusion -- then

 

Observing these relationships will often give you the key to more complex narrative literature (e.g. the Old Testament history books and the gospels). 

  1. Comparison:  Association of like things.
  2. Contrast:  Association of opposites
  3. Repetition:  Repetition of the same terms.
  4. Continuity:  Repetition of similar terms.
  5. Climax:  Progression from the lesser to the greater and ultimately to the greatest.
  6. Cruciality:  Similar to climax, but reversing the progression to return to the beginning.
  7. Particularization and Generalization:  Movement from general to the particular, and from the particular to general.
  8. Summarization:  Summarizing a unit of material either before or after it.
  9. Interrogation:  Employment of a question followed by its answer.

 

 

Take a Look! 

Write out some observation notes for Ephesians 2:1-10.  Pay special attention to the connectives and other structural elements.  What are the main ideas of the passage?  List them on the left.  What are the dependent (subordinate) ideas?  Write them to the right of the main (independent) ideas which they modify.
 
 
 
 

Term Observation

     
     
    Key Words    		  
    When you first read a passage, look for the key words, those words which you think are important in the passage.  Repetition of words will sometimes give you a clue.  Underline them in your Bible.
     
    Advice 

    Admonitions 

    Warnings 

    Promises

    		  
    Be on the alert for the admonitions which a writer gives:  the advice, the exhortations, the warnings, the things which he tells you to do.  Also note the promises and the encouragements.  One clue is to look for imperative verbs.
     
    Reasons 

    Results

    For

    Doing things

    		  
    When you observe admonitions, see if the writer gives you some reasons for his advice.  Or note if he sets forth a cause-and-effect relationship – If you do this, then this will happen.  Often with a warning, he will give possible results.
     
    Contrasts

    Comparisons

    Illustrations

    		  
    Make special note of the way a writer uses contrasts, comparisons, illustrations to bring out his ideas.  Comparison is the association of things that are similar.  Contrast is the association of things that are opposite, often introduced with “but.”
     
    Repetition

    And

    Progression

    Of Ideas

    		  
    Be on the alert for repetition of words, ideas, statements.  This will often give you a clue as to the author’s purpose in a passage. 

    Take special note of lists of items or ideas.  Compare the items and see if there is any significance in the order.  Do ideas progress toward a climax?
     
    Questions    		  
    Be on the watch for the use of the question.  Is it used to introduce an idea, summarize a series of ideas, or just to challenge the thinking?

The Joy of Discovery in Bible Study, by Oletta Wald

 

 
Important

Connectives 

Prepositions

Conjunctions

  
Connectives are very important in revealing key ideas and relationships.  Be on the alert for some of the following:

But – introduces a contrast

It – introduces conditional clause

For, because, therefore – introduce reason and results

In, into, with – Important connectives

In order that – sets forth a purpose
 
Grammatical

construction 

verbs

nouns

pronouns

adverbs

adjectives

  
The term “grammar” no doubt frightens you, but even so, it is important to note the grammatical construction of some statements.  Be on the alert for the verbs and their tenses—for the use of pronouns—for the use of adverbs and adjectives and the way they describe things.
 
Atmosphere 
 

Emphatic statements

  
Note the general tone of a passage.  It may be characterized by the mood of joy, thanksgiving, concern, humility, zeal, anger, caution.  The tone of a passage may vary as a writer moves from one idea to another.  The mood of a writer is often revealed by the way he addresses his readers. 

Also note the use he makes of emphatic statements, words and phrases to reveal his feelings.
 
Literary

Form

  
Always note the literary form of a passage—discourse, narrative, poetic, dramatic, parabolic, apocalyptic.  Also determine if the writer is using literal or figurative terms.
General

Structure

 Note the arrangement of the ideas in a passage, the relationship of verses to each other.  Sometimes the author makes a general statement, then explains it with examples.  Other times he may list a series of ideas and then summarize with a general statement.

 

 

 

The Joy of Discovery in Bible Study, by Oletta Wald

 

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NASB) 

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and not that of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God hath prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

Structure 

The way a writer writes is very important.  The way something is written is referred to as structure.  Structure is defined as “the relationship of ideas or actions to one another within a passage or a book.”  Perhaps the most helpful technique for seeing these relationships is through the use of mechanical outlines. When we think of mechanics, we think of finding out the way something works.  A mechanical outline can be defined as “a way of visually showing the logic in a passage by writing out the phrases of the verses in short lines.  Important ideas are placed to the left of the page and subordinate ideas to the right, under the main ideas.” 

Mechanical outlines give you a visual graphic of how the writer is expressing his ideas.  With such an outline, you will be able to discern the writer’s main ideas(s) in writing the passage.  This, of course, will help you understand his intent for what he writes (which is our ultimate goal of discovery). 

For example, look at a mechanical outline of a few verses from Ephesians 1. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

                Who has blessed us…in Christ,

                           With every spiritual blessing

                                           In the heavenly

                  Just as He chose us in Him

                                    Before the foundation

                                    That we should be holy &

                  Purpose/Goal   Blameless

                                                      Before Him;

 

Take a Look! 

Take several moments and write out a mechanical outline for Ephesians 2:1-3. 
 
 
 

Principles of Structure 

Using the mechanical outline of Ephesians 2:1-3, find the Principles of Structure (next page).  Draw lines to repeated terms, arrows to contrasts, or however you can best make note of the relationship of words, phrases, etc. in this passage.

 

 

PRINCIPLES OF STRUCTURE

Comparison:  The association of like things 

Contrast:  The association of things which are opposite 

Repetition:  The reiteration of the same or similar items, phrases, clauses, or concepts 

Cause to Effect:  The statement of a cause and then its effects 

Effect to Cause:  The statement or description of the effect(s) and then their cause(s) 

Explanation:  The introduction of an idea which is then expanded or explained 

Illustration:  The introduction of an idea, followed by an illustration (example) of it 

Climax:  The arrangement of the test in such a way that it progresses from the lesser to the greater (i.e. the story or discourse builds to a climax) 

Pivot:  The arrangement of subject matter so that there are pivotal points at which the story changes direction; they act like hinges in the text 

Interchange:  The alteration or exchange of certain elements in the texts; movement of the author back and forth between several ideas 

Preparation:  The inclusion of background material or the setting for events or ideas to prepare the reader to understand that which follows 

Summary:  The gathering together of main ideas by the author in order to clarify his thought; he seeks to express and then restate them in summary form. 

Question Posed:  The structuring of the text around a question which the author raises 

Question Answered:  the structuring of the text around answers the author gives to a question, be it explicitly stated or merely implied