Inductive

BIBLE

STUDY

A Comprehensive Guide to the

Practice of Hermeneutics

David R. Bauer

Robert A. Traina

Foreword by Eugene H. Peterson

Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Grand Rapids, Michigan

© 2011 by David R. Bauer and Robert A. Traina

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bauer, David R.

Inductive Bible study: a comprehensive guide to the practice of hermeneutics / David R. Bauer, Robert A. Traina.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p.) and indexes.

ISBN 978-0-8010-2767-3 (cloth)

1. Bible—Hermeneutics. 2. Bible—Study and teaching. I. Traina, Robert A. (Robert Angelo), 1921– II. Title.

BS476.B39 2011

220.601—dc22

2010034320

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled ASV are from the American Standard Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations labeled KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations labeled RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This book is dedicated to the memories of Wilbert Webster White and Howard Tillman Kuist, pioneers, teachers, interpreters, men who loved God and God’s Word

Contents

List of Figures

Foreword by Eugene H. Peterson

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

Part 1 Theoretical Foundations

1 Inductive Study

2 Transjective Study

3 Intentional and Rational Study

4 Re-Creative Study

5 Direct Study

6 Comprehensive and Integrated Study

7 Individual and Communal Study

8 Compositional Book Study

9 Canonical Study

10 Flexible Procedural Study

Part 2 Observing and Asking

11 Survey of Books-as-Wholes

12 Survey of Parts-as-Wholes (Divisions, Sections, Segments)

13 Focused Observation

Part 3 Answering or Interpreting

14 Selecting Questions and Formulating Premises

15 Drawing Inferences from the Premises

16 Implementing Interpretation

Part 4 Evaluating and Appropriating

17 Description of Evaluation and Appropriation

18 Implementing Evaluation and Appropriation

Part 5 Correlation

19 Character and Practice of Correlation

20 Implementing Correlation

Epilogue

Appendix A: General Discussion of Induction and Deduction

Appendix B: Presuppositions in ...