The

BIBLE TOOLBOX

BRYAN H. CRIBB and

CHANNING L. CRISLER

nashville, tennessee

The Bible Toolbox

Copyright © 2019 by Bryan Cribb and Channing L. Crisler

Published by B&H Academic

Nashville, Tennessee

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-5359-0794-1

Dewey Decimal Classification: 220.07

Subject Heading: BIBLE—STUDY AND TEACHING / BIBLE—CONCORDANCES / BIBLE—COMMENTARIES

Except when noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The web addresses referenced in this book were live and correct at the time of the book’s publication but may be subject to change.

Cover design by Brian Bobel. Illustration © Steppeua / istock

We would like to dedicate this volume to our amazing, loving, and supportive families:

Elizabeth Cribb and children, Daniel, Josiah, and Nathanael

Kelly Crisler and children, Silas, Taylee, Titus, Annalee, and Cross

Contents

Part 1: The Bible Toolbox Instruction Manual

1: Why Should We Use the Tools?

2: Tools for Interpreting the Story Behind the Story

3: Understanding the Tools in the Toolbox

Part 2: Tools for Interpreting the Old Testament

4: Tools for Interpreting the Pentateuch

5: Tools for Interpreting the Historical Books

6: Tools for Interpreting the Poetry and Wisdom Books

7: Tools for Interpreting the Prophetic Books

Part 3: Tools for Interpreting the New Testament

8: Tools for Interpreting the Gospels

9: Tools for Interpreting Acts and Paul’s Biography

10: Tools for Interpreting Paul’s Letters

11: Tools for Interpreting the General Epistles & Revelation

Scripture Index

Part 1

The Bible Toolbox Instruction Manual

Let’s try an unofficial scientific experiment that I have tried with some of my classes. How many Bibles do you have? One? Two? Three or more? Five or more? Ten or more? If you possess a Bible, you join the majority in America. In fact, some 88 percent of Americans own at least one copy. And around 80 percent hold reverence for it in some manner.1 And among students at the Christian university that employs me, we are probably talking close to 100 percent.

And yet, as ubiquitous as the Bible is, it is also perhaps the most avoided book ever printed—even by Christians. The same study cited above revealed only 57 percent read it more than four times per year, even though 61 percent confessed to needing to pick it up more.

Someone once said that the biggest dust storm in history would be created if Christians all took out their Bibles at once and started studying them.

Someone once said that the biggest ...