Rightly Understanding God’s Word: More Principles of Context, by Craig S. Keener
Outlining to Get the Flow of Context
Outlining the structure of a book or passage can often help a person follow the flow of thought. Some texts break down easily into an obvious structure. For example:
- Ephesians 5:21-6:9
- Thesis statement: 5:21: Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ
- Wives and husbands (5:22-33)
- Children and fathers (6:1-4)
- Slaves and slaveholders (6:5-9)
- Matthew 5:21-48
- Angry enough to kill (5:21-26)
- Coveting others sexually (5:27-30)
- Unfaithfulness by divorce (5:31-32)
- Integrity better than oaths (5:33-37)
- Avoiding resistance (5:38-42)
- Loving your enemy (5:43-47)
- Conclusion: Be perfect like God (5:48)
- Matthew 6:1-18
- Thesis statement: 6:1: Do righteousness only for God to see, or you lose your reward with him.
- Do charity secretly (6:2-4)
- Pray secretly (6:5-15)
- Instructions for prayer (6:5-8)
- Sample prayer (6:9-13)
- Elaboration on forgiveness (6:14-15)
- Fast secretly (6:16-18)
One could also subdivide 6:5-13 as follows:
A Don’t pray like (hypocrites, 6:5)
B Pray like this (secretly, 6:6)
A’ Don’t pray like (pagans, 6:7-8)
B’ Pray like this (Lord’s prayer, 6:9-13) - Psalm 150
- Where to praise God (everywhere, 150:1)
- What to praise God for (his works and character, 150:2)
- How to praise God (with all available instruments, 150:3-5)
- Who should praise God (everyone, 150:6)
- Psalm 1
- The way and blessing of the righteous (1:1-3)
- They do not enjoy sinful company (1:1)
- They think on God’s law (1:2)
- God will bless them with success (1:3)
- The way and judgment of the wicked (1:4-5)
- The wicked will face judgment (1:4)
- The wicked will not enjoy righteous company (1:5)
- Summary
- The way and blessing of the righteous (1:1-3)
Category: Biblical Studies, Summer 2004