Lesson Four
What is the “Structure of a Text” and why should I care?
The way God reveals something is as important as what He says!!
Observation starts with the Big Picture. Understanding the details of a letter or book accurately requires that one read it all first to see how it flows together.
Every statement we read must be handled with regard for that statement’s context.
How do we see the context? STRUCTURE (this is the most overlooked part of the text, but it’s the most important tool to use to understand the original intent of the text).
Illustration
The Gospel According to Mark
What is the structure?
Chapter 1 “Son of God” - Why did the Author start the letter this way? Every Roman (Mark was writing to Romans) had a coin with Caesar Augustus on it that said “Son of God.” He earned his title by bringing peace and conquering all enemies.
Mark writes of 23 miracles in the first 8 chapters. Why is this relevant? How many miracles are in the gospel according to John? What is Mark trying to demonstrate?
The key division in this letter is 8:27. From this point on Mark shows Jesus preparing His disciples for His departure. Why would Mark want to transition to focus on discipleship?
Explanation:
If the Roman Gentiles think Caesar is the Son of God then it makes sense for Mark to prove Jesus to be the true Son of God by providing evidence of the many miracles that he performed. This evidence would provide them the opportunity to see that Jesus is truly the Son of God and for them to put their faith in Jesus and His teachings. Therefore, Mark transitions after 8:27 to providing information for those that believe to be able to be taught by Jesus as He taught his disciples which would allow them to become disciples as well.
Overall Structure
Chapters 1-8: Convince his audience (Romans) Jesus is the Son of God
Chapters 9-16: This is how Jesus taught His disciples so if you believe He is the Son of God and want to be His disciple then this is how you should live.
Types of Structure
Radiation - radiating out from a central point. Hitting it from every angle.
Psalm 148 - What is the central point?
Psalm 119 - What is being emphasized?
Proverbs 31 - Acrostic - Virtuous woman from A-Z
Repetition - looking phrases, words and concepts that are used over and over again. Should I place any significance on this? Why?
Romans - “righteousness of God” and “faith”
Mark - miracles (trying to blow the reader away! Five in chapter one alone. Also, the use of “immediately” 42 times. Why? It creates urgency in the message.
Leviticus - holiness is used 90 times - 11:44-45; “be holy because I am holy”
Progression - Books and Individual Texts have progression
Acts - What is the geographical progression in Acts? See Acts 1:8.
Acts ends and leaves us hanging? Why? We are to continue this work of spreading the gospel to this day and until Jesus returns.
Exodus has two sections: 1-18 are about deliverance (exiting Egypt), 19-40 are about worship and developing the temple of God.
The digression seen from Joshua (“They did not drive out…there arose a generation who knew not the Lord…”) to Judges (“Everyone did what was right in their own eyes”).
Contrast - Used to accentuate a message and look at different angles.
1 Corinthians 15 - Those who do believe in a resurrection versus those who do not.
Proverbs 15 and 16 - 1st line but 2nd line. Stronger message because of the provided contrast.
Romans 7 and 8 - Great contrast between without Jesus, under the law, without hope, condemned versus with Jesus, under grace, full assurance, no condemnation.
Alternation - two stories set side by side. Invited to compare and contrast.
Luke - birth of John the baptist by Zechariah and Elizabeth in their old age. Birth of Jesus by a young Mary.
1 and 2 Kings - King over Judah then King over Israel compare and contrast. Then they mesh Ahab and Jehosaphat and Judah becomes like Israel.
1 and 2 Chronicles is all Judah because it was written to exiles to show how they needed to renew the temple and the kingdom and get ready for the messiah.
Pivot - Section where the flow of the book changes (seen in almost every book).
Mark 8:27-31 as mentioned earlier in the illustration.
2 Samuel 1-10 accounts good times for David, 11 and 12 we read of his sin with Bathsheba and the consequences begin. Therefore 13-24 everything else goes wrong.
What is the pivotal point in the book of Judges? the book of Genesis? the entire book of the Bible?