Application
Application is very important for Christian believers
The Bible was given to us so that it could produce change in our lives and cause us to be more like Christ.
Scripture helps us live our lives
Scripture helps us know God more
Scripture is practical
Two types of Application
Specific Direct Application
General Indirect Application
A general overview or main theme that can be taken from Scripture and applied to our lives
A command that can be directly applied to our lives
Culture and Context
Readers need to consider culture and context because certain applications are specific to the culture and context that that the Scripture was written in.
Certain passages apply to certain groups in Scripture
In the Epistles, some passages are directed towards men, women, children, and slaves. Not every verse can be applied to one person.
Readers need to look for a particular passage in other places of the Bible
Is the message of the passage written about elsewhere in the Bible?
How does a particular application apply to my relationship with God? With myself?
How do other characters in the Bible apply the Scriptures? For instance, in the Old Testament, how did certain Biblical characters apply the Scripture to their lives?
Pray and ask God to help you apply Scripture
God may reveal something to you that is different than what someone else may have gathered and understood while reading a text.
Scripture can impact each person in a different way.