Some tools for book survey

Before we study the word in details, it is important Hermeneutical practice to understand the general theme and message of the "book as whole", or even "bible as whole" so that we don't go out of context. This is usually done using what we call a "book survey". Some of the tools that we can employ while we survey a book are to observe patterns like,

- Repetitions
- Contrasts
- Causation and Substantiation
- Particularization (groups of passages that elaborates a summary statement)
- Generalizations (summary statement for a group of passages)
- Inclusios (Similar statement that book marks starts and end of passages)
- Chaism - An ABB'A' or ABCC'B'A', etc structure that is a feature of Jewish writings.

One example of CHIASM is Matt 6:24,

A No one can serve two masters;

B for either he will hate the one

C and love the other,

C′ or he will be devoted to one

B′ and despise the other.

A′ You cannot serve God and wealth.

Another CHIASTIC example in Psalms 67

A May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.

B Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

C Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

B' Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

A' The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

We can also find GENERALIZATION or Summary statements like Acts 2:42 that states the result of the preaching of the gospel, and Act 4:33 acts as an INCLUSIO and also a summary statement that summarizes the faithfulness and growth of the early church as the result of the preaching of the gospel. Hence the content between Acts 2:42 and 4:33 are PARTICULARIZATION of the 2 summary statements.

Another INCLUSIO can be found in Rev 1:8 and Rev 22:13 where Jesus mentioned that he is the Alpha and Omega, a title that makes Jesus equivalent to God (Isaiah 44:6), that he is the one who controls history from the beginning to the end.

Luke also places the generosity of Barnabas (Acts 4:36) next to the Sin of Ananias and Sapphire in Chapter 5. This would act as a CONTRAST for students to observe what God honors and hates.

Hebrews 1:1-14 is a CAUSE that SUBSTANTIATES 2:1-13. Colossians 3:1-4 can also be a CAUSATION in which 3:5-17 SUBSTANTIATES the cause.

In this way, we can systematically understand the context and message the author is trying to convey, and not inject any presumptions, opinions or even mystical ideas where the text does not say.

We have to remember that the bible is not a code book that we decipher esoteric messages. The bible is not written uncontrollably by men "possessed by a spirit" like a pagan mediums. Rather, it is composed of genres like poetry, narratives, epistles, prophecies, etc inspired and written by human hands with the style of the human authors still in tact. And hence it's message has to be clearly understood by it's genre.