HOW TO STUDY AUTHOR

The Bible was written by around 40 authors from different walks of life. While the writing and editing process was inspired by God, it retains the humanity and style of its authors. Get to know the author (and/or speaker) and uncover how they communicated their purpose in a unique and understandable way. 

Ask these questions when studying the Author:

Person: Who was the author and how did their experiences influence what they communicated?

Structure: What is emphasized by: 1) the amount of space devoted to a subject (person, theme, or circumstance), 2) the order of events, ideas, people, etc., or, 3) how the book is structured (e.g. chronological, biographical, ideological)? 

Purpose: What was the author's purpose, why was it written, and what insight does it provide into the passage? (see book intro in a Study Bible)

Speech: What is the point being made through figurative language or symbolism such as metaphors, hyperbole, idioms and rhetorical questions?  

Patterns: What is highlighted through the use of repetition and other patterns such as parallelism, alliteration and chiasm?

Style: What is communicated through the literary style or genre the author used (e.g. narrative, poetry, prophecy, letters)? See here for a list of literary styles and questions to ask. 

KEY PRINCIPLE

Don’t shout where the author whispers or whisper where the author shouts.

Be careful not to turn something mentioned in a single spot into a belief or doctrine the author never intended. Always consider how a passage fits within the author’s overall purpose throughout the book.

RESOURCES TO HELP STUDY THE AUTHOR

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