Lesson ▪ 1997
Tags: Bible; Geography
Excerpted from Bridging the Gap: Developing Tools for Better Bible Understanding

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It was affirmed in Tool 1 of Bridging the Gap that the Bible is to be viewed as God’s self-disclosure to man. It is worthy of note that God’s revelation is not simply a list of propositions to believe and standards to live by. God’s Word is much more than this. The Bible is God’s revelation in historical and geographical context: God has spoken in time and space.

Because the different Bible books were given in various places, and because the Bible makes numerous references to geographical places, it follows that it is best interpreted in geographical context. By this is meant that the Bible is to be read with geography in mind. The biblical authors presumed, among other things, the original readers’ knowledge of the places to which they referred in their writings.

It is historical and geographical reality that bring the stories and characters of the Bible to life. We are able to see the relevance and application of biblical truth as we view it in time and space.

The task of the Bible student is, therefore, to acquire yet another tool: Bible geography. Only as he does this can he truly gain the meaning intended by the divine and human authors.