Steve Stanley’s Reviews > Getting the Message: A Plan for Interpreting and Applying the Bible > Status Update

The goal of biblical instruction is godly affections and actions.

Teachers can address topics such as unemployment, cancer, and divorce even without personal experience of them, but the failure to develop Christian virtues is another matter.

Above all, this book is a primer in Bible interpretation that emphasizes application. . . . This book presents the steps of interpretation in the order in which one actually uses them. It summarizes the principles in an acronym CAPTOR:

C = Context
A = Analysis
P = Problems
T = Themes
O = Obligations
R = Reflection

Ultimately, the Spirit of God must remedy our immaturity, insensitivity, and rebellion. But the Spirit does use his Word to cure souls. For this reason, the church still needs skillful teachers. . . . But before we can teach others, we must be teachable ourselves

Accurate interpretation depends on sound methods. Yet valid interpretation also depends on mature interpreters. This book focuses on techniques for interpreting the Bible, but we must also comment on interpreters and their hearts.