Key Terms
Authorial Purpose — The reason the author wrote this particular book — the problem they were addressing or the truth they were communicating
Occasion — The specific situation or event that prompted a biblical book to be written — the historical trigger
Literary Structure — The outline or organization of a book — how the author arranged their material to make their point
Key Concepts
- Every book has a purpose — find it and interpretation gets clearer
- The occasion (why it was written) shapes the content
- Tracing the structure of a book reveals the author's logic
Scripture Focus
John 20:30-31
Luke 1:1-4
1 John 5:13
Galatians 1:6-9
Learning Objectives
- Find the stated purpose of a biblical book (where the author tells you why they wrote) and explain how it shapes interpretation
- Use a study Bible or introduction to identify the occasion — the situation that prompted the book to be written
- Explain how understanding the big picture of a book prevents misreading individual passages within it
Resources
Download the companion handout for this lesson to review key terms and concepts offline.
Download Lesson Handout (PDF)