Lesson 1 | The Main Point
Identifying the main point
Arcs, brackets and phrases help us get the text right
Our goal is to identify what is the main thing being said in the text, and how it is being supported.
Note the subtitle of this course—it is not there in vain! The whole reason why we spend time building arcs, brackets and phrases of biblical texts is because they help us achieve the above goal. In Arcing and Bracketing, we look for the main proposition of the passage and seek to discern how all the other propositions are logically connected. Then we cap off our study with a main point summary. In Phrasing, we locate the main phrase in a sentence from a grammatical standpoint by noting which phrase is set all the way to the left. This sets us up to then consider how each of those sentences, under the banner of a main phrase, work together.
Of course these Bible study methods are not the only way to get the main point right. But the principles behind them are absolutely necessary. That is why much of this course will focus on finishing an arc, bracket or phrase, and properly pinpointing the main point of the text.
We begin below with a bracket of Galatians 3:23-26 which will also serve to move us toward the first assignment—a family devotional. We will be alternating between arcs, brackets and phrases in the course demonstrations. Knowing that you are likely not familiar with all three methods, we will also provide extra explanation to allow everyone to follow along.
The law was our guardian UNTIL (Galatians 3:23-26)What do you call it when someone else decides what you can and cannot do?