Basics 11: Determining Pertinent Cross References

In our meeting over coffee and the scriptures here, my goal continues to be that lovers of Jesus would continue to learn and grow and become self-feeders of the word. Not give up going to church or stop listening to great teaching in person or digitally, but actually be maturing believers who do not require an outside source to discern the truth of the scripture. That we would be able to have questions of the text and know how to filter through the Bible to let it interpret itself.

One of the tools in our toolbox to allow scripture to interpret scripture is the ability to determine pertinent cross references. This starts with those concentric circles to which I keep referring, but there are a couple of other aspects to the skill.

First of all, please try to wrap your head around this thought: not all the words in our Bibles today are inspired. Realizing this sounds elementary at best and at its worst, condescending, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say things like, “The study note in my Study Bible says _____” and that became the final word. No one in the class challenged the authority (or accuracy) of that footnote and I think the reason for this is that it was read “from the Bible.”

But inspiration of scripture, inerrancy of the scriptures, applies ONLY to the original manuscripts, not the added information the interpreters included to try and help us understand what they think the text means. This includes study notes and footnotes. They are not attempting to mislead, but we must assess if the reference listed actually has to do with the verse we are investigating.

When I am seeking cross references to have the author explain what he means more clearly, sometimes I can think where else in scripture a similar thought process occurs, but more often I use two main techniques. I examine the footnotes (made easier with Bible software like Logos) or I do a word study of the Greek word behind the English word (also made easier with Bible software like Logos). I’ve experimented a little bit with the NET Bible which you can find here, and I think you can distill the same kind of information but it will take a little more effort.

When analyzing pertinence, remembering and considering the context of both is critical. Is the author of both actually talking about the same topic? Just because some of the same words are present in both places does not a cross reference make. Unfortunately I can’t at this moment find one that doesn’t correspond well, which is an indication that it isn’t all that common because I just spent an hour poking around looking for one. However, it does happen so I want us to be aware. When I find one, I will come back here and point it out so you can see what I’m talking about. Or if you find one, you can leave it for us to see in the comments below.

The other tool is to look at those color wheels from Logos that I’ve shown you before. Like this one for the Greek behind the English word create, created. (This is called a word study. Other Bible software has this capability as well, but I own this one so I talk about it.)

From this list of occurrences of the word, we can see not all of them are of the same semantic range exactly. We see usage around the creation account and usage around the description of salvation. It isn’t that the word has different meanings, but it does have a range within the definition. In one of my lexicons, there are four nuances to the meaning of the word:

[3231] κτίζω ktizō 15× pr. to reduce from a state of disorder and wildness; in NT to call into being, to create, Mk. 13:19; to call into individual existence, to frame, Eph. 2:15; to create spiritually, to invest with a spiritual frame, Eph. 2:10; 4:24 [2936] See create. ¹

 These are not separate definitions but are part of the semantic range of meanings. We don’t get to pick which one we like, but we get to find the one that the author intended. And this is how to decide which cross reference is pertinent.

Sometimes it’s easy–we find within the dictionary the listing for the verse we are studying. Sometimes it’s a bit more of a mystery and we need to figure out which meaning is what the author meant.

As I finish up, I was thinking I do have one other technique for finding cross references. It’s knowing that one letter is closely related to another letter, which we discovered when we researched the back story of the author.

For example, we know that Ephesians and Colossians are companion letters, written at the same time and were addressed to churches within close proximity with similar church doctrine teaching needs. Therefore, it would be logical that both letters would have related topics since whatever was on Paul’s mind for one was likely on his mind for the other.

Consequently, I do occasionally skim Colossians as I study Ephesians. Particularly if you are a student who has not yet taken the leap into the digital study world, this is a tool that everyone can utilize. As we study Ephesians together, everyone has the ability to skim a short 4 chapter letter to see if there are related topics.

I apologize, my dear fellow student of the word, for not addressing this concept earlier. I am determined to do better at bringing you along in the step-by-step. Bible study is accessible to everyone and I never want to leave you in the dark.

Which reminds me, if there is a question that comes up in your head, I would love to see if I can find an answer for you. Leave me comments below. Besides, it’s nice to hear from people so I don’t think I’m in this by myself. “It’s nicer with two,” says Pooh.

1. Mounce, W. D. (2006). Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. 1196). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.