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Creative Bible Study
Connectives:
Words called "connectives" are very important. They reveal relationships within and between paragraphs. The word "but" is a connective and introduces a contrast. For example:
But these speak evil of those things which they know not; But what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. (Jude 1:10)
There is a contrast in this paragraph. False teachers speak evil of things they do not know BUT they also corrupt the things they do know. The verse begins with the word "but" which should make you look back to verse 9 to see what the contrast is:
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. (Jude 1:9)
Verse 10 contrasts false teachers who speak evil of dignities with the archangel Michael. Even though he held a great position, he did not accuse the devil but said "The Lord rebuke thee." The connective word "or" indicates a contrast. For example:
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good OR whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
Other connective words to watch for are "like" and "as.” Instead of a contrast these words show comparisons between things. For example in the following verse Satan is compared to a lion:
. . . the Devil AS a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8)
The word "and" is another connective. It adds to what has just been stated:
Like wise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, AND speak evil of dignities. (Jude 1:8)
The word "if" introduces a conditional statement. Many of the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament are stated this way. They tell what God will do IF (on the condition that) His people make a certain response:
IF my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (II Chronicles 7:14)