Interpreting SCRIPTURE....HOW?

PART IV. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR
OLD TESTAMENT STUDY:

1. Type of Writing: Historical/Biographical - Genesis through Esther (with exception of some legal sections)
A. Cultural and Spiritual Situation: God worked in the lives of people at the point where they were in their development. God revealed Himself and His truth in a progressive manner.
B. Special Principles to consider:
1) Distinguish between what the Bible records and what it approves. Sometimes the Bible will accurately record things of which God does not approve. Some of this is due to the progressive nature of revelation and illumination. If something is recorded which seems to be contrary to God's character, we must look to see if there is a record of approval or disapproval. If there is no such statement, we must look at other clear passages related to the situation in question.
2) We may directly apply principles that are specifically given in scripture. When David sinned with Bathsheba, the Lord gave clear indication about His position through Nathan the prophet.
3) Specific commands to individuals do not always apply to believers today. Abraham was commanded to offer up his son unto the Lord. Joshua was commanded to slay all of the people in the areas where he conquered, including women and children.
4) Determine the underlying principle involved. Situations from Biblical history are not likely to be specifically reproduced in our lives today.
C. Key questions to ask yourself.
1) What happened? When?
2) Are there some cultural customs involved that are not directly relevant for today?
3) What does this reveal about the nature of God?
4) Does it teach us something about human nature?
5) What significance does it have for my life?
6) Is there specific action that I should take because of something learned in this passage?
2. Type of Writing: Legal Guidelines - Leviticus, sections of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy (with some other brief sections as well)
A. Cultural and Spiritual Situation: These guidelines were given to the nation of Israel, who was living in the midst of extremely wicked pagan nations. Some laws were adapted to special cultural situations. In all cases the spirit of the law was superior to the letter of the law.
B. Special Principles to consider:
1) Some commands contained in legal sections are applicable to all times and cultures. Usually these principles are also found in other passages before "the law" was given and after "the law" was nailed to the cross (Col 2:14).
2) Some commands given cannot be directly applied to the age in which we now live. The most obvious examples would be the commands relating to blood sacrifice as an atonement for sin. Other examples would be the dietary guidelines regarding clean and unclean meats.
3) All legal sections contain some principles that transcend the barriers of time and culture.
C. Key Questions to ask yourself:
1) What was the purpose of the Law? (Gal 3:19-25)
2) Does the particular command I am studying apply to all times and cultures?
3) If a civil law, why did God give this command?
4) If a ceremonial law, what does it picture?
5) How can I make application to my life (occasionally by direct application, or by application of the principle).


3. Type of Writing: Poetry/Wisdom Literature - Job through Song of Solomon
A. Cultural and Spiritual Situation: Hebrew poetry abounds with imagery and figures of speech. Frequently the writer will employ exaggeration, hyperbole, and other literary devices. (Remember the guideline about accepting Scripture literally unless there is a clear reason for not doing so.) This type of writing will generally express principles rather than specific precepts. The promises for deliverance, material blessing, freedom from problems, etc. are general principles and we must be careful not to make them more specific than they are. For example Prov 22:6 does not guarantee that children will never rebel against Godly training.
B. Special Principles to Consider:
1) Scripture sometimes accurately records error. For example, Job's three friends assumed that he deserved the circumstances in his life because of some secret sin. His wife suggested that he should kill himself. The Word of God records these wrong ideas with total accuracy, yet one cannot assume that God endorsed the opinions of these individuals simply because He saw fit to preserve them. Sometimes, Scripture accurately records the lies of both Satan and men.
2) Wisdom literature does not present systematically organized truth. Much of Proverbs appears to be brief comments that may or may not relate to what immediately precedes or follows.
3) In this type of literature God's righteousness sometimes receives much greater attention than His mercy. The Psalmist is often quite strong and almost vindictive in his plea for wrath upon evil doers.
C. Key Questions to ask yourself:
1) What did the passage mean to people before Christ?
2) What does the passage tell me about worship? About God? About principles for living?
3) What is the application to my life?
4. Type of Writing: Prophecy - Isaiah through Malachi
A. Cultural and Spiritual Situations: Most of the prophets ministered to either the Northern Kingdom of Israel or the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The nation had been divided in about 930 BC after the death of King Solomon. The Northern Kingdom was ruled by a series of kings that were evil and generally led the people away from God. The Northern Kingdom was overthrown by Babylon in about 722 BC. The Southern kingdom was ruled by a mixture of good and bad kings. Some were very good and turned the people back to God. Others were very evil and led the nation deep into idolatry and immorality. Throughout all of this time, the Lord would bless the nation when the people were obedient and would send pestilence and enemies when the people disobeyed.
B. Special Principles to Consider:
1) Prophecy is not organized like lecture notes. Events that are separated by centuries in history are linked together in prophecy. Sometimes part of a prophecy will be fulfilled at one time and the remainder at a much later time. Frequently, there will be a double reference in the prophecy; i.e., it will refer to events at the time of the prophecy as well as events in the future. (Isa 61:1-2; Luke 4:16-21; Isa 7:14; Luke 1:26-33)
2) All prophecy is not predictive. Ninety percent of the prophet’s message was an exhortation for the people to return to the ways of the Lord. A very small percentage of prophecy is predictive in nature.
3) Unfulfilled prophecies must be understood in light of fulfilled prophecies. If one prediction was fulfilled in a literal sense it is reasonable to assume that the balance of the prophecy will be fulfilled in the same way. However, this does not rule out figures of speech and other literary devices frequently found in prophetic discourse.
C. Key Questions to ask yourself:
1) What is the historical situation behind the prophecy?
2) Does this prophecy relate to Christ?
3) Has the prophecy been fulfilled? What parts remain?
4) What is the lesson in the passage for me?


PART V. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR
NEW TESTAMENT STUDY:
1. The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
A. Cultural and Spiritual Situation: Christ was speaking primarily to the Jewish people. Early in Christ's ministry there is evidence that He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matt 10:5-7). While there is no definite offer of the Millennial Kingdom recorded, there are indications that there was a shift in thrust of His ministry after the Jews repeatedly rejected Christ's demonstrations that He was the Messiah. Although the people voiced a desire to accept Christ as the "Son of David" earlier in His ministry (Matt 12:23), the leaders of the nation finally convinced the people to reject their long awaited Messiah (Mark 14:11-15). In spite of the earlier prohibition to preach to any but the "lost sheep of the House of Israel" (Matt 10:5-6), Christ later expanded His ministry to include Samaritans (John 4) and Gentiles (Mark 7:24-30).
The Jews were under the Laws of Moses (ceremonial and civil) until after the death of Christ. The whole of the Mosaic Legal system was in effect until that time. Due to the progressive nature of revelation and illumination, the abolition of the Mosaic system is not recorded in Scripture until Gal 3:19 - 4:10. There is no record of this change in the gospels and the Jews were still under the Mosaic Law.
B. Special Principles to consider: (Apply to the entire N.T.)
1) The emphasis is upon moral and spiritual principles rather than upon specific commands about social and personal conduct. For example, in 1 Cor 11 when Paul advises a woman either to cover her head or to let her head be shaven, he is dealing with a specific situation that existed in Corinth and many other heathen cities. Many false religions observed very immoral practices at their temples. A shaved head was a mark of a temple priestess involved in these wicked practices. The basic principle in the passage is that men should look like men, and women should look like women. This general principle is applicable to all ages and cultures, while the specific issue may differ. A similar situation would involve the eating of meats that had been sacrificed to idols, a custom which is without direct parallel in modern civilized cultures (1 Cor 10:23-33).
2) The Bible emphasizes the inner heart of man rather than outward actions. The Pharisees of Jesus' day were without spot as far as outward actions were concerned, yet their hearts were wicked and corrupt (Matt 23:27). In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ elevates the principles of the law above the outward observance by pointing out that it is what is in the heart that really matters. This truth had been pointed to earlier by the prophet Samuel (I Sam 16:7), and by some of the later prophets (Jer 31:33; Ezek 11:19).
3) Sometimes the spirit of the statement must be our guide. In Matt 5:29, 30, we are told to cut off our hand and to pluck out our eye if they cause us to offend. To receive this literally would display a lack of understanding; not superior spiritual insight or maturity. As should be discerned from the teaching of Christ in Matt 15:19-20, the problem is in the heart of man; it is related to the immaterial part of man, not his body. Yet the spirit of the statement should also be apparent: We are to regard sin as exceedingly sinful, refuse to pamper our own sinful practices and habits, and deal with our personal sin in a very direct manner.
4) Commands that are cultural in nature must be translated into terms of our own culture. In 1 Tim 2:9, the prohibition against braided hair and jewelry relates to some specific cultural situations. Today dressing in a certain way or wearing some symbols would identify a believer with things that believers should avoid. The principle that a woman should dress modestly transcends all barriers of time and culture. The principle of not being identified with the world is easily translated into today's society. A believer should not want to have a bumper sticker advertising one of the local taverns on the back of his or her automobile, cap, T-shirt, etc.
5) As in the Old Testament, the moral principles and commands are transcultural and not limited to any specific age. For example, if indecent dress and an immoral lifestyle becomes socially acceptable, Christians are still bound by the letter of the law as well as the spirit of the law. (Notice the spiritual standards that Paul imposed upon the Corinthians, in spite of the wicked pagan society in which they were living.)
NOTE: These five points apply to the entire New Testament, and to some of the Old Testament as well.
C. Key questions to ask yourself:
1) What did Christ's actions and teachings mean to the people of His day?
2) How does this apply to my life?
3) Is any action called for on my part?
2. Early Church History - Acts
A. Cultural and Spiritual Situation: The gospel was spread to all the known world beginning at Jerusalem. Christianity was initially seen as an offshoot of Judaism and the transition to Christianity as known in the epistles and today occurred gradually.
B. Special Principles to consider: The Book of Acts covers a transition period. Although the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost in Acts 2, all believers did not receive the Holy Spirit in Acts at the moment of their conversion as we do today (Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 12:13). Miracles were common in order to demonstrate the apostolic authority of key leaders. Due to the transitional nature of the book, it is best to turn to the epistles (Romans - Jude) to establish clear doctrinal positions. (Also see the principles under the Gospels.)
C. Key questions to ask yourself:
1) What are the significant points in the passage?
2) What application is there to my life?
3. The Epistles: Romans through Jude
A. Cultural and Spiritual Situation: Churches had been and were being established throughout the known world. Key apostles (especially Paul) were being used by God to spread the gospel. The epistles were written to lay the foundation of our faith. Doctrine is presented in systematic form in the epistles. Some of the churches were very immature. Specific cultural and local issues should not be considered the norm for all churches of all times. The content of the epistles reveals a great deal about the churches to whom they were written.
B. Special Principles to consider:
See principles listed under the Gospels, pgs 18-20
C. Key questions to ask yourself:
1) Who wrote the letter?
2) What circumstances occasioned the letter?
3) What is the main thrust of the letter?
4) What basic doctrine is being addressed in this section?
5) How does what is taught apply to the church?
6) How does what is taught apply to me?
4. New Testament Prophecy - Revelation
A. Cultural and Spiritual Situation: The first three chapters are addressed to "the Messengers of" each of the seven churches (KJV "angel"). Some have understood the letters to represent the stages of the church throughout history. Although there may be some application to the stages in church history, the message to each church was written to that church specifically and relates to the social and spiritual conditions then present in that church and community. Much of the wording of Revelation is given in symbolic language, yet, this does not lessen the certainty of fulfillment. Some of the events and circumstances described can only be understood in light of other prophecy. As with other prophecy (both Old and New Testament), a thorough grasp of earlier prophecy, especially the book of Daniel is prerequisite to correct interpretation of prophetic sections yet unfulfilled.
B. Special Principles to Consider:
(see under Old Testament Prophecy and the Gospels)
C. Key Questions to ask yourself:
1) What is the central truth in this passage?
2) Does the passage predict or teach?
3) What does it say?
4) What did it mean to the original readers?
5) What does it mean to me?
NOTE: THESE LAST THREE APPLY TO ALL SCRIPTURE.

 

These are some notes that I have passed out to our church family from time to time in a little booklet. I omitted Part III - A Panoramic View of the Bible. If anybody wants that as well, just ask. I will post.

I am sure that some of this came from other sources, but I have revised and rewritten so many times in the past 20 years or so, I only recall a few. If any of this looks like it came from a source anybody recognizes, please let me know so I can give credit.

 

Phillip mentions the Bible programs. If you are reading this, it is a reasonable assumption that you have a PC and an internet connection! If it is "high speed" (DSL,Cable) you can download free Bible SW fairly quickly (dial up works, but takes longer).

Phillip speaks of E-Sword, it is avail at www.e-sword.net

I mostly use Online Bible, aval at www.onlinebible.net

Hope this helps you all, or if you are not from Georgia, yous guys.

 

Several links to articles on guidelines for biblical hermeneutics are at http://www.apologeticsindex.org/b11.html

 

Great stuff RJ. I agree with Gregory.

About John using the word interchangeably, do you really think each was intended to be interchangeable or could minor, but almost undetectable variations have caused his choices?

Just curious. I'm certainly not a scholar.

 

Charismatic Chaos, Chapter Four.
DHK

 

^^^

Nice!

Thanks, DHK

 

Phillip,

Minor differences in the shades of meaning as John uses agapaw and philew (w=omega, not omicron). But certainly not the difference to the degree, "Do you love me?", "Well, I am fond of you", that some (Weust, et al) have imagined.

I see the major emphasis in the encounter as being the fact that just as Peter had denied the Lord three times, he is asked to affirm his love for Jesus three times. Note that Peter was not greived by the differences in the words used, but by the fact that Jesus asked the "third time".

IMHO, I think that whenever Peter saw the number three, or a chicken, it made him nervous! Hey, I am doing my part to get even on behalf of Peter; I eat all the fried chicken I can get my hands on; I calls it "Simon Peter's Revenge"!

 

DHK,

I am looking forward to being at Grace Com Ch again in a few weeks for The Shepherd's Conference. I do not believe you can go far wrong any time you quote JM. I do think he takes the Lordship salvation thing to far, though! Failure to distinguish between the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of the cross. Oh well, that is another thread and certainly many Godly men are to be found on both sides of that issue.

 

Minor differences in the shades of meaning as John uses agapaw and philew (w=omega, not omicron). But certainly not the difference to the degree, "Do you love me?", "Well, I am fond of you", that some (Weust, et al) have imagined.

This brings up another interesting point!

I would argue that to see the words as having different meanings is to read too much into the text. We use stylistic variation alot - trying not to repeat the same word over and over. Words have "semantic domains". Phileo and agagao have slightly different shades of meaning - but the overlap of meaning is considerable.

Just a thought!

 

Chas,

Just curious if you think this applies to genos and genaw as well?!

 

Just curious if you think this applies to genos and genaw as well?!

In which setting?

 

Why Matt 24, of course. And actually it is genos/genea, not genaw. From a discussion on another thread. Probably should take it up there.

http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/3/2696/4.html?

 

The first key to accurate interpretation is to find out if we can understand any part of the bible as it was intended to be understood by its original audience. What did it mean to the people it was originally written for?

Honest scholarship seeks to answer this question. Honest faith will not allow us to reject the real meaning just because we might not like it.

 

DFW3,

Great point, I actually agree with you! Interpretation before application!

And, always, our personal likes or dislikes can never be allowed to influence our interpretation of a passage. We must take it as it stands AND, as you note, within the context of it original interpretation as much as is possible.