Rightly Interpreting Scripture

Posted by Dan C. on

Is there a right way and a wrong way to interpret Scripture? You bet there is! The following was adapted from a larger article here. I’ve included material from the referenced article that addresses interpretive principles most needed in a ‘Christian’ culture that focuses on ‘What this verse means to ME”, more than simply “What does it MEAN”, or “What is God saying?” I hope it is helpful.

Methodology

The word “method” comes from the Greek word methodos, which literally means “a way or path of transit.” Methodology in Bible study is therefore concerned with “the proper path to be taken in order to arrive at Scriptural truth.” This clearly implies that improper paths can be taken.

Improper methodology in interpreting Scripture is nothing new. Even in New Testament times, the apostle Peter warned that there are teachings in the inspired writings of Paul “which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [distort], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16, insert added).

A Foundational Truth: God Created Language for a Purpose

God sovereignly chose to use human language as a medium of revelational communication. If the primary purpose of God’s originating of language was to make it possible for Him to communicate with human beings, as well as to enable human beings to communicate with each another, then it must follow that He would generally use language and expect man to use it in its literal, normal, and plain sense. This view of language is a prerequisite to understanding not only God’s spoken word but His written Word (Scripture) as well.

Seeking the Author’s Intended Meaning

Instead of superimposing a meaning on the biblical text, the objective interpreter seeks to discover the author’s intended meaning (the only true meaning).

  • One must recognize that what a passage means is fixed by the author and is not subject to alteration by readers.
  • Meaning is determined by the author; it is discovered by readers.

Our goal must be exegesis (drawing the meaning out of the text) and not eisogesis (superimposing a meaning onto the text).

Only by objective methodology can we bridge the gap between our minds and the minds of the biblical writers.
Indeed, our method of interpreting Scripture is valid or invalid to the extent that it really unfolds the meaning a statement had for the author and the first hearers or readers.

The Importance of Context

Seeking the biblical author’s intended meaning necessitates interpreting Bible verses in context.

  • Every word in the Bible is part of a verse, and every verse is part of a paragraph, and every paragraph is part of a book, and every book is part of the whole of Scripture.
  • No verse of Scripture can be divorced from the verses around it. Interpreting a verse apart from its context is like trying to analyze a Rembrandt painting by looking at only a single square inch of the painting, or like trying to analyze Handel’s “Messiah” by listening to a few short notes.
  • The context is absolutely critical to properly interpreting Bible verses.

In interpreting Scripture, there is both an immediate context and a broader context.

  • The immediate context of a verse is the paragraph (or paragraphs) of the biblical book in question. The immediate context should always be consulted in interpreting Bible verses.
  • The broader context is the whole of Scripture.
    • The entire Holy Scripture is the context and guide for understanding the particular passages of Scripture.
    • We must keep in mind that the interpretation of a specific passage must not contradict the total teaching of Scripture on a point.
    • Individual verses do not exist as isolated fragments, but as parts of a whole.
    • The exposition of these verses, therefore, must involve exhibiting them in right relation both to the whole and to each other. Scripture interprets Scripture

Let Scripture Explain Scripture

Interpret the Old Testament in Light of the New Testament. God gave revelation to humankind progressively throughout Old and New Testament times. In view of this, a key interpretive principle is that one should always interpret the Old Testament in view of the greater light of the New Testament.

Where a passage is unclear, find other scripture with the same topic and use what is clear to interpret what is unclear. The Bible does not contradict itself.

Dependence on the Holy Spirit

Scripture tells us that we are to rely on the Holy Spirit’s illumination to gain insights into the meaning and application of Scripture (John 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-11).

  • It is the Holy Spirit’s work to throw light upon the Word of God so that the believer can assent to the meaning intended and act on it.
  • The Holy Spirit, as the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13), guides us so that “we may understand what God has freely given us” (1 Corinthians 2:12).
  • This aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry operates within the sphere of man’s rational capacity, which God Himself gave man (cf. Genesis 2-3). Illumination comes to the ‘minds’ of God’s people – not to some nonrational faculty like our ’emotions’ or our ‘feelings’ [like a ‘burning in the bosom’].

The ministry of the Holy Spirit in interpretation does not mean interpreters can ignore common sense and logic. Since the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13), He does not teach concepts that fail to meet the tests of truth. In other words, “the Holy Spirit does not guide into interpretations that contradict each other or fail to have logical, internal consistency.”

It must also be kept in mind that the function of the Holy Spirit is not to communicate to the minds of people any doctrine or meaning of Scripture that is not contained already in Scripture itself.The Holy Spirit makes men “wise up to what is written, not beyond it.” Indeed, “the function of the Spirit is not to communicate new truth or to instruct in matters unknown, but to illuminate what is revealed in Scripture.”

25 responses to “Rightly Interpreting Scripture”

  1. Ron Rhodes, the author whom you cited, also has a link on his website entitled, “How to Become a Christian.”

    http://home.earthlink.net/~ronrhodes/Invitation.html

    I realize this might be a bit off-topic, but in the spirit of “consider the source” I’m wondering what you think of his writing here? Specifically, it would seem that his criteria and explanation are certainly un-biblical – based on things that have been said here. Or am I again missing something?

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  3. I’m so thankful I learned this approach to Bible study through Precept Upon Precept Ministries. It totally opened up my understanding of the Word and set me on the path to digging deep.

    Love it. Thanks, Dan.

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  4. Bad,

    The only thing I can imagine you might referring to would be the section about the Holy Spirit. If that is the case, I can only conclude that you either never captured what has been said here, did not comprehend what this post has to say about the interaction of the Holy Spirit in Bible study, or both.

    However in light of your lack of specificity in your comment, I could be merely speculating.

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  5. Michelle, thanks for stopping by. I learned this approach with a topical discipleship training series that had zero fill-in the blanks, a short statement from the author of the material at the top of each lesson, and the exact same format for every study. I changed everything……:)

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  10. Here are some examples from the other page that have been proclaimed to be false teaching, heresy, and a false gospel:

    “Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?”

    “A personal relationship with Jesus is the most important decision you could ever make in your life.”

    “God Desires a Personal Relationship With You”

    “Jesus Died for Our Sins and Made Salvation Possible”

    “He [Jesus] perceived His death as being a sacrificial offering for the sins of humanity”

    “Jesus took the sins of the entire world on Himself and made salvation available for everyone”

    “Only those who personally choose to believe in Christ are saved”

    “Choosing not to believe in Jesus, by contrast, leads to eternal condemnation”

    “If God is speaking to your heart now, then now is your door of opportunity to believe”

    So, how can you accept teaching about the interpretation of Scripture from someone who obviously has misinterpreted the same?

    “My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” [James 3:12-13]

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  11. Let me try to be more clear:

    If you do not agree with any of the “How to be a Christian” article, if you believe this reflects false-teaching, then you must also reject the other teaching from this person on interpreting Scripture.

    Either both articles are right, or they are both in error.

    Your choice…

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  13. This is not about the other article, which I have now read. the author is a’4-point Calvinist’ by his own admission. The rightness or wrongness of that is not the issue. The study methods he described are excellent. I do not have to agree wholeheartedy with both aritcles or reject both. That is just plain silly, Bad – you know it, I know it, and so should anyone else who examines them.

    If you want to discuss the actual bible study methods presented in this post, please do so. If not, don’t waste the key strokes.

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  14. i’m not agreeing with one of your statements and don’t get an idea that i don’t have a problem or do have one with the rest of your work about Biblical interpretation, to wit:

    “God gave revelation to humankind progressively throughout Old and New Testament times. In view of this, a key interpretive principle is that one should always interpret the Old Testament in view of the greater light of the New Testament.”

    This is an absurd conclusion that only leads to error. You’ve confused the fact that the Holy Spirit prompted holy men of old to write the words throughout the history of the writing, with something you call “progressive revelation.” God does everything in an orderly way; however, He knows everything and there’s nothing progressive about His knowledge. One of the reasons He spoke in parables was so that there would be those who would NOT hear and understand and be saved. He wrote His Bible similarly…it’s a parable and many use and have used many methods to arrive at what they call “truth.” Compare scripture with scripture but don’t think for a moment that the “new reveals the old.” God provided us with the “old” and “new” testaments in the garden; we continue to labor under the “old” as we are still dying. We’ve enjoyed the “recent” arrival/departure of our Savior and we continue, as did the “old testament believers” to look forward to His RETURN. Why does the resurrection go like this, “…and rose AGAIN?” Again? When was the first time? No, not from the tomb but before the foundation.

    The Bible is a parable to be treated as a whole, interwoven work and to be understood as it determines.

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  15. The author (not MY words) was pointing to the fact that God gave His revelation to men across a certain period of time. In that way, His revelation ‘progressed’ over time. That, Sir, is plain English. Nothing in the article pointed to God having ‘progressive knowledge’. Who taught you that the Bible itself is a parable?

    The New Testament is the fulfillment of the old. In fact after reading the Old Testemant and reading the New Testament with that thought in view greatly enhances the understanding of whyone who reads it. Have you read it for yourself?

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  17. I just saw Mr. Bad’s offering…though I’m wondering when he sustained the head injury.

    You’re like fly paper for Bad thinking today, B4B.

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  20. “Who exactly proclaimed those statements as heresy?” – Jason, you want to answer that?

    The above question was left in the comment in order to give Jason the opportunity to address the question.

    The remainder of this comment has been deleted because it was irrelevant to the basic post’s subject of proper methods of Bible study, and the comment author has been previously asked to stay on topic.

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  21. Always murmuring cryptic glyphs into clarity. Always anxious to establish a greater penumbra than ever before.

    You are always inclined to greater darkness, Christian.

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