R
According to Scripture there is a right way to divide (cut) or interpret the Scripture. 2 Tim. 2:15 reads,
'Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.'
If there is a right way to interpret Scripture, then it must be true there is also a wrong way to handle Scripture. Before I post on the proper rules of Biblical interpretation, I will list a few wrong ways to interpret Scripture.
1) Spiritualizing the text. You cannot make Scripture mean anything you want it to mean to fit your agenda. Dont force meanings on Scripture that are not intended.
2) taking Scripture out of the context in which it is found. For example: You can pull any two verses out of context and make them mean something they do not mean. What if you pulled out these two sentences and joined them together? 'Judas went and hanged himself' and Jesus said, 'Go and do thou likewise'. We know Jesus did not mean for us to hang ourselves but that illustrates the danger and absurdity of wrongly dividing the word of truth.
3) reading meanings into the text the author did not intend. (yes i believe the Bible is the inerrant, infallible word of God)
How to rightly divide or interpret Scripture.
1) There is one hard and fast rule in the process of interpreting Scripture and that is context, context, context. Dont take a passage out of context.
2) We must remember the Bible is a historical record written in a particular time and place. The background (history and setting) of the passage is important. For example, how is a woman to wear her hair as found in 1 Cor. ? If you study the background of the passage, it begins to come into focus.
3) The Bible is written in language. The rules of language apply. There are figures of speech, parts of speech, sentences, paragraphs and on and on. You do not have to be a language major to understand Scripture, but you must pay attention to what your reading.
4) The Bible is written in different types of language. It is written in poetry, parables, historical passages, teaching passages, and prophetic passages. Each type of literature must be understood by the type of literature it happens to be. For example, Sometimes we confuse principles and promises. Proverbs tells us to train a child up in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This is a principle not a promise. If it is a promise God has broken it because many children have been raised in godly homes and then later left the faith. We know God never breaks His promise.
5) Always take Scripture (and its words) in its natural and normal sense. Someone has said 'Take the plain sense and dont try to get any other sense or you will end up with nonsense.' This is why there is so much nonsense presented a Biblical truth. Some are taking Scripture out of context and twisting the meaning to fit their agenda.
6) This rule applies to every paragraph in the Bible. Each and every passage has one, and only one, meaning. The meaning is what the author meant when he wrote it. The whole process of Bible study is to understand the meaning of the passage you are studying. There may be many applications in a passage but only one meaning.
7) It is divinely inspired and God breathed. We should take care when studying and applying Scripture. We are accountable to God.
8) Compare Scripture with Scripture to help determine the meaning. The revelation of Scripture is progressive. We understand the OT better because we have the NT. Take the Messiah for example. In Genesis 3:15 we have a little information about the coming Messiah but as we read through the Bible towards the NT, we find out more and more about Him. When we get to the NT, many of the OT passages about His coming are explained. v
9) Don't interpret Scripture by your experiences. Interpret your experiences by Scripture.
10) Remember the law of first mention. This means look at what something the first time it is mentioned in Scripture. That will help you understand what you are reading. For example: Marriage. According to the law of first mention, marriage is between one man and one woman. Marriage is first formed and found in Genesis.
Three things to keep in mind when studying the Bible.
Pray before you being.
1) Observe the text. This means look at what your reading. Examine it closely. Ask yourself what do I see in this passage. Who is speaking? Who is being spoken to? What is the occasion? What is the setting? What kind of literature am I reading?
Pray while your studying.
2) Interpret the text. What does this passage mean?
Pray and ask God to show you what He wants you to do.
3) Apply the text. What is the passage saying to me? Is there a command here? Is God speaking to me and what is He saying through this passage?
Obviously this post is not exhaustive on the process of interpretation. This is just some kindling for your fire. If you interpret the Bible correctly, if you divide it correctly, your study will be greatly enhanced.
'Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.'
If there is a right way to interpret Scripture, then it must be true there is also a wrong way to handle Scripture. Before I post on the proper rules of Biblical interpretation, I will list a few wrong ways to interpret Scripture.
1) Spiritualizing the text. You cannot make Scripture mean anything you want it to mean to fit your agenda. Dont force meanings on Scripture that are not intended.
2) taking Scripture out of the context in which it is found. For example: You can pull any two verses out of context and make them mean something they do not mean. What if you pulled out these two sentences and joined them together? 'Judas went and hanged himself' and Jesus said, 'Go and do thou likewise'. We know Jesus did not mean for us to hang ourselves but that illustrates the danger and absurdity of wrongly dividing the word of truth.
3) reading meanings into the text the author did not intend. (yes i believe the Bible is the inerrant, infallible word of God)
How to rightly divide or interpret Scripture.
1) There is one hard and fast rule in the process of interpreting Scripture and that is context, context, context. Dont take a passage out of context.
2) We must remember the Bible is a historical record written in a particular time and place. The background (history and setting) of the passage is important. For example, how is a woman to wear her hair as found in 1 Cor. ? If you study the background of the passage, it begins to come into focus.
3) The Bible is written in language. The rules of language apply. There are figures of speech, parts of speech, sentences, paragraphs and on and on. You do not have to be a language major to understand Scripture, but you must pay attention to what your reading.
4) The Bible is written in different types of language. It is written in poetry, parables, historical passages, teaching passages, and prophetic passages. Each type of literature must be understood by the type of literature it happens to be. For example, Sometimes we confuse principles and promises. Proverbs tells us to train a child up in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This is a principle not a promise. If it is a promise God has broken it because many children have been raised in godly homes and then later left the faith. We know God never breaks His promise.
5) Always take Scripture (and its words) in its natural and normal sense. Someone has said 'Take the plain sense and dont try to get any other sense or you will end up with nonsense.' This is why there is so much nonsense presented a Biblical truth. Some are taking Scripture out of context and twisting the meaning to fit their agenda.
6) This rule applies to every paragraph in the Bible. Each and every passage has one, and only one, meaning. The meaning is what the author meant when he wrote it. The whole process of Bible study is to understand the meaning of the passage you are studying. There may be many applications in a passage but only one meaning.
7) It is divinely inspired and God breathed. We should take care when studying and applying Scripture. We are accountable to God.
8) Compare Scripture with Scripture to help determine the meaning. The revelation of Scripture is progressive. We understand the OT better because we have the NT. Take the Messiah for example. In Genesis 3:15 we have a little information about the coming Messiah but as we read through the Bible towards the NT, we find out more and more about Him. When we get to the NT, many of the OT passages about His coming are explained. v
9) Don't interpret Scripture by your experiences. Interpret your experiences by Scripture.
10) Remember the law of first mention. This means look at what something the first time it is mentioned in Scripture. That will help you understand what you are reading. For example: Marriage. According to the law of first mention, marriage is between one man and one woman. Marriage is first formed and found in Genesis.
Three things to keep in mind when studying the Bible.
Pray before you being.
1) Observe the text. This means look at what your reading. Examine it closely. Ask yourself what do I see in this passage. Who is speaking? Who is being spoken to? What is the occasion? What is the setting? What kind of literature am I reading?
Pray while your studying.
2) Interpret the text. What does this passage mean?
Pray and ask God to show you what He wants you to do.
3) Apply the text. What is the passage saying to me? Is there a command here? Is God speaking to me and what is He saying through this passage?
Obviously this post is not exhaustive on the process of interpretation. This is just some kindling for your fire. If you interpret the Bible correctly, if you divide it correctly, your study will be greatly enhanced.
-
3
-
1
- Show all
