Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. PSALM 119:34
All Christians have a right and duty not only to learn from the church�s heritage of faith but also to interpret Scripture for themselves. The church of Rome doubts this, alleging that individuals easily misinterpret the Scriptures. This is true; but the following rules, faithfully observed, will help prevent that from happening.
* Every book of Scripture is a human composition, and though it should always be revered as the Word of God, interpretation of it must start from its human character. Allegorizing, therefore, which disregards the human writer�s expressed meaning is never appropriate.
* Each book was written not in code but in a way that could be understood by the readership to which it was addressed. This is true even of the books that primarily use symbolism: Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation. The main thrust is always clear, even if details are clouded. So when we understand the words used, the historical background, and the cultural conventions of the writer and his readers, we are well on the way to grasping the thoughts that are being conveyed. Spiritual understanding�that is, the discernment of the reality of God, his ways with humankind, his present will, and one�s own relationship to him now and for the future�will not however reach us from the text until the veil is removed from our hearts and we are able to share the writer�s own passion to know and please and honor God (2 Cor. 3:16; 1 Cor. 2:14). Prayer that God�s Spirit may generate this passion in us and show us God in the text is needed here. (See Ps. 119:18-19, 26-27, 33-34, 73, 125, 144, 169; Eph. 1:17-19; 3:16-19.)
* Each book had its place in the progress of God�s revelation of grace, which began in Eden and reached its Highest point in Jesus Christ, Pentecost, and the apostolic New Testament. That place must be borne in mind when studying the text. The Psalms, for instance, model the godly heart in every age, but express its prayers and praises in terms of the typical realities (earthly kings, kingdoms, health, wealth, war, long life) that circumscribed the life of grace in the pre-Christian era.
* Each book proceeded from the same divine mind, so the teaching of the Bible�s sixty-six books will be complementary and self-consistent. If we cannot yet see this, the fault is in us, not in Scripture. It is certain that Scripture nowhere contradicts Scripture; rather, one passage explains another. This sound principle of interpreting Scripture by Scripture is sometimes called the analogy of Scripture or the analogy of faith.
* Each book exhibits unchanging truth about God, humanity, godliness, and ungodliness, applied to and illustrated by particular situations in which individuals and groups found themselves. The final stage in biblical interpretation is to reapply these truths to our own life-situations; this is the way to discern what God in Scripture is saying to us at this moment. Examples of such reapplication are Josiah�s realization of God�s wrath at Judah�s failure to observe his law (2 Kings 22:8-13), Jesus� reasoning from Genesis 2:24 (Matt. 19:4-6), and Paul�s use of Genesis 15:6 and Psalm 32:1-2 to show the reality of present righteousness by faith (Rom. 4:1-8).
* No meaning may be read into or imposed on Scripture that cannot with certainty be read out of Scripture�shown, that is, to be unambiguously expressed by one or more of the human writers.
Careful and prayerful observance of these rules is a mark of every Christian who �correctly handles the word of truth� (2 Tim. 2:15).
From: Concise Theology: A Guide To Historic Christian Beliefs
You know, being thickheaded and talking a lot is a bad combination.
You already use rules of interpretation, you just need to admit to yourself which ones you use.
For instance, here is one modern American Christians use a lot:
"I read the Bible like it is a newspaper printed yesterday,
and written to me personally."
The Bible is a collection of many types of writings.
For instance the Song of Solomon is poetry, so it needs to be taken by the rules of poetry.
The book of Proverbs is a collection of short sayings on how to be wise. So, trying to read it allegorically, and saying it is prophesy, would be ignoring the intent of the writer.
Genesis, is narrative, and is meant to be taken literally.
John's Revelation is a highly symbolic book and it needs to be read that way.
PhillipJohn, you need to listen and read, a LOT more than you talk.
Truth is not known by thinking that is why, I can readily answer your post I know God by his word, it is all inspired and it is a enemy to God to approach God as you stated in this post, it would be correct that you do not know God by thinking, it is by revealation.
SrJames shared ~ The Bible is a collection of many types of writings.
Yup ! With ya on this 100%
For instance the Song of Solomon is poetry, so it needs to be taken by the rules of poetry.
Yup ! In order ta understand Poetry one must understand the stanzas, freeverse, etc...
The book of Proverbs is a collection of short sayings on how to be wise. So, trying to read it allegorically, and saying it is prophesy, would be ignoring the intent of the writer.
Yup ! Most diffinately agree with this...
Genesis, is narrative, and is meant to be taken literally.
Yup ! Again in total agreement...
John's Revelation is a highly symbolic book and it needs to be read that way.
4 fer 4....Good Post on interpretatin the Bible/Word SrJames...Thanxs fer sharein...xo
Sir james, I do like your short studies. It is always interesting.
You seem to have studied areas where I have not studied in.
I currently have a book on acts ( study guide made easy) It was written for easy understanding. With historical notes.I will be reading it and listing notes here soon.
It is called, " A smart guide to the book of Acts."
Most Christians have never been taught how to read and meditate upon the word of the Lord.
A good portion of the Church does not even teach Doctrine today,which is important.
Without doctrine,can a believer be thoroughly equipped unto every good work.
2nd Timothy 3:16-17
If the Body of believers is not being taught how to read and understand the "Word"of the Lord;Are we being negligent to be BAPTIZING/IMMERSING the people into or with the names of the Lord.
Matthew 28:18-20
There are at least 7-9 ways to interpret and understand the Word.
1.literal interpretation
2.Spiritually interpret
3.Parables and allegories
4.Hebrew poetry
5.Prophecy
6.Proverbs
7.Types of Christ
8.Symbolism and symbolic interpretation.
9.End times prophecy
All of this is IMPOSSIBLE without the Holy Spirit
1st Corinthians 2.... The whole chapter.
Sometimes we speak about things that we do not understand.
Love builds up,pride puffs up.
I too have the Holy Spirit of the LORD
A good book on Biblical Interpretaion is;
How to understand your Bible
By: T.Norton Sterett
This man was a Christian in INDIA,this book breaks the Scriptures down according to the rules of language.
