BARNABAS

FELLOWSHIP

Biblical Encouragement in the name of Jesus Christ

 

P.O. BOX 158

VICTOR, NY 14564

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERPRETING

THE BIBLE

 

 

Rev. Gene Mullen                                                        8/08        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERPRETING THE BIBLE

INTRODUCTION

Many of the controversies people have with the Bible comes down to their systems of interpretations. So the question is: What system of interpretation are you using? When two or more people disagree on an interpretation of Scripture, they should then be willing to examine

the systems they used. This course is based on what is commonly called the Grammatical-Historical system of interpretation.

 

It should be noted that many of the most important teachings of the Bible needs no interpretation. They clearly say what they mean. Examples are the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40),

the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17).

Anyone can read the Bible and understand the basic truths about God, sin, salvation and what it means to be a Christian. For the most difficult passages, we must apply principles that are consistent with the whole of Scripture.

It is also important to realize that we should take Scripture literally unless there is solid evidence to the contrary. For instance, when Jesus says He is the door or living water He is obviously using figures of speech. This will be covered more thoroughly later in this course.

 

Let us begin our study by understanding….

 

THE FOUNDATION – THE BIBLE’S AUTHORITY

 

THE BIBLE IS:

 

SUPERNATURAL God is supernatural. Scripture reveals the supernatural acts of God. We have no need to explain miracles naturally.

 

INSPIRED Literally God-breathed- II Timothy 3:16. Not dictated. God used human writers with their own writing style, in the context of their own culture and guarded their words. II Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”

 

 

INFALLIBLE Truth in all of its parts.

 

INERRANT Key word meaning without error. Wherever the Bible differs with man’s knowledge, man is always wrong.

COMPLETE There will be no more divine revelation until the second coming.

 

FINAL AUTHORITY FOR FAITH AND PRACTISE The Bible is the final authority for church government and spiritual life.

 

PROPOSITIONAL The Bible truths can be stated in clear and understandable words. Example: Obedience is the pathway to blessing. The Bible is not relative, that is, it does not mean one thing to one person and another thing to a different person.

 

POINT: Whenever people use words to describe the Bible, we need to know what is the definition of their words. For example some will say the Bible is inspired but not inerrant which means they have a different view of the word, inspired.

 

The time honored process to interpret the Bible is to use……………

 

THREE BASIC STEPS

 

1- OBSERVATION - WHAT DOES IT SAY?

The Lord not only inspired every word of Scripture without error in the original manuscripts, but He also inspired the grammar. That is, when He wrote a noun He meant for us to understand it as a noun. Ask yourself, what are the verbs? Are they past, present or future tense? What are the nouns, especially the subject of the passage?

EXAMPLE:

I Corinthians 11:27 “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” –( King James Version)

“Unworthily” is an adverb modifying the manner in which they took communion. If it was an adjective it would modify the people taking communion. This is why the some modern bible versions translate it this way: Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner… Paul was saying they were not taking communion with reverence. Paul did go on to say we must prepare ourselves spiritually in v.28-32 but emphasizes again the manner in v.33-34.

 

Ephesians 1:1-14- Look at all the actions in past tense by God on our behalf. “....blessed....chose...predestined...lavished...made known....” etc. Also look at the number of times the preposition “in” is used to show our position in Christ. The point is we can gain a lot of understanding from analyzing the grammar of a passage. Also,

everyone should agree on what it says. Don’t jump to what it means or how does it apply until you have made sure you know what it says.

 

If the understanding is not completely clear by studying what it says then consider step two the……………..

 

2-INTERPRETATION - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Many passages do not need interpretation because it means what it says. Example: Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Other passages have to be interpreted. The key is what principle of interpretation are you using to arrive at a meaning? And can that principle be applied uniformly across all Scripture

or are you applying it selectively? When two or more people disagree on an interpretation, they need to examine the principles they used to see if they are valid. For instance, the some insist you cannot understand the Bible unless you use their principles of interpretation. The principles that are used by Bible believing Christians are based on HISTORY AND GRAMMAR. History gives us the context and grammar gives us the same rules for interpreting Scripture as we use to interpret other writings. Some of the most common principles are listed on the next page. One thing to keep in mind is that God is not the author of confusion. This means there is only one true meaning of a passage but many applications. We may not agree on the correct

interpretation, but we should not confuse interpretation with application. Also, God is not the author of confusion. God does not intend for us to have more than one meaning of any passage. When we do, it is a reason to work harder to understand it.

 

Studying the Bible is not to be just an academic exercise but to let the Holy Spirit use it to change our lives.  Therefore, we must also consider step three, the………………………

 

3- APPLICATION - HOW DOES IT APPLY TO MY LIFE?

There may be as many applications of a biblical truth as there are people. Example: “......you must be born again.” John 3:7b Everyone must be saved but not everyone is saved in the same circumstances, or at the same age, or having the same reaction . Realize the Bible is God speaking to you and how you respond is the application to you. Every passage has only one true interpretation but as many applications as there are people.

 

These three steps: Observation, Interpretation and Application is a good beginning. Then we should also consider the………………

 

HISTORICAL PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION-

We will discuss five points.

 

No. 1. CULTURE

What did this passage mean to the people of that day?

Example: Genesis 15:8-21 was a method of sealing a covenant in ancient days. God used the practices of that day to convey divine truth so we can understand it by examining the culture of the people at the time it was written.

 

No. 2. HISTORY OF DOMINANT NATIONS AROUND ISRAEL

Example: The ten plagues of Exodus were against gods the Egyptians worshipped. God was showing His power over the false gods of Egypt.  God used other nations to punish Israel because they no longer trusted god but the nations in turn were later defeated.

Nations such as Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Rome Played key roles in Israel’s history.

 

No. 3. GEOGRAPHY

Example: “going up to Jerusalem” Luke 19:28 “After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem”.and “going...down to Jericho” Luke 10:30 ““A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho”  is because Jericho is along the Jordan river at the base of the mountain range and Jerusalem is at the top of the mountains. The road between was well-traveled but not safe for people traveling alone.  Understanding the geography helps us to understand the context of a passage.

 

No. 4. CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND OF A BOOK OF THE BIBLE

This information is generally given in a study Bible or a commentary and is helpful in understanding why a certain book was written. Consider the contrast between the two books of the New Testament

 

PHILIPPIANS AND GALATIANS

The author of both books was the Apostle Paul but he had different reasons for writing the two letters.

 

The approximate date was about 62 AD for Philippians and about 49 AD for Galatians. 

 

The author’s purpose or plan was to commend the Philippians which was why it was Paul’s friendliest letter and to rebuke the Galatians which was why it was Paul’s angriest letter

 

The audience was the Church at Philippi and the Church at Galatia.

 

The theme In Philippians was Joy in all circumstances because they were a faithful church and in Galatians it was Justification by faith because they had abandoned the basis of their salvation.

 

NOTES: The dates are not usually given in the Bible and are estimated by scholars.  Sometimes the author is not given but usually is. The audience to whom it is written is often mentioned. Each part of Scripture has an immediate audience and an ultimate audience. The ultimate audience of all Scripture is us. In the Old Testament the

immediate audience is the nation of Israel. In the examples above, the immediate audience is given in the books. The more we know about a particular book, the more we will understand it.

 

No. 5.  It is helpful to consult books that answer some the questions we discussed here including Bible dictionaries, concordances and study Bibles.

 

Along with the Historical Principles of Interpretation we should also take into account the….

 

GRAMMATICAL PRINCPLES OF INTERPRETATION

These may seem too technical for a new believer but as you work at understanding the Bible, you will see the value in using these principles.

 

1. WHAT/WHO ARE THE SUBJECTS? VERBS? OBJECTS? ETC.

Can you summarize the main thrust of the passage in one sentence?

Example: Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”

“God” is the subject. He is the focus of the chapter not creation.

“Created” is the action verb. God is the one doing it.

“Heavens and the earth” are the objects of God’s action.

POINT: The one who creates is always greater than what he creates. So, when we marvel at creation, we are even more amazed at the One who created it –God!

 

2. WHAT DO THE WORDS MEAN? - USE BIBLE DICTIONARY

Example: Love is a word that is often used in the Bible but in a different way that most people use it. To most people it is an emotion but in the Bible when we read of God’s love, it is an action involving sacrifice and unconditional commitment.

 

3. WHAT THEMES, CONTRASTS, TRANSITIONS AND DIVISIONS ARE GIVEN?

The Apostle Paul often starts his letters establishing doctrinal principles and then makes the transition with “therefore” to the practical applications of the principles. Examples: Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”  See also Romans 12:1; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 4:1; Colossians 3:1 Another example is when a particular word is repeated many times in a passage such as “glory” or “glorious” used 14 times in II Corinthians 3:7-18.

 

4. WHAT COMMANDS, PROMISES, WARNINGS, AND BLESSINGS ARE GIVEN?

Examples:

Command- James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Promise- John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

Warning- I John 4:1 “…do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits…”

Blessing- Hebrews 13:5- “….Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”.

 

Lastly we must realize that in certain passages there are…………….

 

SPECIAL PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION

Here we have listed eight principles.

We begin by understanding that….

No.1 SCRIPTURE INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE.

That which appears to be contradictory: love of God versus the wrath of God is really two sides of the same coin. When we understand how much God hates sin, then we can grasp how much God loves us to pour out His wrath for our sins on His Son. Other examples are the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man; the two natures of

Christ: Human and Divine, etc. We can only go as far as Scripture goes.  We have in the Bible  “…all we need for life and godliness..”

2 Peter 1:3.  There are some things that are beyond our understanding even in the physical realm much less the spiritual.

POINT: If we stress the love of God to the point where we deny His wrath, then we are twisting Scripture - John 3:36.

 

No.2 THE EXPLICIT INTERPRETS THE IMPLICIT.

That which is clearly stated overrides that which is implied.

Example: Acts 16:31 “They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household “ could to be taken to imply that if one member of a household gets saved, all the others are saved automatically. But John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’”  clearly states that no one enters the Kingdom of God unless he or she is born again.  Let us build our faith on clearly stated verses not those that are given meanings that deny explicit teachings.

 

No. 3. INTERPRET THE OLD TESTAMENT BY THE NEW TESTAMENT.

The Book of Hebrews puts the Old Testament into proper perspective. Even though, the Old Testament is accurate and historical it is also pointing toward the New Testament

with its many offices (priest, prophet and king), symbols (sacrificial lamb, covenants) and other means of preparing people for the coming Messiah which were fulfilled in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. Example: Hebrews chapter nine explains that Christ accomplished once for all what the Old Testament Tabernacle and Temple could only accomplish on a temporary basis.

 

No. 4. INTERPRET THE WORDS LITERALLY UNLESS IT IS OBVIOUSLY A LITERARY FORM SUCH AS LISTED BELOW:

A. Metaphor - Implied comparison between two things unlike each other:  “God is our rock.”

B. Simile - Comparison expressed with “like’ or “as”,

“His heart is hard as a stone”.

C. Personification - Writer speaks about but not to living things as though they were persons. “Let the floods clap their hands”

D. Hyperbole - Deliberate exaggeration.

E. Symbols - Use context and natural quality of symbols and note how Scripture uses them. “I am the Door”.

 

No. 5 INTERPRET PARABLES BY EXAMINING: SETTING, STORY & APPLICATION

 

Example Matthew 9:14, 15

Matthew 9:14, 15 “Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

SETTING: Question from John the Baptist’s disciples, Why doesn’t Jesus fast?

STORY: Coming of bridegroom is occasion for feasting and joy. Fast later.

APPLICATION: (not stated) Christ’s presence is a matter of joy.

 

Example: Luke 15:11-32

SETTING: Jesus was being criticized for associating with sinners. Jesus then told three parables, each with the same theme, and this one was the third.

STORY: A young man was not satisfied with his life on the farm and wanted his father to give him his inheritance so he could go to the big city and spend it. The father did and when the young man spent all of his money on partying, his friends deserted him and he was alone and penniless. After going hungry working on a pig farm, he realized being a servant to his father was better than what he could do on his own. He returned home, begged forgiveness and was warmly

welcomed by his loving father.

APPLICATION: V.32- Loving Father rejoices when of His own repents and is restored. Sometimes not all three elements are given.

 

KEY- parables usually have only one main point. Do not read too much into them.

 

No. 6. INTERPRET OLD TESTAMENT TYPES WITH NEW TESTAMENT ANTI-TYPES

They have a central point of comparison such as persons, events, object, places, institutions and offices.: “Christ is our Passover”, “Christ came as High Priest”.

 

No. 7. INTERPRETING PROPHECY:

LITERALLY - Isaiah 53:4, 5 “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we

considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our

transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us

peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

FIGURATIVELY - Psalm 118:22 “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;”

WITH TWO EVENTS IN VIEW (NEAR AND FAR) II Samuel 7

Near- David’s son, Solomon; Far- The Lord Jesus Christ. . “When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom…… Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever”

CONDITIONALLY - Deuteronomy chapter 28 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.

UNCONDITIONALLY - Genesis 17 “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”

 

No. 8 INTERPRETING HEBREW POETRY:

The main feature of Hebrew poetry is a rhythm of thought rather than of sound.

 

Parallelism  Psalm 27:1

“The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?”

 

Repetition – Psalm 119:105

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

 

Contrast - Proverbs 15:1

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

 

Addition - Psalm 14:1

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God”.

They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

 

This  has been a study that requires going over it time and again and especially to use when confronted with difficult passages.  Begin by asking the Holy Spirit who wrote Scripture to help you understand it and then work at it and seek help where necessary.  The Lord will bless you for it.

 

EXAMPLE OF USING INTERPRETATION TOOLS

 

John 4:1-26

The main point of the passage is easily understood but using some of the tools discussed above given additional insights  Consider the following helps:

 

GEOGRAPHY

V 3 and 4 speak of going from the province of Judea in the south to the province of Gaililee in the north through Samaria in the middle. 

V. 5 speaks of Sychar, a small village near Shechem, where Jacob bought land (Genesis 33:18,19).  This is the only place in Scripture which mentions the well.

 

HISTORY

V. 5 also mentions Jacob giving this land to Joseph (Genesis 48:21, 22).  Jacob was the Father of the 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of the Jews.  Joseph was one of the 12 sons.

 

CULTURE

The Jews who lived in Judea and Gaililee worshipped at the temple in Jerusalem but the Samaritans worshipped in their temple on Mount Gerizim in Samaria (V.20).  The Jews despised the Samaritans because they became a mixture of the Jewish faith and other religions.  This mixture took place as a result of the conquest of Samaria by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:24-41).   The Jews hated the Samaritans so much, they refused to travel through Samaria which is why Jesus’ presence there was a shock to the woman at the well (9).

In addition, she was a woman and an immoral one at that, which was even more amazing for Jesus to talk to her.

 

MEANING OF WORDS

V.23, 24 give God’s definition of the word, Worship which many people do not understand even today.

 

SYMBOLS

Water is necessary to sustain life.  Jesus is saying knowing Him and living for him is necessary for us to live spiritually and eternally (V.10-15).

 

MAJOR THEMES

1-Jesus does not look down on anyone.  His love is for all, even the outcasts of society.

2-Jesus confronts sin and offers forgiveness through faith in Him.

3-Jesus reveals Himself as God to those who seek Him.  Note the progression of understanding by the woman of who Jesus was:

          V.9- a Jew

          V.19- a prophet

          V.25-Messiah

4-The woman gave witness to her faith  (V.28-30).  The most unlikely people often are the most effective for the Lord (V.39-42)

John 4:1-26

The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, ² although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.

³ When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. ⁴ Now he had to go through Samaria. ⁵ So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.  ⁶ Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. ⁷ When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” ⁸ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) ⁹ The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. ) ¹⁰ Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”¹¹ “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?

¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?” ¹³ Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ¹⁵ The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” ¹⁶ He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” ¹⁷ “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. ¹⁸ The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”  ¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” ²¹ Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ²² You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. ²³ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” ²⁵ The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” ²⁶ Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”

 

 

 

CONCLUSION:

The challenge of Scripture is to draw as much out of a passage as we can without reading into it any of our own preconceived ideas.  It is not easy but very rewarding.