| Interpretation
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Here we take our observations a step further and determine what passages mean.
Like most people, you have been taught a system of belief before you ever
studied God's Word. You may even have formed opinions of what the Bible teaches
before you carefully examined the Scriptures. As you learn to handle God's Word
accurately, you will be able to discern if what you believe is in agreement with
Scripture. If this is your desire and you come to the Word of God with a
teachable spirit, God will lead you and guide you into all truth. As you seek
to interpret the Bible accurately, the following guidelines will be helpful:
1. Remember that context rules. In other words, that which goes with the text.
To understand context, you must be familiar with the Word of God. If you lay
the solid foundation of observation, you will be prepared to consider each
verse in the light of:
- the surrounding verses
- the book in which it is found
- the entire Word of God
While you study, ask yourself if your interpretation is consistent with the
theme, purpose, and structure of the book in which it is found. Is it
consistent with other Scripture about the same subject, or is there a glaring
difference? Am I considering the historic and cultural context of what is
being said? Never take a passage out of context to make it say what you want
it to say. Discover what the author is saying, don't add to his meaning.
2. Always seek the full counsel of the Word of God. When you know God's Word,
you will not accept a teaching simply because someone has used 1 or 2
isolated verses to support it. These verses may have been taken out of
context or other important passages might have been overlooked. As you
become familiar with the whole counsel of God's Word, you will be able to
discern whether a teaching is biblical or not. Saturate yourself in the Word
of God, it is your safeguard against wrong doctrine.
3. Remember that Scripture will never contradict Scripture. The best
interpretation of Scripture is Scripture. Remember, all Scripture is
inspired by God, it is God-breathed. Therefore, Scripture will never
contradict itself. The Bible contains all the truth you will ever need for
any situation in life. Sometimes you may find it difficult to reconcile 2
seemingly contradictory truths taught in Scripture. An example of this would
be the sovereignty of God, and the responsibility of man. When 2 or more
truths that are clearly taught in the Word seem to be in conflict, remember
that we as humans have finite minds. Don't take a teaching to an extreme
that God doesn't. Simply humble your heart in faith and believe what God
says, even if you can't fully understand or reconcile it at the moment.
4. Don't base your convictions on an obscure passage of Scripture. Because
these passages are difficult to understand even when proper principles of
interpretation are used, they should not be used as a basis for establishing
doctrine.
5. Interpret Scripture literally. The Bible is not a book of mysticism. God
spoke to us that we might know truth. Therefore, take the Word of God at
face value - in its natural, normal sense. Look first for the clear
teaching of Scripture, not a hidden meaning. Understand and recognize
figures of speech and interpret them accordingly.
a.) Figures of speech -
1. Identify the fact that the author is using figurative language.
2. Identify the type of figurative language:
Simile - expressed comparison of 2 different things or ideas -
"His eyes were like a flame of fire" Revelation 1:14b
Metaphor - implied comparison between 2 things which are different -
"I am the Bread of Life" John 6:48
Hyperbole - deliberate exaggeration for effect or emphasis. These are
found in all languages, but are frequent among Semitic
peoples. "My soul is crushed with longing" Psalm 119:20
Metonymy - when the name of one object or concept is used for that of
another to which it is related. This is a figure of
association. "All the country of Judea was going out to
Him." The metonymy is Country, which refers to the people
rather than the region itself. Note also the hyperbole,
*All* the country.
Synecdoche - another figure of association where the whole can refer
to part or the part to the whole. This is often found in
the use of the term "the law" which can refer to the
Pentateuch (first 5 books of OT), the 10 Commandments,
or the whole OT. A synecdoche can also be a singular for
a plural or a plural for a singular. An example is in
Jeremiah 25:29. God says He is going to summon "a
sword against all the inhabitants of the earth." The
singular sword represents many swords.
Personification - an object is given characteristics or attributes
that belong to people - for example, when the trees clap
their hands and the mountains sing for joy (Isaiah 55:12).
Irony - a statement which says the opposite of what is meant and is
used for emphasis or effect. When irony is difficult to
discern, first examine that it is a true statement as it
stands and does it make sense in its context. Then examine
it as figurative irony. If this makes sense and fits with
the context, then accept it as irony. Otherwise, it is the
truth. Examples of irony are in 1 Kings 22:1-23 and
1 Corinthians 4:8. In 1 Kings 22:1-23, a true prophet tells
the king what he wants to hear, but it is a lie. It's
obvious he is using irony because the king tells him to stop
prophesying falsely and to tell the truth. In 1 Corinthians
4:8, Paul obviously does not believe the Corinthians are not
kings, nor does Paul desire to reign with them.
Parables - a story that may not be actually factual, remains true to
life and teaches a moral lesson or truth. Jesus used this
method to reveal truths to believers and hide truth from
those who rejected Him or the truth, or hardened their
hearts against Him or that truth. Determine why the parable
was told, look for the intended meaning, don't impose your
meaning beyond what is stated, identify the central or
focal idea, interpret in the context of the culture of that
era, and do not use them for establishing doctrine when they
are the primary or only source for that teaching.
Allegory - a description of one thing using the image of another - a
story with an underlying meaning different from the surface
facts of the story itself. Some call this an extended
metaphor, and it can be a realistic or nonrealistic story
created to teach 1 or more truths which may not be related.
When interpreting, list the features of the allegory, note any
interpretation given in the text, study the features
according to sound principles of Biblical exegesis, do not
try to identify all the features of an allegory. Do not
contradict the clear teaching of the Word of God by
interpreting an unexplained detail in an allegory in a way
contrary to other truths.
Types - a prophetic symbol designated by God. The word type comes from
the Greek word tupos. A tupos was a mark formed by a blow or
an impression, creating a figure or an image on the object that
was struck. Therefore, a type prefigures something or someone
to come. That which it prefigures is called an antitype. A
type prefigures only one antitype, although it may parallel many
points in the antitype. An illustration of this is the
tabernacle, a type of man's redemption. According to Hebrews
10:20, the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of
holies prefigured the flesh of Jesus Christ. When determining
types, although it may not be formally stated, there should be
some evidence of divine affirmation of the corresponding type
and antitype. For example, Romans 5:14 we read, "Nevertheless
death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had
not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a
type of Him who was to come." The word translated type is the
Greek word tupos. Adam was a type or figure of Christ, who was
to come. In 1 Corinthians 15:45, Christ is referred to as "the
last Adam." If the Word does not designate something as a type,
then the Bible expositor should simply show the parallels
without calling it a type.
Symbols - a picture or an object that stands for or represents another
thing. For example, the 7 candlesticks mentioned in Revelation
1:20 represent the 7 churches described in Revelation 2-3. When
noting symbols it is important to remember that:
a.) Item used as a symbol can symbolize different things. For
example, Water is symbolized to be the Word of God
(Ephesians 5:26) and the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39).
b.) Although a symbol can represent many things, when it does
symbolize something in a given passage, a single parallel
is intended. For instance, in John 7:37-39 water
symbolizes the Holy Spirit, not the Word.
c.) Interpret symbols in the light of a Biblical setting and
culture rather than the culture of the current interpreter.
d.) Symbols are timeless and can symbolize something past,
present, or future.
3. Follow the guidelines of interpreting what the author meant by his use
of that particular figure of speech.
5. (continued)
Consider what is being said in the light of its literary style. For example,
you will find more similes and metaphors in a poetical and prophetic
literature than in historical or biographical books. Interpret portions of
Scripture according to their literary style. Some literary styles in the
Bible are:
- Historical > Acts
- Prophetic > Revelation
- Biographical > Luke
- Didactic (teaching) > Romans
- Poetic > Psalms
- Epistle (letter) > 2 Timothy
- Proverbial > Proverbs
6. Look for the single meaning of the passage. Always try to understand what
the author had in mind when you interpret a portion of the Bible. Don't twist
verses to support a meaning that is not clearly taught. Unless the author of a
particular book indicates that there is another meaning to what he says, let the
passage speak for itself.
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