Recognising that the Bible is the ONLY textbook recommended by the Holy One for use in this “school,” it is pertinent to learn certain things about Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics) – a very important but often neglected aspect of Bible-Study – so that we do not give the written Word a meaning other than the meaning intended by the Author. If you consider the multiplicity of contrasts in interpretations and applications of the Bible in several quarters of Christendom, and the heretical teachings and practices going on in the name of GOD, with ‘Bible backings’, you will appreciate the need better.
But before that, we need to establish some points. ONE: what is the Bible for? That the Bible claims divine inspiration is evident; but what is its intention? What is GOD's purpose for it? It is TO MAKE US WISE FOR SALVATION, AND FOR TEACHING, REBUKING, CORRECTING AND TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (2 Tim 3:15-16). The Biblical writings were written "to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Rom 15:4). This redemptive purpose of inspired Scripture is also the point of John 20:31: "These are written THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, AND THAT BY BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE in his name."
The story of Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian is also instructive here. The understanding and interpretation of the Isaiah passage have one purpose: "Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS" (Acts 8:35). That is the "what for," the purpose! Jesus did not recommend the Bible as a book of divinely-given facts about things in general (science, history, anthropology, cosmology, etc.) Rather, He pointed to the Old Testament (the existing scriptures then) and said: "These are the Scriptures that testify about me" (John 5:39).
THEREFORE, if our study of Scripture is isolated from these explicit purposes, our attempts to interpret rightly may prove futile. Article 6 of the 39 Articles of Religion puts it this way: “the Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” Our salvation, we must remember, is in three senses: past, present and future (see 2Cor. 1:10).
The SECOND point to establish is: the fact that the writers of our Biblical documents were inspired does not mean that they were stripped of their limitations in knowledge, memory or language as specific human beings in certain periods of history and certain cultural contexts and environments. GOD had to accommodate these human weaknesses and limitations in the inspiration of Scripture just like a school-teacher would condescend to the level of children when instructing them. GOD stooped down and spoke the language of the recipients so that they might hear and understand Him, and then communicate His mind to their audience or readers.
The THIRD point is that each of the writings of the Bible has its own nature, and was written with a particular purpose and audience in mind. So we must approach a writing bearing its nature in mind. For instance, some writings were simply reporting what happened whereas some others are prophecies. Again, the author of each book of Scripture had something in mind when he selected the words to use in writing. So, asking these questions: ‘who said this?’, ‘To whom?’, ‘On what occasion?’, ‘for what purpose?’ will be very helpful.
Therefore, recognizing among other things (1) the purpose for which the writers were inspired, (2) the limiting human form and context within which their inspiration took place and (3) what the original author intended to communicate when he wrote the words is very essential.
The last stage of interpretation, however, is that of moving from the world of the Bible into our modern world. That is application. Here we will have to be cautious. Some of the discussions and arguments Christians have had over the years were not issues in the days those scriptures were written. In some cases, scriptures will have nothing to say about such concerns; they may refuse to answer our questions. In other cases we may have to discover the principle that informed the author's reasoning and apply it to our modern situation.
The real danger in interpretation is in jumping too quickly into the modern situation. If we have not taken the time to grasp fully what the author of Scripture was trying to say, we will distort his message when we move into our modern period. But if we fully grasp it, we will be able to see where it applies, although it may even apply in a different place than we thought at first.
To be continued…
(Read the continuation here)
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