Rules
for Bible Interpretation
Definition of Interpretation:
"To interpret we must in every case reproduce the sense the
scriptural writer intended for his own words." Walter C. Kaiser
- Interpret the Text literally.
Narrative and discourse need to be taken in their literal
sense. Exception: In case of figurative language ("Lamb
of God") the literal sense needs to be abandoned.
- Interpret the Text in the Light of its Context.
Rom 13:8 "Owe no one anything," taken out of context may
refer to a prohibition of taking out loans.
- Consider the
History and Culture behind the Text.
- Knowledge of culture and history may provide a deeper
understanding of the text (cf. the role of Samaritans
in 1st century Judaism).
- A timeless principle may be applied into a certain
cultural situation of the first Christians. For us only
the principle, not its cultural application is binding
(1Cor 11:2-16; Acts 15:1-35).
- Interpret with
Theological Consistency.
- Individual passages
have to be put into the context of general biblical
teaching (cf. Lk 18; 1Tim 6:17).
- Clear passages
explain the difficult ones.
- Didactic texts
explain descriptive texts (cf. Monogamy vs. Polygamy).
The Bible does not endorse everything it reports.
- The New Testament
explains the Old Testament (Lk 24:27; Mt 5:17).
- The epistles
shed light on the gospels (Mt 5:39; John 18:23; Rom
12).
- Incidental references
are to be interpreted in light of systematic teachings
(1Cor 15:29).
Some Common Errors in Interpretation
Personalizing: Assuming that any or all parts of the
Bible apply to you or your group in a way that they do not apply
to everyone else. "What Balaam's donkey says to me is that I
talk too much."
Spiritualizing: Assuming that events or factors have
their real application in some religious truth beyond what they
actually say. "The lovely structure of the Jerusalem temple
encourages us to have our own lives well in order."
Moralizing: Assuming that principles for living can be
derived from all passages. "The Egyptians drowned at the Red
Sea because they had vacillated. You can’t vacillate and expect
to succeed in this life."
Allegorizing: Assuming that the components of a passage
have meaning only as symbols of Christian truths. "In the Song
of Songs the ‘lover’ is Christ; the ‘beloved’ is the Church;
the ‘daughters of Jerusalem’ are the Scriptures."
Genre Confusion: Assuming that the interpretational rules
for one genre apply to another. "Jesus’ parable of the workers
in the vineyard contains seven helpful perspectives on the value
of hard work."
Argument from Silence: Assuming that everything relevant
to an issue is mentioned in the Bible every time that issue
is mentioned. "Notice that Jesus talked about sexuality, but
he never spoke against homosexuality."
Israel - Church Confusion: Assuming that things that
apply to biblical Israel also apply to the church. "We can learn
how to discipline troublesome kids from this law about stoning
disobedient children."
Figure of Speech confusion: Failure to understand any
of the non-literal expressions in human speech, especially metaphors.
"Imagine the massive scale of Canaanite dairy farming and beekeeping
that led Canaan’s being called a land flowing with milk and
honey."
Equating OT and NT: Assuming that OT laws apply to NT
Christians except for sacrificial orders. "Deut 22:5 says ‘A
woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on
a woman’s clothing.’ Therefore women are not allowed to wear
trousers." Gal 3:23-25 (cf. Heb 8:6,7,13; 9:10; 10:9-10) clearly
states that NT Christians are free from the law, but not from
its moral implications, which are summed up in the command to
love God and the neighbor (Gal 5:14,23; Rom 13:8; Mat 5:17).
The NT Christian is not obliged (Col 2:16) to keep the OT regulations
in general but only their moral underlying principles. In Deut
22:5 the underlying moral principle is God’s prohibition of
transsexualism.
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