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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Do not aim to spiritualize every passage | Acts 17:11 | kalos | 163830 | ||
Do not aim to spiritualize every passage "Beware of mystical and ingenious refinement; do not aim to spiritualize every passage. Real spirituality and fanciful spirituality are different things. The former is real, deep, sublime, and satisfactory, the latter is ideal, shallow, specious and delusive. "Seek the literal before the spiritual meaning." ____________________ Rules For Reading The Bible (Quoted from an article at The Bereans Apologetics Research Ministry) The following Rules of Interpretation and Practical Rules were taken from Smith's Bible Dictionary, Revised Edition (Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville) that was compiled from Dr. William Smith's Dictionary of the Bible (pp. 483-484). I. Rules of Interpretation 1. Put yourself, as it were, in the times, places, and circumstances of the sacred writers. 2. Form as correct a view as you can of the geography of the Scripture, of the simplicity of ancient manners, of the arts and habits that existed in those times. The Psalms abound with allusions to hunting wild beasts. many passages in Job are clear to him who has a correct view of judicial matters. 3. Ascertan, as far as it is possible, the plain, literal and primary meaning of the scripture. Exercise sound common sense. A right use of reason will supersede much criticism, and prove a valuable substitute for it. 4. Beware of mystical and ingenious refinement; do not aim to spiritualize every passage. Real spirituality and fanciful spirituality are different things. The former is real, deep, sublime, and satisfactory, the latter is ideal, shallow, specious and delusive. 5. Seek the literal before the spiritual meaning. 6. The true spiritual sense of a passage is that which is to be most highly esteemed. 7. Avoid ingenious conceits and far-fetched interpretations. 8. Make all allowance for idiomatical and figurative diction, especially when an absurdity would follow from adhering to the literal sense. 9. Always distinguish between plain and figurative language. 10. Never press a metaphor too far. 11. Carefully consider the context before you draw a conclusion from a separate passage. 12. Carefully consider the circumstances of a passage as far as you can; that is, the occasion of it, to whom it was written, by whom it was written, and with what design. 13. Compare spiritual things with spiritual. Never be weary of referring to what are called parallel passages; that is, to illustrate passages: for Scripture is the best interpreter of Scripture. 14. Explain what is difficult by what is plain and easy. 15. Never expect fully to understand all things in the Scriptures; yet remember that wise, humble, devout, and persevering study will be always adding something to our knowledge. 16. When words and phrases are of doubtful meaning consider them well. 17. Do not always fix the same meaning to the same word, for the same word is frequently used in Scripture in various senses. 18. Endeavor to form clear and distinct ideas of the great and peculiar words of Scripture, such as faith, repentance, redemption, justification, sanctification, grace, righteousness, etc. [N. B. -- It is to be deeply lamented that there is so little agreement among serious Christians about the ideas to be attached to such words. In vain do we look for peace and unanimity among Christians, while the sacred vocabulary remains so undefined as it is at present.] 19. Consider (see 12) the character of a writer, the state and character of those whom he wrote, the errors which he opposed, the truths which he inculcated and established. 20. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old. Carefully compare them with each other... ____________________ To read more go to: www.thebereans.net/ref-bibrules.shtml |
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2 | Do not aim to spiritualize every passage | Acts 17:11 | kalos | 163854 | ||
"This verse means to me...." ____________________ "Avoid adlibbing in Bible interpretation. Avoid free wheeling in Bible interpretation." ____________________ 'Avoid superficial interpretation...avoid superficial interpretation. One of the common problems in interpreting the Bible is this little phrase, "This verse means to me...." so forth and so forth and so forth. Let me tell you something. It doesn't matter what it means to you, the question is what would it mean if you didn't live? What would it mean if you didn't exist? What does it mean period is the issue, not what does it mean to you. 'Sometimes you'll hear people get together and supposedly have a Bible study which is little more than a pooling of ignorance. People say, "Well, I look at this verse and I feel this verse is saying..." It doesn't matter what you feel. That has nothing to do with it. It's not a matter of how you feel about the verse, it's not a matter of what you think it means to you. Avoid adlibbing in Bible interpretation. Avoid free wheeling in Bible interpretation. Haphazard handling of God's Word. 'We all want to acknowledge the priesthood of the believer...yes, we all want to acknowledge that we have anointing from God, the Spirit of God who dwells within us and the Spirit of God who dwells within us is the teacher who teaches us. We all want to acknowledge that. But that is not justification for flippancy dealing with Scripture. That's why in 1 Timothy 5:17 it says, "The elders who work hard in the Scripture are worthy of double honor." It is hard work. 'Avoid superficial interpretation. Avoid "this means to me." That is not a statement that should preface any interpretation of Scripture. The question is, what does it mean if you don't exist? What did it mean before you were born? And what will it mean after you're dead? What does it mean to people who will never meet you? What does it mean period, is the issue' (www.gty.org). __________ www.biblebb.com/files/macqa/70-19-6.htm |
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