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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Properly Interpreting the Bible | Bible general Archive 3 | DocTrinsograce | 156916 | ||
The verbal plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures is a perspective that is at the roots of the Reformation. What this means is that God directed the writing of every single word in the original autographs, using and guiding the whole aspect of the life, mind, and times of the writer. We see this idea throughout the teachings of Christ and the apostles (see Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 3:2; Jude 17; Revelation 22:18-19; etc.). Paul bases an entire theological argument (Galatians 3:16) on whether a word in Genesis was plural or not! Therefore, I am going to post under this thread a series of guidelines for proper interpretation of Biblical text. The sources for this material is somewhat eclectic, primarily coming out of classes, lectures, theology books, and sermons that I've had the privilege to have heard or read. (If anyone is interested, the formal theological description of this discipline is "Historico-grammatical approach to exegetical work in hermeneutics." You can also find a great deal of discussion on this approach in what is called the "Antiochian School of Thought." Don't let the technical language throw you off, it is just a matter of vocabulary.) I would commend everyone to the Chicago Statement of Biblical Hermeneutics: http://www.origins.org/articles/00site_chicago.html Let me give you a good working definition of hermeneutics: The science (systematic approach) of properly interpreting the Bible as it was meant to be understood by those who wrote it." Every believer has the obligation to be a student (disciple) of Christ and an instructor of the teachings of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). It is my prayer, therefore, that we place the proper emphasis on the interpretation of Scripture that God intends us to have. |
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2 | Properly Interpreting the Bible | Bible general Archive 3 | DocTrinsograce | 157835 | ||
SOUND EXEGESIS OF PARABOLIC TEACHING Definition: A parable is a brief story drawn from human life or nature, not related to an actual event, but is true to life and, concerning the listeners, is given for the purpose of teaching a spiritual truth. CHARACTERISTICS OF PARABLES 1. Parables teach a truth using the technique of similarity or illustration. 2. Parables are usually very short, thus they are intended to be easily remembered. 3. Parables can be described as simultaneously very simple and very complex. 4. Parables use earthly things as teaching instruments. 5. Parables have only one primary point. 6. Parables typically have three parts: (1) the setting (cultural context); (2) a story; and (3) a spiritual application. 7. Parables are intended to teach faithful disciples. 8. Parables are intended to hide the truth from the disobedient. GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETTING PARABLES 1. Study the setting and the cultural background. 2. Read the story in its natural meaning. In other words, take it literally. 3. Determine the one central truth taught in the story. Learn to separate the unimportant details from the important issues. (Note that this isn't always an easy thing to do.) 4. Check to see if Jesus or other Scriptures interpret the parable for you. (Note: If Jesus gives an explanation, don't look any for another!) 5. Check to see if the interpretation or point of a parable is dealt with in a doctrinal section of the scriptures, particularly the epistles. 6. Check with good commentaries. (Note: Be sure to study the parable for yourself first. Don't become too dependent on commentaries. Instead, allow the Holy Spirit to teach you. But use the commentaries to verify that your interpretation is not too far off from what is understood by orthodoxy.) 7. Look for specific applications of the point of a parable to your own life. Apply what you discover to your life in a specific way. IMPORTANT NOTE: Solid interpretation must ALWAYS precede application. You cannot apply what you do not understand. |
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