Bible Question:
Serenetime: Did you know . . . "The text of Scripture can be understood when taken at face value, making allowances for obvious figures of speech, near/far interpretations, its context, and comparative passages of Scripture that harmonize with it, without contradiction." Hermeneutic 'Hermeneutic is the method of interpretation that one uses to study something written or spoken; it is how one understands the Scriptures. To have validity, one's hermeneutic must be consistent and without contradiction and must never be governed by a theological predisposition or school of thought. In other words, if hermeneutic is controlled by theology then the Bible can be twisted to say whatever that theology would have it say. 'By employing a face value method of interpretation, the reader of Scripture attempts to discover the normal, natural, customary sense of the text as it was intended by the Author/author (God/human) at the time that it was written. 'When a consistent hermeneutic is applied, the meaning of Scripture can be understood. Then, as A.W. Tozer put it, "When you find the truth of Scripture, that truth always stands in judgment of you; you never stand in judgment of it." 'TWO CONDITIONS FOR INTERPRETATION '1) Understand that we are working with English translations of texts originally written in other languages. '2) Scripture never contradicts Scripture. 'FIVE PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION '1) Seek to discover the Author/author's intended meaning. '2) All Scripture is to be taken in its proper context be it words, phrases, passages, chapters, books,etc. Remember, "a text taken out of context is a pretext." '3) All Scripture is to be compared with other Scripture. "The best interpreter of Scripture is other Scripture," said Martin Luther. '4) Determine the literal reference of figures of speech. '5) Recognize that many passages of Scripture, in both Testaments, have both near and far implications and applications. 'The text of Scripture can be understood when taken at face value, making allowances for obvious figures of speech, near/far interpretations, its context, and comparative passages of Scripture that harmonize with it, without contradiction. '"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)' (www.signministries.org/hermeneutic.htm) kalos |
Bible Answer: Kalos, I appreciate your efforts, but I percieve that you are using Apologetics, which is man created. There is a time to take the word at face value, and a time to take it back it to the original language when it was originally written. Yes, I agree that we should always read the whole chapter in order to get the full meaning. But also in this case I have done that and the meaning of Matt 12:31,32 is so. See, you can't use the so called Apologetics when it's convenient and change when it's not. You and other's have still to use scripture to back up this belief. Until that time, as far as I am concern that Judas was forgiven and I will see him in glory. Thanks, SERENETIME |