Subject: Properly Interpreting the Bible |
Bible Note: GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION 1. "Golden Rule" If the plain sense makes common sense, seek no other sense. 2. "Contextual Rule" A text without a context is a pretext. 3. "Coherency Rule" The Bible is consistent on every subject to which it speaks. 4. "Guidance Rule" Clear passages on subjects will guide us to understand difficult passages. The best commentary on Scripture is Scripture. This is what is meant by the phrase "Analogy of Faith.” 5. "Audience Rule" Make distinctions concerning who is speaking and to whom they are speaking. 6. "Genre Rule" Interpret Scripture in the light of its literary style; i.e., respect the literary genre. 7. "Ground Rule" Interpret a passage grammatically before you interpret it theologically. (Remember, language is vital!) 8. "Cultural Rule" Let cultural context help, but it must not dictate. 9. "Revelatory Rule" The NT will throw light on the OT (progressive revelation). "OT is the NT concealed; NT is the OT revealed." (Hebrews 1:1-2) 10. "Propositional Rule"There is only ONE meaning to any text, although the text will have many applications. (2 Peter 1:20-21) |