Bible Interpretation I - Lesson 5
Introduction Continued
-
THE LAWS OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION (Continued)
-
The Law of Application
-
All scriptural is profitable for the believer (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
-
No scripture is fully understood until it means something to you
-
Tools: books by practical authors; for example, books on prayer by E. M. Bounds
-
See 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 and Romans 15:4
PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION
-
THE PRINCIPLE OF SCRIPTURAL DEFINING
-
Stated: Biblical Words or Phrases are Defined by Biblical Usage
-
Some Words are Plainly Defined in a Single Passage
-
Wisdom (Job 28:28; Proverbs 9:10; James 3:17)
-
Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23)
-
Messias (John 1:41)
-
Cephas (John 1:42)
-
Perfect (2 Timothy 3:17)
-
Full age (Hebrews 5:14)
-
Faith (Hebrews 11:1)
-
Candle of the Lord (Proverbs 20:27)
-
Parallel Phrasing Often Helps Define Words
-
Instruments of death (Psalm 7:13)
-
A ravenous bird (Isaiah 46:11)
-
Deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13; cp. Luke 9:23)
-
Context Provides Help in Defining Words
-
Elements
-
Of a legal system (Galatians 4:3,9)
-
Of material substance (2 Peter 3:10)
-
Church (1 Timothy 3:15, 4-5)
-
City (Hebrews 11:10,16)
-
Common Word Association Provides Clues as to Word Meaning
-
If the same word or phrase is found with a word in several different places, this may give a clue as to the meaning of the word in scripture
-
Examples
-
Longsuffering with forbearing (Romans 2:4; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12-13)
-
Power with authority (Luke 4:36; Luke 9:1; Luke 20:20; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 13:2)
-
Note: This kind of association does not mean that the words are identical; only that their meanings are somehow related. Their meanings must still be contrasted from one another in order to determine the entire definition.
-
Parallel Passages may Help to Define the Word
-
Parallel passages include:
-
Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament
-
Separate accounts of the same event (especially common in 1 Samuel - 2 Chronicles and in Matthew - John)
-
Near repetitions by the same author (Isaiah and Jeremiah have many examples)
-
Other similar passages
-
Examples
-
Tempt (Genesis 22:1 with Hebrews 11:17)
-
The finger of God (Luke 11:20 with Matthew 12:28)
-
The wisdom of God (Luke 11:49 with Matthew 23:34)
-
Christ (Acts 4:26 with Psalm 2:2)
-
Church (Hebrews 2:12 with Psalm 22:22)