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“The aim of good interpretation is not a uniqueness but to get at the ‘plain meaning of the text,’ the author’s intended meaning, that his readers would understand.” Gordon Fee
The Bible was written in the language of men & can be understood if we follow the proper rules of language.
When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, one usually seeks no other sense, lest it result in nonsense.” In other words, "take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, plain (literal) meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages & axiomatic (self-evident or unquestionable) & fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.” Dr. David L. Cooper, The Biblical Research Society
Example: John 16:29 His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking PLAINLY & are not using a FIGURE OF SPEECH.
Example: Matt 7:3 “Why do you complain about the splinter in your brother’s eye when you have a plank in your own eye?”
The use of figurative language here only enhances the plain meaning of the text. Even though this is figurative language, we have no trouble understanding what Jesus meant. His use of metaphors makes it even plainer, clearer.
Let Scripture interpret Scripture; Scripture best explains Scripture. In other words, the Scriptures must harmonize. The orthodox Christian view of the Bible is that it is not in error & does not contradict itself. Therefore when examining a passage we must approach it with an eye to what the whole Bible says about that topic.
It also includes that we should interpret difficult or seemingly confusing passages based on clear passages. (I Cor 14:33)
Understanding the Bible is not meant to be confusing or contentious but confirming what God actually said & what the writer of Scripture's meant in the culture, grammatical language & historical time in which it was written.
Let Scripture speak for itself. Neither add to it nor subtract from it. (Prov 30:4; Deut 4:2; 12:32) Let the Bible be your best commentary.
Example: Genesis 2:16,17 with Genesis 3:2,3--Can you figure out what Eve subtracted or left out of God's commandment? Can you figure out what she added to the commandment? That is what we are talking about. And the consequences we live with today.
Remember--one of the first interpreters of God's words was the serpent in the garden. Don't fall into his clever deceptions: quoting verses out of context, quoting partial verses & twisting them to mean something else, etc. (see Luke 4:1-14)
God says what He means & means what He says. This principle was driven home to me when a godly pastor told me when he did Bible study & had the group read the passage, he then asked, "What did the passage say? Inevitably, people would look up from the Scripture & give their opinion of what they thought it MEANT or meant to them. He would then say, "I didn't ask you what it meant or meant to you, I asked you what did it actually say." Then they would have to look down again & read it again & simply tell what it actually said. He smiled & said, "Now you are BEGINNING to do Bible study."
The Bible was written in the language of men & can be understood if we follow the proper rules of language.
When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, one usually seeks no other sense, lest it result in nonsense.” In other words, "take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, plain (literal) meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages & axiomatic (self-evident or unquestionable) & fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.” Dr. David L. Cooper, The Biblical Research Society
Example: John 16:29 His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking PLAINLY & are not using a FIGURE OF SPEECH.
Example: Matt 7:3 “Why do you complain about the splinter in your brother’s eye when you have a plank in your own eye?”
The use of figurative language here only enhances the plain meaning of the text. Even though this is figurative language, we have no trouble understanding what Jesus meant. His use of metaphors makes it even plainer, clearer.
Let Scripture interpret Scripture; Scripture best explains Scripture. In other words, the Scriptures must harmonize. The orthodox Christian view of the Bible is that it is not in error & does not contradict itself. Therefore when examining a passage we must approach it with an eye to what the whole Bible says about that topic.
It also includes that we should interpret difficult or seemingly confusing passages based on clear passages. (I Cor 14:33)
Understanding the Bible is not meant to be confusing or contentious but confirming what God actually said & what the writer of Scripture's meant in the culture, grammatical language & historical time in which it was written.
Let Scripture speak for itself. Neither add to it nor subtract from it. (Prov 30:4; Deut 4:2; 12:32) Let the Bible be your best commentary.
Example: Genesis 2:16,17 with Genesis 3:2,3--Can you figure out what Eve subtracted or left out of God's commandment? Can you figure out what she added to the commandment? That is what we are talking about. And the consequences we live with today.
Remember--one of the first interpreters of God's words was the serpent in the garden. Don't fall into his clever deceptions: quoting verses out of context, quoting partial verses & twisting them to mean something else, etc. (see Luke 4:1-14)
God says what He means & means what He says. This principle was driven home to me when a godly pastor told me when he did Bible study & had the group read the passage, he then asked, "What did the passage say? Inevitably, people would look up from the Scripture & give their opinion of what they thought it MEANT or meant to them. He would then say, "I didn't ask you what it meant or meant to you, I asked you what did it actually say." Then they would have to look down again & read it again & simply tell what it actually said. He smiled & said, "Now you are BEGINNING to do Bible study."
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