Basic Guidelines for Biblical Interpretation?

[Plan 9]

Here are a few I depend on, which are not listed in order of importance, and I consider them imperative:

1. The division of the Bible into chapters and verses is an entirely artificial; added to make it easier for us to find our way around, and these should be firmly ignored when reading.
2. If we must excerpt for discussion's sake, then we should include the entire passage for consideration of its meaning, and that passage may even be split up by a new chapter heading which will have to be ignored.
3. The teachings of Jeshua trump all others. The writings of Paul, et al. must be interpreted in the light of Yeshua's words; not the other way around.
4. The N.T. letters primarily address quite specific problems from which the recipients of those letters were suffering, and can only be rightly understood within the larger context of those problems.
5. When reading the N.T., always keep firmly in mind that Jeshua is Jewish.


Opinions? Thoughts? Rotten tomatoes?

 

[visionary]

Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little.....not all arguments in believer communities were discussed in the letters of Paul or handled directly by any prophet or apostle...Sometimes the situation that Paul is dealing with is not a question for today, like circumcision, but the spirit in which it was written is. In other words it takes a spiritual jew to get clearer picture of what Paul is saying. To the law and the testimonies, if they speak not according to the word it is because there is not light in them.

 

[Plan 9]

Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little.....not all arguments in believer communities were discussed in the letters of Paul or handled directly by any prophet or apostle...Sometimes the situation that Paul is dealing with is not a question for today, like circumcision, but the spirit in which it was written is. In other words it takes a spiritual jew to get clearer picture of what Paul is saying. To the law and the testimonies, if they speak not according to the word it is because there is not light in them.

You have a good point there, Visionary. The example that came to my mind when I read your post is Paul's half of the discussion of whether it is right to eat meat sold in the marketplace which was previously offered to idols.
Where I live, that's never going to come up. The question then becomes, what application could it possibly have for me?
Now, Visionary, it's easy to see that your post outlines what you consider basic: "be a spiritual Jew", and I couldn't agree more, supposing I understand you correctly, but it's not a basic for me; it's mighty advanced, in my case. LOL

 

[visionary]

With the Lord's leading comes the Lord's blessing...may He bless you and keep you until His return. In the Lord's own good time, it will all come together for you. The Lord providesbefore we knew we had needs. The very fact that you are here attests to that fact. Praise the Lord, it will all work out to the glory of the Lord.

 

[Plan 9]

Thank you for that reassurance. I ordinarily do believe that, but I was always slower off the mark than others I knew, and I'm getting slower all the time. LOL
If I may mix my metaphors, I plan to continue trudging through the tundra, perhaps now and then having to stop to camp, but never for too long, and never in the lee.

Where I think I'm way ahead is in the exemplary early teaching I received, which since reading posts on both this message board and another, I now see isn't the norm, more's the pity.

 

[koilias]

Here are a few I depend on, which are not listed in order of importance, and I consider them imperative:

1. The division of the Bible into chapters and verses is an entirely artificial; added to make it easier for us to find our way around, and these should be firmly ignored when reading.
2. If we must excerpt for discussion's sake, then we should include the entire passage for consideration of its meaning, and that passage may even be split up by a new chapter heading which will have to be ignored.
3. The teachings of Jeshua trump all others. The writings of Paul, et al. must be interpreted in the light of Yeshua's words; not the other way around.
4. The N.T. letters primarily address quite specific problems from which the recipients of those letters were suffering, and can only be rightly understood within the larger context of those problems.
5. When reading the N.T., always keep firmly in mind that Jeshua is Jewish.


Opinions? Thoughts? Rotten tomatoes?

Pretty good Planny!

Let me give you mine:

1) Find out the Hebrew meaning
2) Find out what the Rabbis say about that meaning (Oral Torah)
3) Figure out what Yeshua said about that meaning (Memra of G-d)
4) Discover why Yeshua is awesome!

 

[Plan 9]

Pretty good Planny!

Let me give you mine:

1) Find out the Hebrew meaning
2) Find out what the Rabbis say about that meaning (Oral Torah)
3) Figure out what Yeshua said about that meaning (Memra of G-d)
4) Discover why Yeshua is awesome!

I very much want to be able to add your guidelines to mine, Kiolias. If I could manage that, I know I would discover even more reasons why Yeshua is awesome than I now know, and that's why I'm here. I don't even know how to start implementing yours, though.

 

[schwartmrs]

All of the ideas here are valuable. I taught a class on this a couple of months ago. At the end of the class, I taught on verifying interpretations. I will post that portion here.


Verifying the Interpretation

The rule of thumb that the Bible uses to separate fact from fiction, is the rule of 2 or 3 witnesses. You will find that every principle in the Bible is repeated and restated many times in different ways. Since the Law says 2 or 3 witnesses, that is the yardstick that we use. If you cannot find corroborating scripture, you need to re-examine your interpretation.

Deut. 19:15

"A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.



Num 35:30

'If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.



Jesus’ application of this law to movements of God

Matt 18:15-17

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.



Jn. 8:13-18

So the Pharisees said to Him, "You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true." Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. "You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. "But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. "Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. "I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me."



Paul cites this law as authentication of his message

2Cor. 13:1-3

This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone



This law is set as the rule of justice in church discipline

1Tim. 5:19

Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.


In short, if you can only find it once in scripture, you are probably misinterpreting...check again.

Shade

 

[Flavius]

Here are a few I depend on, which are not listed in order of importance, and I consider them imperative:

1. The division of the Bible into chapters and verses is an entirely artificial; added to make it easier for us to find our way around, and these should be firmly ignored when reading.
2. If we must excerpt for discussion's sake, then we should include the entire passage for consideration of its meaning, and that passage may even be split up by a new chapter heading which will have to be ignored.
3. The teachings of Jeshua trump all others. The writings of Paul, et al. must be interpreted in the light of Yeshua's words; not the other way around.
4. The N.T. letters primarily address quite specific problems from which the recipients of those letters were suffering, and can only be rightly understood within the larger context of those problems.
5. When reading the N.T., always keep firmly in mind that Jeshua is Jewish.


Opinions? Thoughts? Rotten tomatoes?

The way we got our verse numbers and chapters was by an old monk who was sent to the roof of the world to seek G-d,As he road on his donkey everytime he hit a bump he ended a verse.

Actually if you study the numeroligy of the verses and chapters it's really weird because right in the center of the bible you can find the smallest chapter and the longest chapter.All the chapters before and after have the same number.Anyway,I have this written down somewhere and when i find it,it will freak u out.

 

[debi b]

from an article by Dr. John D. Garr
Even the most intense and profound subjective experiences must be judged by the written Word of G-d (II Peter 1:16-19). Study of the Word of G-d, then, with a view toward doing the Word, is an act of submission to the divine will, the essence of true worship.
When we pray, we speak with G-d; when we study, G-d speaks to us.

The decision to study G-d’s Word in order to do His Word is a meaningful act of submission and reverence–in short, it is worship.

Intense study is necessary to avoid the shame of inaccurately interpreting G-d’s Word. This is in keeping with David’s description of the righteous man:

"His delight is in the law (Torah) of the Lord;
and in his law (Torah) doth he meditate day and night"
Psalm 1:2

This is the vision that keeps G-d’s people from casting off restraint:

"He that keepeth the law (Torah), happy is he"
Proverbs 29:18

I couldn't have said it better!