RULES IN UNDERSTANDING LANGUAGE
II Timothy 3:16
"...all Scripture is... profitable for doctrine...." Doctrine is two-fold. To the Lord, doctrinal truth is one giant truth. Yet, to our minds, we divide it up into many particular Bible truths. The Bible does not treat doctrines one at a time. We learn the various parts progressively, as we find the ONE truth unraveled. So, to study doctrinal truth in the Bible, we need to realize, the Bible is a unified presentation of doctrine. Though Jeremiah may emphasize Gods judgment, and Hosea may emphasize Gods mercy, we are seeing unfolded, parts of one doctrinal truth. Truth may be hard for our finite minds to see and comprehend, but as we develop and gain an understanding of the ONE truth, we find that godliness is produced in us.
Rule one....
Scripture is explained by Scripture...
The Bible is its own best interpreter. But many are too lazy or apathetic to study the whole of Scripture. These lazy ones make interpretations based on what is heard, or taught by someone else.
II Peter 1:20
"No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation."
This tells us that we must find confirmation of any interpretation, by finding it in other parts of the Word of God. There is no doctrine that is to be based on only one passage of the Bible. If the interpretation has any merit, it should be found further explained elsewhere in the Bible.
II Corinthians 2:13
"...comparing spiritual things with spiritual..." This is further confirmation to what was just shown in the previous passage above.... Compare the parts of the truth taught, and when they harmonize and are confirmed by various passages, then we know we are properly interpreting Gods message.
II Timothy 3:15-17
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works... to make man wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
No doctrine can be considered Biblical, unless it harmonizes with all Scriptures about it. So, to take one passage, and get a different message from it, than the other passages that relate to the same concept, is poor hermeneutics. So, study the whole of the verses on the subject, and be sure your interpretation harmonizes all of the passages.
Rule two...
As much as possible, take the words in their usual sense.
This does not always mean literal, for many words are obviously figurative or symbolic. Sometimes, the setting of the phrase indicates the sense of the word.
For instance, faith ordinarily signifies confidence. Yet other meanings are possible. Galatians 1:23 now preaches the faith which once he (Paul) destroyed... There faith means belief or doctrine. In Romans 14:23, he that doubteth is damned, if he eat, because he eateth not of faith, and whatsoever is not of faith is sin." This shows that faith here means conviction.
The word salvation in Romans 13:11 Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed... refers to the coming of Christ. In Hebrews 2:3, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?, shows that it means revelation of the gospel.
Grace ordinarily means unmerited favor, as shown in Ephesians 2:8, by grace are ye saved through faith... Yet, in Acts 14:3, the Lord gave testimony of the word of grace shows it means preaching the gospel. In I Peter 1:13, hope to the end, for the grace that is brought unto you shows it is a blessedness. In Hebrews 13:9, Titus 2:1, it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, and not with meats... shows that it is speaking of the doctrine of the gospel.
The word flesh has many meanings. In Romans 3:20, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified... shows there is means a person. In Ezekiel 36:26, I will give you a heart of flesh shows there it means a disposition yielded and teachable. In Ephesians 2:3, we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of the flesh, shows there is means sensual desire. In I Timothy 3:16, God was manifest in the flesh, shows it means human form. Finally, if we look at Galatians 3:3, having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?, shows there it refers to ceremonies like circumcision.
The word blood can be used in various senses. In Matthew 27:25, His blood be on us..." shows that the word blood means guilt and its consequences. Yet, in Ephesians 1:7, we have redemption through His blood, showing blood to mean the sacrificial offering of Jesus.
We should take the words in their usual sense, but, as shown, sometimes we cannot. Therefore, we come to rule three...
Rule three...
Context determines the right interpretation
It is necessary to take the words in the sense in which the context indicates. The preceding and following words of what is being studied, must also be checked to see if we can determine what is meant.
For instance, Paul says (Ephesians 3:3-5) ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ." What is this mystery? If we look at the previous verses, and those that follow, we see that the mystery is the presentation of the gospel to the Gentiles, which had been a mystery not understood by Israel.
In Galatians 4:3, 9-11, we read when we were children in bondage, under the elements of the world... we can wonder to what elements refer... In the later verses, we find it refers to the practices of Jewish customs. The word elements could mean other things elsewhere, but the context determines the right interpretation.
At times an obscure word is cleared up by a word that has almost the same significance or a word opposite or contrary.
For instance, the word covenant in Galatians 3:15-18, is cleared up with the use of the word promise.
At times a word that expresses a general idea is to be taken in a more restrictive sense due to some special circumstance that the context determines.
For instance, in Luke 16:1-13, telling the parable of the deceitful steward, and this deceitfulness of the steward is not given as the good example, but only in the realm of his prudence, and that alone is the part to be praised in him, not his dishonest practices.
In John 9:3, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents... is not meant that they had never sinned, but Jesus is speaking in a restrictive sense to the question about his blindness, and the blindness was not a result of any sin of the family.
At times, only by context can one determine whether an expression should be taken literally or figuratively.
For instance, Jesus calls wine to be the blood of the new covenant. The context shows that this is figurative, for the context shows that He also calls it to be the fruit of the vine. (Matthew 26:27-29)
When Jesus says whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood hath eternal life... My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed..." (John 6:48-63). This is figurative, not literal, and means we should appropriate the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
In I Corinthians 3:5-15, Paul talks of laborers together" building with gold, silver, and precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble." The context shows that Paul is speaking figuratively, speaking of Christ s the foundation, and our works for Him as the building materials.
The context does tell us much to help us determine the meaning of many obscure passages. But, in amplification of this truth, we come to rule 4...
Rule 4...
The design of the book must be considered to understand the obscure words and phrases.
The design of a book is found by reading it, studying it repeatedly. When I wanted to do a study of Jeremiah, and later Ezekiel, and still later, Isaiah... I found that the reading of those books each, over and over.. cover to cover... till a pattern was noticed, the mood of the prophet was understood, the passions and message was not only understood, but felt... Then the design helped in understanding the obscure passages.
Sometimes the design of a book is spelled out in the book. Romans 15:4 = "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
Other designs are shown in II Timothy 3:16-17, John 20:31, II Peter 3:1-2, Proverbs 1:1,4.
Understanding the design of the book, helps us understand obscure passages within that book. For instance, Galatians and Colossians were written due to the error of the Judaizers trying to change doctrines. And John, his gospel and epistles, were written to confront gnosticism. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet needs read many times to sense his broken heart.
Paul says that a man is justified through faith without works (Romans 3:28). Yet, James says a man will have works if he has faith (James 2:24). When one looks at the design of each book, one will see that Paul is refuting those who think obeying the law with good works is the way of salvation. James is combating disorderly ones who say, I have faith, I can do unrighteous things..... Therefore, the design of each book, brings to light, that they were not in disagreement, but were speaking of errors to the opposite extremes.
In I John 3:9, whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin is understood by some to mean that a Christian is incapable of sin. But in checking the design of the book, and the nature of the original Greek verbs, we find that John is saying a Christian does not make a practice of sin. Christians have a repugnance toward sin, and though one may stumble into sin, to continue in sin is hated... And if one does, then the loss of that Christian position is lost.
Rule 5...
It is necessary to consult parallel passages.
Some passages elsewhere in the Bible deal with the same subject. The Bible is written not by different men, but different men wrote what the ONE Author had them write. Therefore, it should all harmonize. The parallel words, parallel ideas, and parallel teachings should be consulted to make each passage understandable.
Galatians 6:17 says I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus"... What are these marks? In II Corinthians 4:10, we read "bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus. This is further understood by reading II Corinthians 11:23-25, where we see that Paul was beaten five times with a whip, and three times with rods. The marks were made by such instruments, were similar to the wounds of Jesus, and Paul had received them due to His commitment to Jesus.
Galatians 3:27 says that those baptized were clothed with Christ. The parallel passages to check are Romans 13:13-14, and Colossians 3:12-14. One says that clothing with Christ is the setting aside of luxuries, quarrels, and envyings. The other says that clothing as adoption and practicing humility, meekness, and tolerance. So, baptism is a sign of giving up the worldly life and raised to new life adorning oneself in pure, moral garments of Christianity. (((See also I Peter 3:3-6.)))
Was Balaam a prophet? In Numbers 22, and 24, he seems to be. But in II Peter 2:15-16, and Jude 11, we see that he was a pretended prophet, inspired by greed. Revelation 2:14 shows that he was responsible for sins that cost Israel 23,000 lives.
Proverbs 16:4 says the Lord hath made all things for Himself yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." Did God make the ungodly to condemn them in judgment, as calvinists teach. NO!!! for a multitude of other passages teach otherwise. So, the correct interpretation of that passage is that all things will bring glory to God, and even when the wicked stand in judgment, it will show God to be the just God that He is.
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