I would like to know how many would accept these rules of
Bible interpretation. Not that I am so arrogant that I will set
these rules. They are rules of Hermeneutics. This is the art
and science of explaining written documents or
deciphering the message of and author.
1. We should at all times endeavor to explain biblical
passages the same way that the author originally intended.
If he intended to relate history, or a parable, poetry and the
like. we must know if what was written was hyperbole, or
meant to be exaggerated. If it is poetry we must give it
poetic licensee.
2. We must have an objective rational method for
determining the use of words. If we dont we have non
experts making expert claims of what words mean. We
must have the etymological root of words and their
meanings. We must determine the value of comparative
philology of these words. That is the history of word usage.
We must understand the fact that words change meanings
over the years.
3. We must pay attention to the grammatical-historical
sense of passages. That is what a passage means in its
time, place and authorship. We must pay attention to
historical and grammatical context.
4. What scope or plan does the author reveal to us about his
writing? What does he show that the passage should relate
to? This folks is what we call CONTEXT
5. We must compare passages with passages. We must
interpret difficult passages with the light of clear passages.
6. We must strive to understand the figures of speech:
Imagery, metonymy, synecdoche, personification,
apostrophe, interrogation, hyperbole, irony, simile and
metaphor, fables, riddles, enigmas, parables allegories,
proverbs types and symbols and dreams.
Shweeew.....what did I just say anyway? To cool huh?
well did I just use hyperbole? or irony, simile, maybe
metaphor.
Whats a metaphor you ask?
Well nothings a metaphor me
Whatsa metaphor you.......I know, I know but with humor sometimes you gotta take a
chance.
Bible interpretation. Not that I am so arrogant that I will set
these rules. They are rules of Hermeneutics. This is the art
and science of explaining written documents or
deciphering the message of and author.
1. We should at all times endeavor to explain biblical
passages the same way that the author originally intended.
If he intended to relate history, or a parable, poetry and the
like. we must know if what was written was hyperbole, or
meant to be exaggerated. If it is poetry we must give it
poetic licensee.
2. We must have an objective rational method for
determining the use of words. If we dont we have non
experts making expert claims of what words mean. We
must have the etymological root of words and their
meanings. We must determine the value of comparative
philology of these words. That is the history of word usage.
We must understand the fact that words change meanings
over the years.
3. We must pay attention to the grammatical-historical
sense of passages. That is what a passage means in its
time, place and authorship. We must pay attention to
historical and grammatical context.
4. What scope or plan does the author reveal to us about his
writing? What does he show that the passage should relate
to? This folks is what we call CONTEXT
5. We must compare passages with passages. We must
interpret difficult passages with the light of clear passages.
6. We must strive to understand the figures of speech:
Imagery, metonymy, synecdoche, personification,
apostrophe, interrogation, hyperbole, irony, simile and
metaphor, fables, riddles, enigmas, parables allegories,
proverbs types and symbols and dreams.
Shweeew.....what did I just say anyway? To cool huh?
well did I just use hyperbole? or irony, simile, maybe
metaphor.
Whats a metaphor you ask?
Well nothings a metaphor me
Whatsa metaphor you.......I know, I know but with humor sometimes you gotta take a
chance.