Rules Of Hermeneutics

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RULES OF HERMENEUTICS


1. Every Bible passage has only one meaning (except some Prophecies that contain information about contemporary people as well as about Christ).

2. The most obvious meaning of any passage is usually correct.

3. The author's own explanation of a passage is obviously correct.

4. Scripture must be interpreted in harmony with the context.

5. Scripture must be interpreted in harmony with the environment of the author.

6. Scripture must be interpreted in harmony with other passages.

7. Obscure passages must be interpreted in harmony with clearer ones.

8. Scripture must be interpreted in harmony with idiomatic usage.

9. All passages on every subject should be studied.

10. Observe a proper balance ‑‑ do not over‑emphasize one part of a passage to the detriment of another part.

11. Rightly divide Covenants, Books, Dispensations, etc.

12. Rightly divide language: e.g.. Symbolic, Prophetic, and Literal language.

13. Know the meaning of words and sentences.

14. Know the limits of revelation. The Bible was not meant to be a scientific handbook or a complete history book.



Bible interpretation is for the purpose of letting God speak to man. God speaks through His word.

A. God's word must be approached with an open mind, in humility, with the idea to learn.

1. The student must keep himself busy with EXEGESIS, i.e. Getting out of God's word what God has put in there in the first place.

2. The student must guard most against EISEGESIS, i.e. Reading into God's word what you have already decided to believe.