GENERAL LAWS OF HERMENEUTICS … Interpreting The Bible

GENERAL LAWS OF HERMENEUTICS … Interpreting The Bible

“Confusion reigns over the realm of Christendom today, and it is without doubt that Satan is using this to keep the “minds of them which believe not” blinded from the truth of the Gospel. Indeed, most Christians themselves are ignorant of “the whole counsel of God”, especially as it relates to Church truth. Much of this confusion stems from faulty interpretation of the Word of God. Many differences over doctrine are rooted in the method of Biblical interpretation employed; thus it is extremely important to be grounded in the basic principles of hermeneutics.

I. THE GOLDEN RULE OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION
Of all the principles of hermeneutics, this one rule stands supreme:
“Interpret Scripture with Scripture.”
This is the meaning of II Peter 1:20b — “…no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” In other words, a passage of the Bible is to be interpreted by comparing (I Corinthians 2:13d) it with other parts of the Bible.
Scripture is its own interpreter!

A. Private Interpretation Of Scripture.

1. A private interpretation is one whereby a Scripture passage is ‘isolated’ (kept private) from, and interpreted without, any reference to the rest of the Bible.
   e.g. Interpreting John 16:23 privately could easily lead to a “nameit, claim-it” teaching, whereby all a Christian need do to receive anything he wants is ask for it in Jesus’ Name. Comparing Scripture with Scripture, however, shows that prayer is conditional, and to ask in Jesus’ Name means to ask according to His will (I John 5:14,15), to ask by faith —that is, according to the Word of God — (James 1:6), and to ask as one who is abiding in Christ (John 15:7), etc.
2. A private interpretation is one whereby the interpreter himself establishes the meaning of a Scripture according to his own definition. Such an interpretation is very likely to reflect the denominational, traditional, or philosophical bias of the interpreter. e.g. John 3:5 — “Except a man be born of water…”
   A common private interpretation of this passage is that baptism is essential for salvation. That is the position of Catholics, Campbellites, and many Protestants.” … continued in the book!
   

Prepared By Robert J. Sargent “A Comprehensive Study in HERMENEUTICS, BIBLE STUDY METHODS & EXPOSITORY TEACHING” Page 91, 1994.

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