Interpreting The Bible, The Bible's Way
Much on this page and subsequent
section of LCM were taken from my book;
Apollo's Revival
By Walter Robinson II
©Copyrighted 1997
®All Rights Reserved
Quick Index To Topics On This Page
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The Word of God is an Inspired and Completed Whole
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The Word of God is Singular in Interpretation
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The
Word of God in Proper Context
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The Biblical Command to Labor Over the Word of God
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The Consequences of Shallow Interpretation
Also see the following related articles:
The
Word of God is an Inspired and Completed Whole
As a biblical Christian, I
believe the Bible is the true and literal Word of God that has been revealed to
mankind. I also believe it can fully equip every believer to deal with every
spiritual concern in life.
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. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Due to the information explosion taking place in the
closing decades of the 20th century, there are many excellent tools
currently available to believers who desire to gain in-depth understanding of
God’s word. This includes readily available books, CD-ROMs, and computerized
access to hundreds of on-line databases and reference materials. This same media
also makes it possible for many to study various languages, including the
ancient Hebrew and Koiné Greek. They are the languages in which the Christian
Bible was originally penned.
However, the believer must always be vigilant to remember
the ultimate rule for all true understanding. Truth must be based upon the
written word of God -- not history or science. Unlike the Word of God, the
latter two are continually being revised due to new discoveries being made every
day. Thus, they exist in a continual state of flux.
If one believes the Bible as penned in the original
manuscripts is what it claims to be, then one must also believe it is never
subject to revision. It is immutable because its divine revelation is complete
and perfect just as its Divine author. The following passages substantiate this
claim;
-
For
ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
(Psalms 119:89)
-
For
I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye
sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6)
-
God,
who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers
by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by
whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:1-2)
-
Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. (Hebrews 13:8–9)
-
That
ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy
prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
(2 Peter 3:2)
-
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints. (Jude 1:3)
Hebrews 1:1–2 above says in “these last days” God has
“spoken” to believers by His Son. Spoken is in the aorist tense and the
indicative mood. This denotes something that took place at some given point in
time past, not an ongoing action that continues through the present.
In 2 Peter 3:2 believers are commanded to be mindful of the
words that were “spoken before” by the prophets and as directed through the
apostles of the Lord Jesus. Since the passage is referring to words previously
spoken, it is referring to words preserved in a written record. According
to this passage the only divinely designated conduits for God’s word were the
prophets and also the apostles who had personally seen Jesus Christ in His
resurrected body. There were no provisions for anyone else.
Likewise, Jude 1:3 says the “faith,” as embodied in the
written word, has been “once delivered.” This expression also denotes an action
that was completed and ceased in the past.
Thus, God’s word claims
to be both complete and finished. This means divine revelation was finished when
the last book was penned by the last living apostle to have seen Jesus Christ.
This would have been the Apostle John whom God used to pen the Book of
Revelation in the closing decade of the first century.
In referring to believers not seeing the resurrected Savior
anymore today, Acts 3:21 indicates that heaven must “receive,” or literally
take hold of Jesus until the time of the restoration. The restoration
refers to the 1,000 year personal reign of Jesus Christ on Earth as foretold in
Revelation 20:1–7.
In 2 Corinthians 5:16, Paul -- in speaking of himself and
others in the plural -- said that even he had once known Jesus after the flesh.
However, they “henceforth” -- or from that point on -- no longer did so. In
other words, there had once been a time when Jesus had previously graced His
apostles by His fleshly and bodily resurrected personal presence. (See Luke
24:39 and John 2:19–22.) However, Paul acknowledged that such divine visits were
coming to an end even in his day.
Notwithstanding, it is
necessary to qualify that which has been stated above by saying the following.
Even though the revelation of the Word of God is complete and no longer in
progress, the written word indicates that God is still granting divinely
imparted understanding of what He has revealed. This occurs by the Spirit of God
imparting understanding to each believer who is hungering and thirsting after
righteousness.
Now we have
received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we
might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which
the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians
2:12-13)
“Freely given” is translated from the Greek expression
charisthenta (carisqevnta)
which is a passive participle in the aorist tense. The Holy Spirit could have
used the imperfect or present tense here; yet, He did not. Again, the aorist
tense simply denotes an action that took place at a given point in time. It does
not refer to an ongoing linear activity.
The proceeding passage does indicate the Spirit of God has
an ongoing involvement in helping believers to “know” those things that have
been “freely given.” In the same train of thought, consider the following;
But the anointing
which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach
you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and
is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27)
Therefore, divinely
inspired revelation of God’s word ceased with the death of the last apostle to
have seen the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, divinely imparted
understanding continues to be revealed in the heart of every searching believer
even today.
The Word
of God is Singular in Interpretation
Real truth from the Word of God is not that which
comes by one person reading and getting one understanding, while another reads
it and gets something different. Truth is gained from the Word of God just as it
was actually revealed. That is, understanding is not a matter of any one
person’s private (one’s unique or personal) interpretation;
Knowing this first, that no
prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy
came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:20–21)
This means the Spirit of God meticulously guided and
oversaw the communication of God’s word to mankind. Yes, men were used to convey
the Divine oracles. Yet, God directly supervised the process until the
completion of the final product.
The written Word of God
also states that the same supernatural aid is required for mankind to truly
comprehend it. Consider one of the previously shared passages in its full
context;
But as it is
written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart
of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But
God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth
all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the
things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things
of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received,
not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know
the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things
also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But
the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:9-14)
There is only one real Teacher to mankind, the Holy
Spirit of God. God does empower and work through some as pastors and teachers.
(Ephesians 4:11-12) But God is still the Teacher.
There is only one
Teacher, and He never changes according to Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8, also
shared earlier. Therefore, each individual taught by Him will all get the same
truth in understanding any given portion of God’s word. Even though personal
applications may vary, the underlying basic truth revealed will remain
consistent with all properly prepared to receive it.
The Word of God in
Proper Context
The written word of
God must be read and considered in the full context in which it was originally
communicated.
Literal or Allegorical
Among other things, this means one must read and consider what the text
in its plain sense (or
literally) means according to the context, as opposed to what it could
mean in symbolic or allegorical terms.
His disciples
said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now
are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should
ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered
them, Do ye now believe? (John 16:29–31)
“Plainly” denotes
straightforward bold speech, as opposed to “proverb,” which literally indicates
a “way side saying” or figurative discourse. Thus, the passage demonstrates the
difference between literal and allegorical, or spiritual expression. It also
shows that it is important for the believer not to confuse the two.
The following passage has already
been shared twice. However, it also speaks about the importance of
distinguishing between literal and spiritual interpretation;
Now we have
received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we
might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also
we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13)
“Comparing spiritual
things with spiritual” calls for a vigilant attitude in limiting spiritual
expressions to spiritual applications. The same is also true for literal
expressions. It seems nearly all—if not all—errors in biblical
understanding can be traced back to someone who failed to observe this
biblical guideline. I will demonstrate this further in chapters 8 and 9.
Considering the Original
Texts
In addition to literal
interpretation, one must also consider the historical background from which the
text was originally communicated. This means as much as possible one must
consider the original text, idioms, customs, and the philosophical and
religious concepts that were common in any given locale.
At least eleven times in eleven different verses in the New
Testament alone, the phrase “being interpreted” or “by interpretation” has been
rendered from the original Greek language;
-
“being interpreted” Matthew 1:23, Mark 5:41, Mark
15:22, Mark 15:34, John 1:38, John 1:41, and Acts 4:36
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“by interpretation” John 1:42, John 9:7, Acts 9:36, and Acts 13:8
In addition to the
above, there is also an example in the Old Testament that shows the Hebrew
manuscripts were also interpreted, when necessary, by those familiar with it;
So they read in
the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them
to understand the reading. (Nehemiah 8:8)
In the era to which Nehemiah refers, most of the Jewish
multitude had spent 70 years in Babylon in a Chaldean culture and speaking the
Chaldean language. Even part of the Book of Daniel reflected the Babylonian
cultural and linguistic effects upon the Jewish people as a whole, in that part
of it was actually penned in the Chaldean tongue.
Thus, the Law (the
Torah) was interpreted by those familiar with it. This helped the
Chaldean-speaking Jews to properly understand and relate to it when they heard
it for the first time.
In Nehemiah’s day his people’s culture and language had
been separated in time from the language of the original manuscripts for only
70 years. Today some translations use language that is over 400 years old. But
even more disturbing, we are separated from the languages of the original
manuscripts by some 1,900–3,400 years. Consequently, how can today’s
Bible teachers expect to convey the full and accurate understanding of the
Scriptures without also considering the original languages after the example set
forth by those in Nehemiah’s time?
Yes, Nehemiah is Old Testament. However, consider what God
said about the history divinely recorded there;
For whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
The interpretation in
Nehemiah’s day would have included word-for-word translation. It would also have
included the explanation of any idioms and customs the Jews had not
observed since the Jewish captivity had begun, which occurred when Israel came
under the rule of the Babylonian empire some 70 years earlier.
The Biblical Command to
Labor
Over the Word of God
This approach to studying and teaching the Word of
God does require much work on behalf of pastors, teachers, and all other
students. Nevertheless, the approach is indeed biblical.
Paul actually commanded believers to labor in the
Word of God. Consider the following instruction given to Timothy;
Study to show
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
The original passage translated above actually denotes
someone meticulously working to produce a straight product. This rules
out dull, shoddy, or shallow hermeneutics (i.e., interpretation) where
one allegorizes at will to make passages fit their theology. Instead the
believer is commanded to be diligent to arrive at the original divinely conveyed
thought, and then form their theology accordingly.
Consequently, God has
commanded all charged with teaching His word to labor at obtaining the sharpest
interpretation of the original as possible. A disciple of Jesus Christ cannot
approach the Word of God in a superficial cafeteria-styled manner and expect to
come away with full and accurate understanding which fully honors its Divine
Author.
Salvation is indeed
freely offered by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9–10 and
Ephesians 2:8–9) Yet, spiritual understanding and growth are progressive
processes that begin with the new birth, and continues throughout the life of
the believer. This inspired process is only rewarded to the diligent who “hunger
and thirst after righteousness.” (Matthew 5:6)
Spiritual growth is also contingent upon whether one
studies the Word of God by feeding first from its milk, and then progresses to
feed from its meat;
·
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I
have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear
it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas
there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and
walk as men? (I Corinthians 3:1-3)
·
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of
the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:2)
If one does not follow the above biblical
instructions for gaining understanding from the Bible, one can only
expect to gain shallow understanding at best, and erroneous—even demonic—wisdom
at worse;
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out
of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and
lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from
above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where
envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
(James 3:13-16)
When one forms their own convoluted theology through shallow
interpretation, they usually hold to it as if it is a priceless work of art. But
one cannot really blame them, since such beliefs are their own created “babies.”
Some theological
perspectives are indeed works of art. They reflect a great deal of imagination
and inventiveness on the part of those who concocted them. But let such
“creators” be warned. When one is serving the God of heaven who revealed Himself
as “the way, the truth, and the life,” (John 14:6) those who claim to
serve him must strive to be “realistic” as opposed to being “abstract” in their
relationship. For eternity and God are realities, not merely abstract concepts
expressed in poetic terms.
The
Consequences of Shallow Interpretation
Some common earmarks of
erroneous spiritual understanding and ungodly wisdom are “envying and strife,”
which are found in 1 Corinthians 3:3 and in James 3:14 and 16.
When any biblical understanding results in unbiblical
separation, confusion, jealousy, arguments, and evil in general, there is
usually a shallow interpretation rendered by a carnal interpreter at the point
of contention. It is such carnal interpreters, and their interpretations, that
often unwittingly avail themselves to demonic designs that are actually intended
to work against the God of heaven and His church.
The Webmaster of LCM
February 02, 2004
Also see the following related articles:
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