How To Know
You Are Going
to Heaven
Can a Christian Lose His Salvation?
What does John 1:1 say about the Trinity?
The Development of the Name Jehovah
Does Ephesians 2:8-9 Teach that Faith is a Gift?
RULES
OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
Be diligent to present yourself
approved
to God, an unashamed worker,
handling accurately the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (HEB)
I am indebted to Walter Henrichsen and his book A Layman's Guide to Interpreting the Bible (Zondervan/Navpress 1976) for the basic statement of these rules. That book is now out of print but if you can get a copy it would profit you greatly. It states the generally accepted historic rules of interpretation quite well. Unfortunately, there is one rule on which Mr. Henrichsen and I disagree. He believes that a promise made to a specific person or nation in a specific historical circumstance is available to a believer today if the Holy Spirit "gives that promise" to the believer. It seems to me that this is a violation of the rule, stated by Henrichsen, that "Scripture has only one meaning." If the promise were for a particular historical circumstance AND for the believer in his circumstance, then it would have two meanings. Though I respect Mr. Henrichsen for his fine work and believe that it is not marred by this one problem, I recommend that you not follow his advice in this area (Rule Nine).
These rules are mostly given in statement form only for now. I hope in the future to add more explanation and illustrations.
GENERAL RULES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
The interpreter must be saved and dependent on the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13-16).
Assume the Bible is authoritative and inerrant
The Bible interprets itself; Scripture best explains Scripture
Interpret experience in light of Scripture; not the other way around
Biblical examples are authoritative only when supported by a command
Church history is important but not decisive in interpretation
GRAMMATICAL RULES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
Scripture has only one meaning
Take Scripture as normal language; “plain sense of the language”
Interpret words in harmony with their meaning in times of the author
Interpret according to the context
If an inanimate object describes a living being -- then it's figurative
If an expression is out of character with thing described -- it’s figurative
Don’t make a parable “walk on all fours” -- it has only one point
Prophetic statements are to be taken normally -- unless the context compels otherwise
HISTORICAL RULES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
Interpret in light of biblical historical context
Revelation is progressive; later revelation explains earlier
Events of history become spiritual truths only if Scripture designates
THEOLOGICAL RULES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
Scripture must be understood grammatically before theologically
A doctrine is not biblical unless it sums up all that Scripture says
No contradictions in Scripture: e.g. sovereignty and responsibility
An implied teaching must have support in another passage