Rules for Understanding and Applying
the Bible (From
Pastor Joseph Spurgeon of Sovereign King Church: https://www.facebook.com/SovereignKingChurch)
1. The Holy Interpreter: The Holy Spirit is the only infallible
interpreter of Scripture. Thus, when the Holy Spirit inspires a writer in one
portion of the Bible to interpret another section of Scripture, we know that
interpretation is the true interpretation.
2. The Rule of Scripture: The Scriptures never contradict
themselves. Whenever we encounter a section that we are finding difficult to
interpret, we should seek out other places where the Scriptures speak to the
same issue with more clarity. We interpret the harder from the clearer.
3. The Rule of Faith: All of Scripture is God-breathed. When
interpreting a passage, we must realize that the Bible is a complete
revelation. A passage must be considered in light of the rest of Scripture.
4. Context: The context of a passage is both immediate and
remote. That is, it is in the surrounding verses and chapters of the text being
studied, but it is also in related passages in other books, especially by the
same writer. The proper understanding of a text is always obtained by seeing it
in its context.
5. Relation of the Testaments: The Old and New Testaments inform
each other. One cannot properly understand one without the other. The movement
of Scripture is from the Old to the New. There is an unfolding of revelation
from the beginning to the end. We must notice this unveiling of revelation as
history moved toward Christ. However, we cannot become evolutionists. God does
not evolve through time nor is the Bible an evolving revelation. We must guard
against flattening out the Bible and against having too much discontinuity.
6. The Old Testament: Every doctrine that we need to believe or
commandment of God for our living is found in the Old Testament in at least its
kernel form. This is why Paul told Timothy that the Scriptures would equip him
for every good work and make him wise for salvation.
7. The New Testament: It is the blossoming of those kernels into
full form. The New Testament brings about the fulfillment of the promise of the
Old. It shows us that certain aspects of the Old were types and shadows
pointing to Christ. We therefore must not go back to these types and shadows.
Furthermore, when the New Testament interprets the Old Testament, that
interpretation is true and infallible.
8. The Church is Multi-generational: The history of the Church is
an important help in our hermeneutics. God has provided men of wisdom and the
Holy spirit through the history of the church. We do not have to start fresh
every new generation with interpretation and theology. This does not mean that
there is a magisterial office in the church that provides an infallible
interpretation of Scripture. It does mean, however, that we should not
disregard lightly the weight of historical interpretation of Scripture found
widely in the church. Confessions and creeds in the church are subordinate to
Scripture but they are invaluable helps to interpreting Scripture.
9. The Sufficiency of Scripture: Scripture is efficient and
sufficient for all instruction in righteousness and godly living. The church in
the Old Testament is an example for us of how to live and how not to live.
Their faithfulness is an example for us. Their faithlessness is a warning for
us.
10. Christ is Central: The Bible is the revelation of Christ, his
glory, his work in redemption, and his Kingship. He is the focus of Scripture
and yet never in a wooden or contrived way. Therefore, we do not have to seek
to shoehorn him into every passage yet all of it is his word.
11. The Clarity of Scripture. Scripture is understandable with
the diligent use of means. The more one studies scripture the greater one grows
in understanding it. Scripture is meant to be a revelation. Therefore a
Christian using due diligence and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit can
understand what the scriptures mean.
12. The Application of Scripture to all of life: The Word of God
is applicable to every area of life. God has not left us to fumble around in
darkness. He has given us instruction that touches on every area of life. In
any area that scripture speaks to, it speaks authoritatively. We ought to obey
it.
13. Natural Revelation: God has revealed himself in nature and
there is much that we can learn in his natural revelation. This natural
revelation is authoritative, yet, scripture is the highest authority and will
always guide our understanding of nature.
14. The Use of Wisdom: Applying scripture to life requires the
use of wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit. As we study scripture to
interpret it, we should pray for the wisdom of God to apply its commands,
virtues, principles, warnings, and promises to the areas of life we are
confronted with. Biblical wisdom begins with the fear of God and love of his
word.
Comments
Post a Comment