INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE FOR

EFFECTIVE BIBLE STUDYSouth West Zone

To understand any Bible passage involves

StudyingObservation (what the passage says)Interpretation (what the passage means)

Applying (what the passage means to me/what shall I do)

1. Nature of the Bible

Both divine and human God's Word has eternal relevance. It

speaks to all mankind, in every age and in every culture.

Yet, God chose to speak his Word through human words in history. (2 Peter 1:21)

Why Interpret Scripture

2. The Gaps

Historical Gap - due to separation in time from that of the original setting and ours.

Cultural Gap - due to differences in our culture and that of the Bible "world"

Linguistic Gap ‑ original writings were Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek.

Our Background ‑ we each come to study the Bible with our cultural biases, experiences, religious & social beliefs, etc.

The first task of the interpreter is called exegesis.

Exegesis is the careful, systematic study of the scripture to discover the original, intended meaning.

What is necessary for interpretation

Context HistoryCultureBackground Literary formWhat comes before and after the passage

Content ‑ meaning of words, grammatical

relationships in sentences.

What is Involved in Exegesis?

1. The Bible (both OT & NT) is God's word.

It is inspired by God and therefore different from all other books.

To put it simply, what the Bible asserts, God asserts.

Basic Convictions for Interpretation

2. The Bible can be adequately understood in the translations ‑ original language yes but not only original language

Translations do convey the essential meaning of the Bible.

3. The Bible is a unit.

The OT & NT do not contradict each other in their revelation of God.

Rather, they are complementary: the Old prepares for the New and the New fulfils the Old.

4. The Bible is its own interpreter.

That is one passage throws light on the other. Comparing scripture to scripture is basic in biblical interpretation.

5. Our understanding the Bible must be accompanied by an honest, intelligent and obedient response to its message.

The Word of God is given so that "the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.(2 Tim. 3:17)

6. The Holy Spirit's teaching is necessary for understanding the Bible.

“He will guide you into all truth” (Jn. 16:13).

Spiritual things are spiritually discerned.(1 Cor 2:14).

A basic study Bible.

A language Dictionary.

A note book.

Other translations or paraphrases for comparison.

Basic Tools to Assist Interpretation

Other tools

◦Concordance

◦Bible Dictionary

◦Commentary

1. Consider the context

What comes before and after the text of scripture you are studying?

Verse-Sentence-Paragraph-Surrounding paragraphs-Chapter-Section-Book-Entire Bible

 

Basic Principles of Interpretation

Demonstrated by Jn 9:3 KJV."Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents." Does it mean they are sinless?

 By context, Jesus answering question in vrs 2. Answer: blindness not because of any person's sin.

By context, look out for metaphors in the poetic passages and books and symbolisms in the Apocalyptic ones. (Ps. 18:7-11)

By context, look out for the cultural background to what is being said.Slaves in the NT

2. Understanding the words:

interpret according to the correct meaning of the words.

Meaning of words are determined by:Basic DefinitionHow the word is used elsewhere in scripture (law

of first mention)Their context and usage in the passage

eg. Light ‑ opposite of darkness ‑ pale in colour ‑ minimal in weight.

In Rev 5:5, the word "lion" refers to Christ but in 1 Pet 5:8, the devil is also referred to as a lion.

  Also words change meaning over a period

of time. 1 Thess. 4:15 "prevent" (KJV) means ‘go before’.

It does not mean that now.

Same word may have different meanings

Ezek. 44:5‑6 (KJV)◦ vs 5 ‑ house = temple◦ vs 6 ‑ house = nation

3. Pay Attention to Grammar

Grammar may not always show us the actual meaning but will show us possible meanings.

We need to pay attention to the tenses,

pronouns, conjunctions and sometimes the punctuation marks.

4. The author's intention.

The purpose. 1 Jn 5:13 ‑ it is clear.

5. Interpreting scripture by scripture. Parallel passages.

Matt 10:34 swordLuke 12:51 division

John 4:10,14 & John 7:38,39

6. Look for the normal sense of the passage

“If the plain sense makes common sense, seek no other sense”

Reduce or if possible avoid allegorisation (over spiritualizing and symbolisms)

Isaiah 6:1 – In the year King Uzziah died

7. Look to the teaching portions of scripture (the epistles, the Sermon on the mount, etc) to guide the interpretation of the historical narratives.

8. Interpret experience in the light of scripture, not scripture in the light of experience