· Bibliology ·

Lecture Seventeen:  The Interpretation of Scripture

TH330 Systematic Theology I · Moody Bible Institute · Dr. Richard M. Weber

I. Principles of Hermeneutics

A. “Hermeneutics” vs. “Exegesis”

“Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation.  Exegesis consists of the actual interpretation of the Bible, the bringing out of its meaning, whereas hermeneutics establishes the principles by which exegesis is practiced.”  (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, 125)

B. Some Hermeneutical Systems

1. Allegorical Hermeneutics

2. Literal Hermeneutics

3. Semiallegorical/Semiliteral Hermeneutics

“[Revelation] portrays the eschatological defeat of Antichrist … but does not require that we accept in a literal fashion the specific imagery with which the event is described.  … John taught a literal millennium, but its essential meaning may be realized in something other than a temporal fulfillment.”  (Robert Mounce, The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids:  Eerdmans, 1977, 349, 359.)

II. The Case for the Literal Interpretation

A. The Purpose of Language

B. The Need for Objectivity

C. The Example of the Bible

E.g., Micah 5:2.  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel…”

E.g., Mal 3:1.  “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.  Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come.”

Cf.  Isa 9:1-2; 42:1; 53:5; 61:1; Ps 16:9-10; 22:1, 15-16, 18; 31:5; 34:20; 68:18; Zech 13:7

D. The Principles of Literal Hermeneutics

1. Interpret Grammatically

2. Interpret Contextually

3. Compare Scripture With Scripture

“[T]he work of the biblical interpreter is not necessarily finished when he has come to the meaning intended by the original human author:  … The total context of a passage is necessary for its correct understanding and, therefore, the intention of the secondary author must be subordinated to the intention of the primary Author, God Himself.  … [O]ur first and final task is to discern God’s intention in the text of Scripture.  After all, is not the Bible God’s Word?”  (S. Lewis Johnson, The Old Testament in the New, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1980, 51)

4. Recognize the Progressiveness of Revelation

· Matt 10:5-7.  “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions:  ‘Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.”

Matt 28:18-20.  “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”

· Gen 17:10.  “This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep:  Every male among you shall be circumcised.”

Gal 5:2.  “Mark my words!  I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.”

· Ex 20:8.  “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”

Acts 20:7.  “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. …”

· Cf. Luke 9:3 with Luke 22:36

E. Objections to Literal Hermeneutics

“Any and all uses of the Old Testament that the New Testament writers made were made under divine inspiration and were therefore done properly and authoritatively.  If we depart from the plain sense of the text, we do so improperly without such authority.  What the biblical writers wrote was infallible; the work of all interpreters is fallible.  … It is God who desired to give man His Word.  It is God who also gave the gift of language so He could fulfill that desire.  He gave us His Word in order to communicate, not confound.  We should seek to understand that communication plainly, for that is the normal way beings communicate.”  (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, 131)

III. The Doctrine of Illumination

A. The Meaning of “Illumination”

qwtizw (photizo)

John 1:9.  “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.”  (Cf. 2 Tim 1:9)

Eph 1:18.  “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” (Cf. Eph 3:9)

1 Cor 4:5.  “[The Lord] will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.”

“[G]enerally the concept of illumination relates to the ministry of the Holy Spirit helping the believer to understand the truth of the Bible.”  (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, 132)

B. The Means of Illumination

John 16:12-15.  “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine.  That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”

1 Cor 2:9-3:2.  “As it is written, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.’  But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”

1. The Spirit’s Function

2. The Subjects of Illumination

3. The Extent of Illumination

4. The Limitations of Illumination

5. The Purpose of Illumination

6. The Tools of Illumination

Rom 12:6-7.  “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  … [I]f it is teaching, let him teach; …” (cf. 1 John 2:27)