Biblical Interpretation #1

Reading: Knowing Scripture By R.C Sproul

1. The Definition Of Biblical Interpretation

To understand the meaning of the Bible.

The Foundation Of Biblical Interpretation.

2. The Foundation Of Biblical Interpretation.

You must having a biblical understanding of the Doctrine of Scripture as the foundation of interpreting the Bible.

To properly interpret the Bible, you must having a biblical understanding of Doctrine of Scripture as the foundation.

a. The Authority of Scripture

b. The Inspiration of Scripture

c. The Inerrancy of Scripture

d. The Infallibility of Scripture

e. The Sufficiency of Scripture

f. The Unity of Scripture

g. The Clarity of Scripture

3. The Reason To Interpret Scripture

a. You naturally interpret what you read.

b. Christians have the mandate to interpret Scripture.

The job of biblical interpretation is not reserved only for the professionals.

4. The Goal Of Interpretation

The goal of interpretation is to understand the plain meaning of the text and live it out. By doing so, we know the Triune God and His will.

If understanding the plain meaning of the text is the primary reason for reading and studying the Bible, then studying the Bible is only an intellectual exercise with no significant impact to our lives.

If applying the text is the primary reason for reading and studying the Bible, then we need to ask ourselves these questions: “How do we know what to apply? How do we apply it?

Ultimately, studying the Bible is to know the Triune God and His will. The Bible is God’s Word, and we want to understand His Word properly.

“Because proper hermeneutics helps us understand God’s will, it is crucial to faithful application. Satan tries to convince Jesus to misapply Scriptures in one of the temptations…Satan did not interpret the text in view of the context of God’s promises…Since Satan misconstrued the intention of , the application of a bad interpretation could have had unfortunate - even deadly - results. Thus, since we desire to obey God’s will, we need to understand how to interpret the Scriptures, which reveal his will, correctly.” (Introduction To Biblical Interpretation by KBH)

5. The Challenge Of Interpretation

There are barriers that we would always need to overcome as we try to faithfully interpret the text.

Distance Of Time

Cultural Distance

Geographical Distance

Distance Of Language

The challenge is to close the gap between the 21st century and the ancient world. The method that I will introduce (Literal-Historical-Grammatical) attempts to close the gap.

There is a spiritual barrier that we need to overcome

5. The Indwelling Sin

6. The “How” Of Interpretation

Biblical Hermeneutics is the science of interpretation, and it addresses the method of interpreting what the Bible says and means.

Read . How can we “rightly” handle the word of truth?

Read

Question: How can we “rightly” handle the word of truth?

Exegesis vs. Eisegesis

Eisegesis - eis (in Greek) means “into”; “to lead into” or “to draw into.”

Exegesis - exe (in Greek: “ek”) means “out of”; “to lead out” or “to draw out”.

Exegesis means “reading the text to find out what is there, and to understand what the text is saying.” (D.A Carson)

It means “reading the text to find out what is there, and to understand what the text is saying.” (D.A Carson)

The principle of hermeneutics is that the Bible is its own interpreter. As we interpret the Bible, we must allow Scripture to speak for itself. This seeks the objective approach as opposed to the subjective approach.

Allegorical

Eisegesis - eis (in Greek) means “into”; “to lead into” or “to draw into.”

Eisegesis means reading into the text. People interpret a passage based on a subjective and non-analytical reading. Interpreters inject their own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever they want it to mean without considering the context.

Additionally, they make the text say whatever they want it to say.

Exegesis - exe (in Greek: “ek”) means “out of”; “to lead out” or “to draw out”.

Exegesis means “reading the text to find out what is there, and to understand what the text is saying.” (D.A Carson)

The principle of hermeneutics is that the Bible is its own interpreter. As we interpret the Bible, we must allow Scripture to speak for itself. This seeks the objective approach as opposed to the subjective approach.

And exegesis is the correct approach to biblical hermeneutics.

Example: READ . What does Jesus mean by “be lifted up?”

Eisegesis - Some may insert the right answer by saying it means Jesus dying on the cross, but how do we know that? Why can it also mean being elevated from the earth, like a dad lifting up his child? Why can’t it also mean “ascension?”

Exegesis - Seeks to find the answer in the Bible. And the answer is found in . Jesus talks about “lifted up” and John, the author, inserts a commentary on what Jesus means.

BONUS: if you want to have a deeper study, then you would notice that “be lifted up” is a passive verb. In other words, someone/something is doing the action (lifting up) on Jesus. Who/what?

When you are studying and interpreting the Bible, you should and you must always support your answers with Scripture, not your own interpretation, ideas, or what you feel it means to you.

Sometimes in Bible studies, you can have every member give an answer to this question, and the Bible study leader may just say, “oh yeah those are good ideas or insights. I’ve never thought about that. Thanks for sharing.” It looks something like this => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-lozUWElqY

Additionally, they make the text say whatever they want it to say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-lozUWElqY

Spiritualizing

7. Literal-Historical-Grammatical Interpretation

Knowing that exegesis is the correct approach, we now want to expand on what that looks like. How can I do “exegesis” on a biblical passage?

Literal- Historical-Grammatical is the method whereby the work of the interpreter seeks to understand and explain the authorial intent of Scripture as it is shown in the actual language used, understood in the historical context, and written to be understood in a natural sense.

Literal interpretation - interpreting the text in a literal sense based on its normal use of language. It seeks for literal/normal interpretation unless the context indicates otherwise (e.g. poetry, apocalyptic/symbolic). It avoids the interpreter from interpreting the text allegorically.

Historical Interpretation - interpreting the background of the text in its historical and cultural context. It also seeks to understand circumstances of the writing - such as author, readers, time, purpose, place, and purpose - and they influence the meaning of the text.

Grammatical Interpretation - interpreting the language of the text. This involves understanding the meaning of the word, the function of the word in its context, how the author uses the tenses, and the relationship of words. Biblical authors sometimes speak in idioms, hyperbole and other literary devices. (NOTE: knowing the original language would be helpful, but thank God for softwares and tools)

Why should we use this method?

It seeks to understand the authors’ original intention of writing the text (also known as authorial intent).

It seeks to understand how the original readers would have responded the text.

It seeks to understand the text in its original context and find appropriate principles and applications for the contemporary.

It accepts the Bible as what it is, and the interpreters are to understand what it says and means without trying to twist and manipulate the text (or explaining it away).

It forces us to honestly wrestle with the texts that are difficult to understand and/or accept ().

It is the most rational and objective approach to understanding the text.

8. Bible Translation

Interpreters should read a Bible translation that is close to the original language as possible.

There are three philosophical approaches to Bible translation

Word-For-Word - NASB, KJV, NKJV, ESV, CBS

Thought-For-Thought - NIV, NLT,

Paraphrase - The Message

There are barriers that we would always need to overcome as we try to faithfully interpret the text.

Distance Of Time

Cultural Distance

Geographical Distance

Distance Of Language

The challenge is to close the gap between the 21st century and the ancient world. Literal-Historical-Grammatical method attempts to close the gap.

Literal-Historical-Grammatical method attempts to close the gap.

There is a spiritual barrier that we need to overcome

The Indwelling Sin

9. Steps For Biblical Interpretation

See The Sheet

Homework

Read The Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy and Hermeneuetics

Knowing Scripture (pp 15- 35)

Bible

ESV Study Bible

Reformation Study Bible

MacArthur Study Bible

Books On Bible Interpretation

Introduction To Biblical Interpretation By William W. Klein (medium level)

How To Study The Bible by John MacArthur (easy level)

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkins (easy level)

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee (easy-medium level)

Exegetical Fallacies by D.A Carson (hard level)

3. Introduction To Exegesis

4. Steps To Biblical Interpretation