Biblical Interpretation #2

Steps For Biblical Interpretation

Prayer

R.C Sproul, “What happens when there is a conflict between what God says and what I feel? We must do what God says.” (p. 33)

Not only must we do what God says, but we must believe in the things that God says.

The Bible confronts us

As much as it is true that Christians read the Bible, it is equally or more true that the Bible reads us. In other words, the Bible confronts us of our perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and worldview that may be contrary to the biblical teachings.

Our perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and worldview must submit under the authority of Scripture. FEB Pacific statement of faith: “[the Bible is] the true centre of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.”

The Bible tells us the things that would make us uncomfortable, skeptical and defiable. The Bible does that because it confronts our flesh. As believers, we are still stained with the presence of the indwelling sin ().

So, when we are studying and interpreting the Bible, we must spend some time in prayer, asking God to humble us and give us clarity to His Word. We will be tempted not to wrestle with the difficult passages and words; as a result, we will be tempted to explain away doctrines and theology. Also, we will be tempted to interpret the Bible with eisegesis.

Studying the Bible is a spiritual discipline or spiritual exercise. Therefore, we need to seek the LORD in prayer; asking Him to illuminate Scripture to us.

John 16:

John 16:13–14 ESV

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 16:14 ESV

He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 16:

1 John 4:1–6 ESV

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

:1-

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 ESV

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

God the Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible. All Scripture, every single word, is inspired by God. Throughout the steps of biblical interpretation, we must pray unceasingly (of course, not just during our studies, but throughout our walk with Christ).

(Adapted from John Piper)

I - Incline my heart towards Your commandments

O - Open my eyes to see the beauty of Christ

U - United my heart to fear Your name.

S - Satisfy me with Your love

Step 1 - READ

There is nothing as simple as reading the passage of Scripture that you’re studying. It is obvious that you can read (except maybe some names that are hard to pronounce). It is one thing to be able to read the passage, but it is another to know HOW to read the passage.

a. Read The Passage Slowly

I believe all of you can speak fast and read fast. But, when it comes to biblical interpretation, speak, quick, and swift will not suffice. WHY?

Overlook or miss the words that are important.

b. Read The Passage Out Loud

There is a huge difference between reading out loud and reading in your head.

There is a research study that verifies that “the act of reading and speaking text aloud is a more effective way to remember information than reading it silently or just hearing it read aloud. The dual effect of both speaking and hearing helps encode the memory more strongly.”

The research, published in the journal Memory, finds that the act of reading and speaking text aloud is a more effective way to remember information than reading it silently or just hearing it read aloud.

God designed the human body with five senses: hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling and touching. When you are reading out loud, you are activating the hearing senses in a tangible manner.

Reading out loud and slowly can also enhance your speaking skills. Your enunciation of the words would improve.