Effective Bible study- Interpretation Pt II

1cor2:11 “11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.”

The Spirit was given to the Apostles so we may have the inspired writings here in the bible.

The Spirit is given to us to give us the desire to search and know the scripture, open your bible to 2Pt1.

2pt1:19-21 “19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

It is a good thing to remember that every passage has but one meaning

Meaning and application are not the same thing. Application can change culturally, historically and the like.

Simple rules for interpretation

When you think about tools, or rules needed for coming to good interpretation of scripture, what do you think of?

First tool I will mention is faith and the Holy Spirit (turn to 1Cor2:10-16)

1cor2:10-11 “10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.”

1cor2:12-13 “12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”

1cor2:14-16 “14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

Faith to have spiritual eyes and ears to see, hear spiritual things that the natural man does not accept.

God is the giver of faith Rom12:3 “3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

And faith comes by hearing (Rom10:17) and it leads to salvation (Eph2:6-9) and salvation leads to walking in new ways and learning to walk in new ways, to learn grow by studying God’s word so to apply it.

So study with spiritual eyes for physical application.

So, I think we need a bible, scripture too (turn to Act2:17-21)

act2:17-18 “17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams; 18 Even on My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit And they shall prophesy.”

act2:19-21 “19 ‘And I will grant wonders in the sky above And signs on the earth below, Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come. 21 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

Scripture can interpret scripture look back one verse

act2:16 “16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:”

That was what was said by the Prophet Joel, you can look that up in Joel chapter 2.

Bible is the its best commentary - many bibles have cross references in the margin or on the side that can help you get a better, bigger picture at times beyond just the context of the passage you are looking at.

A good tool if you want to get into that kind of study is a Thompson-Chain bible, takes a lot to get used too, but it sure is information for scripture interpreting scripture

Another tool: Read the O.T. with the N.T. in mind

The O.T. is the mystery hidden (Jesus and the church) and the N.T. is the mystery revealed.

Turn to Isa53:3-5 with me and let’s look at the O.T. mystery and how was this mystery fulfilled?

isa53:3-5 “3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”

How was this, where was this fulfilled?

Next tool, interpret unclear passages in the light of clear passages.

Unclear look at 1Cor15:29 “29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?”

Be ready to discuss this, expand on this. This was a practice that was going on with the Corinthian church, but the point is about resurrection, that there was going to be a physical resurrection (DO NOT GET INTO THIS IF NOT ASKED)

Be ready to go in context backing up if questioned on this.

Without looking at the whole context of 1Cor15, you can, will get a wrong interpretation of 1Cor15:29.

Clear passage Rom6:3-4 “3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

Next tool. Don’t build your doctrine based on a historical event.

Consider Mk1:35 “35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.”

That would contradict Mt6:6 “6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

Use doctrinal passages to base doctrine on such as Act22:16 “16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’”

Use narrative passages to teach lessons.

Scripture is not to be interpreted based on your own experiences.

The reason we study the scripture is not to align it with our thinking, but for us to align with what God is saying. It is not subjective as are feelings and emotions.

God’s truth is timeless

God’s truth should shape us instead of us trying to shape God’s truth to fit our lifestyle

Next, the simplest and most obvious meaning is usually the correct one.

Jn3:5 “5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

1Pt3:21 “21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”

Ockman’s razor says “the interpretation with the fewest assumptions should be adopted.”

What you see, is more than likely what is right.

Next, let the writers explanation, explaining a passage be the primary one

Jn20:31 “31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Or 1Jn5:13 “13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Keep things in context, in the harmony of the context.

Immediate context (verses before and after)

Sectional/pericope context, main emphasis of section

Book context

Canonical context, why is it in the bible

So, summing this up.

By faith, keep it simple, keep is contextual, let the bible speak for itself and interpret itself whenever possible.