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Bible Interpretation I - Lesson 3
Attached Audio:
Introduction Continued
- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR BIBLE INTERPRETATION
- God’s Command – Each individual believer is commanded to investigate and interpret the scriptures for himself with the aid of the Holy Ghost (John 5:39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
See All...; 2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
See All...) - Trying the Spirits – Even when taught by another, the believer is responsible for what is accepted as truth. He is to be as the Bereans who “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
See All...). We are to try the spirits (1 John 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
See All...) and prove all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
See All...). - The Hebrews were reproved because they were “unskilful in the word of righteousness” and did not “by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14 [12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
[13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
[14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
See All...). They were blamed for not being able to use the word with skill. We have the same responsibility. - SPIRITUAL REQUIREMENTS OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION
- Personal Faith in Christ – Salvation (1 Corinthians 2:14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
See All...) - Faith in the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
See All...; cp.Hebrews 11:6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
See All...) - Earnest Desire to Hear God (Proverbs 18:1Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
See All...) - Prayer For Guidance (Psalm 119:18Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
See All...) - Teaching of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-14 [9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
[10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
[12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
[13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
[14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
See All...; Psalm 36:9For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
See All...) – Spiritual illumination is absolutely necessary to understand the Bible (see Isaiah 29:11-12 [11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: [12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
See All...) - Fear of the Lord (Psalm 25:12What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
See All...,14; Proverbs 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
See All...; Proverbs 9:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
See All...; Proverbs 15:33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
See All...); this includes a readiness to respond to the truth of God - Obedience to Revealed Truth (John 7:17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
See All...; John 8:31-32 [31] Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; [32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
See All...) - THE LAWS OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION
- The Law of the Words
- Every word of God is pure (Proverbs 30:5-6 [5] Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
[6] Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
See All...) - A word’s usage determines its meaning; therefore, the meaning of a Bible word is determined by how that word is used in the Bible
- Tools: English and Bible dictionaries
- The Bible must be the final authority in all questions of definition and meaning (see 1 Samuel 9:9(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
See All...; Matthew 1:23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
See All...) - All words have a specific purpose chosen by their author. All scriptural words are verbally (each word) and plenarily (exactly chosen) inspired
- thee, thou, ye, you
- will, shall
Proverbs 12:19
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.