Introduction Continued

5. THE LAWS OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION (Continued)
7. The Law of Application
1. All scriptural is profitable for the believer (2 Timothy 3:16-17 [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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2. No scripture is fully understood until it means something to you
3. Tools: books by practical authors; for example, books on prayer by E. M. Bounds
4. See 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 [6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. [7] Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. [8] Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. [9] Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. [10] Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. [11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
   See All... and Romans 15:4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
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      PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION

1. THE PRINCIPLE OF SCRIPTURAL DEFINING
1. Stated: Biblical Words or Phrases are Defined by Biblical Usage
2. Some Words are Plainly Defined in a Single Passage
1. Wisdom (Job 28:28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
   See All...; Proverbs 9:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
   See All...; James 3:17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
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2. Emmanuel (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.
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3. Messias (John 1:41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
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4. Cephas (John 1:42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
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5. Perfect (2 Timothy 3:17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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6. Full age (Hebrews 5:14But 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.
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7. Faith (Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
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8. Candle of the Lord (Proverbs 20:27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
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3. Parallel Phrasing Often Helps Define Words
1. Instruments of death (Psalm 7:13He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
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2. A ravenous bird (Isaiah 46:11Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
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3.  Deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
   See All...; cp. Luke 9:23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
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4. Context Provides Help in Defining Words
1. Elements
1. Of a legal system (Galatians 4:3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
   See All...,9)
2. Of material substance (2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
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2. Church (1 Timothy 3:15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
   See All..., 4-5)
3. City (Hebrews 11:10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
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5. Common Word Association Provides Clues as to Word Meaning
1. If the same word or phrase is found with a word in several different places, this may give a clue as to the meaning of the word in scripture
2. Examples
1. Longsuffering with forbearing (Romans 2:4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
   See All...; Ephesians 4:2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
   See All...; Colossians 3:12-13 [12] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; [13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
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2. Power with authority (Luke 4:36And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
   See All...; Luke 9:1Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
   See All...; Luke 20:20And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 15:24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
   See All...; Revelation 13:2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
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3. Note: This kind of association does not mean that the words are identical; only that their meanings are somehow related. Their meanings must still be contrasted from one another in order to determine the entire definition.
6. Parallel Passages may Help to Define the Word
1. Parallel passages include:
1. Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament
2. Separate accounts of the same event (especially common in 1 Samuel - 2 Chronicles and in Matthew - John)
3. Near repetitions by the same author (Isaiah and Jeremiah have many examples)
4. Other similar passages
2. Examples
1. Tempt (Genesis 22:1And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
   See All... with Hebrews 11:17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
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2. The finger of God (Luke 11:20But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
   See All... with Matthew 12:28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
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3. The wisdom of God (Luke 11:49Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
   See All... with Matthew 23:34Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
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4. Christ (Acts 4:26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
   See All... with Psalm 2:2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
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5. Church (Hebrews 2:12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
   See All... with Psalm 22:22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
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