PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION (Continued)

2. THE PRINCIPLE OF ANALYTICAL DEFINING
1. Explanation
1. Analytical defining examines a word so as to determine its exact meaning in scripture
2. Analytical defining relates a word to already known concepts by the methods of comparison and contrast
3. For instance, we might tell a toddler that a cow is like a dog (comparison) only it is much bigger and says “moo” (contrast).
2. Comparison
1. The first step is to put the word in its proper category
2. Find other words in the same family of words
1. Knowledge, wisdom, understanding, discretion (Proverbs 2:10-11 [10] When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; [11] Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
   See All...; Proverbs 5:1-2 [1] My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: [2] That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
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2. Intercession, prayer, supplication, petition, thanksgiving (1 Timothy 2:1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
   See All...; Philippians 4:6
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3. Sin, iniquity, transgression, wickedness
3. Group these words under a broad category that included all the words (Sometimes one of the words is more general in nature than the other words and can be used as the category—like the words prayer and sin in the lists above).
1. Charity and brotherly love are kinds of love
2. Intercession and supplication are kinds of prayer
3. Contrast
1. The second step is to distinguish the word in question from all the other words in its category
2. This can be difficult and may require intense study; for example, what is the difference between patience, longsuffering and forbearance; or between supplication, petition and prayer?
3. Distinctions between synonyms may not be in the simple meaning of the word (denotation) but in the emotional feeling or the emphasis of the word (connotation).  Both supplication and petition refer to the act of bringing specific prayer requests to God.  However, supplication refers to the beseeching manner in which we bring our requests to God while petition refers to the act of bringing specific requests to God.
4. Both longsuffering and patience refer to faithfulness in time of trial.   However, longsuffering emphasizes our faithfulness to accept the testing of other people without returning in like kind while patience emphasizes our faithfulness to serve in the midst of trials of all kinds without quitting or fainting.
5. Both iniquity and transgression refer to sin.  However, iniquity (from in+equity meaning not equal) refers to man’s departure from what is right or equal while transgression pictures sin as walking across (trans) the line which God has drawn.
3. THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPLETE DEFINING
1. Concept of Complete Defining
1. Most words, as used in the Bible, have a very simple basic meaning that is common to all the instances in the Bible where this word is used.
2. Yet words also have an expanded definition that is applicable only to particular passages; the expanded definition is an extended application of a word as it is used in particular instances
2. Examples
1. Tempt
1. Basic meaning – to test
2. Expanded meaning
1. To test by enticing to sin (James 1:12-15 [12] Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. [13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
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2. To test by trying one’s faith (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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3. Notice how the expanded meaning of this word removes a supposed contradiction in the Bible (James 1:13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
   See All... with 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.
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4. Sometimes, more than one sense of a word’s expanded meaning will apply to a particular scripture (see 1 Corinthians 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
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2. Communicate
1. Basic meaning – to make common with others
2. Expanded meaning
1. To make information or knowledge common by sharing it (Galatians 2:2And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
   See All...; Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 15:33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
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2. To make material goods common by giving them (Philippians 4:14-16
   See All...; 1 Timothy 6:17-19 [17] Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; [18] That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; [19] Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
   See All...; Hebrews 13:16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
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3. Notice that the word’s context makes it clear which portion of the expanded meaning applies in a particular passage
4. THE PRINCIPLE OF SCRIPTURE’S SINGLE SENSE
1. The Principle Stated
1. Every word and passage in the Bible can have only one meaning in the connection in which it occurs; this is its single sense
2. There is a real, actual, single, literal meaning to every word and statement in scripture (Nehemiah 8:8So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
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3. Every teaching and application of a scriptural passage must begin with this single sense or risk teaching false doctrine
2. Supposed Exceptions to the Principle
1. Applications of Scripture
1. Many applications may be made from scripture (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.
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2. However, applications of scripture must not be mistaken for the interpretation of scripture; interpretation must be the foundation on which applications are built
3. The story of Adam and Eve’s fall in sin (Genesis 3) may be a picture of man’s subsequent and repeated failures to please God but these applications must not be substituted for the truth of the story itself
2. Figurative or symbolic language
1. Scripture uses many figures of speech (Genesis 25:25And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
   See All...) and symbols (Daniel 7:2-3 [2] Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. [3] And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
   See All..., 16-17).
2. Yet, figurative or symbolic speech is still literal in its interpretation
1. They are accepted forms of communication in all language
2. When used, they have a single, literal interpretation each time they are used (the four beasts of Daniel 7 do not mean many different things but have a single, specific and literal meaning)
3. Double Reference in Prophecy
1. Prophecy sometimes has a near and a far reference in one prediction
2. However, the double reference is to a partial and complete prophecy; not two different and separate fulfillments of the same prediction
4. Multi-faceted Definitions
1. A word often has many facets to its meaning as used in a passage
2. However, all of these parts of the word’s meaning all up to a single interpretation of the passage