By Properly Interpreting the Bible

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Lesson 17 By Properly Interpreting the Bible
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Communication Is Fundamental

• How do we communicate?
• How can we know what someone/anyone means?
• If we use the law of rationality in our
  conversations with people to understand the
  meaning of their statements, can we (or should
  we) not do the same with the Bible?
• If (and since) the Bible affects matters of
  doctrine, faith, practice, fellowship, salvation
  and eternity, one cannot afford to be wrong about
  them.
• We must know what the Bible says as well as what
  the Bible means.
• Thats where proper interpretation becomes key!

3
Three Steps Necessary to Properly Interpret the
Bible

• First Gather All the Relevant Evidence on a
  Biblical Question or Subject
• Content
• Meaning of words
• Grammatical relationship of words, sentences,
  etc.
• Context
• Literary Context
• Specific Sentence
• Immediate Context
• Remote Context
• Historical Context
• Time Culture (geographical, topographical,
  political factors)
• Occasion of the book, letter, psalm, prophecy or
  other genre

4
Three Steps Necessary to Properly Interpret the
Bible

• First Gather All the Relevant Evidence on a
  Biblical Question or Subject
• Second Handle the Evidence Correctly
• WHAT DID IT MEAN?
• This is exegesis, which must come first.
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
• This requires proper hermeneutics, which must
  come second.

5
Three Steps Necessary to Properly Interpret the
Bible

• First Gather All the Relevant Evidence on a
  Biblical Question or Subject
• Second Handle the Evidence Correctly
• Third Draw Only (and All) Such Conclusions As
  Are Justified (i.e., Warranted, Demanded) By the
  Evidence.
• To fail to follow these steps means the Bible can
  mean whatever (subjectivity). No interpretation
  is right or wrong. Anything goes.
• Jesus in Matthew 41-11 is proof we must do this.

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Sound Principles of Biblical Interpretation Are
Required

• If man is made such that he seeks God, then a
  special revelation from God is necessary.
• If there is a special revelation, then it would
  be written, oral or straight to the heart.
• It is written. The things I write to you.
• If it is written, it would be objective.
• It would have to be outside of us for all to
  have.
• If it is objective, then it would be
  propositional.
• Written in sentences which can be understood.
• If it is propositional, then principles of
  Biblical interpretation apply.

7
Principles of Biblical Interpretation

• If propositional revelation is the case, then the
  these hermeneutical principles are expected
• DIRECT STATEMENTS
• Would God veil Himself in totally symbolic ways?
  No, not totally.
• Without direct statements, no objective exegesis
  is possible.
• IMPLICATION
• Non-trivial statements imply something.
• To say no begs the question.
• EXPEDIENCY
• No propositional revelation can be exhaustive.
• Expediency increases the practicality and
  endurance of the revelation.
• ACCOUNTS OF ACTION IN HISTORY
• Gods revelation is to real people in various
  circumstances.
• God expects us to decide what applies thus, some
  methodology.