BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION Nov Take Notes

HERMENEUTICS “The study of principles and methods of interpretation. The term is sometimes used to emphasize the present relevance of the text. (The form hermeneutics often refers to a specific theological perspective that may guide one’s interpretation.)” – Intro to Biblical Hermeneutics. Kaiser & Silva

EXEGESIS “The analysis and explanation of a text, usually with reference to detailed, scientific (sometimes “critical”) interpretation of Scripture in which the meaning is drawn from the text rather than imposed over it. The term is often distinguished from hermeneutics, which refers to principles of interpretation, where exegesis has to do with the practice of explaining text.” - Intro to Biblical Hermeneutics. Kaiser & Silva

EISEGESIS “A reading into the text something that was not there but was imported from later or external texts.” To decide what someone wants it to mean ahead of time, then start flipping through the pages of the Bible or it’s concordance, to make the Bible line up with what they think. Not what The Bible says for us to think. Danger of false prosperity, word of faith and topical preaching/teaching. Not all topical preachers are bad. But YOU MUST LEARN Hermeneutics so you don’t get fooled/deceived. Don’t assume because a Preacher/Teacher is popular they are saying the correct things. Always check it for yourself, in your daily QT.

“SO WHAT!?” “Every Bible verse/passage has one meaning, but it can have a lot of different ‘So What’s’ (applications to how it relates to you).”– Lon Solomon.

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION (PART 2) Nov Take Notes

MAJORITY OF INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND THROUGH: John MacArthur Lon Solomon

OTHER RECOMMENDED TEACHERS/PREACHERS: Tony Evans Eric Mason John Piper R.C. Sproul Mark Drisoll (use website) Tim Keller

5 PRINCIPLES ON HOW TO INTERPRET THE BIBLE 1) Prayer 2) Literal Interpretation 3) Content 4) Historical and Cultural Context. 5) Compare Scripture with other parts of Scripture

PRAYER

“FOR WHO KNOWS A PERSON’S THOUGHTS EXCEPT THE SPIRIT OF THAT PERSON, WHICH IS IN HIM? SO ALSO NO ONE COMPREHENDS THE THOUGHTS OF GOD EXCEPT THE SPIRIT OF GOD.” -1 COR 2:11 ESV Illumination

“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.”- 1 John 2:27 ESV

Illumination And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. –Matt 16:18 ESV

LITERAL INTERPRETATION The Literal Principle: “Scripture should be understood in its literal, normal, and natural sense. While the Bible does contain figures of speech and symbols, they were intended to convey literal truth. In general, however, the Bible speaks in literal terms, and we must allow it to speak for itself.” – John MacArthur

When the Bible uses the word “robe it means a “robe” worn back then. NOT a Snuggie!

CONTEXT AND NOT PRETEXT Understanding what a passage really means by reading what is before it and then reading what is after it. Getting the whole story and not parachuting in the middle of nowhere.

PRETEXT/LUCKY DIPPING/OUT-CONTEXT “So he departed from there. How can we know the way? going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it”

PRETEXT/LUCKY DIPPING/OUT-CONTEXT “So he departed from there”(1 Kings 19:19)…”How can we know the way?” (John 14:5)…”going to and from on the earth and from walking up and down on it” (Job 1:7).

HISTORICAL/CULTURAL SETTING The Historical Principle: This means that we interpret a passage in its historical context. We must ask what the text meant to the people to whom it was first written. In this way we can develop a proper contextual understanding of the original intent of Scripture. –John MacArthur

HISTORICAL/CULTURAL SETTING Imagine if 2000 years from now archeologists dig up North America and discover the existence of a nation where every citizen had the right to chop of the limbs of real mammal, animal bears and keep them in their homes or conceal them as self-defense. “The Right to Bear Arms”

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. –Romans 1:16 ESV

CHRISTIANS MOMENTS BEFORE BEHEADED BY ISIS

COMPARE SCRIPTURE WITH OTHER PARTS OF SCRIPTURE The synthesis principle is what the Reformers called the analogia scriptura—the Scripture all comes together. In other words, one part of the Bible doesn’t teach something that another part contradicts. So as you study the Scripture it must all harmonize. –John MacArthur

"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?"- 1 Cor 15:29

RELATING TO YOU, APPLICATION OR THE “SO WHAT!?” After using Hermeneutics or 5 basic principles of interpretation we can pull out the meaning ( exegesis ) of what the Bible means. After we explain the meaning than we can know how the Bible relates to you and me. Then and only then do we know what God is trying to tell us, by prayer and illumination from the Holy Spirit. There is always only ONE interpretation but many applications! Not many interpretations and applications.

DID I MENTION THE 5 PRINCIPLES ARE ONLY THE BASICS?