Download Sound Hermeneutics

Sound Biblical Interpretation:
1. Have you prayed for God’s help? Humbly seek Him and find Him before beginning,
God must guide you into all truth to His glory! (1 John 2:27, John 16:13)
2. Always Remember these fundamental rules:
a. Every single word that proceeds from the mouth of God is pure, ALL of His word
should be treasured by every disciple of the Messiah, and our Theology must
agree with all of Scripture not just parts of it! (Matthew 4:4, Acts 24:14-16)
b. Seek after God’s will above your own, and you will understand the most
important teachings of God’s Word. (John 7:17)
c. Always stay as literal as possible, and remember: even non-literal passages are
conveying an underlying literal truth. (2 Peter 1:20-21, John 21:22-23)
d. If the plain meaning contradicts with your current understanding, modify your
understanding not the plain meaning of God’s inspired Word. (2 Corinthians 4:2)
e. Never go beyond what is written, God said exactly what He has meant to say. (1
Corinthians 4:6)
f. Always look for parallel teachings and language to truly understand a passage.
Study, every closely related text, as much as possible, every time. (Isaiah 28:10,
Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16)
i. Scripture must interpret scripture, line upon line, precept upon precept.
1. Scripture is always the best guide to interpretation. (Galatians 4:30)
ii. A proper interpretation should include topical and exegetical study (i.e.
Cross-wording)
iii. Every correct interpretation must harmonize with all scripture, no
exceptions! (Proverbs 30:5)
g. In the case of two scriptures discussing the same subject: the simpler, or less
complete text does not negate the more profound or complete text, it refers back
to it, and complements it. (Deuteronomy 12:32)
i. Reductionism leads to error and heresy!
h. Regardless of the genre, always look for the imperative commands or moral
instructions in a passage. (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8)
i. All Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
training in righteousness!
i. Pay close attention to every word in the passage, identify the pronouns, verb
tenses, prepositions, conditional statements and other forms of speech that add
to your understanding. (Deuteronomy 8:3)
i. Each word can have a profound effect on the meaning!
j. Seek, determine, and remember the context for the verse, passage, chapter,
surrounding chapters, book, audience, culture, and covenant, but NEVER to
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undermine what the passage says, ONLY to better understand it. (2 Timothy 3:15,
James 1:21-22)
k. Verify the Greek translation, looking for italicized words which are not in the
original text. (Proverbs 30:6)
i. Also look for translated words that do not match the parts of speech in the
manuscripts, and words translated non-literally. (2 Peter 3:16)
1. Look for textual variants and determine which variation is best
supported.
l. Rely on the Holy Spirit in prayer and thanksgiving as you study, and always seek
the Lord In all things. (Matthew 7:7-8)
3. You can ask yourself these Questions, to see deeper into the background of the
passage:
1. Who wrote it, and who was it written directly (and indirectly) written to?
2. What does the writer reveal about their situation, audience, intentions, concerns,
experiences, etc.?
a. What styles of Language did they use? Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative,
Exclamatory, or Conditional?
b. What is the spirit of the text? Angry, cautionary, instructive, etc.?
c. What is the Historical and Cultural context for the passage that can help us
understand it better?
3. Where can other passages be found in scripture that parallel this text?
a. Are there any illusions to or direct quotes of other passages (if so, read them in
context), and how do they affect the overall interpretation?
4. When did they write it in sequential relationship to the rest of Scripture?
5. Why did they write it? Were there doctrinal issues or moral issues addressed?
6. Are there interpretational difficulties, or multiple ways of interpreting parts of the
passage?
a. If so, identify and write out each possible interpretation
b. Then examine the text to determine which interpretation best harmonizes
with all of Scripture
i. Then determine the best interpretation based on the one with the most
Biblical support, and rate it on your “sure-o-meter”.
7. Have you let Scripture define each word for itself, or are you relying on man’s ideas
to define Biblical words?
a. Search out key word meanings and usages in other passages
i. Look for passages that define and clarify how we should understand
doctrinal words such as Faith, Love, Repentance, Grace, Angels, etc.
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ii. By redefining one word, and causing it to mean something that God
never intended, people could suffer in Hell for eternity! We must let
scripture interpret scripture.
b. Use the Septuagint to see how the Greek should be understood
8. What do others historically see in the text? (Commentary, Sermons, Theology, Etc.) If
you see something different, why?
a. Lay out and try to defend both opposing sides, to see which has the stronger
case.
i. Are you thinking soundly?
ii. Are those who disagree with your interpretation thinking soundly?
1. You can’t both be right!
b. If the opposing side is not correct, then why? Truth is exclusive, prove which
interpretation is correct, and which one is wrong by Scripture alone.
i. Tradition does not determine truth, but the more firmly a doctrine is
held by tradition, the more sure we must be before we contradict the
majority interpretation.
1. The Truth is what sets us free and it is what sanctifies us by God’s
strength, it is very important!
9. Identify and explore the metaphors, allegories, illusions, etc. spend time to meditate
on them in their biblical context. Find any scripture that matches this usage, and use
it to aid in your understanding.
10.Can you understand the passage better by stating the opposite of what the passage
teaches? (i.e. “Seek and you shall find, vs. “If you do not seek, you will not find”)
11.Create an outline of the text and identify the key words and phrases; then use it to
help define the passage’s overall progression and Key doctrinal content, specifically
within the intent of the writer.
12.How has the text been interpreted wrongly in the past, and why?
a. What does an improper interpretation of the text cause pragmatically, and
how does that violate the Scriptures?
13.What type of text or portion is it: (Note that this does not affect the passages
truthfulness, but it can help with interpretation)
i. Prose (Narration, Exposition, Argumentation, Description, Revelation)
ii. Poetry (Parallelism, Synonymous – Repeated thought, Antithetic –
Contrasting thought, Synthetic – Completing thought)
b. Symbolism
c. Simile
d. Metaphor
e. Hyperbole
f. Personification
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g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
Typology
Archetype
Apocalyptic
Parable
What types of individual sentences does the passage contain?
i. Declarative – Presents a statement of fact
ii. Imperative – Delivers a command
iii. Interrogative – Asks a question
iv. Exclamatory – Expression of strong emotion
v. Conditional – A complex sentence that contains a conditional clause
(Using “If” or “since”)
What Parts of Speech are the Key Words?
i. Noun – Person Place or Thing (I am the way, the truth, and the life)
ii. Pronoun – Noun Substitute (I am the vine, you are the branches, He
who abides in Me)
iii. Adjective – Describes a Noun or Pronoun (He gave His only begotten
son)
iv. Article – Identifies something as definite or indefinite (And a slave does
not abide in the house)
1. ‘The’ always points to a specific item, while ‘a’ points to a general
item.
v. Adverb – Describes or modifies a verb, adjective or other adverb, telling:
how, when, where, why, how often, or how much. (For the poor you
have with you always, but Me you do not have always)
vi. Preposition – Shows a relationship (All things were made through Him,
and without Him)
vii. Conjunction – Joins words, phrases or clauses (But the hour is coming,
and now is)
viii. Interjection – Shows emotion or surprise, usually without grammatical
connection to the rest of the sentence. (Ah Lord GOD! Behold)
ix. Verb (check and study all verbs in the original languages or a literal
translation for changes in interpretation) – Represents an action or state
of being.
1. Present – Indicates action or state in present time (may be simple
or progressive, i.e. ongoing) (I thank my God through Jesus
Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all
the world.)
2. Past - Indicates action or state in past time (may be simple or
progressive) (Because they exchanged the truth of God for a
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lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the
Creator)
3. Future - Indicates action or state in future time, uses will or shall
as a helping verb, (again, may be simple or progressive) (And in
this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The
Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness
from Jacob.")
4. Perfect - Makes a reference to a completed action in relation to
present time (I want you to know, brothers, that
I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been
prevented)
5. Past Perfect - Makes a reference to completed action in relation
to past time, also called pluperfect (but also when Rebecca had
conceived children by one man)
6. Future Perfect - Makes a reference to a completed action in
relation to future time (a rare tense) (Whatever you forbid on
earth, shall have already been forbidden in heaven. And
whatever you permit on earth, shall have already been
permitted in heaven)
14. If the passage is about eschatology, add the following questions:
a. Does the passage contain time or sequential references that tell us where to
place it in a timeline or how long a period it is referring to? If not, a parallel
passage must be found to place the passage on a timeline or to determine how
long it may last for.
b. What is the personal application of the prophecy? Prophecy can have one or
more different purposes for personal application:
i. To instill hope and boost our determination or endurance
ii. To describe future events, people, kingdoms, circumstances, etc.
iii. To warn of the coming judgment, promote holiness and cause
repentance.
iv. To prevent deception.
v. To prove that God knows the end from the beginning and HE IS THE ONE
TRUE GOD.
vi. To prove that Jesus is the Messiah
vii. To prepare God’s people for difficulty ahead
viii. To instruct God’s people on how to respond to certain future situations
ix. To remind us God is ultimately in control!
1. Etc.…
c. Does the passage contain obviously symbolic language, and if so, what does
the Bible tell you the symbol means?
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i. Remember that Symbolic Prophecy is fulfilled in literal ways once the
symbols are interpreted correctly, through the Bible itself.
1. If the Symbolism is not clearly defined, the interpretation must be
equally unsure.
ii. If the passage is vague, and all other related passages are unclear, we
must be equally unsure.
1. Ultimately, we can only add up all that the Bible prophecies and
state what it literally says, we must not go beyond what is
written.
a. We can list out possible interpretations, but we must
remain undogmatic on them until the fulfillment arrives and
matches every aspect of the prophecy perfectly.
d. Does the passage contain signs, unique descriptions, language or participants
that are found in other passages in the Bible for clarification and/or
progression? (i.e. Sun & Moon Darkening, Stars falling, Coming in the clouds,
etc…)
i. These commonalities often help to establish the sequence of events,
tying prophecy from around the Bible together in an overall timeline.
e. Are you being very careful in stating how and when you believe the passage
will be fulfilled? This is the most dangerous aspect of Bible Prophecy. By
getting this wrong, many of the Religious leaders of Israel did not recognize
the Messiah, and many can be led away from the Truth, by false predictions of
how and when Bible prophecy will be fulfilled!
i. Be very, very literal, and NEVER go beyond what is written when
discussing the anticipated fulfillment of any prophetic passage.
15.What area (or areas) of Theology does the passage in question address, correct,
contradict or agree with?
a. Theology – The study of God
b. Christology – The study of the Messiah
c. Pneumatology - The study of the Spirit
d. Bibliology – The study of the Word of God
e. Angelology – The study of angels
f. Anthropology – The study of man
g. Hamartiology – The study of sin
h. Soteriology - The study of salvation
i. Ecclesiology – The study of the church
j. Eschatology – The study of the end times
k. Apologetics – The defense of the faith
l. Etc.
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