Concerning How to Interpret the Bible

How do we interpret the Bible? Well, in two words, "very carefully" :)

Why has the interpretation of the Bible been the cause of such division in the Body of Christ? Is it because of something God put in us for good we have misused. I mean the ability to subcreate. The ability God gave us to subcreate new ways to spread His message has been used in pride to create a new message altogether.

So lets start off with our motivation in Biblical Interpretation

Why do we want to interpret the Bible? Is it...
to be right
for status
that we start trying to prove our point
Or is it that we just want to know our Father more and edify our brothers and sisters (both lost and found)

I believe that our motivation is of greater importance than our methods, although good motivation without sound methods is also to be avoided. So before you start to study be sure that you do so out of a desire of building your relationship with God. Not just wanting to know right information.

Eph 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, (15) from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, (16) that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, (17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (19) and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

1Co 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

1Ti 6:20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"--

Just as faith without works is dead, knowledge without love is also worthless. We are not called to be philosophers of God but rather lovers of God.

So love and relationship with God is the foundation that we should be building our knowledge of God upon.

That said, we are also called to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" and "study to show ourselves approved". We need to study and find out the truth in God's Word. If we endeavor to govern our lives by it, we need to understand the principles that are laid out in it.


Two Ways

As far as I understand, there are basically two ways to study the Bible: Inductively and Deductively. I believe the only way to study the Bible with integrity and accuracy is to study inductively.

Studying deductively is basically starting out with a concept or belief already in place and then looking at the Scriptures through that "lens". In other words, studying deductively is looking at Scripture with a biased opinion as to what the truth is.

Studying inductively is starting out with the attitude of a learner, looking through a "lens" of humility and reverence at God. It is putting our own beliefs and biased opinions on the shelf until the Word of God proves or disproves them. I'm not saying to throw out everything that you have learned from your particular denomination or tradition, but rather to hold those things with an open hand and allow God with His Spirit to form your doctrine, and remember that wisdom is found in a multitude of counselors.

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Job 42:1-6 Then Job answered the LORD and said, (2) "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. (3) 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' "Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." (4) 'Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.' (5) "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; (6) Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes."

Just as Job retracted his earlier beliefs, so should we when we study the Word. I just want to reiterate, we are not searching for information about God, we are searching for God Himself.

Suggested Method

I feel it would be arrogant of me to say one method is the "only method" for studying the Bible, so from here on I will simply describe how I do it in my own life.

1. First of all, I make sure that my attitude is correct (as described above).

2. Next, pray and ask God to lead you into Truth with His Spirit.

Joh 16:13-14 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. (14) "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

3. Then, I believe, we always need something to measure our studies against. A kind of standard, something we can know for sure. I believe this standard is the character of God. The Bible clearly states God's character as being loving, just, holy, etc. Therefore, any doctrine must be weighed against these characteristics. Not only reading about God in His Word, but experiencing Him and His character in your own life is crucial. You cannot separate your study and your personal relationship with God. This is the very thing that sets Christianity apart from any other belief system in the world. To separate your personal relationship with God from doctrine simply creates rules.

Gal 5:1-6 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (2) Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. (3) And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. (4) You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (5) For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. (6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

4. Next, ask questions. For example: Who, What, When, Where, Why, To Whom, and How? Also, you need to ask these questions of each verse:

• What is the context of this verse? (the surrounding verses, chapters, the book, and even context of the whole Bible message)
• What was the cultural setting at the time of the message?
  
• What was the historical setting of the message?
• What problem was this instruction addressing? (especially in the case of the epistles)
• What genre of literature am I reading? (For example, poetry, historical records, prophesy, etc)

There are some good examples of these types of questions here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_hermeneutics#Techniques_of_hermeneutics

5. Look for principles that you can apply in all areas of your life.

There are two things that you will come across when studying the Bible. The first is most obvious: methods, rules, or a way to do things. These are specific to certain times and places.

Then there are principles, motives, or why to do things. These are truths that can be applied to all people, at all times, in all cultures, and in all places.

6. Next, understand the principle of what some call "state" and "sequence". It could also be called "position" and "process" or "saved" and "sanctified".

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

For instance,
Your state is:

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; (9) not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Your sequence is:

Php 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

(Notice it is God who is the source of both grace and to will and to work. Praise Him!!!)



In conclusion I Believe...

That we should sure to apply the things that God has shown you in His Word. Be doers of the Word, not studiers only. Remain teachable at all times. Don't create a "new" religion based on some understanding that you have gained. Talk about your insights with other mature Christians and hold them with an open hand.

1Pe 5:5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.