Grace Institute: Bible Study Methods: The Principles of Interpretation

Bible Study Methods Grace Institute for Biblical Leadership Spring 2005

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The Principles of Interpretation

Errors in Interpretation

1. Allegory – Allegorical interpretation asserts that there is a plural meaning to scripture: that which is to be understood at face value and a secondary meaning where each element of the primary meaning has a deeper spiritual meaning. This style of interpretation relies upon imaginative allegorical connections. A sub-set of this is “typological” interpretation, where every story found in the Old Testament is assumed to foreshadow the New Testament.
2. Cults – Cults interpret the bible to have a secret meaning which can only be revealed through special knowledge.
3. Protestant Pietism – Scripture is read in anticipation of specific directions emerging from our daily reading of scripture. The secondary meaning of a passage is what God is saying to me right now. This happens when we read a passage as if it is intended to be a specific answer to decisions or situations that we are confronted with each day.

For example, a believer may be trying to decide whether or to make a trip to the coast for the weekend. That day during their quiet time they read in Acts how Paul and Barnabas were sent by the church in Antioch to go on a journey, so the believer sees this as confirmation that indeed God wants them to take the trip.

This treats scripture no better than some sort of Christian horoscope or biblical 8-ball.

1. Premature association – This is when correlation is brought into the interpretative process too early. As a result, the interpreter may take the meaning of the correlative passage as the meaning of this passage without truly determining if it is what this passage teaches.
2. Fragmentary Interpretation – The fragmentary interpreter treats the bible as if it is a collection of isolated verses to be understood apart from its immediate and broader contexts.
3. Dogmatic Interpretation – This is when the interpreter has theological agenda in which they believe strongly or which colors their view of every scripture. The bible is seen as a series of proof texts for that preconceived viewpoint.

Correct Interpretation

• Meaning is derived out-of the text. It is not imposed on the text.

If we have done our observation steps correctly, this will take care of itself. Nonetheless we must always keep in mind that meaning comes from the content of the subject passage. This is the foundation of inductive bible study.

• There is only one true interpretation to the text .

There are not secondary allegorical, secret meanings hidden within the passage that require some special knowledge or creativity on the part of the reader. The primary meaning of the passage is the only meaning.

• Don't let the difficulties in a passage keep you from the primary point of a passage .

Within a passage there may be some details which might be difficult to understand, usually the point of the larger passage is clear. For example in 1 Corinthians 15:29 Paul speaks of the “baptism of the dead.” It is not clear what he means by this, and this is the only time this phrase is used in scripture. However, what we do know from 1 Corinthians 15 is that Paul is talking about the truth of the resurrection. Our focus should be on that clear truth rather than on the uncertain elements within the passage.

• If the literal sense makes sense, seek no other sense.

The text means what is normally or plain stated in the passage. This does not mean the interpreter overlooks figures of speech, metaphors or obvious allegories. However, we only consider a passage metaphorical or symbolic only when text clearly expects us to, or when a literal meaning is impossible or absurd (Revelation 1:16).

• The easiest explanation is usually the most accurate explanation.

Often we assume that the trickiest or most creative interpretation must be accurate. Instead, after making our observations and connecting this with the historical and grammatical contexts, most of the time the interpretation is readily obvious to us.

• The text cannot mean what it never could have meant to its author or his readers .

This rule may not help us determine the actual interpretation of the passage, but it can exclude certain interpretations for us. The proper interpretation of a passage must conform to he laws of grammar and the facts of history.

Context, context, context!

•  Literary context – The original readers usually read the subject passage as part of a greater whole. For, example, an entire epistles would have been read aloud to a church in one sitting. Each passage therefore needs to fit within the structure of the entire book.

•  Historical context – What was taking place politically, socially or economically at the time the original readers heard the passage? What was taking place at the same time this was being written and read?

•  Cultural context –Who is in power in this culture? How forms of communication are used? What is used for money? What ethnic issue do the readers face? What is family-life like? All of these factors will change the meaning of the passage.

•  Geographic context – What was the terrain like? What topographic features are significant? What was the weather like? How far were the readers from the action taking place? What was the city like? Was it rich or poor?

•  Theological context – What did the readers understand about God? How did they worship God? How much of the scripture did they have? What other religious ideas were competing for influence at this time?

Use your imagination!

The key to interpretation is to use our imagination. We must put ourselves back in time and space, imagining what it would have been like for the original readers. We need to consider what it would have been like for the original reader to encounter the subject passage.