bible interpretation · • lesson two: interpreting figurative language • lesson three:...

Bible Interpretation WhatdoestheBibleMean

•  Lesson One: Taking the Bible Literally

•  Lesson Two: Interpreting Figurative Language

•  Lesson Three: Prescriptive versus Descriptive Passages

•  Lesson Four: Positional versus Experiential Passages

•  Lesson Five: Interpreting in the light of Context

Bible Interpretation Study Part I

Bible Interpretation WhatdoestheBibleMean

Why this Study? Because “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” II Timothy 3:16

Warning

“If an individual can make the Bible say what he wants it to say, then the Bible cannot guide him. It is merely a weapon in his hands to support his own ideas.”

[Layman’s Guide to Interpreting the Bible, by Walter A. Henrichsen]

Literal versus Figurative Language Warning

Ifweinterpretliterallanguageasifitwerefigura1veorfigura1velanguageasifitwereliteral,wewillmisinterpretthebiblepassage.

Literal Language

• Means exactly what it says

• Stick with the obvious, plain meanings

• Uses words according to their precise definitions

• Limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text

Literal in Latin (litteralis) means of letters or writings

Define Figurative Language

“Figura1velanguageisawordorphrasethatdepartsfromeverydayliterallanguageforthesakeofcomparison,emphasis,clarity,orfreshness.”

GinnyWiehardt

It enhances our understanding of biblical truth

Characterized by figures of speech

Figurative versus Literal Language Examples

Figura1ve:FiguresofSpeechExample:“allwelikesheephavegoneastray”Isaiah53:6a[Simile]Literal:MeansexactlywhatitsaysExample:“theLordhathlaidonhimtheiniquityofusall”Isaiah53:6b

Metaphor Definition

Makes comparison between two things easy to

understand by suggesting that one thing is

another.

“The United States is a melting pot”

Literarydevices.net

Metaphor: Biblical Example

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

BiblicalTruth:Godwillmeetmyneed

Metaphor: Biblical Example

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35

BiblicalTruth:Jesusoffersusallwhatisessen1al

foreternallife:Himself

Metaphor: Biblical Example

26Andastheywereea1ng,Jesustookbread,andblessedit,andbrakeit,andgaveittothedisciples,andsaid,Take,eat;thisismybody.

27Andhetookthecup,andgavethanks,andgaveittothem,saying,Drinkyeallofit;

28Forthisismybloodofthenewtestament,whichisshedformanyfortheremissionofsins.Matthew 26:26-28

Whatisthebiblicaltruthtaughtinthisverse?

Supporting Scripture

Context: Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? Matthew 26:17

Metaphor: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29

Supporting Scripture

Metaphor: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. I Corinthians 5:7

Purpose: After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. I Corinthians 11:29

The Lord’s Supper Summary

-  Jesus’ statements are during the passover supper -  John the Baptist calls Jesus the lamb of God who

takes away sin -  Paul states that Christ is our passover who was

sacrificed for us -  Paul states the purpose for the “supper” is to

remember what Christ has done in His sacrifice on the cross

The Lord’s Supper Biblical Truth

When Jesus stated to His disciples your eating my body and drinking my blood, when you take the bread and the cup,

He was using metaphor to explain a spiritual truth:

Jesus is the ultimate passover lamb to be sacrificed to take away our sins and free us from it’s slavery and its penalty of death.

We must “consume” Jesus through faith in Him to be saved

Parable Definition

•  An earthly story with a heavenly meaning •  Short story that illustrates a moral lesson

or principle and universal truth •  Parables have human characters

Parable of the Sower – Matthew 13

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: ================================== 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Parable of the Sower continued

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: =============================== 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Parable of the Sower continued

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

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20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Parable of Sower continued

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

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22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Parable of Sower continued Matthew 13

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Parable of Sower: Hears the Word

1.  Wayside soil – Devoured by the fowls // Wicked one - catcheth away

2.  Stony soil – No deepness, no root, withereth away //

Tribulation brings offence (falls away) 3.  Thorny soil – Thorns grew and choke // Cares of the

world, deceitfulness of riches, chokes word – becomes unfruitful

4.  Good soil – Brought forth fruit // understands – bears

fruit

Parable of Sower: Biblical Truth

-  God has given us His word (like seed) that produces fruit (salvation) in those who truly believe it (understands)

-  Salvation can only be produced in a heart (soil) that is deep, soft and fertile to receive it; a humble heart of repentance and acceptance

-  The other soils don’t produce salvation (fruit): the heart is hardened and cluttered -- full trials and cares that distract to understand the word

-  The evil one snatches the word out of some hearts and they don’t receive God’s salvation

Simile Definition

Makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things. Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the help of the words “like” or “as”. Therefore, it is a direct comparison. “Our soldiers are brave as lions.” It imparts vivid imagery and conveys deeper meaning. It enhances parables, commands, etc. Literarydevices.net

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field: Matthew 13:44a

Simile: Biblical Example

BiblicalTruth:Thekingdomofheaven(Salva1on)

ispreciousandvaluable

Simile: Biblical Example

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16

BiblicalTruth:Inthemidstofadangerousworld,becircumspectaboutyourenemies

andnevercausethemmalice,butkindness

Simile: Biblical Example

BiblicalTruth:TheLord’sfaithfulnesstoIsrael

willkeepthemfrombeingdestroyed

Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Isaiah 1:9

Personification Definition

A thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes. The non-human objects are portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like human beings. “The car is feeling cranky today.” Literarydevices.net

Personification: Biblical Example

BiblicalTruth:CainmurderedAbelhisbrother

And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. Genesis 4:10

Personification: Biblical Example

BiblicalTruthTheJoyofIsraelintheKingdomAge

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12

Allegory Definition

As a literary device, an allegory is a metaphor whose vehicle may be a character, place or event, representing real-world issues and occurrences. Wikipedia Writers or speakers typically use allegories as literary devices or as rhetorical devices that convey hidden meanings through symbolic figures, actions, imagery, or events, which together create the moral, spiritual, or political meaning the author wishes to convey.[ Wikipedia

Allegory – Pilgrims Progress

Pilgrims Progress is written in a straightforward, biblical style and based on the simple metaphor of life as a journey, John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678 and 1684) became one of the most famous spiritual allegories in the English language. “City of Destruction” – viewed as a picture of the world and world system

Allegory – Biblical Example Ezekiel 37

1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

Allegory – Biblical Example Ezekiel 37

4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Allegory – Biblical Example Ezekiel 37

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

Allegory – Biblical Example Ezekiel 37

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

Allegory – Biblical Example Ezekiel 37

13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

Allegory – Biblical Truth Ezekiel 37

•  Valley full of bone – very many, very dry = House of Israel dead both physically and spiritually and a hopeless nation

•  Lord puts sinews, flesh, skin on the bones = Restores Israel as a nation in own land (politically) - FULFILLED

•  Lord breathes life into Israel = Israel will know the Lord (spiritual regeneration) - FUTURE

Genesis 1:3-5 - Figurative or Literal?

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Literal: Means exactly what it says; it actually happened

Questions