The WordThe Science of Biblical Interpretation
Part 1
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―Do you understand what you are reading?‖
Philip to Ethiopian EunuchActs 8:30
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―How could I unless someone guides me?‖
Ethiopian Eunuch to PhilipActs 8:31
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Can we understand what the Bible means?
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" And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel. Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with
understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it before
the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and
women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the
book of the law.‖ (Nehemiah 8:1-9)
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"Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all
the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, ―Amen, Amen!‖ while lifting up
their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. . . .They read from the book, from the law of God, translating [explaining] to
give the sense so that they understood the reading."
(Nehemiah 8:5-6, 8)
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―The Bells started questioning their assumptions about the Bible itself –
―discovering the Bible as a human product,‖ as Rob puts it, rather than the
product of divine fiat. The Bible is still in the center for us,‖ Rob says, ―but it‘s a
different kind of center. We want to embrace mystery, rather than conquer it.‖ ― I grew up thinking that we‘ve figure out the Bible,‖ Kristen says, ―That we knew what it means. Now I have no idea what
most of it means. And yet I feel like life is big again – like life used to be black and
white, and now it‘s in color.‖- Christianity Today, Nov. 2004, pp 37-8.
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"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human
wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words."
(1 Corinthians 2:12-13)
Here, the Apostle Paul makes clear that God‘s thoughts can indeed by communicated via finite human language.
We can know what the Bible means.
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Can non-Christians understand what the Bible means?
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" For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of
God.‖(1 Corinthians 1:18)
"But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot
understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.‖(1 Corinthians 2:14)
Ginōskō: ―grasp the significance of something‖
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Non-Christians can understand the meaning of the Bible‘s text … but … without the illumination of
the Spirit, they will not grasp the text‘s significance.
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―There is a difference between having a right
speculative notion of the doctrines contained in the world of God, and having a due sense of
them in the heart.‖- Jonathan Edwards
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HermeneuticsFrom the Greek hermēneuō (interpret)
(Hermes was the Greek messenger of the gods)
(a) The study and statement of the principles on which a text—for present purposes, the biblical text—is to be understood, or (b) The interpretation of the text in such a way that its message comes home
to the reader or hearer.
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1. Observation – what do I see?2. Interpretation – what does it mean?3. Application – how does it apply?
Hermeneutical Process
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Observations in Scripture
1. Terms2. Structure3. Genre4. Background
Observation is crucial because it feeds into the next cycle, which is interpretation. Without good observation skills, a wrongful interpretation could
be the end result.
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Observation - Terms
Terms are often categorized as routine (―the‖), difficult (―spirit‖), crucial (―law‖), and important (―death‖).
"Jesus answered and said to him, ―Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.‖ Nicodemus said to Him, ―How can a man be born when he
is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother‘s womb and be born, can he?‖ Jesus answered, ―Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ―That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit. ―Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‗You must be born again.‘ ―The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes
from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.‖"(John 3:3-8)
Is there another part of the Bible where we find both the Spirit and Water?
"The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters."(Genesis 1:2)
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Observation – What Stands Out to You?
" A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Hemakes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name‘s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.―
(Psalm 23:1-6)
Notice the pronouns – once suffering comes, God comes close…
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Terms in the Original Language
The pronoun is singular and feminine; indicates Mary alone – speaks to virgin birth
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Observation - Structure
1. Who – who is a particular person; who is doing the speaking ; who is the author
2. What – what is the argument; what is the point
3. When – when did an event take place; when was a work written
4. Where – where did an event take place; where was a person born
5. How – how did something happen; how was an event taking place
6. Why (perhaps… may be more application)
Questions to ask as you are reading the Text
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Observation - Structure
1. Things that are emphasized2. Things that are repeated3. Things that are related4. Things that are alike5. Things that are unlike6. Things that are true to life7. The order of things in the text
Six Things to Look for in the Text
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Things that are Emphasized
" Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been
written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
(John 20:30-31)
―Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens,―(Hebrews 8:1)
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Things that are Repeated
"It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, ―Behold, the
Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodlyway, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have
spoken against Him.‖"(Jude 14-15)
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Things that are Repeated" In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.―
(Genesis 1:1)
" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.―
(John 1:1)
"On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance."
(Genesis 22:4)
―The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on
the third day.‖(Luke 9:22)
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The Order of Things in the Text
"For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and
in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due
penalty of their error."(Romans 1:26-27)
Why would Paul start with the women instead of men? Perhaps because in most cultures, the women are the more sexually modest
ones – maybe Paul is beginning with the women to show how base the culture had become.
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Structure of a Book
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Observation - Genre
1. Narrative2. Gospel3. Poetry4. Prophecy5. Didactic
Understand the Literary Type of Material being Read
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Observation - Genre
Narrative is a story told for the purpose of conveying a message through the record of events, situations, people, settings, plot, and
various other factors that constitute a story.
Kinds of Narrative include:
1. Tragedy (e.g. Saul)2. Epic (e.g. Exodus)3. Heroic (e.g. Paul)
Narrative
Literary Devices of Narrative include:
1. Typology (e.g. Balaam)2. Chiasm (Noah)
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Observation - Genre
" But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were
with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam
struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam‘s foot against
the wall, so he struck her again. The angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey
with his stick. And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, ―What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?‖ Then Balaam said to the donkey, ―Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand,
I would have killed you by now.‖ The donkey said to Balaam, ―Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to
you?‖ And he said, ―No.‖ Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to
the ground."(Numbers 22:22-31)
The Story of Balaam
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Observation - Genre
The story of Balaam and the donkey foreshadows the relationship between Balaam and Balak. The dullness of the prophet is akin to the dullness of Balak;
what the donkey is to Balaam, Balaam is to Balak.
The Story of Balaam
Balaam BalakDonkey sees angel that Balaam can‘t see Balaam sees blessing of God upon Israel that
Balak can‘t see
Donkey sees angel three times; Donkey is beaten three times
Balaam speaks blessing of God upon Israel three times when asked to curse Israel three time
Each time donkey turns from angel, the effect on Balaam is worse
With each blessing upon Israel, the effect on Balak is worse
Balaam is prevented from killing donkey Balak unable to kill Balaam
Donkey speaks because God opens its mouth Balaam says he can only speak words God puts in his mouth
Balaam not surprised donkey speaks Balak not moved by blessings upon Israel
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Chiasm Structures – Noah‘s Life
Point of Noah‘s story is not
judgment, but salvation of God‘s
people
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Chiasm Structure - Book of Jude
Point of Jude is the doom of the
heretics
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Observation - GospelThe Difference between Narrative and Gospel
Old Testament Narrative Gospel
Single plots Collections of stories
More unified More fragmented
Nearly the same cast of characters from start to finish
More episodic with characters appearing only once and dropping out
Focus on various individuals with other historical material
Focus on Jesus whose story is continuous and not interrupted
Emphasis on the history of a nation Emphasis on the life of Jesus
Narrative along with brief commentary Narrative with extensive discourse,parables, and teachings
Human messengers Christ, the divine Human messenger
God working on and through a sinfulnation
God working through the sinless Christ
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Observation - Genre
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon are the main poetic books, but other books
contain poetry as well.
The primary thing to observe in poetry is the use of parallelisms. There are three forms of parallelism:
1. Synonymous - Presents the same thought with a slight difference 2. Antithetic – Sets two thoughts in contrast to one another3. Synthetic – Sets expectation that is completed by 2nd part
Poetry
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Observation - Genre
Synonymous parallelism"A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not
escape."(Proverbs 19:5)
Antithetic parallelism" A wise son accepts his father‘s discipline, But a scoffer does not
listen to rebuke."(Proverbs 13:1)
Synthetic parallelism"For, behold, Your enemies, O Lord, For, behold, Your enemies will
perish; All who do iniquity will be scattered."(Psalm 92:9)
Poetry
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Observation - Genre
"That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."(Isaiah 45:6-7, KJV)
How Understanding Poetic Parallelism Helps
This is a case of antithetic parallelism; the first is set against the second. What is the opposite of peace? Evil? No. This leads us to consider that the KJV has a poor rendering of the Hebrew word ‗רע‘.
"The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am
the Lord who does all these."(Isaiah 45:7, NASB)
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Observation - Genre
"‗And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.‖ (Matthew 6:13)
How Understanding Poetic Parallelism Helps
Why would Jesus ask that God not lead us into temptation when the Bible says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, ―I am being tempted by God‖; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone."(James 1:13) ? Further
Matt 4:1 reads: "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.‖
This is a case of synonymous parallelism. To be led into temptation is to be exposed to the power of the enemy, which is what Jesus asks for this followers to be delivered from ( the end of the verse should actually read – ―evil one‖); it is a general prayer of deliverance from the enemy‘s power. But will we see trials that come from
the enemy? Of course. But God can deliver us out of Satan‘s power.
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Observation - Genre
The temptations of Jesus in Matthew and Luke 4 parallel those of Israel (also called God‘s son):
How Understanding Typology Parallels Helps
• First Temptation – Food (Israel wants to go back to Egypt for food)• Second Temptation – Test God (Israel tests God‘s patience)• Third Temptation – Worship (Israel worships other gods)
Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy each time, which speaks about these events
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Observation - Genre
This certainly involves prophecy as in predicting the future, but is also rightly classified as ―forthtelling‖. There are various types of
prophecy:
Prophecy
1. Judgment Oracle: the most basic such as in Amos 7:15-172. Woe Oracle: details the transgressions and resulting judgment3. Salvation Oracle: promise of deliverance from catastrophe or judgment4. Legal Oracle: mimics a court trial such as Isaiah 1:2-45. Symbolic Oracle: prophet uses something physical to represent their point6. Apocalyptic Oracle: employs visions, direct visitations, and symbolism to
communicate future events
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Observation - Genre
This primarily involves the epistles of the New Testament and is designed to teach the reader. Its key characteristic is that it is
prescriptive vs. descriptive.
Didactic
"All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?"(1 Corinthians 12:30)
Vs.
"And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues
as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit was giving them utterance."(Acts 2:2-4)
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Observation - Background
1. What is the historical context?2. What is the political environment?3. What is the religious environment?4. What is the geographical environment5. What is the cultural big picture?
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Observation - Background
" ―To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ‗I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‗So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. ‗Because you say, ―I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,‖ and you do not
know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you
may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye
salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see."(Revelation 3:14-18)
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Observation - Background―I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‗So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor
cold, I will spit you out of My mouth…‖
Laodicea was between Hierapolis and Colossae. Hierapolis was known for its hot mineral springs
which produced healing properties, whereas Colossae has a rare cold stream whose waters were
very refreshing. Laodicea built aqueducts to pipe both the hot water from Hierapolis and cold water
from Colossae into the city. However, the hot water cooled down and the cold water warmed up; they both
became lukewarm. Moreover, the water contained sludge that made it sickening to drink.
Christ is telling the Laodiceans they are just like their water; they neither heal nor refresh and literally are of no value; they make Him sick just as their water does
them.
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Observation - Background―Because you say, ―I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,‖ and you do not know that you are wretched and
miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments
so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so
that you may see‖Laodicea was known for its wealth. It had a strong
banking industry, was famous for its sleek black wool, and had a medical school that offered a special salve to
heal common eye troubles of the Middle East.
Christ tells them they are actually very poor regardless of their material wealth. In place of their banks, they need real gold; in place of their black wool, they need
white garments; and in place of their physical eye salve, they need spiritual eye salve so they can really see.
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Observations in Scripture
1. Terms2. Structure3. Genre4. Background
Observation takes work, but the fruit it bears is quite large when it is funneled into the next step
of the hermeneutical process, which is interpretation.
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The WordThe Science of Biblical Interpretation