Hermeneutics
Okay. You can quit scratching your head. The word hermeneutics may not be a well-known word, but it is important when studying the word of God.
In a nutshell, hermeneutics is the proper way to determine the meaning of Biblical text. 2 Peter 1:20 states that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. This means scripture cannot be interpreted at a person’s will.
There are six basic principles you must know when interpreting the word of God:
1. It must be interpreted grammatically.
2. It must be interpreted contextually.
3. It must be interpreted comparatively.
4. It must be interpreted as Christ-centered.
5. It must be interpreted historically.
6. It must be interpreted literally.
The first principle when studying God’s word is that it must be interpreted grammatically. This means having a general knowledge of syntax (sentence structure). Your knowledge of subjects, verbs, direct objects, prepositional phrases, etc. will help when studying the Bible.
Along with syntax, it helps to know the meaning of words. Take, for example, the word “cool”. Back in the ’60s and ’70s, it meant “groovy” or “far out.” Today, a person using that word is antiquated. It helps to look up the meaning of biblical words you don’t understand in an old dictionary. Its older definitions will prove truer to your Bible than the definitions in a newly revised dictionary. When looking up word meanings the “Strong’s Concordance Bible” comes in very handy. This concordance will also provide the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic definitions to help distinguish the meaning along with Bible verse cross-references.
The second basic principle when interpreting the Word of God is to interpret it contextually. First, read the verse or passage in its immediate surroundings. If the meaning is still unclear, then move to a wider framework.
Take James 2:24 to demonstrate this point. “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” Upon casual reading, one might think this verse teaches salvation through faith and works, but that is not so. The preceding verse states, “…Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.” Abraham’s righteousness was attributed to his belief in God, not by his works.
Widen that contextual “net” by considering verse 14 of chapter two. Here, James begins his discourse on faith and works, by asking what profit is there in a man who says he is saved, but his life (works) shows otherwise. James is not implying that the man’s works preceded his salvation. To the contrary, James is about to explain why works are necessary after salvation.
Also, consider that James wrote his epistle to “My brethren…” (James 1:2). These people were saved, so the works James spoke of had nothing to do with their salvation, which had already been established in the Lord.
Take this point to its natural conclusion by considering the third basic principle of interpreting the word of God: interpret the Bible comparatively. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself, so the best way to study the word of God is to compare scripture with scripture, being careful to keep comparisons in context. You can keep yourself from misinterpreting James 2:24 by comparing it to the entire word of God. This verse does not teach salvation by works because the entire word of God points to Christ as the only way of salvation. Consider using a Parallel Bible to help with finding what a verse or passage means. A parallel Bible can include up to four different translations such as the NIV, NLT, NKJV and The Message. I recommend a parallel Bible to help in comparing the context of a particular passage.
This truth leads to the fourth basic principle of interpreting the Word of God and that is putting Christ in the center of your Bible study (Christo-centric). From the Old Testament’s promise of the Messiah to the New Testament’s fulfillment of that promise, Christ is preeminent. Since Christ is the reason for the Bible, it is only logical to look for him on every page. Keep your studies pointing toward him, and the Bible will become clearer.
Historical interpretation is the fifth spoke on our Hermeneutics’ wheel. Everyday knowledge must also be coupled with knowledge of the cultural and historical setting of the Bible plus the other five principles of Bible interpretation. Otherwise, there is a risk of interpreting the Bible in light of a 21st-century mindset. A Concordance also works well in the study principle.
Throughout time and into present-day discoveries, historical accounts have proved the Bible true. For example:
1. Exodus 5 (straw in the bricks)
2. Tablets found in southern Turkey (Hittites)
3. Walls of Jericho fell inward-Joshua 6:20
You can often understand the Bible by comparing historical findings to the accounts written in its pages. The internet is a good source for looking up this kind of information and there is a wealth of books on Scientific Facts found in the Bible. The are all great ready to help understand your Bible and defend your faith!
The sixth and last basic principle of interpreting the word of God is to interpret it literally. O. E. Phillips said it this way, “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense.”
Before you begin an in-depth study of any book in the Bible, sit down and read that book in its entirety and look for a general theme. This theme will give you a peg upon which to hang the rest of your study. For example, the main theme in Galatians is Paul’s unhappiness with the Galatians for trying to bring works back into their salvation experience. This knowledge will make the entire book clearer.
After you have established a theme, go back and reread the book to substantiate it. As you read, develop an outline and write down relevant words and ones that are repeated. This will help you tie everything together.
Devotionals will help you study single passages or themes in a structured way. Consider using a devotional or Bible study to help you maximize your time in the Bible. Many devotions can be done in about fifteen minutes a day.
When you study the Bible, take heart if you come across a difficult verse or passage. Even the apostle Peter found some parts of the Bible hard to understand (“And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood…” 2 Peter 3:15-16a). God will reveal truths to you as you grow spiritually, but there are some things you will never fully understand until you get to heaven and become like Christ.
