Interpretation Rule 10: Understanding Scripture Literally & Figuratively

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ Download notes at: GraceBibleNY.org/hermeneutics

Interpretation Rule 10 Scripture has only one meaning and should be taken literally In order to communicate, you must assume (1) that the true intent of speech is to convey thought, (2) that language is a reliable medium of communication.

Interpretation Rule 10 Scripture has only one meaning and should be taken literally Questions to consider before interpreting a passage in an other-than literal interpretation 1) Am I questioning this passage being literal because I do not want to obey it? (pg 180) (Ex. - 1 Cor. 14:34 - women being silent in the church) 2) Am I interpreting this passage figuratively because it does not fit my preconceived theological bias? (Ex. - 2 Kings 2:23-24 - Elisha calling bears to maul 42 disrespectful youths

Interpretation Rule 10 Scripture has only one meaning and should be taken literally Determine the usual and ordinary sense of words and consider that to be the correct meaning unless the context demand otherwise (pg. 181) No statement may be considered to have more than one meaning (Exception: prophetic passages may have both near and distant fulfillment) - No word can have more than one meaning as it is used in a passage - though multiple uses of the word in a passage may convey additional meanings. (181)

Rule 10 Assignments, pg. 241 1. Interpreters disagree about the interpretation of Luke 16:19-31 (The rich man and Lazarus), whether it should be taken literally or as a parable. Read the passage carefully. Do you think it is a parable or something that actually happened? State the reasons for your conclusion. It actually happened. The passage is not introduced with any indicators that it is a parable or allegorical in nature. It is not likened to anything. Jesus presents it as a narrative - and since Jesus is God, He would have knowledge of these things.

Rule 10 Assignments, pg. 241 2. Give an illustration of a biblical statement or command that some people have a hard time taking literally (for instance, Jesus comment on hell as in Matthew 25:41). Genesis 1 - That God created everything in 6 days defined as there was evening and there was morning, one day ) 1 Timothy 3 / Titus 1 - The requirements for Elders Romans 9-11. Israel refers to the nation, not the church. 1 Timothy 2:9-14 - Women to receive instruction quietly and not exercise authority over men..

Rule 10 Assignments, pg. 241 3. In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus is discussing a proper value system with His disciples. A. How do you interpret verse 25? I do not need to worry about the mundane things of life - food / drink / clothing - if I will first seek God s kingdom and righteousness, for God will provide B. In light of Rule ten, write out an application of this verse for your life. It is a command I need to obey.

Rule 10 Assignments, pg. 241 4. Meditate on Mark 7:1-23. In what ways was this principle violated by the religious leaders of Jesus day? Their criticism of the disciples violating their traditions by eating with unwashed hands - Jesus rebuked them and applied Isaiah 29:13 - they were hypocrites. They interpreted Moses to suit themselves, rather than to please God.

Rule 11 - Interpret words in harmony with their meaning in the time of the author A Bible dictionary (lexicon) is helpful in defining words in according to their historical usage A writer can give a his own meaning to a word - as determined by the context (John 2:14f - temple) Do not skip over words you do not understand - find out their definitions. Even words you may otherwise understand should be examined, for an incorrect translation can lead you astray.

Rule 11 - Interpret words in harmony with their meaning in the time of the author Determine the following four things about a word you are studying: 1) Its use by the writer - how does the author use the word? 2) Its relation to its immediate context - what does the context indicate about the word s meaning? 3) Its current use at the time of the writing - what did it mean then? 4) Its root meaning - what is the basic concept of the word?

Rule 11 - Interpret words in harmony with their meaning in the time of the author Compare translations - but be careful of paraphrases You are seeking to determine the author s meaning when he wrote it.

Rule 11 Assignments, pg. 242 1. In James epistle he constantly refers to his brothers (James 1:16; 2:1; 3:1, and others). Who are these brothers? How is James using his word They are Jewish believers in the Lord Jesus Christ - James 1:1; 2:1

Rule 11 Assignments, pg. 242 2. According to the context, the lion is likened to whom a. Deuteronomy 33:20 The Tribe of Gad b. 1 Kings 13:24 The animal, a lion c. Proverbs 19:12 The king d. Proverbs 28:1 The righteous people e. Ezekiel 22:25 The false prophets of Israel f. 1 Peter 5:8 Satan / the devil g. Revelation 5:5 Jesus

Rule 11 Assignments, pg. 242 3. Look up atonement. What is its root meaning in the Old Testament (Use a concordance, Bible dictionary or commentary rp1K2 / Kaphar - to cover over

Rule 11 Assignments, pg. 242 4. Using a Bible dictionary or Bible encyclopedia determine the meaning of the following words: a. Argob (2 Kings 15:25) - A guard killed by Pekah b. Carnelian / Sardius (Revelation 21:20). A semi-precious stone - tan to red in color c. Bishopric / office / Episkopen (Acts 1:20) A position of responsible oversight d. Phylacteries (Matthew 23:5) A small box containing the Shema (Deut. 6:4) tied to the wrist or forehead

Rule 11 Assignments, pg. 242 4. Using a Bible dictionary or Bible encyclopedia determine the meaning of the following words: e. Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23:33-44) A feast of Israel commemorating the wilderness wanderings f. Emerods (KJV) / Tumors (RSV) (1 Samuel 5:6) Some sort of plague causing some physical growth on the body. g. Corban (Mark 7:11) A dedicated offering

Rule 12 - Interpret a word in relations to its sentence & context, pp 186-188 Example 1: Faith (186-187) Galatians 1:23 - faith is the doctrine of the gospel but only, they kept hearing, He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy. Romans 14:23 - faith is the conviction that this is what God wants you to do But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Rule 12 - Interpret a word in relations to its sentence & context, pp 186-188 Example 1: Faith (186-187) 1 Timothy 5:11-12 - faith is a pledge or promise made to the Lord - professed belief 11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. (NKJV).

Rule 12 - Interpret a word in relations to its sentence & context, pp 186-188 Example 2: Blood Acts 17:24-26 - blood refers to a group of related people 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,.

Example 2: Blood Ephesians 1:7 - blood refers to the atoning death of Jesus on the cross In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace Hebrews 9:6-7 - blood refers to the bodily fluid in the veins and arteries of the animal 6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

Rule 12 - Interpret a word in relations to its sentence & context, pp 186-188 Example 3 - 1 Corinthians 7:1 touch Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. Context indicates Paul is referring to intimate physical contact - sexual, not just common contact in common social settings - shaking hands, helping her up or down, etc.

Rule 12 - Interpret a word in relations to its sentence & context, pp 186-188 Note: Remember that the ancient manuscripts did not have punctuation marks or chapter or verse designations. These were added by translators as aides to clarity, so even the context may extend in either direction more than what the punctuation and verse designations may suggest. - example Eph. 1:4-5

Rule 12 Assignments, pg 243 1. The following all use the same word for house. Look up each reference and given the meaning of house from its context. a. Luke 1:27 - to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin s name was Mary The lineage of David b. Luke 11:17 - But He knew their thoughts and said to them, Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. A smaller group than kingdom in association with one another (used for extended family)

c. Acts 2:36 - Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified. All those belonging to the nation / people of Israel d. Acts 10:2 - a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. The family members and servants of Cornelius - those under his authority e. Acts 19:16 - And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. The physical building

Rule 12 Assignments, pg 243 2. The same word for body is used in the following verses. After studying the context, record the way the world is used. a. Matthew 5:29 - If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell A physical body of a person

b. Romans 7:4 - Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. The physical body of Jesus who died on our behalf d. Ephesians 2:16 - and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. One group in close association with one another e. Hebrews 13:3 - Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. One association of those joined together in Jesus Christ

Rule 12 Assignments, pg 243 3. Study Romans 7:1-8:4 and note Paul s use of the word law. How many different kinds of law can you find? Note them: (Law is mentioned 27 times) 7:1-3 - Rules of jurisdiction 7:4-16, 8:3-4 - Moses commands 7:22 - law of God inner moral conscience 7:23 - law in the members of body - desires of unredeemed flesh / sin nature 7:23 - law of mind - body of truth known 7:23 - law of sin - sin nature 8:2 - law of the Spirit of life in Christ - regenerated life / desire for righteousness

Rule 12 Assignments, pg 243 4. The Greek word for fruit is karpovV / karpos. In the New Testament it is used in various ways. A. Study the following passages and determine the meaning of fruit in light of its context) Matthew 3:8 - Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance Evidence of true repentance Matthew 21:19 -Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you. And at once the fig tree withered Physical fruit - figs

Luke 1:42 - And she cried out with a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! A human body - a baby John 15:2 - Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit Evidence of spiritual change Romans 1:13 - I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles Results of ministry all aspects

Galatians 5:22 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law Evidence of the Spirit s control B. How does the meaning of fruit differ in John 15:2, Romans 1:13 & Galatians 5:22 - (Not a good question). All are similar evidence of a life changed by God. Only Rom. 1:13 would specifically include new believers

Rule 12 Assignments, pg 243 C. What practical differences or consequences will your answer to b make If the fruit in these is new believers, then there is a requirement that each Christian must cause others to become Christians. If fruit are characteristics of godliness, then the requirement is that each Christian show evidence of God working in their life resulting in a change of purpose, mindset and behavior.

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ