Lesson#15

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Biblical Perspectives

September 21, 2015

Biblical Perspectives

September 21, 2015

Syllabus

February 12, 2010

RETURN TO THE LIST OF LESSONS

Course in Biblical Doctrine
Lesson #15

THE INTERPRETATION OF THE WORD OF GOD

• There is no topic more important than the interpretation of Scripture because the result of interpretation determines whether you are saved or not saved, whether you really know who Jesus Christ is, or even if you are on the right path or the wrong path.
• To arrive at the correct interpretation of Scripture, certain things are necessary and following certain laws of interpretation are essential.
• Necessary things:

• =1= The first necessary thing for an accurate interpretation of the Bible is to begin with the correct version of the Bible
• What is the correct version?
• The King James Version in English and the Reina Valera 1960 in Spanish are complementary translations.
• Both of these translations are based on 2,522 Greek and Hebrew manuscripts passed to the early churches found in the book of Acts.
• The only part of the Reina Valera that is not inspired is the paragraph headings that should be ignored.
• What is wrong with the new modern versions?
• All of the modern versions are based on 45 Greek and Hebrew manuscripts used by the false Gnostic “Christians” and found in a library in Alexandria, Egypt and later passed to the Vatican and used for Catholic Bibles.
• Modern versions of the Bible change words, phrases, and rearrange sentences to emphasize what the original manuscripts did not emphasize. Sometimes new versions delete whole verses from the Bible or they delete titles for Jesus Christ. This practice at the minimum waters down original doctrines or at the maximum totally changes meanings and doctrines of the Bible.
• =2= The second necessary thing to have is a Concordance of the Bible based on either the King James Version of the Bible in English, or based on the Reina Valera 1960 version of the Bible in Spanish.
• This enables you to search for words and verses.
• This enables you find Greek and Hebrew meanings of words even though you may not know Greek or Hebrew.
• =3= The third thing that is very helpful is a computer with a Bible program or an internet connection.
• This enables you to search more quickly for words and verses.
• An internet connection can connect you to the Bible program Bible Gateway where you can choose any version of the Bible in any language to search. Go to www.biblegateway.com
• Rules for Correct Interpretation:
• =1= Determine the Age and Dispensation in which the verse occurs that you want to interpret. (see Ages and Dispensations in Lesson #7)
• If the verse occurs in a period of Law, your interpretation must consider that fact before you automatically apply the verse to an age of grace.
• Remember that we live in a period of GRACE today.
• Remember that much, but not all, of the Old Testament covers a period of LAW.
• Example: Read Psa 51:11
• David prays that the Holy Spirit not be taken from him.
• In the New Testament Age of grace, God does not remove the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of man, but in the Old Testament Age of Law, the Holy Spirit did not dwell inside of the believer.
• Therefore, David’s request reflects the role of the Holy Spirit in an age of Law while the New Testament believer in an age of grace does not need to fear that the Holy Spirit will leave.
• =2= Determine whether a promise or a prophecy is given specifically to Israel orif it can be applied to Gentiles.
• If a verse refers specifically to a promise given to Israel, it cannot be interpreted as a promise given to the church for the church has not replaced Israel, unless the promise is repeated in the New Testament to apply to the church or to Gentiles.
• Example: Read Gen 12:7
• God promised to give Israel the Promised Land.
• It is a wrong interpretation if you extend that promise to the church and expect God to give the nation of Israel to the New Testament church.
• Example: Read Jer 31:31
• God made the New Covenant with Israel. However in Heb 8:8 of the New Testament it is repeated and Rom 11 tells us that the Gentiles become a part of this covenant.
• =3= Keep the meanings of symbols in prophecy and symbols in parables consistent throughout the Bible.
• Example: Mat 16:6 and Exo 12:15. The symbol “leaven”:
• Leaven through all the Bible is something bad, evil, or to be avoided.
• Leaven consistently represents sin.
• The context of the symbol tells you if it something good or something evil.
• =4= Keep the interpretation true to the rest of scripture so that it does not contradict basic doctrines:
• The doctrine of the Holy Trinity or the Doctrine of God the Father (Lesson #01)
• The doctrine of Jesus Christ, the Son (Lesson #02)
• The doctrine of the Holy Spirit Lesson #03)
• The doctrine of the nature of man (Lesson #04)
• The doctrine of Satan (Lesson #06)
• =5= Establish the truth of an interpretation by two or three witnesses according to 2Cor 13:1
• Every doctrine in scripture should have two or three scriptures to verify it.
• The interpretation of any symbol should have two scriptures to verify its meaning.
• Every prefigure or type should have two scriptures to verify it.
• =6= Always consider the context of the verse in question with the verses before it and the verses after it.
• =7= If at all possible, take the word of God literally. In other words, it means exactly what it says.
• =8= The rule of first mentioned.
• Concepts mentioned first are of more importance.
• When there is a list the first words or names in a list are of first priority or of most importance.
• =9= The rule of consistent mention.
• Those concepts consistently mentioned through the Bible are more important than those not frequently mentioned.
• Those concepts that are repeated are things to which the believer should pay attention.
• =10= Look for the ways that the Bible uses to interpret itself.

• Special note

: The King James Bible in English is consistent and reliable using the following methods as the translators of the King James Bible built into the text its own self-interpreting dictionary. The Reina Valera 1960 version in Spanish is not as consistent neither as reliable but functions reasonably well with the following methods.

• [1] The Bible has a definition for each word that is built into the text

. The Bible defines itself. Here is the A B C method:

• =A=

The definition of a word is found in word pairs and parallel verses. Identify words and verses which are parallel (or in direct opposites) in meaning by finding matching parts of speech and word order.

• Example: Psa 91 is almost all written in parallel phrases. Compare the two phrases in verse 10:
• First phrase:“There shall no evil befall thee,…”
• Second phrase: “…neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”
• The first phrase in the parallel is a general statement.
• The second phrase in the parallel is almost the same thing but more specifically defines the evil as a plague.
• Therefore, plagues in the Bible are specific kinds of evil.
• =B=

The context of a word is important in defining a word’s meaning. Identify words and verses which are parallel in meaning by finding their identical surrounding words.

• Example: Psa 91:13 and 1Pet 5:8

• “Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet”
• “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

• In Psa 91:13 the lion and the adder (a snake) appears in the same verse. The second parallel phrase of that verse puts together the young lion and the dragon.
• 1Pet 5:8 tells us that the lion represents Satan in both of these verses (We know that at other times in Scripture the lion represents Christ, the lion from the tribe of Judah).
• The lion in Psa 91 cannot represent Christ because God tramples him under His feet.
• We know from Gen 3 that Satan in the form of a snake appeared in the Garden of Eden to tempt Eve. Therefore in the first parallel phrase of Psa 91:13, both the lion and the adder represent Satan, our adversary and Satan, our deceiver.
• =C=

The repetition of key words is essential to discover emphasis and meaning. Expand understanding of a word by comparing its use in various places in the Bible. Repeated words affirm the relationship between two thoughts.

• Example: Psa 91:13b

• “…the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet”
• In the second parallel phrase of Psa 91:13, notice that the lion is now a young lion and the adder is now a big dragon.
• Rev 12:9 ” And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
• This verse tells us that the dragon was the serpent but is now grown to be a dragon. It still represents Satan. He has just gotten bigger and more powerful over time.
• Rev 13:2 ” And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority”.
• This verse tells us that the Antichrist has the mouth of a lion and the dragon gave him his speaking power.
• Therefore in Psa 91:13b, the young lion is the Antichrist that gets his speaking power from Satan, but through Jesus Christ the believer has authority over Satan and those that do his work.
• Example: Deu 1:12

• “How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?”
• We will follow the =A= =B= =C= method from above to define the word “cumbrance”.

• =A=

Mark all the repeated surrounding words. (“and” “and” “your” “your” “your”)

• =B=

Find the phrases that occur in parallel position.

• “your cumbrance” “your burden” “your strife”
• =C=

Find other verses where the same key word occurs.

• The word “cumbrance” does not occur anywhere else in the Bible.
• However, the parallel word, “burden” occurs in various places. See Mat 11:30 where we learn that Christ came to bear man’s burdens so that they would be light with the idea of strife removed.
• The definition of the Word “cumbrance” = a burden that produces strife.
• Clues:
• The definition of a word may be the word next to the word in question.
• The definition of a word may be in the same verse.
• The definition of a word may be in the preceding verse or in the following verse.
• The definition of a word may be somewhere in the same chapter.
• The definition of a word may be within the same book.
• [2] Look for ways that the Bible interprets itself through parallels of sound and matching word meanings

.

• Parallels of sound give a flow to the text.
• Parallels of sound give the reader a flag to the parallels of meaning in scripture.
• Parallels of matching words with similar meanings give us thought relationships.
• Example: Luk 1:1-4
• 1 Forasmuch as1 many have taken in hand to2 set forth in order3a declaration 4of those things which are most surely5 believed6 among us,
  2 Even as1 they delivered6 them unto us, which from the7 beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
  3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the7very first,

to2 write unto thee in order3, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty5 4of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed6.

• Notice the 7 parallels in this passage each marked with a different color.
• Define the word “beginning”
• The word is defined by the parallel phrase, “from the7”
• The meaning of the word “beginning” is “very first”.
• Define the words “to write”
• The phrase is defined by the parallel “in order3”
• The meaning of the phrase “to write” is “to set forth”.
• Define the word “forasmuch”
• The phrase is defined by the parallel “as1”
• The meaning of the word “forasmuch” is “even”.
• Define the word “certainty”
• The phrase is defined by the parallel “4of those things wh…”
• The words “certainty” and “surely” have parallel meanings and sound somewhat alike.
• The word “certainty” means “surely”.
• Define the word “declaration”
• The word is defined by the parallel “4of those things wh…”
• The meaning of the word “declaration ” is “certainty”
• In other words, what is declared is true.
• Define the word “instructed”.
• The word is defined by the parallel ed6.
• There are 3 parallels of “ed6:“, instructed, delivered, and believed.
• The meaning of the word “instructed” is “delivered” and “believed”.
• In other words, what the apostles delivered, they first believed and then instructed others.
• Define the word “wherein”
• The meaning of the word is defined by the parallel “things4”.
• The meaning of the word “wherein” is “which”.
• [3] Look for parallel meanings:
• Example: 1Joh 1:7, 1Joh 2:1-2, 12 1Joh 3:5, 16 1Joh 4:10, 14
• Define the word “propitiation”:

1John	Who	What	For Whom	Why
1:7	Jesus Christ	cleanseth	us	sins
2:1-2	Jesus Christ he	propitiation	for our	sins
2:1	Jesus Christ
2:12	his name’s sake	forgiven	your	sins
3:5	he	take away	our	sins
3:16	he	laid down his life	for us
4:10	his Son	propitiation	for our	sins
4:14	The Son	Savior	of the world

• The word “propitiation” is enhanced and clarified by the parallel words in the third column.
• [4] Look for words having the same letters or the same sounds that give you a feeling for the meaning of the word.
• Example:
• God = good
• Devil = evil or vile
• [5] Look for words that are contrasting parallels that give a depth of feeling in the text.
• Example: Psa 91:1

• “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
• The contrasting words are “high” and “under”. To dwell “high” with God, you must live “under” Him.
• [6] Look for parallels in meaning by finding matching parts of speech, like matching adjectives that give depth of meaning.
• Example: Psa 93:4

• ” The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.”
• The parallel adjectives “many” and “mighty” also begin with the same letter and end with the same letter. Therefore, the translators put these similar words together to give a depth of sound and a depth of meaning.
• A Biblical principle: There is unity of power when many are together.
• [7] For interpretation of more difficult words, look for simpler words that are in parallel with harder words.
• Easier words usually come from an Anglo-Saxon language root.
• More difficult words usually come from a Latin language root.
• Therefore the King James Bible is an international book, for those who read Spanish, Portuguese, French, Romanian, and Italian will recognize the Latin root words.
• Those who read German, Dutch, Norwegian, Finnish, and Swedish will recognize the Ango-Saxon root words.
• Example: Psa 119:9-11

• “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
  10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
  11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
• The words “thy” are a parallel. Therefore, the words, “word”, “commandments”, and “word” are the parallel of nouns that are related. We can say that the way of God is found in His word that contains His “commandments”. If you don’t understand the word, “commandments”, you can discover that commandments include the all word of God.
• Example: Mar 9:2

• “And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.”
• The word “apart” means “by themselves”. The Bible includes both words for accurate understanding.
• [8] God puts emphasis on certain words and phrases or to magnify them or to connect two thoughts.
• Look for the repetition of letters or words that emphasize thoughts or that link them to other thoughts.
• Example: Eph 4:13

• “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature

of the fulness of Christ:”

• Notice the repetition of phrases that produce a rhythm of sound for emphasis.
• “of the faith”, “of the knowledge”, “of the Son”, “of the stature”, “of the fulness”.
• “unto a perfect man”, “unto the measure”
• The repeated letters at the end of the word, “measure” and the word “stature”.
• [9] Look for the repetition of initial letters in words that are repeated for emphasis.
• Example: 1Tim 4:1

• “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
• Notice the “s” in “Spirit speaketh”
• Notice the “s” in “seducing spirits”
• Notice the “d” in “doctrines of devils”
• These parallels help you to remember that there are spirits that deceive and bring the doctrines that come from demons.
• This lesson has the purpose of giving you practice in the observations of parallels in the Word of God that can help you with the Interpretation of God’s Word. There are many types of parallels in which only a few are explained in this chapter.