Principle 30

HERMENEUTICS

Principle 30

Consider the Historical Interpretations of the Texts

This principle gives respect for the interpretations held by believers through history, and will help to guard us from inventing new and novel interpretations.

This doesn’t mean that all historical interpretations are correct, but we should at least consider them. The Holy Spirit has been at work in believers for many many years. 

Creation and Chronologies

The majority of believers throughout history have interpreted Genesis 1 to mean that God created the world and all of life in a week of literal days, and the genealogies of Genesis 5 and Genesis 11 are literal chronologies.

This fact carries a lot of weight! Were all these believers misguided and mistaken until the relatively recent “day-age” theory was developed? Hasn’t the Holy Spirit been at work throughout history to help believers interpret the Scriptures properly? Be careful about accepting modern interpretations of the Creation account and the age of the earth, that supposedly harmonize Scripture with secular science.

The Flood

The majority of believers throughout history have interpreted the Scriptures about the Flood in Noah’s day to mean a worldwide catastrophic flood - not just a local flood in the Mesopotamian Valley. Certainly this prevalent historical interpretation should not be treated lightly, regardless of what is politically correct in modern-day seminaries. 

James 2:26

“Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”

Notice our principle is not, “Stick closely to the historical interpretations of the texts.” There may be times when, because of the overwhelming weight of other Scriptures, we depart from what has been the historical interpretation.

One example is James 2:26. Before the Reformation, the historical interpretation of this verse was that we are justified by faith plus works. The Reformers did not change their view of this Scripture because of what was politically correct or because they dreamed up a novel interpretation. They departed from the prevailing historical view because the overwhelming weight of Scripture clearly teaches that justification is by faith alone.

We’ve come to the end of our study of hermeneutics. Many more examples could be given for each principle, but hopefully this brief and concise study has provided provides a good overview of the foundational concepts.

Remember that the Holy Spirit is your Guide as you apply these hermeneutical principles in your study and interpretation of God’s Word.