Distinguish Between the Rapture and the Return
Although there are many novels and movies about the rapture, Christians still have differing views about the future and second coming of Christ. The different systems of end time events will affect our interpretation of these Scriptures.
Read MoreSubmit to the Hierarchy of Scripture
You may think it’s strange that some books of the Bible can be considered “subordinate” to other books of Scripture. Can some books actually be “more important” than others? Although it sounds odd, there is a hierarchy within Scripture!
Read MoreKnow the Different Types of Literature
If you walk into a bookstore, you’ll find thousands of selections, all organized by their types of literature. In the same way, there are many different types of literature in the Bible, and these different classifications affect our interpretation.
Read MoreUnderstand the Use of Language
We all learned about different figures of speech in school: similes, metaphors, idioms… etc. These, and other figures of speech, are also used in the Bible in both literal and figurative language. Recognizing the use of language helps us understand God’s message.
Read MoreHighlight the Theme of Salvation
Although you can find an amazing amount of historical and archeological information in the Bible, that’s not the primary purpose of Scripture. The Bible was written to tell us about God and His wonderful plan of salvation for all people. It’s important to highlight this theme of salvation when we interpret Scripture.
Read MoreRealize That Not All Truth Has Been Revealed
The goal of hermeneutics isn’t to speculate on what God has not revealed, but rather to interpret what He has revealed. God hasn’t revealed everything to us, so we shouldn’t go beyond Scripture trying to figure out something that God hasn’t revealed.
Read MoreThe Finite Cannot Completely Fathom the Infinite
You can teach a pet to do tricks, but there will always be a limit to what it can understand. In the same way, God has revealed some things that go beyond a human’s finite comprehension.
Read MoreBeware of Preferences and Preconceptions
We usually gravitate to the teachings of our favorite author or speaker when forming our own spiritual opinions. It’s also hard to break away from the traditions of the church where we were raised. While these background sources may be helpful in our studies, we shouldn’t let our preconceptions affect our interpretations.
Read MoreWatch Out for Preoccupations and Pet Peeves
People who are passionate about certain issues or topics will tend to view certain Scriptures in a different way than others. They may even “stretch” Bible verses beyond what is proper to advance their viewpoint. For good hermeneutics, we must be careful never to “bend” our interpretation of the Bible to fit our own agenda.
Read MoreRespect the Insight of Other Christians
The New Testament teaches that all believers make up the body of Christ, and God has given every believer a spiritual gift to use to build up the rest of the body. All Christians need the insight and experience of other believers to help them interpret Scripture.
Read MoreConsider the Historical Interpretations of the Texts
The majority of believers throughout history have held to certain interpretations. This doesn’t mean that all historical interpretations are correct, but understanding and respecting these viewpoints will help to guard us from inventing new and novel interpretations.
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