Bible Interpretation I - Lesson 5

              Introduction Continued

1. THE LAWS OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION (Continued)
1. The Law of Application
1. All scriptural is profitable for the believer (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
2. No scripture is fully understood until it means something to you
3. Tools: books by practical authors; for example, books on prayer by E. M. Bounds
4. See 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 and Romans 15:4

      PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION

1. THE PRINCIPLE OF SCRIPTURAL DEFINING
1. Stated: Biblical Words or Phrases are Defined by Biblical Usage
2. Some Words are Plainly Defined in a Single Passage
1. Wisdom (Job 28:28; Proverbs 9:10; James 3:17)
2. Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23)
3. Messias (John 1:41)
4. Cephas (John 1:42)
5. Perfect (2 Timothy 3:17)
6. Full age (Hebrews 5:14)
7. Faith (Hebrews 11:1)
8. Candle of the Lord (Proverbs 20:27)
3. Parallel Phrasing Often Helps Define Words
1. Instruments of death (Psalm 7:13)
2. A ravenous bird (Isaiah 46:11)
3.  Deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13; cp. Luke 9:23)
4. Context Provides Help in Defining Words
1. Elements
1. Of a legal system (Galatians 4:3,9)
2. Of material substance (2 Peter 3:10)
2. Church (1 Timothy 3:15, 4-5)
3. City (Hebrews 11:10,16)
5. Common Word Association Provides Clues as to Word Meaning
1. If the same word or phrase is found with a word in several different places, this may give a clue as to the meaning of the word in scripture
2. Examples
1. Longsuffering with forbearing (Romans 2:4; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12-13)
2. Power with authority (Luke 4:36; Luke 9:1; Luke 20:20; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 13:2)
3. Note: This kind of association does not mean that the words are identical; only that their meanings are somehow related. Their meanings must still be contrasted from one another in order to determine the entire definition.
6. Parallel Passages may Help to Define the Word
1. Parallel passages include:
1. Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament
2. Separate accounts of the same event (especially common in 1 Samuel - 2 Chronicles and in Matthew - John)
3. Near repetitions by the same author (Isaiah and Jeremiah have many examples)
4. Other similar passages
2. Examples
1. Tempt (Genesis 22:1 with Hebrews 11:17)
2. The finger of God (Luke 11:20 with Matthew 12:28)
3. The wisdom of God (Luke 11:49 with Matthew 23:34)
4. Christ (Acts 4:26 with Psalm 2:2)
5. Church (Hebrews 2:12 with Psalm 22:22)