Rules Of Interpretation (3)
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles14) Know The Meaning Of Words And Sentences
If we want to know the “exact meaning” of God’s Word, we certainly must know the exact meaning of the words God chose. Each word is a symbol of His thoughts. In the Bible we are taught to “hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13). The Greek word “form” in this passage means “an example” or “pattern” that has definite size and shape for the purpose of maintaining a sameness in meaning. It is, therefore, exceedingly important that we correctly define all words. In this way the Bible student shall be able to understand what God has in mind.
15) Know The Limit Of Divine Revelation
The final lesson to be learned is just where the Bible ends. There is a limit, a stopping place of God’s Word. This is the point where the Lord “ends” His revelation. Many students fail to locate this and so add greatly in their misunderstanding of the Bible.
For example, a man draws up a will. In it are certain specifications, promises, restrictions, etc. The terms are clear. But then, when the author has said exactly all that he wants to say, he stops! This is the “end” of his will. An observer might list a hundred things that the will failed to say but these unsaid things never came from the author. They are merely private “opinions” of a reader. By intelligent study one can determine the exact limit separating what was said and what was unsaid. This must be done with the Scriptures. We must be able to ascertain the exact limit of all that God has said. Anything beyond this would merely be the “opinion” of man (every man has one). This is one of the main reasons why many of the scribes and Pharisees “failed” to understand Jesus. They had confused divine wisdom with human wisdom. They had failed to see where the one left off and the other began. So the Master remarked, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).
On any given statement, God has either spoken or He has not spoken. Both cannot be true. This is obvious. Suppose you are a relative of someone who has made a will. Either you are “in” the will as a beneficiary or you are “not”. It cannot be both. So it is with any single part of any Scripture passage you might consider. Either God has revealed His will in it or He has not. It is exceedingly important for a Bible student to learn to determine the difference. He must never become wise beyond that which is written (1 Corinthians 4:6).
Conclusion
If we as faithful students of God’s Word will more diligently make application of these fifteen rules of interpretation as we study God’s word, we will more accurately divide “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Source: W. Robert Palmer, “How To Understand The Bible” (Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing Company, 1980), 48-111.