Often times, we read our Bible not thinking about the grid by which we are running the Scriptures through. What principles do you subconsciously utilize in order to understand and interpret the words of God? All received communication runs through this grid and God’s communication to man isn’t any different. Whenever teaching Bible Study and Hermeneutics, it’s interesting to see the principles being taught as principles of basic communication – the class is simply examining and criticizing those principles which we utilize. There are many principles utilized, but there are five that I like to always keep in the forefront of my thinking whenever reading God’s word.
1. God’s Word is exclusively authoritative
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The Bible assumes God’s existence and in Genesis 1:1 records His act of creation. It’s through this creation God assumes final authority[1]over all things. As the creator of all things[2], all things belong to Him[3], giving Him the final and ultimate authority over them[4]. Of course, others within this world have authority but that authority comes from God[5]. God has communicated through Scripture, for it is God-breathed[6]and because of that, Scripture holds the authority of God. Because of this, Scripture should be the lens by which we interpret all things, including experience. The text should be the interpretive tool for all things, even Scripture itself. The moment something else, experience for example, is used to interpret the meaning of Scripture, that experience becomes the final authority, perceptually stripping the authority away from God and having it as its own[7].
2. There is a single meaning intended by the author
There has been a long-time debate as to whether the giver of the communication or the receiver of the communication has the prerogative to determine the meaning of said communication. Essentially, whenever you read the newspaper, who sets the meaning? Does the headline, “God Continues to Provide as Calvary University Celebrates Eight Straight Semesters of Enrollment Growth!” mean that the school, Calvary University, has experienced eight semesters of growth within the student population? Or, does the reader decide the meaning, leaving room for unlimited meanings. To me, it means the school has been blessed by God and seen a growth in student population. To you, it might mean that some higher power has looked on Calvary, the place Jesus died, and provided a growth within belief that Jesus actually died on that hill. To someone else, maybe it means the sky is purple and avocadoes are delicious. The point is, if the reader determines the meaning of any communication, communication then becomes pointless and cannot achieve the purpose in which communication was created. However, if the author is the determiner of the communication, there is one intended meaning by said author.
When looking at Scripture, an author wrote the letters with an intended meaning. It is our job, as students of God’s word, to discover what that meaning is which has already been determined.
Let’s look at an account in Genesis to illustrate my point. In Genesis 2:16–17, God gives a command to Adam along with a consequence of disobedience, “The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Seems pretty straight forward. There is a tree that Adam is not to eat of and if he eats it death will occur. Now, let’s look at Genesis 3:1 as Satan[8]asks Eve an interesting question, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Between these two passages, we see the creation of woman (Eve). Now, Satan is asking Eve about this command which God had given Adam. Eve promptly replied by restating the command seen above[9]. Next, Satan utilizes an authoritative and hermeneutic maneuver giving the authority to determine meaning to the reader or receiver of the communication. He states, “You surely will not die!”[10]Really? It seems God said it pretty plainly that they would die. The result of such a maneuver was the death of all mankind – Eve (and Adam) accepted the faulty principles and committed a sin against the Lord resulting in death[11].
The author of the Scriptures has determined the meaning. Now, let us spend the rest of our lives discovering what that meaning is.
3.There may be one meaning, but many secondary applications
It has been my experience, whenever people have issues with the idea of single meaning, it tends to be due to a misunderstanding of meaning and application. Either that, or individuals allow some other source to establish how many meanings should be expected. Scripture is sufficient[12]and should therefore establish its own rules of interpretation. If Scripture establishes the idea of single meaning, then single meaning should be utilized[13]. Dr. Christopher Cone does a fantastic work studying the baseline for how we should interpret Scripture based on Genesis, Job, and Psalms[14].
When discussing meaning, it should be understood to be that information and understanding which was intended by the words utilized by the author. Words have meaning and language is the form in which God determined to convey meaning – so what do these particular words mean? Once the meaning is discovered, then application can be found. However, there are two types of application that must be considered with every meaning – primary application (that application which was for the primary audience) and secondary application (that application which can be given to a secondary audience which would be everyone other than the primary audience). So, first, the meaning must be discovered, the primary application discovered, a universal principle established, and then multiple secondary applications can be pulled from that universal principle.
4.External sources (outside of language) are not necessary for understanding
Scripture is sufficient to equip and make ready the believer to fulfill his purpose in life[15]. It provides its own hermeneutic method[16], context to define meaning, and any necessary background information for proper understanding of the information communicated. Solomonic wisdom points to this very thing. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon tells the reader where exactly wisdom comes from, “For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Note, it’s not information that comes from the mouth of God but understanding. It’s through Scripture which one understands Scripture – external sources are not necessary to overcome this feat.
5. It is profitable for the equipping of the saints.
In John 17:3, we see that the meaning of life is to know God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us the purpose of life is to glorify God. We can see in Ephesians 2:10 that we have been made able to know God so that (or with the purpose that) we might complete the good works which God has predestined for us. So, we have been made a new creation with the purpose of glorifying God which is done through obedience, or completing the good works in which God has prepared for us. In order to do these good works, we should become equipped or made adequate. Interestingly, Paul tells Timothy how to do that – through the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us exactly what the Scriptures accomplish through the believer.
[1]A simple definition of authority might be rightful say-so.
[2]Genesis 1:1; Job 38:12–41
[3]Psalm 24:1
[4]Romans 13:1
[5]ibid
[6]2 Timothy 3:16
[7]Of course, this is not an actual reality as God’s authority can only be freely given by God, not taken by someone else.
[8]The text says Serpent, but utilizing other passages such as Revelation 12:9, it is understood he is Satan.
[9]Interestingly, Eve adds a small phrase “or touch it” which the reasoning for this is debated amongst scholars.
[10]Genesis 3:3
[11]This also pointedly shows God’s desire for understanding communication in a plain, normative sense.
[12]2 Timothy 3:16-17
[13]Unlike different systems of theology such as the Roman Catholic Church. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, there are four meaning for any single communication. See The Catechism of the Catholic Church.
[14]http://www.drcone.com/2017/08/26/precedent-literal-grammatical-historical-hermeneutics-genesis/
[15]2 Timothy 3:16-17
[16]http://www.drcone.com/2017/08/26/precedent-literal-grammatical-historical-hermeneutics-genesis/
