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THE QUESTION OF
HERMENEUTICS
by Jim Riscinti
INTRODUCTION
When discussing the topic of
hermeneutics, (the Biblical method of interpretation), we should
search the Bible for Biblical examples, commands, and
proclamations concerning this all important question. As in all
spiritual matters we should look to the infallible Word of God
for our answer. If we do not look to the Word of God, but
instead, employ our own ideas as to how to interpret the Bible,
we will likely get the wrong interpretation.
THE BIBLICAL HERMENEUTIC:
COMPARING SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE
The basic principle of comparing Scripture with
Scripture is found throughout God's Word. A few verses that
demonstrate this are as follows:
(1 Cor 2:13 KJV) Which things
also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(Romans 7:14) "For we know that the law is spiritual:
but I am carnal, sold under sin."
(2 Pet 1:20 KJV) Knowing this
first, that no prophecy
of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
(John 6:63 KJV) It is the
spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they
are spirit, and they
are life.
The above verses tell us to use scripture (i.e.
the law) to interpret scripture. We cannot and must not
trust any information outside of the Bible. Only the Bible itself
is completely trustworthy. We can be sure that the reason there
are so many interpretations of various Bible passages nowadays,
is because the above biblical principle is NOT being adhered to
OR it is not being used as the sole method of
interpretation.
USING ONLY SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE
The biblical hermeneutic is not just a matter
of comparing scripture with scripture, but using ONLY scripture
to interpret scripture. This method is essential because God
declares in Isaiah 55:8 & 9 that our thoughts and ways are
far from His thoughts and ways. The pertinency of this method is
further developed when one realizes that in the flesh of mankind
dwelleth no good thing, (Rom
7:18) "For
I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:
for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is
good I find not."
We find an interesting note in the book of Acts
regarding Bible study:
(Acts 17:11) These were more
noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word
with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Notice that there is no mention in Acts 17:11
of the Bereans searching the secular history books or other
literary works. Similarly, the Gospel of Luke has another bit of
information on this subject:
(Luke 24:27) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the
scriptures the things concerning himself.
Notice that there is no mention in Luke 24:27
of Jesus using any other material than the scriptures (i.e. Moses
and all the prophets). We must be VERY careful to avoid
using 'helps' outside of the Bible to interpret passages in the
Bible. God repeatedly warns us not to trust in the vain
ideas, opinions, and writings of man, especially unregenerate
mankind:
(Psa 94:11) The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they
are vanity.
(1Cor 3:20) And again, The Lord
knoweth the thoughts of
the wise, that they are vain.
(Job 15:31) Let not him that is deceived trust in
vanity: for vanity
shall be his recompence.
Do we wish to use that which God considers to
be vain, in our method of Bible interpretation?
THE OVERALL BIBLICAL THEME
A related question concerning the topic of
hermeneutics is, "What is the overall theme of the
Bible?" Again, we must go to the Bible to answer this
question. In John 5:39 we read Jesus' admonition to, "Search the scriptures; for in them
ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of
me." Here we are told that the
Scriptures are about Jesus. In Luke 24:27, 44-45 we find this
same truth expounded and an example of the use of Scripture to
understand Scripture, for it is God alone who opens the
understanding that one may understand the Scriptures:
(Luke 24:27, 44-45) {27} And
beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them
in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. {44} And he
said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while
I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were
written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the
psalms, concerning me. {45} Then opened he their understanding,
that they might understand the scriptures,
Hebrews 10:7 also answers the question
concerning the overall theme of the Bible, declaring the Bible as
an encyclopedia concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the
volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O
God."
IS SECULAR HISTORY TO BE
USED IN INTERPRETATION?
To gain a better understanding of the Lord
Jesus Christ one would not dare consider looking into any secular
historical book, such as the volumes of the historian Josephus,
whose writings contain approximately seventy pages concerning
Jesus. Yet many readily look to these secular sources to gain
greater insight into the Word of God! Keep in mind the Bible
defines Jesus as the Word of God made flesh:
(John 1:1, 14) {1} In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. {14} And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Therefore, let us heed the admonition of
Matthew 22:29, "Jesus
answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the
scriptures, nor the power of God."
Notice that the Bible nowhere insinuates that one is in error
because they are missing some type of secular historical
information. Many scholars justify their utilization of secular
historical information to understand difficult Bible passages by
rationalizing that, "many scholars rely on such
resources," however, when such a path is followed in the
absence of Biblical validation, one should keep in mind Romans
3:4, "God forbid: yea,
let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That
thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome
when thou art judged." Let us rather
follow the Biblical example of the Bereans of Acts 17:11, "These were more noble than those
in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so."
WHERE DOES THE HISTORICAL
METHOD COME FROM?
If the hermeneutical use of secular history to
interpret the Word of God is void of biblical validation, then
what must be its origin? Again we must search the Scriptures for
our answer, looking for examples of those who wanted more than
what God has sufficiently provided. Most would agree that the
Scriptures clearly teach that God has included in His Word all
that should be included and has excluded all that should be
excluded. The first example (Gen. 3:1-7) is the coveting of the
forbidden fruit of "knowledge" which resulted in
spiritual death (Gen. 2:17). Another example (Num. 11:4-6, 13) of
the discontent of man with what God has provided is the lustful
weeping for something more than Manna "This is the bread which the LORD
hath given you to eat." (Ex. 16:15b) which
resulted in physical death (Num. 11:33-34). In both instances, a
desire for more than what God has declared as sufficient resulted
in judgment because God includes what should be included and
excludes what should be excluded (Deut. 2:7; Psa. 34:10; Prov.
30:6)
THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE
TO INTERPRET ITSELF
The sufficiency and certainty of the Scriptures
are declared in 2 Timothy 3:14-17: "But continue thou in the things which thou hast
learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned them; {15} And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. {16} All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: {17}
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all
good works."
Jesus faulted those who erroneously practiced
the "tradition of the elders" in Mark 7:1-13. Various
forms of this type of error are still present today through the
use of additional revelation and the subtle hermeneutical use of
secular history to interpret the Word of God. In many instances,
the use of secular history to interpret the Scriptures has
abrogated and/or neutralized the Scriptural interpretation. The
Watchtower's utilization of secular history to support their
denial of the tri-unity of God is an example of a grave
misinterpretation of Scripture. A less evident misinterpretation
is the historically based perspective of Zechariah 9:1-8 which
has yielded a disposition concerning Alexander the Great and/or
Jonathan the Maccabee, rather than the biblically based
interpretation which would yield the implications of Christ's
first and second advents (Scriptural commentary of Zechariah
9:1-8). If God desired to speak of Alexander the Great, God would
have mentioned him by name as God did with the yet to be born
Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1).
Modern day historical resources and
controversies are a clear demonstration of the deceitfulness of
the heart (Jer 9:17). Presently, drastic alterations of
historical revisionism has already infiltrated today's
educational system, and this "revised" history will
undoubtedly be accepted by the future masses. It is erroneous to
think that one can utilize the words of any man-made historical
document to engender proper interpretation of the pure and holy
Word of God (Psa. 12:6-7), so we should shun the interpretive
mingling of the adulterated with the pure (2 Cor. 6:14-17;
11:2-3)
THREE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES
FOR INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE
There are three biblically validated principles
which one should always follow when comparing Scripture with
Scripture. These three principles can be surmised in an analysis
of the method Jesus utilizes when He explained the Parable of the
Sower:
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The interpretation centers
on God's redemptive program and the Redeemer.
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The Bible is it's own
interpreter.
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Any conclusion and/or
interpretation must agree with the rest of the Bible.
AN EXAMPLE OF COMPARING
SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE: The Parable Of The Sower
This stated hermeneutic can be implemented to
understand Mark 4:3-8 so that the findings may be compared to
Jesus' explanation of these verses in Mark 4:14-20. "And he said unto them, Know ye not
this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?" (Mark
4:13), where Psa. 78:1-7; Prov. 1:5-6;
Eccl. 12:9; Mt. 13:10-18, 34-35; Mk. 4:30, 34; Luke 8:4, and Heb.
9:9; 11:19 clearly indicate the parabolic implications of both
Old and New Testaments.
Verse being interpreted:
(Mark 4:3 KJV) Hearken; Behold,
there went out a sower to sow:
Interpretive
scriptures:
(Isa 55:10-11) For
as the rain cometh down, and the snow from
heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth
the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud,
that it may give seed to the sower, and
bread to the eater: {11} So shall my word be
that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall
not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish
that which I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing whereto I sent it.
Verse being interpreted:
(Mark 4:4) And it came to pass,
as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the
air came and devoured it up.
Interpretive
scriptures:
(Psa 79:2) The
dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be
meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the
flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
(Gen 15:11) And
when the fowls came down upon the
carcasses, Abram drove them away.
(Isa 18:6) They
shall be left together unto the fowls of
the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth:
and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the
beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
(Psa 140:5) The
proud have hid a snare for me, and cords;
they have spread a net by the wayside; they have
set gins for me. Selah.
Verse being interpreted:
(Mark 4:5) And some fell on stony
ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it
sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
Interpretive
scriptures:
(Hosea 10:12) Sow
to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy;
break up your fallow ground: for it is
time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain
righteousness upon you.
(Ezek 36:25-26)
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye
shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and
from all your idols, will I cleanse you. {26} A
new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit
will I put within you: and I will take away the
stony heart out of your flesh, and I will
give you an heart of flesh.
Verse being interpreted:
(Mark 4:6) But when the sun was
up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it
withered away.
Interpretive
scriptures:
(Mal 4:1) For,
behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an
oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do
wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that
cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of
hosts, that it shall leave them neither root
nor branch.
(Isa 11:10) And in
that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which
shall stand for an ensign of the people; to
it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be
glorious.
Verse being interpreted:
(Mark 4:7) And some fell among thorns,
and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
Interpretive
scriptures:
(Gen 3:18) Thorns
also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee;
and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
(Isa 10:17) And
the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his
Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and
devour his thorns and his briers in one
day;
(Ezek 2:6) And
thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither
be afraid of their words, though briers and
thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell
among scorpions: be not afraid of their words,
nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be
a rebellious house.
Verse being interpreted:
(Mark 4:8) And other fell on good
ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased;
and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an
hundred.
Interpretive
scriptures:
(Psa 1:3) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor
sitteth in the seat of the scornful. {2} But
his delight is in the law of the LORD; and
in his law doth he meditate day and night.{3} And
he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers
of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in
his season; his leaf also shall not wither;
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
(Isa 44:3) For I
will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and
floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my
spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon
thine offspring:
In counterpoint, Jesus' explanation from Mark
4:14-20:
(Mark 4:14-20) The sower soweth
the word. {15} And these are they by the way side, where the word
is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and
taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. {16} And
these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when
they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
{17} And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a
time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the
word's sake, immediately they are offended. {18} And these are
they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, {19} And
the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the
lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it
becometh unfruitful. {20} And these are they which are sown on
good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring
forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
This exegesis, Scripture defining Scripture, is
accomplished without the use of external sources. No allusions
were made by Christ to extra-biblical sources to unravel His
words. A major difficulty in the use of extra-biblical sources is
the realization that many Christians are without such sources. An
excellent example, is the tribe to which Wycliffe translators
come and create a written language, then translate the Scriptures
for them. No other information of any sort is available.
If historical or other sources are needed, it
would leave them with no ability to understand the Holy Word.
Jesus said this was not possible because, "If ye continue in
my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31b-32) The
truth is not taught with "... enticing words of man's
wisdom..." (1 Cor. 2:4) but is taught to us directly from
God. " It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all
taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath
learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (John 6:45)
SUMMARY
What or rather Who, does God use to teach us? "But the Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26) Likewise, "For
the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to
say." (Luke 12:12)
Just the references in Psalm 119, as to the
instruction available, are quite demonstrative of God's
intentions to teach us through His Word. It would be evident,
then, that God has made adequate provisions for our instruction
without going outside His Word.
Add thou not unto his words,
lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Proverbs 30:6 KJV)
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