The Laws of Hermeneutics PDF

The Laws of Hermeneutics (1) The Law of Interpretation Rule: Interpret the Bible by the Bible (2) The Law of the Literal Rule: Read as Literal (3) The Law of Literal Meaning Rule: Find the Literal Meaning (4) The Law of Words Rule: Context of a Word (5) The Law of Context Rule: Consider th...

The Laws of Hermeneutics (1) The Law of Interpretation Rule: Interpret the Bible by the Bible (2) The Law of the Literal Rule: Read as Literal (3) The Law of Literal Meaning Rule: Find the Literal Meaning (4) The Law of Words Rule: Context of a Word (5) The Law of Context Rule: Consider the Textual Setting (6) The Law of Intent Rule: Discover the Authorial Intent (7) The Law of History Rule: Consider the Historical Significance (8) The Law of Linguistics Rule: Analyze Language and Structure (9) The Law of Parallels Rule: Compare Scripture with Scripture (10) The Law of Personal Reading Rule: Read in the Light of your Relationship with God (11) The Law of Application Rule: Determine How the Scripture is to be Applied Today (12) The Law of Error Rule: Identify Hindrances to Bible Interpretation (13) The Law of Dispensation Rule: Establish the Time, Testament, and Covenant (14) The Law of Light Rule: Determine and Decide your Level Psalm 119:130 (NKJV) The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. “Read or get out of the ministry.” John Wesley From the Greek ‘Hermeneuein’: to interpret. The right knowledge and interpretation of the Scripture. 2 Peter 3:16 (NKJV) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 8 Things the Word of God Is: (1) The Word is Eternal (2) The Word is True (3) The Word is Magnified (4) The Word is Profitable (5) The Word is a Plumb Line (6) The Word is Light (7) The Word is Alive (8) The Word is Fruitful 2 Peter 1:20 (NKJV) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. The Rule of Rules: Interpret the Bible by the Bible. The Bible is its own interpreter. Do you know who the first interpreter of the Word of God was? Genesis 3:1-7… the devil. ‘Adding to His Words’ doesn’t just mean to add things that were never said; it also means to add your own interpretation and ideas (that aren’t so) to what was said. Five Dangers That Can Lead To Wrong Bible Interpretation: (1) Textbook Study: When you treat the Bible as an academic exercise. (2) No Study: Interpretation without knowledge or its attempt. (3) Misapplication: When you go to the Bible simply to justify what you already think. Or when people use it to feel justified in doing something wrong. (4) Misrepresentation: This can come through ignorance, having a personal agenda, or simply because they’ve been taught wrong. (5) Pride: Those who aren’t teachable and won’t submit to the 5-fold ministry have no way to check error, no iron to sharpen iron, so they go further afield. 5 Ways to Handle the Word: (1) Handle With Care (2) Handle With Power (3) Handle With Passion (4) Handle With Multiplication In Mind (5) Handle With The Holy Spirit Powerlessness leads to bad doctrine. The Power of God is vital to good hermeneutics. A Key To Success in Ministry: A Desire to Study Ecclesiastes 8:1 (NKJV) Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed. 2 Corinthians 13:1 (NKJV) This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” Deuteronomy 19:15 (NKJV) One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. Matthew 18:16 (NKJV) But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ The Bible has a way of confusing its enemies and blessing its friends. Where you can take the Bible literally, take it literally. Where you can’t take it literally, find the literal meaning. 3 Characteristics of Literal Interpretation: (1) Plain Meaning of Words (2) Historical Accuracy (3) Understanding Genre Types of Literal Meaning (1) Similes and Metaphors (2) Hyberbole (3) Personification (4) Symbolic and Poetic (5) Parables (6) Prophetic Imagery 5 Steps to Finding the Context of a Word (1) Examine the Immediate Literary Context (2) Understand the Book or Chapter’s Theme (3) Check the Original Language (4) Consider Parallel Passages (5) Consult Bible Dictionaries or Commentaries Types of Context in Bible Interpretation (1) Literary Context (2) Historical Context (3) Cultural Context (4) Theological Context Practical Steps for Understanding Context (1) Read the Entire Passage (2) Understand the Genre (3) Research Historical and Cultural Background (4) Compare Scripture with Scripture (5) Seek the Author’s Intended Meaning Misappropriation of context is dangerous to actual revelation. Intent Interprets Scripture 5 Questions of the Scripture: 1. Who Said It?  2. What was it Written For? 3. Who was being Addressed? 4. What was Said? 5. What are We to Do With It? The 5 Keys of Intent: (1) The Author (2) The Purpose (3) The Audience (4) The Message (5) The Instruction Intent is the ability to focus… to aim and have purpose. Job 12:11 (HCSB) Doesn’t the ear test words as the palate tastes food? Different Dispensations: Twofold Dispensations (1) Old Testament (2) New Testament Threefold Dispensations (1) Patriarchal — from creation to law (2) Mosaic / Jewish — the law to Calvary (3) Christian / Church Age Sevenfold Dispensations (1) Innocence — Creation to fall of man (2) Conscious — Fall of man to the flood (3) Human Government — The flood to the beginning of a nation (Abraham) (4) Promise — Nations of Israel to the giving of the law (5) The Law — Law to Calvary (6) Grace — Calvary to the Rapture (7) Kingdom — (1000 Year Reign of Christ) Rapture to Armageddon to White throne judgement Think of dispensations as this: An unchanging God; an evolving pact. Keys to Historical Understanding (1) Research the Time Period (2) Know the Political Landscape (3) Understand the Religious Climate (4) Study Geography (5) Understand Economic Structures (6) Examine Social Hierarchies (7) Pay Attention to the Roles of Men and Women (8) Culture Culture must be addressed and studied to be a greater student of the Word. Keys to Understanding Biblical Linguistics (1) Understand the Language and Literary Genre (2) Study the Original Language (3) Understand Semantics (4) Consider Figures of Speech (5) Context Determines Meaning (6) Interpret Narrative and Didactic (7) Distinguish Between Imperatives and Indicatives (8) Understand the Audience (9) Identify and Understand Types The language and literary genre: Prose — ordinary form of writing Poetry — figurative language Prophetic / Apocalyptic — future events Figures of Speech: (1) Idioms (2) Hyperbole (3) Personification (4) Simile (5) Metaphor (6) Synecdoche (7) Metonymy (8) Irony Principle: Narrative passages in the Bible must be interpreted in the light of didactic passages. Principle: Interpret promises in the light of their audience and understand the conditions. Principle: We must identify types and their fulfillment to properly interpret scripture. 1 Corinthians 2:13 (NKJV) These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. It is necessary to consult parallel passages, explaining ‘spiritual things by spiritual.’ The Holy Spirit teaches us by comparing spiritual things with spiritual… which requires us to have spiritual minds. Carnal Thinking = Carnal Living Spiritual Thinking = Spiritual Living We are led by being taught. Keys to Unlocking the Law of Parallels (1) Scripture Interprets Scripture (2) Parallel Passages (3) Parallel Ideas (4) Clear Passages to Interpret Obscure Ones (5) Revelation through the Holy Spirit (6) Define Terms (7) Avoid Misinterpretation Your relationship with God and the Word are vital to hermeneutics. T.L. Osborn’s Two Rules of Preaching (1) I have what everyone needs. (2) Everyone needs what I have. 8 Keys for Personal Reading (1) Approach the Word with Reverence and Prayer (2) Seek to Understand God’s Heart (3) Interpret in the Light of Christ (4) Embrace Personal Application Before Intellectual Analysis (5) Meditate on Scripture for Deeper Insight (6) Read in Faith and Expectation (7) Remember the Word is Spirit and Life (8) Walk in Humility and Be Teachable Deuteronomy 4:2 (NKJV) You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Two Requirements of Application 1. Eternal principles 2. Direct commands from God Types of Application (1) General Application (2) Singular Application (3) Multi-Application (4) Comparative Application (5) Over Application (6) Misapplication (7) Personal Application Logos — Literal Written Word Rhema — The Spoken Word 5 Keys to Application (1) Understand the Original Meaning (2) Find Comparative Scriptures (3) Identify the Timeless Principle (4) Apply that Principle to Today (5) Apply that Principle to Yourself Matthew 22:29 (NLT) Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Peter 3:15-16 (NKJV) 15 And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation— as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. The purpose of hermeneutics is to be fruitful. You are not a guardian of the Word, you are a preacher of the Word. 10 Characteristics of Error (1) Unsaved (2) Unlearned (3) Unyielding (4) Unstable (5) Inaction (6) Unfixed (7) Unteachable (8) Inexperienced (9) Influenced (10) Insulted 7 Keys to Understanding Dispensation (1) Recognize Dispensations (2) The Rule of Christ (3) Progressive Revelation (4) Covenant Transition (5) Multi-Dispensational Fulfillment (6) Event-Driven Divisions (7) The Universal Principle The Five Levels of Light (1) Information (2) Revelation (3) Transformation (4) Illumination (5) Impartation The Word provides knowledge and facts, the foundational entry point. Information contains instruction. Information is illuminated by the Holy Spirit, revealing truth beyond human understanding. Revealed truth when acted upon begins to change a person’s character, perspective, and actions. Illumination: Your life has changed by the light, and now you take that light out. The Light of Word becomes so deeply ingrained that it equips and empowers believers to impart it to others.