Read and Interpret the Bible (Part 1): How to Understand & Apply any Bible Verse!
In an era of charismatic movement (s), men and women of God, claiming to be under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, read and interpret the Bible differently!
Questioned about this, each one of us throws up a defense in the name of the Holy Spirit who, as we claim, reveals different things to different people as He wishes or depending on different contexts. We simply forget or adamantly ignore the truth that even the Bible itself is the Spirit’s revelation and, painfully to us, the Spirit is one.
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If He is one and the Bible is His own revelation, then (at least logically) there should not be contradictions or differences in our interpretations no matter where, who, when, and what circumstances we are in. Nevertheless, it does not happen this way; we never agree on one interpretation!
What can we do about it? Let us see how we can harmonize all our interpretations.
Read and Interpret the Bible: Exegesis & Hermeneutics!
Exegesis: In the book, how to read the bible for all its worth, Gordon D. Fee and his friend Douglas Stuart define exegesis as ‘the careful, systematic study of the Scripture to discover the original, intended meaning’.
In other words, an interpreter (to interpret is to give meaning or make sense of or simply understand the meaning or message) must understand the exact meaning or message of the Biblical text in reference to both God, the writers or authors, and the audience of those times (purely, this is history).
This is common sense, isn’t it? Before I can relay your message to others or even apply it or work out what it instructed me to do, I must first understand exactly what you meant. It is after understanding what exactly you were saying that I can decide to oppose you or agree with you, apply the message or refuse to! I just must first understand what you said!
READ THIS TOO: Introduction to the Letters of John the Apostle
The above requirement is born of the Biblical and scholarly fact that Bible, as we know it, is actually a historical book; meaning that it was written over some time, to various historical audiences, and by various historical authors. Listen to the words of Professor George Ladd: “The Bible is the Word of Cod given in the words of [people] in history.” (Fee and Stuart, 1993; page 8).
Therefore, for any good interpreter, the first and important task is to understand the original meaning of Biblical text. And this is called Exegesis.
Hermeneutics: Again, Fee and Stuart (1993) define Hermeneutics as, in narrow sense, ‘the seeking of contemporary relevance of the ancient text’. In other words, it concerns with understanding the meaning of Biblical text in our days (‘now and here’). In our usual language, we can call it ‘applying the word to our day-to-day life contexts’.
In the book, Biblical interpretation, Graig S. Keener gives justification for this other task in these words:
‘…..But it is also a record of the message of God’s heart to His people, so we dare not approach it as merely a matter of intellectual interest or curiosity. Those who become “experts” from a purely intellectual or even religious standpoint can become like the scribes who opposed our Lord Jesus. We must remember that this book, unlike normal books, has the right to make moral demands on our lives. We do not become “experts” who show off our knowledge. We must humble ourselves before the God of Scripture‘ (page 6).
In other words, while the Bible is historical: that is, revealed to specific audiences, in different specific times, and through different authors in history, it is still God’s word, living eternally and whose purpose and audience extends beyond time; the earth and heaven shall pass away but my Word shall forever live (Matthew 24:35).
Fee and Stuart elaborate the above point in these words: ‘Because the Bible is God+ Word, it has eternal relevance; it speaks to all humankind, in every age and in every culture. Because it is God’s Word, we must listen-and obey‘ (Page 8).
Therefore, a responsible interpreter, as John Piper usually says, should be keen and interested in both exegesis and hermeneutics for, I think, it is incomplete to take on one and leave out the other; after-all, it is proper exegesis that results into true and proper application of God’s word.
How do you read and interpret the Bible: Summary
First, we have agreed that Bible is God’s word revealed to human kind through history and thus the need for any responsible Christian to be concerned with both its original (historical) meaning and then the contemporary meaning in our times.
To understand the exact meaning of the text or message or word is exegesis. To bring such understanding into our day-to-day application or meaning is hermeneutics.
The important questions are: How exactly do you do exegesis? How exactly do you do hermeneutics? In our next part, we will explore each of these biblical principles and simplify them for our day-to-day application as we read and interpret the Bible.