The Principle of Interpretation

As the Incarnate Word came through the womb of Mary without being defiled by depravity, the written word (II Tim. 3:16, 17) has come through imperfect men without being corrupted by errancy. However, the science of interpretation determines the rules for ascertaining the meaning of the Scriptures. Furthermore, the rules of hermeneutics are formulated by men. Some say the only safe and infallible rule for interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself, but this alone is inadequate for a true interpretation. One cannot deny that one verse of Scripture throws light on another, but something more is needed to understand the mind of God.

The Spirit of regeneration is absolutely necessary for interpretation, but the new convert needs the Spirit of illumination. Without illumination (I Cor. 2:10-16), many things in the Holy Scriptures remain concealed to Christians until they are taught. (Read and study Luke 24:13-35 and Acts 16:14.) Luke closes his testimony by saying, “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:45-49).

The general principle of interpretation is literal whenever possible, but this does not eliminate the figurative. The Bible abounds in figurative language. One must guard against any such sweeping assumption that if any part is literal, all is literal. However, one should not run to the opposite extreme and say that if any part is symbolical, all is symbolical. What about the two following quotations: (1) “There came a man sent from God, whose name was John” (John 1:6) is to be understood in a literal sense. (2) On the other hand, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29) is to be understood in a symbolical sense. John was showing that Jesus Christ, in a figurative sense, could be called “the Lamb of God.” No one on either side of the hermeneutic debate explains everything as only literal or only spiritual. The difference is that on one side is the rule, and on the other is the exception.

The spiritual meaning of a verse does not destroy its grammatical sense. Correct Hebrew and Greek cannot be eliminated. Christ’s incarnation and death are spiritually discerned by the regenerate, but the same literal and historical facts are not discerned by the unregenerate. Spiritual understanding of facts does not destroy their literalness. A misunderstood verse is “…the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (II Cor. 3:6). Paul was saying the word of God in its letter cannot give life (John 6:63). However, the literal aspect of truth is neither condemned nor set aside. If it were true, all the promises of the Bible would be meaningless. Literal truth is learned through figures and symbols. This is demonstrated by the tabernacle, priesthood, and offerings of the Pentateuch.

The grammatical interpretation opposes false interpretations. It opposes the mystical interpretation which looks for an internal or obscure meaning under the letter. This mode of interpretation claims to be guided by an inward light which discards the rules of grammar and the common usage of words. The rationalistic notion that such an interpretation will accommodate itself to reason is contradicted by grammatical interpretation. Rationalism is known as the accommodation theory. This view sets aside the supernatural and thus assails the honor of God. The “Romish” idea that interpretation can be accepted only as it is in union with the voice of the Roman Catholic Church is refuted.

Listen to the apostle Paul who was used more than anyone as God’s missionary to the Gentiles. To the Ephesians, Paul wrote, “Therefore, remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity” (Eph. 2:11-16).

The interpretation of the kingdom, a subject of prophecy, is literal. Prophecy, like all other areas of Biblical interpretation, must be interpreted literally. The form through which the prophetic revelation is made may vary, but through each some literal truth is revealed. Prophecy, from God’s viewpoint, is a unit—something that forms a united whole. From man’s viewpoint, prophecy is divided into that which has been fulfilled and that which is unfulfilled (Joel 2; 3; Acts 2). However, the time element holds a relatively small place. Prophets often spoke of future things as though they were present—“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6). They also spoke of future things as past. Isaiah said, “Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him” (Is. 53:1, 2).

The prophecies concerning the first advent of Christ were literally fulfilled, and the prophecies concerning the second advent will also be literally fulfilled. The following paragraphs contain some literal prophecies concerning the first advent.

The eternal Son has come forth from eternity. The prophet said, “…From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2). The great change in the eternal Son took place in Bethlehem. The virgin birth, which took place in Bethlehem, cannot be ignored because it was the place where the great change occurred (Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25). Jesus Christ could not be a unique Person apart from the unique conception in the womb of a virgin. The change in the woman became the means of the Son of God becoming the Son of man in order to be the Savior of the chosen ones. The Son of God had to become Mediator between God and man, fulfill the Davidic covenant, and be able to occupy the throne of David forever. “IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK” (Heb. 10:7) should be connected with Luke 24:27—“Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” The great changes wrought by the eternal Son of God are a changed economy (Heb. 10:1-14; II Cor. 5:17), a changed people by grace (Ezek. 36:26, 27; I Thess. 1:4-10), and a changed earth where the King shall sit on His glorious throne (Matt. 19:27-30).

Christ’s second advent shall bring universal peace to a troubled world (II Pet. 3:10-13). Christ’s first advent was not to bring universal peace to a troubled world, but it was for the purpose of bringing Divine grace to the chosen ones of God. Christ’s first advent has brought personal peace to the elect in the world where they shall have tribulation. Christ said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The passage is not talking about the primary purpose of Christ’s first advent. It is impossible for truth and error, light and darkness, righteousness and unrighteousness, and love and hate to co-exist in harmony. Truth must be spoken; falsehood must be exposed; and sin must be condemned publicly at any cost. Opposition and trouble are inevitable. The battle between God and Satan is not diminishing. Are Satan, the world, and the flesh getting better? “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34). The Greek word for “sword” is machaira—translated “sword” in all 29 places where it is used. It is used when speaking of the sword of the Spirit, sword of the executioner, power of government, power of life and death, and war.

The heresy of subjectivism must be shunned. It teaches that the proper ground for believing a thing is not that the Bible contains it, but reason commends it. When handled correctly, Scripture can be stated in the form of a theological system, although it is not presented in that form. Every text has its immediate context in the passage from which it comes. Its broader context is found in the book to which it belongs, and its ultimate context is in the Bible as a whole. Hence, each text is found in the book to which it belongs, and the ultimate context is in the Bible as a whole.

The law of first mention determines the principle meaning of each subject. The promises made to Israel, so far as they are spiritual, apply to all the elect, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.

The hindrance of prejudice must be avoided. Prejudice enables a person to make up his mind what he believes without going to the trouble of gathering the facts. All Scripture has one primary meaning, but it may have more than one practical application. To insist upon the primary and reject the practical, without regard for the primary, leads to fanaticism. To ignore the prophetic is to close one’s eyes to the future, but to take only the prophetic to the neglect of other principles makes one an unbalanced eschatologist.

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The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE—UPDATED EDITION is the source of all Scripture quotations in this message, unless otherwise noted.