The very first Christians who were disciples of Christ had a bit of an advantage, as they traveled with Jesus, they heard and saw him. They were assured that he was the Messiah by the things they saw and heard, such as his healing the sick, opening blind eyes, raising the dead, Jesus himself being... Continue Reading →
HOW IS BEING AN INEXPERIENCED AND UNSKILLED BIBLE STUDENT a Roadblock to Regular and Consistent Bible Reading and Study?
Psalm 119:165 Updated American Standard Version (UASV) 165 Abundant peace belongs to those loving your law, and for them there is no stumbling block. Literally billions of men and women have a Bible. However, while they may own a Bible and even carry the Bible to their church meetings, can they honestly say that they love God’s Word?
Help in Teaching the Bible
If we are to fulfill the great commission, that Jesus gave to every Christian, to proclaim and to teach the Good News, we must accurately understand it ourselves first. It was in the spring of 31 C.E., and Jesus was about to speak to a very large, mixed crowd on a mountainside, who were anxiously... Continue Reading →
The Alarming Rise of the Evangelical Hyperbolic Hermeneutic as Opposed to the Traditional Grammatic-Historical Approach
This year, Protestants celebrate the 500 year anniversary of the Reformation (1517-2017). Since the days of the Reformation, except perhaps for their inconsistency in prophetic literature like the book of Revelation, the Reformers fervently championed the plain, normal, literal interpretation of Scripture. Indeed, one can say that the Reformation was at heart a hermeneutical reformation in biblical interpretation. During... Continue Reading →
Why Is Deeper Bible Study Important?
The Bible is a revelation from our heavenly Father, about our heavenly Father, i.e., his will and purposes. (1 Thess. 2:13) If we take the things we learn and apply them in our lives, we will live a life far more beneficial than those who do not. As we grow in knowledge, we will draw... Continue Reading →
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION Literary Forms of God’s Word
Poetry Song of Songs This book, also known as The Song of Solomon, it extols the beauty of romantic and sexual love. Some parts of the Bible are much better known than others. One of the more neglected parts of the Bible is the Song of Songs. It is rarely read and hardly ever used... Continue Reading →
What Are Some Principles and Techniques of Biblical Interpretation?
Principles There are many principles that assist the interpreter in understanding the biblical text. For example, the covenant principle differentiates between the various contracts that God has made with his people, specifically their provisions, their parties and their purposes. The Christocentric principle helps us to understand that the mind of deity is eternally centered in... Continue Reading →
BIBLE BACKGROUNDS: The Trial of Jesus
Jesus had just observed the Passover with his disciples. He instituted what is now known as the Lord’s Table. He agonized in the garden of Gethsemane. There we witness the struggle of Jesus and how he acted under pressure. We see his absolute surrender to the will of the heavenly Father. Judas Iscariot betrayed... Continue Reading →
BIBLE BACKGROUNDS: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
In the parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk. 18:9-14), we see two different kinds of men, two different approaches to God and two different outcomes. It is an ancient message, which demands modern application. It has to be taken out of the “then and there” and applied to the “here and now.”... Continue Reading →
The History of Biblical Hermeneutics
Until the Enlightenment, biblical hermeneutics was usually seen as a form of special hermeneutics. It was thought that Scripture required a special form of interpretation. In the nineteenth century, it became increasingly common to read Scripture just like any other writing. Schleiermacher argued against a distinction between “general” and “special” hermeneutics. He proposed a general... Continue Reading →