We, non-Bible authors, can only get at the meaning of any given text by grammatical-historical interpretation, which is an objective approach. We are not under inspiration while we are interpreting Scripture; otherwise, we would never err. We have to understand ... Continue Reading →
What Is Hermeneutics and Why Is It Important?
What did the Bible authors mean by the words that they used? How can Christians determine this instead of imposing their modern-day opinions into the text? What implications does a text have for Christians today? How can Christians rightly apply the Bible in their lives?
Genesis 4:26 BDC: Exactly when did the worship of God begin?
It is here that we are expressly told, “To Seth, to him also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of Jehovah.” (Gen. 4:26) This is in the days of Enosh, the son of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve.... Continue Reading →
Interpreting 1 Timothy 4:13-15 In Light of Timothy Being an Experienced Elder
Before we delve into this verse we must first ask, who is Timothy and why would the apostle give him such exhortation as we find in the above text? The Roman province of Galatia was home to the young boy Timothy. It was here that several Christian congregations were organized in the decades after Jesus’... Continue Reading →
Help in Understanding the Bible
The irony is that hundreds of millions of Christians are humble enough to recognize that the Bible is difficult to understand, it is a deep and complex book. There are tens of millions, who believe they understand everything they read, and for them, the Bible is easy to understand. The sad part is that many... 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 →
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 →
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION – Keys to Understanding
Unlock the secrets of biblical interpretation for deeper Scripture understanding.
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION – Finding the Normative In Acts
Does the book of Acts simply record the history of the early church? Or does it also provide a blueprint for the church today? Do we read Acts as an interesting true story of how Christianity began, a story that gives us our roots and our identity or is it still normative for today? A... Continue Reading →