Session 2

INTERPRETATION: WHAT IS MEANT BY WHAT IS SAID?

  1. The Principle of Context
    • Bible – Always look for the total argument of the Scriptures, not merely part. Distinguish between the following terms:
      • Revelation: the giving of truth.
      • Inspiration: the recording of the truth.
      • Illumination: the understanding of the truth.
    • Unity of Teaching – Since all Scriptures have one Author, there are no contradictions in the Bible.
    • Singleness of Sense – There is only one meaning per passage. God is not double minded. Nor was He playing ‘hide-and-seek’ with us as He wrote the Bible. He means exactly what He says. A distinction here between interpretation and application will help solve the problem. There will be only one interpretation, but many times several applications from the same passage.
    • Book – Before you interpret a verse you need to consult the total context of the book. See Ecclesiastes 4 :2-3.
    • Passage – Notice the literary form.
      • Discourse – an orderly communication of thought in speech or writing – The Epistles
      • Narrative – tells a story, usually in chronological order, biographical, not always giving all the details – The Gospels
      • Poetry – expresses feeling as well as logic – Psalms
      • Parable – Story with one point or a story from which a truth is illustrated – Matthew 25
      • Apocalyptic – Prophetic revelation, to reveal or make known, with Symbolism in some parts – Daniel and Revelation
      • Drama – Literature which portrays life or character by means of dialogue/action – Job
      • Proverbs – In the early stages of intellectual growth, when men began to observe and generalize on the facts of human life, they clothed the results of observation in the form of short and pithy, pointed sentences – Proverbs
  2. The Principle of History
    • Customs (Matthew 5:41; John 13:9 and 26). What does the Scripture passage mean in light of the customs of the people to whom it was written?
    • Historical background or reference (Acts 18:2 – Claudius; Acts 17 and 18 – Athens and Corinth)
  3. The Principle of Language
    • Grammar – verbs, tense – I John 3 :9 (“Does not commit sin” is in the present tense meaning “does not practice sin.”)
    • Meaning of words – I Peter 3:1 and 2; Philippians 3:20 (“Conversation” [KJV] means “conduct or way of life.”)

Assignment: Read Matthew 19:28 and interpret what is meant by “regeneration” (NASB) or “renewal” (NIV) and the principle of a “New Heaven” and a “New Earth”.

INTERPRETATION OF PARABLES

Definition: A parable is “a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application to rouse it into active thought.”
Dodd, The Parables of the Kingdom (Third Edition),

  1. The Intent of Parables
    • It’s a thing, event, custom, or occurrence commonly know by the average hearer.
    • Contains a spiritual lesson or theological truth illustrated by the analogy of the parable.
    • Therfore it’s an analogy between the thing, event, custom or occurrence and the spiritual lesson or theological truth.
    • There is a need to interpret the parable.
  2. Rules for Interpreting Parables
    1. Perspective
      • The parables of Christ were Christ-centered whereby He was using parables to teach the disciples about Himself or His Kingdom. A parable must be interpreted to disclose the teaching about Christ that He intended.
      • The parables teach about the Kingdom.
        • The Kingdom is at hand in the Person of Christ.
        • The Kingdom is still eschatological (the study of end things) in character in the separation of the righteous and unrighteous at the end of the age and rewards or judgment.
    2. Cultural
      • In interpreting a parable one must be sure to understand the local color and customs of the people to whom the parable was spoken. This is essential so that the understanding of those customs reached is the same as that of the people to whom the parable was first told.
    3. Exegetical (detailed interpretation of a passage)
      • Determine the one central theological truth the parable is illustrating. The details are not all intended to be significant spiritually.
      • Determine how much of the parable was interpreted by Christ Himself. (Matthew 13:18; 25:13)
      • Determine whether there are any clues in the context concerning the meaning of the parable. (Luke 15: 12)
      • Compare the parable with parallel Old Testament passages and with the accounts of the same parable in the other gospels.
      • The interpretation of the parables should correspond with the theological teachings of the rest of Scripture. Parables were not meant to build theology, but to illustrate it. You do not build your doctrine from parables. You illustrate your doctrine with parables. Unless the “truths” of a parable are clearly taught in the rest of Scripture, do not consider them to be in parables.

Assignment: Read the parable of the sower in Matthew 13: 1-23; Mark 4: 1-20, and Luke8:4-15. Analyze of the parable explaining the meaning of each location where the seed fell. Be sure you distinguish between interpretation and application.