Interpreting the Bible: Toward a Better Approach

We need a more comprehensive approach to interpreting the scriptures–a nice, sharp set of scalpels that helps us know which examples and commands were temporary expedients and which are permanently binding. Obviously enough, the solution won’t be found in humanistic philosophy. It won’t be found in the Enlightenment philosophers. It won’t be found in the law books. Rather, the only source with the authority to tell us how to interpret the Bible is–the Bible!

Now, we have to be very, very careful here. Obviously, if we jump in with a defective hermeneutic looking for a better hermeneutic, we might just find our conclusions adulterated by our beginning assumptions.

The solution is to see what hermeneutics Jesus and the New Testament writers use. When they are met with a problem, how do they apply scripture to it? What is their thought process? And if we can, we should then simply follow their examples.

Therefore, the next several posts will be an effort to take from the New Testament examples of how Jesus and Paul reason to apply scripture to the questions they faced.

I have to admit that they have an advantage over us. Both were inspired by the Spirit in ways that aren’t available today. But the New Testament authors explained their reasoning for a reason. They could have just said: I said it–it’s true–obey! But instead, like good parents, they routinely take the trouble to explain their thinking in hopes that we’ll learn from the explanation as well as the conclusion.

It’s hard to imagine a more profitable study than observing how Jesus and the New Testament authors reasoned to their conclusions!

I’ll spend particular time in Luke and 1 Corinthians. Luke, because there are so many Old Testament allusions in it, and 1 Corinthians because Paul faces so many practical problems, many of which we face today, and he generally carefully explains his thinking in coming to a conclusion.