Four Methods of Bible Interpretation That I Follow
When interpreting the Bible, I follow these four methods of interpretation.
Method #1 of Bible Interpretation: I seek to interpret the Bible through the lens of the original setting.
The original setting means the original speaker, the original audience, the original writer, and the original reader.
The question I ask with Method #1 is: "What was the original meaning of the verse and verses based upon the original setting?"
An example of this is when Jesus spoke in his childhood synagogue concerning the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of God’s vengeance. CLICK HERE to learn more.
Method #2 of Bible Interpretation: I seek to interpret the Bible through the lens of the full Bible narrative.
The full Bible narrative focuses on the overall story unfolding in the Bible and how each part of the Bible fits into the full story.
The question I ask with Method #2 is: “How do these verses or verses I am reading fit into the overall narrative of the Bible?”
An example of this is the topic of forgiveness in the Bible. CLICK HERE to learn more.
Method #3 of Bible Interpretation: I seek to interpret the Bible based on the Bible’s interpretation of itself (the greatest commentary on the Bible is the Bible.)
The Bible will provide insight and understanding of one part of the Bible based upon how the same information is used in another part of the Bible.
The question I ask with Method #3 is: "Does the Bible interpret (help us understand the meaning) a verse or verses based upon how the same information was used in other parts of the Bible?"
An example of this is how the information contained in Revelation is found in the Hebrew Bible and is the key to understanding Revelation. For example, Leviticus 26 helps us understand Revelation 6. To learn about this, CLICK HERE.
Method #4 of Bible Interpretation: I seek to interpret the Bible based upon the original Hebrew and Greek words contained in manuscripts.
The original words contained in the manuscripts maintain the unfolding story of the Bible.
The question I ask with Method #4 is: “Are the Hebrew and Greek and Hebrew words used in the Bible helping tell the story of the Bible that is missed with some Bible translations.
An example of this is how the word church is inserted in the Bible. The Greek word is not church but assembly. By inserting church, the unfolding narrative of the Bible is missed concerning the assembly Jesus was building. To learn more: CLICK HERE
These methods of interpretation allow me to not force my theology into verses, but rather allows verses to form my theology.
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