Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet
And a Light Unto My Path
Last week we asked the question,
... are we as “individuals,”
and also as “Heads of households”
responsible, and even charged by God,
to be personally diligent in His word so that
we might exercise faithfully the administration
of our own particular appointments?
And the answer is still...
...Yes!
Then, to see who was responsible and to what extent,
we looked at 6 passages related to;
family, fatherhood, and relational discipleship
because family is the foundation of all society,
and the fountain head of every other institution.
This is the good Option - Duet 6:1-9
(to the heads of house)
Know the word
Do the word
Pass it on
To posses the land-all thy long days
(that’s the charge)
THEREFORE
-->
God is Lord
Love Lord God
With ALL heart, soul, might
These words SHALL BE in your heart
Teach DILIGENTLY to your kids
Talk WHEN YOU; sit, walk, lie down, rise up
SHALL BIND on thy hand
SHALT BE before thy eyes
SHALL WRITE on your gates and posts
This is the bad option-Psalm 78:1-8
Give ear to the law
Incline ear to the words of my mouth
We’ve heard and known – our fathers told us
We wont hide it from THEIR children
We will show it to the generation to come;
God’s praises, strength, and wonderful works
Gods testimony (people/reflection) in Jacob – His law in Israel;
It is commanded of fathers that this be made known to their children
So THAT they might; set hope in God, not forget His works, keep His commands,
So THAT they might Not: be like their forefathers;
Stubborn, rebellious, hearts not aright, spirits not steadfast
What is at The heart of these charges?
What is at The heart of these charges?
Yes, The word!
And
Fathers and family!
(relational discipleship)
Proverbs 22:6
• speaks to the intimate relationship as a beginning and basis for training
Mal 4:4-6 - prophecy
•
•
•
•
•
•
Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, (apparently not)
[with] the statutes and judgments.
I will send you Elijah the prophet
he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, (this is the fix to the problem of not remembering)
and the heart of the children to their fathers,
lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (or else)
Luke 1:17 - fulfilment (Jn Baptist)
•
•
•
•
•
thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son (Jn B.)
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just;
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Notice the order and responsibility
Wives
submit to your husbands
Husbands
love your wives, as Christ did;
THAT
You might cleans with the word
AND
present glorious to your self
Holy and without blemish
Children
Obey and honor your parents
THAT
It may be well with you
You may live long
Fathers
Provoke not your children to wrath
BUT
Bring them up in
Nurture and Admonition
The answer to the first question...
... are we as individuals really responsible to “gird up the
loins of our understanding.”?
is,
yes!
(read 1st peter 1)
So then, a second question logically follows; what happens
if we do not fulfill our individual responsibility in seeing that
we personally become grounded in the doctrines of the faith
with precision, breadth, and depth, and specifically with
regard to the details of our own lives and relationships?
Destruction !
6 My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
because thou hast rejected knowledge,
I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me:
Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God,
I will also forget thy children Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
There is a connection between our responsibility with Gods word, and our
children's future. God’s word defines that responsibility clearly!
2Pe 3:15b-18 The short version...
Paraphrased,
• “Even Paul spoke some things that were hard to learn
• The unlearned and unstable wrest them to their own destruction
• Beware you too don’t follow the wicked’s error and fall from steadfastness
• BUT, (instead) grow in grace and knowledge”
In both the old and new testament, God says that not accurately knowing
(and doing) Gods word leads to destruction!
So then, regarding having teachers...
Acts 17:11 These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
 Their attitude towards the word and teaching was receptive readiness.
 BUT they took personal responsibility for what they believed.
 They went to scripture to verify what they would embrace (or not)
It is not enough for us to “hear” the word preached.
We must seek out if what we have heard is valid,
AND, we must study on our own to be
fully equipped unto every good work.
We learned two new words;
Exegesis  Exposition  Application
And why is it so important for everyone to study so carefully and diligently
Because our application depends on our study
“Observe to do, don’t be a hearer only, bear fruit in keeping with repentance,
walk worthy of your calling”
The point of study is to do!
The point of study is to do!
Our sanctification and maturity (and our children)
depend on our application of doctrine.
Our doctrine’s accuracy and validity depends on our study habits
and techniques
Bad study habits
bad doctrines
bad applications
bad life(s) 
And usually, “bad kids”
This is where “Hermeneutics” comes in.
Hermeneutics is the science of interpretation that allows us to accurately
extract the original literal meaning from the text at hand. This type of
studying is called exegesis.
.
 Hermeneutics consists of principals and “rules” by which we “rightly
divide the word of truth” in order to extract the actual, factual, and
originally intended message of the author, as given to his original audience.
 Hermeneutics is the means by which we discern through the bible
passage’s original context, the relevant unchanging eternal commands and
principles of God so that we might apply them to our lives - in our own
context.
The term hermeneutics comes from the
pagan god Hermes. He was the messenger
who brought messages from the pagan gods
to the mortals, "translating" them so that
they could be understood.
Do you suppose he changed the message,
or just the language?
Hermes “interpreted” the message of the Gods
... giving the actual intended/original meaning to
the people. The Greek verb hermeneuo means, to bring
someone to an understanding of what is conveyed in
another language, making it clear and intelligible.
Hermeneutics then, is the science, mechanics, or process of
interpretation.
Interpretation is the rendering or translation of the same
original truth to an understandable form
Therefore;
our “hermeneutical” objective in study must be to;
Figure out what the passage meant to the author
in his own time and context,
BEFORE
we try to figure out what it means to us now in ours!
This is Why we;
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Well then,
Understanding Gods word as it is relevant to us
takes hard academic work!
But I guess we have to do it if we are going
to know what God has really said!
All right then, let’s roll up our sleeves
and get to it!
WAIT!
Is there anything else we need?
• 1Co 2:6-16 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom
of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the
wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the
world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known
[it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God
hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his
Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man
knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of
God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of
the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness
unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he
that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath
known the mind of the
Lord, that he may instruct him? But
we have the mind of Christ.
Can unsaved people make sense of,
and understand the bible?
Can unsaved people make sense of,
and understand the bible?
Yes.
What is the difference between
knowing about God
and actually knowing God??
What is the difference between
knowing about God
and knowing God?
The Holy Spirit.
(salvation)
What is the difference between
revelation/inspiration, and illumination?
What is the difference between
revelation/inspiration, and illumination?
Revelation/inspiration - speaks to how
Gods word got from Him, to the bible
Illumination - speaks to how it gets
from the bible to our quickened minds/hearts
What is discernment?
What is discernment?
Dividing or
distinguishing between
2 or more things
What is good Christian
spiritual discernment?
What is good Christian
spiritual discernment?
“Discernment is the ability to decide between truth
and error, right and wrong; the process of making
careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In
other words, the ability to think with discernment is
synonymous with an ability to think biblically.”
J.McAurther
God’s word, rightly divided
+
the Holy Spirit’s illumination
=
Discernment
(wisdom in, context)
1st Thes 5:21-22 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that
which is good; abstain from every form of evil.
2nd Ptr 1: 3-4 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything
pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who
called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to
us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may
become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption
that is in the world by lust
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,
and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents
of the heart.
“What is the greatest need in the church today? What is
the most compelling need? What do you see as the
biggest problem in Christianity? The biggest problem in
the church?
It's simple for me to answer that. The biggest problem in
the church today is the absence of discernment. It's a
lack of discernment. It's the biggest problem with
Christian people, they make bad choices. They accept the
wrong thing. They accept the wrong theology. They are
prone to the wrong teaching. They're unwise in who they
follow, what they listen to and what they read.
John McAurther
We would like to define a few more new words today;
 Exegesis - critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture.
o Trying to find the original meaning of the verse.
 Exposition - a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory.
o The exposing of the one accurate interpretation of a passage
 Revelation - A divine revealing. An entirely supernatural disclosure from God.
 Inspiration - the Bible in the original documents is God-breathed. It is a divine product
 Illumination - critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture.
 Implicit - (cloudy) Implied though not plainly expressed
 Explicit - (clear) Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.
 Didactic - intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive
 Pretext - a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason.
 Allegory - A literary device. A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a
hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
Before we get specific about hermeneutics
in interpreting the bible.
Let’s clarify our “Presuppositional basis;”




The Bible is complete
The Bible is infallible
Relevant doctrine (explicit commands. Eternal principles) is morally binding
Christ is the theme, center, and end of Scripture (The Bible is Christocentric)
Hermeneutics
There are several methods of interpretation that are
painfully and tragically erroneous;
the most common is “reader response”
i.e. what it means to me!
(We should wonder if it is a method at all,
or perhaps just the lack of one?)
Two common errors;
• what this means to me – mystical interpretation
• Proof texting -
What This Text Means to Me...
The view that all one must do is pray and read the Bible, and the Holy Spirit
will provide the proper interpretation, or the view that one's own,
idiosyncratic interpretation of Scripture is just as valid as that of any other
("what this text means to me...") renders the interpretation non-falsifiable.
That is, if I say that the Holy Spirit provided me with the interpretation,
or my interpretation, it is impossible for anyone to demonstrate that I have
wrongly divided the Word. The "truth" I have arrived at is self-contained
and ultimately incommunicable to you. You will have to "experience" the
same personal revelation, and even then, we will may wonder if our two
experiences really were identical, or if there were subtle differences that may
affect our interpretation.
This hermeneutic methodology (or really lack of methodology) provides
ample opportunity for me to twist Scripture to my own destruction, and to
that of any others who would follow my interpretation
(2 Peter 3:16 wresting to their own destruction).
The noble-minded Bereans in Acts 17 diligently searched the Scriptures,
seeking to learn if the Gospel Paul was preaching to them was true.
The significant problem of
a “mystical” approach to scripture...
... is not just the huge potential we have to misinterpret
the bible’s message. The greater peril of believing that
God speaks to us individually outside of or beyond
the word is found in this, that when we have
separated ourselves from accountability to any
absolute outside standard, or a scientific process,
we have separated ourselves from being
corrected... self-deception is hard to escape without
divine intervention (uh, a holy spanking!)
Here is a second erroneous approach
commonly practiced today.
Proof-texting - In the proof-text approach, verses and short
sections of text are used to support a particular topic or
position. Compared with the historical-grammatical method,
interpretations based on the proof-text method are often
isolated from the context surrounding the verse. Critics claim it
often neglects the historical setting and type of literary genre.
They also claim that the proof-text approach can be utilized in
support of heterodox (non-orthodox) teachings, and that
applications tend to be allegorical (hidden) in nature.
How many of us “know what we believe”
but can’t
define, defend, or even find it
in the bible?
Speaking of error...
There are different schools of interpretation
(Different, “philosophies” and sets of, “rules”)
Were going to take a quick look at four
1.
2.
3.
4.
Allegorical
Devotional
Liberal
Literal
The Allegorical Schools of Interpretation
This method of interpretation came from the Helenized Jews and
Christians who were influenced by the Greek’s Platonic philosophies.
Clement of Alexandria and Origen are two early church "fathers" who
viewed Scripture, particularly the Old Testament, as being symbolic rather
than literal.
The allegorical school teaches that there is a hidden symbolic spiritual
message underneath the apparent meaning of each sentence or statement.
The Devotional Schools of Interpretation
emphasize the edifying aspects of the scriptures and their interpretation,
with the goal of developing one's “spiritual” life.
The devotional school often leads to reading the scriptures as a means
of obtaining a mystical experience
The Liberal Schools of Interpretation;
Theological liberalism is prevalent today.
Liberal theologians do not accept the Bible as the infallible Word of
God and reject the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
With the liberal school, the risk is in that once we reject the verbal
inspiration of the Bible, our own intellect (or motives) becomes the
determining factor in question of, “what is truth.” Relativism is the
inevitable result. And we are the ultimate authority. (playing God)
The Literal Schools of Interpretation
(literal interpretation principle #1)
With the literal method of interpreting the Bible,
we accept the literal rendering of each sentence unless by virtue of the nature
of the sentence, or phrase, or a clause within the sentence, it is impossible to
take it literally. For instance, figures of speech or fables of allegories do not
present themselves as being literal statements to be interpreted literally.
I.e.
 1Th 5:16 Rejoice evermore.
 1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
 Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my
mouth.
Or
 Isaiah 52:10 The LORD has made bore his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations
(Accommodation principle #5)
Literal interpretation doesn't mean reading the words and just doing
what it says. Literal interpretation is taking the Bible at face value
and reading it as literature.
Literal interpretation also requires analyzing the literary genre of the
passage in the Bible. Literal interpretation recognizes the differences
between a historical narrative and a parable, or the difference between
written laws and poetry. In another words, literal interpretation is not
just reading and doing, it is reading with common sense, because
it takes in consideration the real form or style of the passage.
Literal interpretation is what we do everyday, we differentiate
between an instruction from our boss and a joke we hear from him,
and we interpret them accordingly.
Literal interpretation...
...employs an interpretation based on the type of text itself.. (Genre
principle #8) Some texts are in fact allegorical, or prophetic, or
parables, and are not to be taken literally. It is the context that reveals
this, as well as comparing scripture with scripture.
Remember, there are no contradictions. (Harmony, or noncontradiction principle #7) An allegorical passage cannot mean
something that contradicts a clear statement on the same apparent
doctrine.
So then, the 1st foundational rule
of biblical hermeneutics is:
•
So then, the 1st foundational rule
of biblical hermeneutics is:
the Bible
Is to be interpreted
literally.
•
The Golden rule of literal interpretation;
“When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek
no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary,
ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the
immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and
axiomatic and fundamental truths indicate clearly otherwise.”
Read the scriptures literally, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise
So then, the 2nd foundational rule
of biblical hermeneutics is
Context Is KING!
“context is king”. (Contextual principle #2)
The rule of context, with regard to the accurate interpretation of
a verse or passage, is that the passage must be interpreted according
to its own contexts; The historical/cultural context, the literary context with regard to its immediate literary setting, and the grammatical
context.
 Historical / cultural interpretation refers to understanding the culture,
background, and situation which prompted the text.
 Literary / Contextual interpretation involves always considering the
surrounding literary context of a verse or passage when trying to determine
the meaning of a specific word or phrase.
 Grammatical interpretation recognizes the Hebrew or Greek rules of
grammar and applies those principles to the interpretation of a passage
(grammatical principle #9)
What do we have when we assert a “conviction”
by taking a verse and not its context?
A pretext - a fictitious or false reason or motive given in order
to conceal the real one, or in order to justify an action.
Note: We can “prove” almost anything with the Bible if we ...
... “isolate the texts from their contexts and turn them
into pretexts”
This is “proof-texting”
Historical and Cultural context
One common mistake we western Christians often make is in reading
scripture through the “me, here and now” frame of reference. The
bible is an ancient book, written in a Middle Eastern – oriental world;
by, about, and often to, many different people of different cultures and
persuasions.
If we are to understand the bible accurately, we must consider each book
or passage by looking back through the lens of that peoples times
and culture. (Historical principle #10)
The common,
“who said what to whom, when, where, and why”
is a good place to start
Extra-biblical resources
Often, we can benefit from sources other than the bible to
understand the historical and the cultural distinctives of a
certain time and place. Some study bibles, and even
commentaries have useful information. Bible handbooks,
bible dictionaries as well as other more specific “cultural
reference books like Fred H. Wight’s, “Manners and Customs
of Bible Times”, or something By A. Edersheim, may also
provide invaluable information.
Literary / Contextual context;
Remember; a text out of its context is a pretext…
You don’t want to interpret a word outside of the sentence it is in,
Nor or a sentence outside of its paragraph,
Nor a paragraph outside of its chapter,
Nor the chapter outside of it book!
We must look not only at the big-picture context of history and culture, but also at
the closer literary context of the language itself, as it is written; the sentences,
paragraphs, chapter etc. We must be sure that we understand a verse according to
the context with the train of thought that the author presented it in.
Note: We must not assume that the words we read have
the same meaning to us as the words used originally by
the authors, or by the translators. We must use the
context to help determine the proper word meanings.
We also use dictionaries and lexicons if it is still unclear.
Additionally, we must use Scripture itself to verify the
meaning we determine; there are NO contradictions!
One important rule that helps us be sure that we are not reading our own
meaning into a passage is to “compare scripture with scripture. If we think we
have discovered a new and amazing meaning, that no scholars for the last 2000
years have seen… uh, maybe we misread something…
Scripture NEVER contradicts scripture
(Harmony of scripture principle #7)
Not only is the immediate context (paragraph, chapter, and book)
surrounding a verse important, but the context of the entire Bible is also
helpful in accurately determining the intended meaning of a particular
passage, verse, or word. At the very least, take the time to examine the
paragraph in which a verse it is found before you try to determine what
that verse actually says. Then compare the determined meaning against
the rest of the bible; against clear, known doctrines. If there is a
contradiction… it’s you  this is know as, “analogia Scriptura”
A related principal is that we cannot take a vague, unclear passage
and use it to contradict a clearer one on the same subject.
Let the clear passages clarify vague ones.
Where do you find the Scriptures
to compare to the passage you are studying?
Practically speaking, there are two common sources
(1) The cross-references in the margin of your Bible.
(2) The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK)
The grammatical context;
(grammatical principle #9)
Our English bible was translated from another language. For the New
Testament, this language was mostly common Greek. When making a
translation, you have to accommodate the fact that words only
communicate ideas and concepts. Languages tend to be specific to
peoples and culture; all are different, some being more precise and
explicit than others. Often, there are words in one language that have
no exact counterpart in another. Even more difficult is that some
words get their meaning from the grammatical context of the sentence
structure. These are some of the things that make “Translating”
accurately very difficult.
One way to resolve this might have been to write pages upon pages to
thoroughly express every possible nuance of the verse in question… not
exactly efficient, and wrought with the potential of “more words-more
error”… Note; the Amplified bible” is a reasonable attempt at this idea.
Another way is for the skilled translators to do all the exegetical work of
determining as closely as possible the best rendering of the original
meaning according to contexts. This is what they did. (they “interpreted”)
So, about the grammar…? Now we have the option of, “digging”
deeper and “fleshing out” the fuller meaning” … NOT a hidden meaning…
just a more explicitly accurate one, if possible, by looking at things like the
entomology of words, the verbs and their voice, tenses, and moods, and
at the other dynamics of the grammatical (Parts of speech) structure of a
passage.
Most study bibles are limited in these types of
help and we need to use other resource books, or
computer programs.
Below is a list of the more common tools used.
• Greek / Hebrew lexicons
• Strong’s concordance
• Bible programs; esword, logos, etc
Note: You have a Handout on Greek verb voice, tense, mood
Here are some other common
extra biblical references;
• Dictionaries
• Lexicons
• Vines word studies
• Historical reference tools
• Conservative commentaries
A word about commentaries;
Commentaries are not scripture. They are a man’s interpretation of
scripture, and all men are fallible. Additionally, all men have doctrinal
(denominational?) presuppositions, and even (less doctrinal) biases. That
being said, we can generally assume that these men are scholarly and
sincere, and they very well may have training and resources well beyond
our own. Never-the less. We are responsible ourselves to “search the
scriptures” first, and to grow in our ability to “rightly divide.
One of the significant advantages of a good commentary are all the
cultural historical and grammatical details they contain. Another
advantage is their big picture, outline perspectives. Commentaries are
helpful but remember to do your own study first, and be careful to
research what (who’s) commentary you use, considering their “doctrinal”
presuppositions, and the nature of their writing; is it simplified and
conversational, or a systematic exegesis…
McQuilkin rightly advises that...
It is best to consult the commentary after one has made his own independent
study. There are several reasons for that.
• First, no commentator is infallible,
• nor is any commentator an expert on every passage of Scripture. Often a
commentator will rely on the work of earlier commentators.
Therefore, to preserve one's independent judgment and the integrity of one's own
work, it is best to do personal study first by exegeeting or drawing out the
meaning of the passage with the basic tools.
On the other hand, it is never wise to conclude one's study without referring to
several of the best commentators on a given passage. In that final stage of study...
• the commentator provides a check for one's own conclusions
• and also provides additional insight before one's work is complete.
• Furthermore, the commentator provides appropriate background sources that
can be checked
A couple last points:
•What is therefore there for?
• For whatever was before there!
•What is that there for
• for whatever was before that?
In summary,
• We as individuals are responsible for what we ourselves believe.
• We are as heads of houses are responsible to teach, and to guard the
doctrine in our families;
• as husbands are responsible to “wash our wives” with the word
• as fathers are responsible to teach and nurture our children with the word
• We as members in particular are responsible to “do the work of the
ministry” amongst ourselves
• We are responsible to admonish, rebuke, instruct, correct each other...
• We are also all responsible to “hold up the word of truth” before the
watching world (Phil 2)
• We must do all this with sound doctrine wrestled from the bible by diligent
study and the Spirits illumination.
• Not shamefully 2nd Tim 2:15, Not to our own destruction Hosea 34:6. 2nd Ptr 3:18
God’s word is written in common language
to be plainly understood... BUT
• We must approach bible study carefully, with good hermeneutics, if we are
to find; the one correct interpretation, who it is binding upon, and how we
must then respond.(apply)
• We must start with a literal approach to interpreting
• We must recognize the different types of literature and interpret them
accordingly
• We must look at the passage in all its contexts
• We must consider history and cultures
• We must compare scripture with scripture to confirm and establish a
doctrine
• We must resolve apparent contradictions with other scriptures. The cleardidactic over the vague, or allegorical...
• We must look for the one original meaning intended by the author.
And then...
Having “observed to do”
Do it!
Because you can , and you want to!
Well, that’s Hermeneutics in a nut shell...
We went over most of the basic principles.
I have also given you 3 different lists from
different authors, for your binders