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- «█ █»
- «█ Some Rules of Interpretation and █»
- «█ Directions for Investigating the Scriptures █»
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- To understand the Bible properly it is necessary to approach
- and interpret its contents in a sound and consistent manner. To
- assist you in this process, the following guideline is recommended:
-
-
- «First.» Intend to be a student. No lesser intention will ever
- produce any good result.
-
- «Second.» Concentrate on the details. Note what the words say,
- and not what you suppose they say or would like them to say.
-
- «Third.» Ask yourself questions! And don't expect all the an-
- swers right away! (This requires a healthy dose of humility.)
-
- "Where'er you look within this book,
- Five things observe with care:
- OF WHOM it speaks, and HOW it speaks,
- And WHY, and WHEN, and WHERE."
-
- «Fourth.» Put the parallel narratives together: not just the four
- gospels, but also Kings and Chronicles.
-
- «Fifth.» Always have the question in mind: "What does this remind
- me of? " Have an eye out for "types" everywhere (but be careful
- not to get carried away to the exclusion of the plain lesson).
-
- «Sixth.» Distinguish the difference between "true principles" and
- "uncertain details". Don't major on minors, or vice versa.
-
- «Seventh.» Let the Bible define and explain its own terms, fig-
- ures, and symbols.
-
- «Eighth.» Give every passage a literal construction, unless its
- own connection and phraseology render such a course ridiculous,
- by bringing it into collision with truths elsewhere established
- by clear and positive language.
-
- «Ninth.» When reading articles and books that use portions of
- Scripture to support their views, give careful consideration to
- the complete Bible context in which the extracted passage has
- been taken.
-
- «Tenth.» No doctrine should be built upon one isolated text of
- Scripture. Any true doctrine will be found scattered through
- the whole Bible. Select all the related texts in the Bible, put
- them together, and you will have all the truth revealed on that
- particular subject.
-
- «Eleventh.» Never be afraid of results to which you may be driven
- by your investigations.
-
- «Twelfth.» Pursue your study of the Scriptures with as much inde-
- pendence as if you were the only one concerned. In other words,
- do not let others discourage you from doing what you know is
- right.
-
- «Thirteenth.» Rely on no authority less than Divine.
-
- «Lastly.» Prove all things: hold fast to that which is good.
- (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
-
- ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- It Shall Greatly Helpe
- Ye To Understand
- Scripture
-
- If Thou Mark...
-
- Not only what is
- Spoken or Wrytten
-
- but of Whom
-
- and to Whom
-
- with what Words
-
- at what Time
-
- Where
-
- to what Intent
-
- with what Circumstances
-
- considering what
- Goeth Before
-
- and what Followeth.
-
- John Wycliffe
-
- ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- The infallible rule of interpretation of scripture
- is the scripture itself; and therefore, when there
- is a question about the true and full sense of any
- scripture, it must be searched and known by other
- places that speak more clearly.
-
- Westminster Confession, 1647
-
- ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- The Bible should be studied at least as laboriously and
- exactly as any other book which has to be completely
- mastered. Every expression, every word, must be weighed;
- patiently, thoughtfully, systematically, reverentially.
-
- John William Burgon
-
- ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- The Bible does not yield its treasures to its critics.
-
- John Carter
-
-