Rules of Bible Interpretation

[A.W. Bowman]

Over the years I have attempted to teach the enclosed material, but in a haphazard, piecemeal manner,. Now, I have discovered my rules better articulated by another, and I also found that I was still missing a couple of rules. I do not know when or where the following was initially published, but it has been hidden from the general public for way too long. I count myself singularly privileged to share it with the members of this forum.

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Rules of Bible Interpretation by William Miller, published in pamphlet form on Bible interpretation. This pamphlet is included text in the One Line Bible CD, published by Ken Hamel © 2003, History of the Sabbath module by J. N. Andrews.

Reverend William Miller (1815?-1874?) was a minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of Victoria who served the John Knox Church, corner Little Lonsdale and Swanston Streets, Melbourne 1851-64.

To my knowledge this original material is in the public domain and may be freely copied and distributed. I urge caution, however, if anyone plans on republishing this material in any profit-making venture.

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In studying the Bible, I have found the following rules to be of great service to myself, and now give them to the public by special request. Every rule should be well studied, in connection with the scripture references, if the Bible student would be at all benefited by them.

1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible. Mt 5:18 (See my notes at the end of this pamphlet.)

2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study. 2Ti 3:15-17

3. Nothing revealed in Scriptures can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering. De 29:29; Mt 10:26,27; 1Co 2:10; Php 3:15; Isa 45:11; Mt 21:22; Joh 14:13,14; 15:7; Jas 1:5,6; 1Jo 5:13-15

4. To understand doctrine, bring all the Scriptures together on the subject you wish to know; then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error. Isa 28:7-29; 35:8; Pr 19:27; Lu 24:27,44,45; Ro 16:26; Jas 5:19; 2Pe 1:19,20

5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed or wisdom, is my rule, and not the Bible. Ps 19:7-11; 119:97-105; Mt 23:8-10; 1Co 2:12-16; Eze 34:18,19; Lu 11:52; Mt 2:7,8

6. God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables; and in this way the same things are often time revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different figures and parables. If you wish to understand them, you must combine them all in one. Ps 89:19; Ho 12:10; Hab 2:2; Ac 2:17; 1Co 10:6; Heb 9:9,24; Ps 78:2; Mt 13:13,34; Ge 41:1-32; Da 2;7;8; Ac 10:9-16

7. Visions are always mentioned as such. 2Co 12:1

8. Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much in prophecy to represent future things, times and events, - such as mountains, meaning governments, Da 2:35,44; beasts, meaning kingdoms, Da 7:8,17; waters, meaning people, Re 17:1,15; lamp, meaning Word of God, Ps 119:105; day, meaning year, &c. Eze 4:6.

9. Parables are used as comparisons to illustrate subjects, and must be explained in the same way as figures, by the subject and Bible. Mr 4:13

10. Figures sometimes have two or more different significations, as day is used in a figurative sense to represent three different periods of time, namely, 1) indefinite, Ec 7:14; 2) definite, a day for a year, Eze 4:6; and 3) a day for a thousand years, 2Pe 3:8. If you put on the right construction it will harmonize with the Bible and make good sense, otherwise it will not.

11. How to know when a word is used figuratively. If it makes good sense as it stands, and does no violence to the simple laws of nature, then it must be understood literally, if not, figuratively. Re 12:1,2 17:3-7

12. To learn the true meaning of figures, trace your figurative word through your Bible, and where you find it explained, put it on your figure, and if it makes good sense you need look no further, if not, look again.

13. To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfillment of a prophecy. If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event. But if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future development. For God takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true believing children of God may never be ashamed. Ps 22:5; Isa 45:17-19; 1Pe 2:6; Re 17:17; Ac 3:18

14. The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires, character, living, occupation, friends, home, comforts, and worldly honors. If any of these should hinder our believing any part of God’s word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives lies lurking in our hearts. We must believe that God will never forfeit his word. And we can have confidence that he that takes notice of the sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our head, will guard the translation of his own word, and throw a barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in God, and put implicit confidence in his word, from erring far from the truth, though they may not understand Hebrew or Greek.

These are some of the most important rules which I find the word of God warrants me to adopt and follow, in order for system and regularity. And if I am not greatly deceived, in so doing, I have found the Bible, as a whole, one of the most simple, plain, and intelligible books ever written, containing proof in itself of its divine origin, and full of all knowledge that our hearts could wish to know or enjoy. I have found it a treasure which the world cannot purchase. It gives a calm peace in believing, and a firm hope in the future. It sustains the mind in adversity, and teaches us to be humble in prosperity. It prepares us to love and do good to others, and to realize the value of the soul. It makes us bold and valiant for the truth, and nerves the arm to oppose error. It gives us a powerful weapon to break down Infidelity, and makes known the only antidote for sin. It instructs us how death will be conquered, and how the bonds of the tomb must be broken. It tells us of future events, and shows the preparation necessary to meet them. It gives us an opportunity to hold conversation with the King of kings, and reveals the best code of laws ever enacted.

This is but a faint view of its value; yet how many perishing souls treat it with neglect, or, what is equally as bad, treat it as a hidden mystery [agenda]which cannot be known. Oh, my dear reader, make it your chief study. Try it well, and you will find it to be all I have said. Yes, like the Queen of Sheba, you will say the half was not told you.

The divinity taught in our schools is always founded on some sectarian creed. It may do to take a blank mind and impress it with this kind, but it will always end in bigotry. A free mind will never be satisfied with the views of others. Were I a teacher of youth in divinity, I would first learn their capacity and mind. If these were good, I would make them study the Bible for themselves, and send them out free to do the world good. But if they had no mind, I would stamp them with another’s mind, write bigot on their forehead, and send them out as slaves!

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[A.W. Bowman]

Notes: Personal comments on the meaning of words.

Doing a general word search for perfect, we find the English term occurs 98 times in the KJV of the English Bible.

These 98 occurrences reflect a dazzling array of original language words. There are thirteen different Hebrew words translated as “perfect” and ten different Greek words translated as “perfect”. Each of the original words has different meanings as well as carrying a wide range of possible individual tones, shadings and understandings. Even in one verse, such as Ps 101.2, we find the word perfect twice in our KJV. However, the first perfect means “whole, sound, healthful”, while the second perfect means “integrity”, which renders Ps 101:2 from:

“I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” KJV

To my translation of this same text:

“I will give heed to and follow the path (the way) of complete wholesomeness; Oh when will You come unto me? Inside my own house I will walk (live) my life in the integrity of my heart.” AWB

I attempt to bring a little more of the conceptual (pictorial) presentation of the Hebrew language into our English language framework.

Lesson: Do not do a word search in English (only) and expect to get a true rendering of the original texts, nor for creating a foundation for developing doctrines. The results are often times combining non-compatible passages which leads to scriptural error and creating doctrines that the Word of God will not actually support.

Homework: Do an exhaustive search of the texts where the original language words have been translated in English as “perfect”. Find all 13 Hebrew and 10 Greek terms and evaluate their grammatical usage and their contextual application(s). Then, go back and reconstruct an English equivalent of the original concept (thought for thought). This may not be the best way of translating the original text, but we have already seen that simple word-for-word translations are not all that great either.

Application: When studying the Bible, doctrines (teachings), or developing a doctrine of your own: The very least one must do is verify the correct usage/application of the key words in that doctrine, as those words appear within their original context.

Shalom Aleichem

[Bro-Larry]

Thank you, HaShaliach for the post.

Aleichem Shalom

[Joelel]

[B]I think most of the problem people can't understand or receive truth is this.Sin In peoples life will blind them to where they can't receive or understand truth

(Them that don't sin)
1 Cor. 02:006Howbeit 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:

1 Cor.003:001 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 003:002I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 003:003For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?


(Them that sin are forever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth.)
2 Tim:2:018 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 002:019Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 002:020But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 002:021If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 002:022Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 002:023But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 002:024And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 002:025In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 002:026And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
003:001 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 003:002For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 003:003Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 003:004Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 003:005Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 003:006For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 003:007Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.


(Sin will darken your understanding) Eph.4:011And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 004:012For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 004:013Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 004:014That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 004:015But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 004:016From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 004:017This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 004:018Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

(Them that practice sin or are lost are blinded to truth) 2 Cor.4:001 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 004:002But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 004:003But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 004:004In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The bottom line is no matter how good a teacher we are if a person is blinded by sin we can't make them see.[/B]

[A.W. Bowman]

Originally Posted by Joelel

I think most of the problem people can't understand or receive truth is this.Sin In peoples life will blind them to where they can't receive or understand truth

The bottom line is no matter how good a teacher we are if a person is blinded by sin we can't make them see.

These are two excellent observations.

Integrate these ideas with the Spirit's drawing of a sinner, The testimony of a believer, followed by sound instruction, and picture is created. Yet, we must never forget that not even a face to face encounter with God will change the minds of some folks. Even so, while that hurt the heart of Jesus, it did not detour Him from mission.

[Bro-Larry]

Originally Posted by Joelel

[B]I think most of the problem people can't understand or receive truth is this.Sin In peoples life will blind them to where they can't receive or understand truth(

Sin is not the only thing that will blind a heart.

When people use the law to try to teach salvation, a veil blinds their minds, but when we look at Jesus we become more and more like Him.

That's why legalism produces spiritually blind people. When Moses is read, it produces blind people who find it hard to receive the truth of the grace of God. It's just too easy. (II Cor 3:14-18)

[Joelel]

Originally Posted by Bro-Larry

Sin is not the only thing that will blind a heart.

When people use the law to try to teach salvation, a veil blinds their minds, but when we look at Jesus we become more and more like Him.

That's why legalism produces spiritually blind people. When Moses is read, it produces blind people who find it hard to receive the truth of the grace of God. It's just too easy. (II Cor 3:14-18)

Yes the old law covenant.They are not saved or there is no salvation in the old covenant to start with.We need the law of the Spirit to understand and receive truth.Rom.8
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.1Cor.2
[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.

Heb.8
[6] But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
[7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
[8] For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
[9] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
[10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
[13] In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

[mfblume]

Great list, brother H- S! I am saving this for my files.

But I have a qualm with one of them.

11. How to know when a word is used figuratively. If it makes good sense as it stands, and does no violence to the simple laws of nature, then it must be understood literally, if not, figuratively. Re 12:1,2 17:3-7

This is not true every case. What should be added is the idea that if the picture written in scripture can be understood literally in actuality as read, for face-value, that is still not necessarily the answer. If the same phrase is found in the Old Testament by way of standing as a metaphor or idiom of the culture, such as the sun, moon and stars being used to indicate downfalls of kingdoms (Isaiah 13:1, 10,13 - BABYLON'S fall; Ezekiel 32:7-8 - EGYPT'S fall; Isaiah 34:4-5 - EDOM'S fall), then although it can make sense physically, it is not necessarily so. There are so many old testament idioms and metaphors that are not common to our culture and day and are often easily mistaken to be actualities when they were never meant to be.

For example, we know it is possible to build a glass house. And the metaphor about not throwing stones if we live in glass houses can make sense physically. However, everyone knows that is not the intention of one who makes this statement.

So, we must also determine if the phrase in the bible is a Hebrew cultural idiom that relates something that is not literally said, even though it might make sense literally and not violate rules of physics and nature.

If the sun ever stopped shining, read the outcome:

The Earth cannot drop to Absolute Zero because the universe would keep it above 2.7 K. Without the Sun, the only energy to the surface of the Earth is the heat from it's own interior. All you have to do is go down a kilometer or two and you are already up to a temperature of 140 F or more where deep diamond miners work. If the Sun went away, this would change only a slight amount as the Earth re-adjusts to a heat flow where the outer surface is no longer warmed by the Sun. My guess is that this heat flow is not enough to keep the earth above the freezing point of water, and that after perhaps a month or so, the latent solar heat stored in the oceans and crust would be exhausted. The temperature would stabilize probably somewhere below 200 K and be maintained thereafter by the heat flux from the Earth's interior for a few billion years.

(http://www.astronomycafe.net/qadir/q2895.html)

lol

[A.W. Bowman]

Excellent point there Mike.

Guess one would have to take that one as a "Rule of Thumb". Or, one would have to add: "In context" of the scriptures in which the term(s) are found, or some other such qualifier(s). - Got any ideas? -

[mfblume]

I can only think at the top of my head about adding the thought-- ...unless the statement involves a cultural idiom that utilizes what might appear to be a natural possibility, but is, in fact, relating another point altogether. And then add an example from our day's culture as I did. :shrug: