The Lessons of History Series #1

My Personal Rules For Biblical Interpretation

It will help if you listen to the sermon that I gave to start this Series first but I will have to find a way to post audio first. sorry

If you do not know your history, you are doomed/sure to repeat it. History is life’s DNA.

We learned that 20-20 hindsight is like using a “back-azimuth.” They are there so that we can make corrective actions/readings by using them.

In the sermon we prepared the ground for the foundation, now we need to pour the foundation.

Remember, we are working on the Masterpiece, the canvas/tapestry/puzzle of your Mind and Heart. Create the Masterpiece of all times, better than Kincade, Michael Angelo or whoever.

How is this possible? This Masterpiece is fluid, living, active and ever improving. Ultimately, we find that this Masterpiece is of Jesus/His facets, the ones He places in us so that He can shine His light through us into a lost and dying world.

I need to make a correction to the sermon; the facets do not refract the light, the crystal does. The facets are the windows that the light comes in through and goes out through. We need to be the crystal that God shines His light through, the facets being Jesus’ life in us as we come to understand Him and apply His life to ours.

Before I get into that I need to discus my “Personal Rules For Biblical Interpretation.” It is my opinion that it is important for us to create Biblically backed rules that will help us to rightly divide the Words of Truth.

Anyone can read a passage in such a way as to make it say what they want it to say. This is why I have these Rules.

Example: Jn 1:1, some read it as “a god”  vs. “God”. If they had not been trying to make it say something they wanted it to say(that God, Jesus, was simply a god) they would have translated it the way 99% of the translators did translate it, and that is that Jesus is God. See Jn 8:58, Ex 3:6, 14.

The Bible is the inspired Words of God, the Holy Spirit being the author. 2 Tim 3:15-17, 1 Cor 2:11-16, Heb 1:1-2, 2 Pet 1:19-21

Rules

1. Context – The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. Who wrote it? It has relevance. John the Beloved wrote Revelation. He was the closest to Jesus and the author of John, 1 John, 2 John and 3 John also. He was in the “inner circle” of the Apostles/Disciples. No one had better access to the information than John, thus we have confidence in it’s accuracy. Furthermore, he was a first-hand witness and probably wrote all of his letters after 73 AD (after the destruction of Israel, Jerusalem and the temple).

What was the geopolitical setting? The Gospels were written during a Roman occupation which was the fifth such occupation of Palestine/Israel in 750 years (The Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes/Persians, Grecians, and Romans). Knowing this helps to understand it.

What are the scriptures around it saying? In Daniel 9, Daniel came to the understanding of what Jeremiah said in Jer 25:12 and 29:10 concerning the desolations of Jerusalem. So he prayed for forgiveness for Israel(the nation and people), Jerusalem and the temple. So when you get to verse 24-27 you know that the context is about the people of Israel, Jerusalem and the temple. Using 20-20 hindsight(a back-azimuth) you know that it ended in 73AD under orders from Vespasian. Daniel was alive when Habakkuk, Ezekiel, Obadiah and Jeremiah were written. It is also possible that Haggai and Zechariah were written while He was alive also. Daniel was written from Babylon around 530 BC and Jeremiah was written in Israel around 580-539 BC. So, Jeremiah was a prophet from Israel and Daniel from Babylon. Everyone knew who Daniel was because he was second only to King Nebuchadnezzar.

What did the words mean when it was written? The word translated as “perfect” in Bible times meant “complete.” Now we see it as “without fault.”

When was it written and about what time was it written about? The writings of John the Beloved were written well after all the other Disciples were deceased and Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple no longer existed for around 10 to 30 years. Thus we know that John had time to read all of the other books of the Bible and have a very good understanding of them before he wrote his scrolls. We also know that he had opportunity to correct any errors he would have seen had there been any. Thus, when you read the Gospel of John you will find more accuracy to whatever he decided to write about. When you read 1 John you know that it is the “Conclusion of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.” You also know that it is AFTER the “Desecration that brought Desolation” written of by Daniel that happened in 70 AD.

Where was it written, geography? John wrote on the island of Patmos and in Asia Minor(Turkey) during a time when the Church/Body of Christ was under heavy persecution. The Romans had tried to kill John many times but they could not. Thus they had exiled him to the island of Patmos where he gets the vision called “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” This fulfills what is written in Dan 7:28 NASB, Lk 2:32 NASB, Rom 8:19 YLT, 1 Cor 1:7 NKJV & NASB, Gal 1:12 NKJV & KJV, Eph 1:17 NKJV & NASB, 2 Thes 1:7, 1 Pet 1:7 & 13, and 4:13 and ending in Rev 1:1 in all versions.

Why did the author put the quill to the leather/papyrus? Luke claimed he did it to make an orderly account of all that happened around the life of Jesus for one Theophilus. Luke is the only gentile writer in the New Testament. This gives us the gentile view of Jewish events. He was probably not an eyewitness but got his information from Peter and Paul.

How is it structured? The Gospels are written in chronological order as is Acts for the most part. The letters were either to individual people or churches for instruction or correction. Revelation is a set of visions following a set of instructions and is not chronological. Psalms is a song book in no particular order and by a number of authors. Proverbs is also poetry and in no particular order with various authors thought most are attributed to Solomon.

Is it poetry? Poetry is written differently than History. A song is poetry and seeks to flow and rhyme and be in verses and will settle for words less accurate but more in the flow.

Every author has a history and a “spirit” or “character.” David was influenced by his being a shepherd, musician, singer, composer, king, prophet. They influenced his writing at different times by what his experiences were. He authored no book of  the Bible, but was one of the most prolific writers in the Bible. To be clear though, David did write the first two books of the five books of Psalms which now comprise one book titled Psalms.

2. Concert – All scriptures work in concert with the others(2 Tim 3:15-17 and I Cor 2:11-16). No single scripture stands alone. You will see the “shadow” in the Old Testament and the “reality” in the New Testament(Col 2:16-17, Heb 8 all, Heb 10:1 and 11:1). The scriptures do not disagree with each other(Jn 2:19-21 – shows a persons body verses a building)(Jn 6:51-58 shows a play of spiritual verses physical). Figure out why they seem to disagree if they do(Rom 3:27-28 and Gal 2:16 verses Jam 2:14-26 hint: both are true). Is some of the meaning lost in translation or is it spiritual or physical or both(Jn 5:3-8). If you find a passage in Matt, Mk, Lk or Jn, check the other 3 for parallel passages and compare them for clarity(Judas is revealed at last supper( Mtt 26:21-25, Mk 14:18-21, Lk 22:21-23 and Jn 13:21-30).

3. Read Literally First, if it fits with rule 1 and 2, then that is what it means primarily. It can have a 2nd and 3rd and 4th meaning too. If it does not fit with rule 1 and 2 and does not seem to fit literally than it is figuratively or allegorically inclined (Jn 6:51-58 was spiritual and not physical thus it is figuratively speaking). God will not try to trick you and I. It is given to us to know the mysteries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mtt 13:11, Lk 8:10 & 10:21, Mk 4:11

example: Balaam and the donkey and the Angel. Num 22:9-22 Sarcastic “go ahead and do it.” First, God said don’t go. Then Balaam asked again so God says, ok you did not believe me the first time so go ahead and see what happens. Know this, God does not change His mind. At times it seems that He does but in reality He knew everything before the first time. So, if God says “no” that is what He means. If you push the issue, He just might give you what you want. Then you will find out why He said “no” the first time. In the end, because Balaam did not head Gods “no,” he ends up getting into divination and teaching Balak how to get the Israelites how to curse themselves and many died because of this. Then Moses has to have him put to death. Maybe Balaam would have been better off just being obedient and sticking with “no.”

Many times the scriptures are written figuratively. Jer 30:16-18 When it says “devour you,” it did not mean cannibalism but taking what is yours. Then in 17 it says “restore health” to you it primarily meant spiritual health and the “wounds” were spiritual wounds and it was corporately for Israel. In Jer 3:22 it speaks of
“healing” it is of spiritual healing as it refers to backsliding. Isa 30:26 speaks of “binding up the bruise of His people” speaking of spiritual bruises which are feelings.

4. Any doctrinal point can be found in the Old Testament as a shadow and in the New Testament as the reality. It will then be a facet of Jesus. Col 2:16-17, Heb 8:5, 10:1, 1 Cor 10:1-11

We test all things by the Word of God. Jn 1:14 and the Word became flesh…

When the Holy Spirit “overshadowed” Mary, the shadow was over because the reality(Jesus) was here. Lk 1:35, Gen 1:2 and Heb 11:1

The whole Bible is about Jesus, cover to cover, it always tells us something about Jesus. Fall in love with “The Living Word,” the “Manna that came down from God.” Jn 6:31-35 & 41 &48-51 & 58, Deut 8:3, Matt 4:4 and Heb 4:12