THE
PROPER APPROACH TO INTERPRETING THE BIBLE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
A)
THE BIBLE IS TO BE INTERPRETED BY THE NORMATIVE RULES OF LANGUAGE,
CONTEXT AND LOGIC
1)
The Normative Rules As Defined Relative To The Bible Are The Normally
Expected Meanings Using The Established Rules Of The Language, Context
And Logic Of A Passage From The Bible
2)
Faithfully And Accurately Adhering To The Normative Rules Of Language,
Context And Logic Results In The Most Trustworthy, Non-Contradictory,
Immutable, Consistent Interpretation Of Passages In The Bible. This Is
Proof Of The Validity Of This Method Of Interpretating The Bible
3)
The Words Of The Original Bible Were Written In Specific Languages At
Specific Times - Languages In Which Many Thousands Of Manuscripts Were
Carefully Preserved / Copied So That The Meanings Of Those Words,
Verses, Passages, Etc., In The Original Bible Could Be Frozen In Time
And Then Could Be Accurately Interpreted And Translated Into The
Languages Of The World For All Ages Via The Normative Rules Of Language,
Context And Logic Of Each And Every Language. Otherwise One Could Impose
What He Wished Upon The Bible Due To The Ever Changing Nature Of
Languages. So A Particular Word Used In A Particular Time In God's
Original Word In A Particular Context Will Only
Have One Meaning And Not Be Subject To Change As
Languages Change
4)
Since The Interpretation Of Any Passage In The Bible Via The Proper Use
Of The Normative Rules of Language, Context And Logic Proves Itself To
Be The Most Trustworthy Non-Contradictory, Immutable, Consistent
Interpretation Of Passages In The Bible; Then The Interpretation By
These Rules Will Not Be Something That Can Be Changed, Or Modified Into
Something Different By Information Derived Elsewhere In The Bible Or
Outside Of The Bible, As Some Contend. On The Other Hand, The Normative
Rules Permit Referral To Parallel Passages When They Are Stipulated Or
Referred To By The Author In Order To Define Specific Words Or The
Context Of A Passage At Hand. And Parallel Passages, Normatively
Interpreted, May Also Be Used To Corroborate The Meaning Of A Passage At
Hand - But Not Change It
5)
In Order For The Bible To Be Properly Interpreted Via The Normative
Rules Of Language, Context And Logic, Inductive Rather Than Deductive
Reasoning Must Prevail
a)
Deductive Reasoning Defined:
b)
Inductive Reasoning Defined:
c)
A Deductive Approach To The Bible Means Presupposition & Can Often
Result In A Bad Interpretation Unless The Inductive Approach Is Allowed
To Prevail To Support Or Refute The Clues Arrived At Through The
External / Deductive Approach
d)
On The Other Hand, Approaching The Bible Normatively - Letting Inductive
/ Internal Reasoning Prevail, Especially When It Comes To A Very Careful
Consideration Of The Context Of The Passage At Hand, Means Taking A Risk
Because One Is Putting Ones Personal / Deductive / External Beliefs To
The Test Against What The Words Are Normatively / Internally Saying
6)
Since The Interpretation Of Any Passage In The Bible Via The Proper Use
Of The Normative Rules Of Language, Context And Logic Results In The
Most Trustworthy, Non-Contradictory, Immutable, Consistent
Interpretation; Then This Result Is Proof Of Its Own Validity And There
Is No Other Viable Means By Which The Bible Must Be Interpreted
a)
Otherwise Men Who Are Of Accountable Age And Capacity Could Plead
Ignorance At Judgment - But With The Normative Rules They Are Without
Excuse
b)
Otherwise God Would Have Conspired To Restrict The Knowledge Of His Word
To Only A Chosen Few
c)
Otherwise God Would Have Deliberately Confused Mankind By Permitting
Multiple False Interpretations
d)
Otherwise The Bible Is Made Subject To Whatever Rules Of Interpretation
Mankind Can Dream Up With The Aid Of The Devil, The World And The Sin
Nature
e)
Otherwise The Word Of God Could Be Interpreted By How The Individual
Chooses To Apply The Words To Himself, As Some Contend. But There Are No
Private Interpretations Of The Bible
f)
Otherwise The Holy Spirit Is Not Involved In The Interpretation Of The
Bible
7)
Neither An Individual's Feelings, Nor His Experiences, Nor His
Interpretation Of His Feelings / Experiences Can Override, Add To,
Supplant Or Modify What The Bible, Normatively Interpreted, Says
8)
Suggested Routines / Resources To Arrive At The Normative Meaning Of The
Bible Of A Passage / A Chapter In The Bible
a)
Determine The Wording Of A Passage / A Chapter Of The Bible That Is
Closest To The Original Text By Following The Normative Rules Of
Language, Context And Logic - One Verse At A Time In The Order That It
Appears
b)
Arrive At A Translation In 21st Century English Of A Passage / A Chapter
Of The Bible Which Best Reflects The Original Text By Following The
Normative Rules Of Language, Context And Logic
c)
Arrive At Your Own Personal Commentary Of The Passage By Following The
Normative Rules Of Language, Context And Logic - One Verse At A Time
Grouped Together In Accordance With The Verse Order Then Topics And
Subtopics
FURTHER
RULES OF INTERPRETATION INHERENT IN THE BIBLE
