| "If any man speak, let him Speak As The Oracles of God..." (I Peter 4:11) |
| Principles of BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION (Adapted from A. Campbell) |
| RULE 1. "Consider first the historical circumstances of the book. These are the order, the title, the author, the date, the place, and the occasion of it." Where is the book found in the Bible and in the chronological order of the Bible? What does the title of the book say concerning the aim of the book? Who is the author? Is he a prophet or apostle? What is his occupation? Where was the book written? RULE 2. "Observe who it is that speaks, and under what dispensation he speaks ... Consider also the persons addressed, their prejudice, character, and religious relations." Is the one who is speaking a patriarch, a Jew, a Christian, or an infidel? Is it spoken to one under the Patriarchal, Mosaic, or Christian dispensation? RULE 3. "The same philological principles, deduced from the nature of language, or the same laws of interpretation which are applied to the language of the Bible." Don't make special rules to interpret the Bible! Use the same ones you use for any piece of literature. There is both literal and figurative language found in the Scriptures. Use the same rules to determine which it is in the Bible as in any other work. RULE 4. "Common usage, which can only be ascertained by testimony must always decide themeaning of any word which has but one signification; but when words have ... more meanings than one, whether literal or figurative, the scope, the context, or parallel passages must decide the meaning." Use a dictionary or lexicon to determine the true meaning of words, don't make up your own meaning. If more than one definition is found, allow the surrounding verses and passages which speak of the same things determine which definition is appropriate. RULE 5. "In all tropical language ascertain the point of resemblance, and judge the nature of the trope, and its kind, from the point of resemblance ..." Use common sense when dealing with figurative language. Don't take the figure further than it naturally goes. RULE 6. "In the interpretation of symbols, types, allegories, and parables, this rule is supreme -- Ascertain the point to be illustrated, for comparison is never to be extended beyond the point -- to all the attributes, qualities, or circumstances of the symbol, type, allegory, or parable." These illustrations are good only for the main point being made; there are not a number of minor hidden points to be made. RULE 7. "We must come within understanding distance." There must be a desire to understand the Scriptures. |
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