Before I deal with an individual passage it would be better to outline the axioms and rules of the normal grammatical historical interpretation.
The grammatical historical method may be summarized as follows:
"The fundamental principle is to gather from the Scriptures themselves the precise meaning which the writers intend to convey. It applies to the sacred books the same principles, the same grammatical process and exercises of common sense and reason, which we apply to other books."
The axioms are:
1. The true object of speech is the impartation of thought.
2. Human Language is a reliable medium of communication.
3. The Scriptures were written in the normal language of the people meant to be understood by all.
4. Usage determines the meaning of words.
5. The function of a word depends upon its association with other words.
6. Truth must accord with truth; and statements of truth apparently discrepant can be harmonized if the facts are known.
7. An assertion of truth necessarily excludes that to which it is essentially opposed and no more.
8. On cannot interpret without understanding that which he interprets.
9. The interpreter must allow the text to speak for itself. God has authority through the word over the interpreter, and not the other way around. To the best of his ability he should lay aside his own bias. His attitude should be that of Samuel who said to the LORD "Speak, for Your servant is listening" 1 Sam. 3:10. He must not read into the Scripture what he wants to be there. He must draw out the meaning resident in the text.
The five general rules of interpretation are:
1. The rule of normal interpretation: The words of the Scripture are to be interpreted according to their common meaning unless such meaning is shown inconsistent with other words in the sentence, with argument or context, or with other parts of Scripture. The interpreter must do the best he can to ascertain the exact meaning of the words of Scripture and their relationship to one another in the original Biblical languages.
2. The rule of context: The words of Scripture and their meaning are to be understood according to the context in which they occur. This includes both the near context (the passages immediately before and after) and the far context (the chapters, book, and even the whole of Scripture).
3. The rule of scope and design: The scope of a book is the end or purpose the writer has for writing his work. To the best of his ability the interpreter is to discover this purpose.
4. The law of circumstances and customs: The interpreter should take into account the social circumstances and customs as they bear upon the interpretation of the text.
5. The law of the analogy of the faith: The interpreter should interpret the truth of each passage in light of the entire Bible. Understanding that God is consistent in truth and that there is no contradiction of His truth as revealed in Scripture.
The additional rules of interpretation are:
1. The rule of obscure passages: The interpreter is to interpret obscure passages in light of clearer passages.
2. The rule of one interpretation: For any given passage there is only one interpretation though there may be many applications of the text.
3. The rule of the checking principle. After the interpreter is done drawing out the meaning of the passage he should check his interpretation and compare his understanding with the understanding of others of like faith.
4. The rule of induction. We should be careful to discover the meaning of the text rather than impose a meaning on the text.
5. The rule of cross references: The interpreter must be sure he cross references the meaning of the given text with other texts of like meaning.
The grammatical historical method may be summarized as follows:
"The fundamental principle is to gather from the Scriptures themselves the precise meaning which the writers intend to convey. It applies to the sacred books the same principles, the same grammatical process and exercises of common sense and reason, which we apply to other books."
The axioms are:
1. The true object of speech is the impartation of thought.
2. Human Language is a reliable medium of communication.
3. The Scriptures were written in the normal language of the people meant to be understood by all.
4. Usage determines the meaning of words.
5. The function of a word depends upon its association with other words.
6. Truth must accord with truth; and statements of truth apparently discrepant can be harmonized if the facts are known.
7. An assertion of truth necessarily excludes that to which it is essentially opposed and no more.
8. On cannot interpret without understanding that which he interprets.
9. The interpreter must allow the text to speak for itself. God has authority through the word over the interpreter, and not the other way around. To the best of his ability he should lay aside his own bias. His attitude should be that of Samuel who said to the LORD "Speak, for Your servant is listening" 1 Sam. 3:10. He must not read into the Scripture what he wants to be there. He must draw out the meaning resident in the text.
The five general rules of interpretation are:
1. The rule of normal interpretation: The words of the Scripture are to be interpreted according to their common meaning unless such meaning is shown inconsistent with other words in the sentence, with argument or context, or with other parts of Scripture. The interpreter must do the best he can to ascertain the exact meaning of the words of Scripture and their relationship to one another in the original Biblical languages.
2. The rule of context: The words of Scripture and their meaning are to be understood according to the context in which they occur. This includes both the near context (the passages immediately before and after) and the far context (the chapters, book, and even the whole of Scripture).
3. The rule of scope and design: The scope of a book is the end or purpose the writer has for writing his work. To the best of his ability the interpreter is to discover this purpose.
4. The law of circumstances and customs: The interpreter should take into account the social circumstances and customs as they bear upon the interpretation of the text.
5. The law of the analogy of the faith: The interpreter should interpret the truth of each passage in light of the entire Bible. Understanding that God is consistent in truth and that there is no contradiction of His truth as revealed in Scripture.
The additional rules of interpretation are:
1. The rule of obscure passages: The interpreter is to interpret obscure passages in light of clearer passages.
2. The rule of one interpretation: For any given passage there is only one interpretation though there may be many applications of the text.
3. The rule of the checking principle. After the interpreter is done drawing out the meaning of the passage he should check his interpretation and compare his understanding with the understanding of others of like faith.
4. The rule of induction. We should be careful to discover the meaning of the text rather than impose a meaning on the text.
5. The rule of cross references: The interpreter must be sure he cross references the meaning of the given text with other texts of like meaning.
