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Warning: session_start(): Failed to read session data: files (path: /var/lib/lsphp/session/lsphp80) in /home/kjv.site/public_html/Discussion-Thread/index.php on line 2 BIBLE DISCUSSION THREAD 191917
Biblical hermeneutics is the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation. The word most often refers to how to interpret the Bible or other sacred texts from other religions.Literal Interpretation
This approach seeks out the "plain meaning" of a biblical text. This is not to imply that every passage of Scripture should be interpreted literally, but rather the plain meaning be accepted as truth. For instance, when Jesus said the Christians are the light of the world, we don't believe we are literally a 100-watt light bulb. We do believe that Jesus was telling us plainly that it is our role to showcase the love of God to everyone around us.
1) Define the Terms.
look up the words in the original. When you are first attempting to understand the Bible, knowing the definitions of the words used by the authors is a great first step. But you should also know if you're reading historical narrative, poetry, or a parable. Each literary style comes with its own rules of interpretation, undoubtedly understood by the authors who penned them.
2) Put scripture in its context! Knowing the context is key to being able to interpret anything, including the stories from the Bible. Understanding how Jesus' words would have been interpreted by his original audience is an important step to being able to properly apply the truth in our own lives.
3) Look to Jesus.
Suggest that every story, poem, or verse only has significance as we consider the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
4) And prayer.
Start with prayer, end with prayer, and make sure prayer permeates every step along the way in your interpretation of the Bible. Since God will be most concerned with our application of the Bible, it follows God would be most interested in ensuring we utilize biblical hermeneutics correctly.
Sometimes the Lord leads you to a scripture that speaks to you directly in a way applicable to you with perfect timing. It's just for you and won't compromise the literacy of the msg.
I believe some ultra spiritualizing is a sign of one can't except the truth so one would have to compromise the attributes of God for their convenience.
Example:
One would say why would a loving God send someone to hell. So they say there is no hell. That relaxes them. But this contrast a Holy God and his judgment.
If we all are just vessels and there's no hell and there's no Satan who influence the evil in the world?
And what's the purpose of the inspired scripture if "none" of it says what it appears to say.
With this errored mindset you can't even use scripture to validate scripture!
Fully agree, brother. I think that sometimes we see this 'ultra-spiritualizing' not simply as a careless misunderstanding of Truth, but something much deeper & sinister. Instead of allowing the Word of God to teach us, fill us & challenge us, some do it in reverse: they come to the Word of God with their errant beliefs, alter the very fabric of the biblical message to suit & then promulgate it as Truth, as from enlightened hearts & minds.
Thus we get false foundational beliefs such as, only death being God's Judgement of the wicked & Heaven for the righteous; re-birth doesn't happen in this life but in readiness for the next; the preaching of the Gospel takes a back seat as God will accept all people, though some form of cleansing (purgatory) might be necessary; & one I read recently, that the whole Bible is written as a parable or maybe, allegorically. We can only pray that believers everywhere will attend to the Word as given, be taught by the Holy Spirit, & thus discern between Truth & error. This very same matter was brought up at our Lord's Day meeting during 'Teaching Time', as an evident evil permeating the Church - how we must strive for the Truth & stand only on the pure unadulterated Word of God.
The Lord bless you brother in your meditations & submissions here.
According to this dangerous practice the Bible exists only to help you learn more about yourself, and if it doesn't, then it can be replaced by any other book, scientist, experience, or gut feeling.
After all, the words are not what matter, and it is not about adhering to any one tradition. All that matters is whether you find solace, benefit, or help from how you read it.
This approach is identified by the question, "what does it say to you?"
Objective truth and facts cannot be understood without taking something literally. Spiritualizing is subjective.
Conclusion
Spiritualizing the Bible is the enemy of Bible believing dispensational study which tries to understand the meaning of God's words by the words.
Any attempt to retranslate, change the words, spiritualize, or otherwise separate the interpretation from the doctrinal and historical context of words on the page will lead to ignorance of the truth of God and his will.
If the Bible should be left alone and words matter to deliver meaning, then the Bible should be read literally.
This will eventually lead you to mid-Acts Pauline dispensational Bible study, understanding the truth, and knowing God's will.
One of the problems with over-spiritualizing is that you can forget the real meaning of the thing you are over-spiritualizing.
This causes over-spiritualization to have a devastating impact on the credibility of the church.
Another problem with over-spiritualizing is its propensity to narrate the wrong view of God. Those people and groups that excel in over exaggerating and over spiritualizing hardly give God any room in the normal workings of the world. He is omitted and ignored in the daily cycles of life and in simple acts of kindness. Yet Scripture says otherwise, God makes the sun and rain shine and fall on everyone
( Matthew 5:45.)
Just have to follow His written word, and you will walk in the right direction ( Joshua 1:8 ).
I enjoyed the read and agree, the plain sense, not a secret mystical meaning, or choosing a meaning that will fit the teaching that the majority follow that is taken out of the context of the message of the scripture. While reading what you wrote a few scriptures kept popping into my head, the first was Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
My understanding is we cannot interpret the Bible, the scripture interprets itself with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If we have a bible, but we trust others for the truth and if they are wrong, we are fully accountable. Adam and Eve tried to shift the blame but all three were held accountable.
Another scripture that popped up was, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" which is in the bible many times. These few words speak very loudly and are true if we are not willing to clear our minds as if we know nothing and pray to God through Jesus for the Holy Spirit to show in the scripture the truth. We will not hear because our ears are not open to hearing the truth, we have already decided the answer on our own.
I understand what you said about divorce, shunned and treated like an uneducated layman or outcast, even a heretic. Sadly teachings, traditions, and doctrines sometimes become political (the majority rules), or like colors I like blue, she likes red, and he likes green, who is right, what is the truth.
May the Holy Spirit of truth guide us and love for each other control our tongue.
When you said; "if we are not willing to clear our minds as if we know nothing and pray to God through Jesus for the Holy Spirit to show in the scripture the truth. We will not hear because our ears are not open to hearing the truth, we have already decided the answer on our own."
1 Corinthians 3:18-19. came to mind.
"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."
The natural man receiveth not the things of God.
What we have here is the attack on the word of God concerning the things of God!
Great truths you've shared there, brother S. Spencer. I particularly affirm that sentence on your page 2: "Taking something literally requires adhering to the words exactly without imagination or exaggeration."
The Bible is a both a Book of historical facts as well as a Book that leads the reader into spiritual Truth & challenge. Where concepts such as parables & allegories are clearly indicated, we need to learn & heed. Where they are not given, the Words written are to be read simply "without imagination or exaggeration". To do anything else that's intended, is to virtually re-write the Bible according to one's whims & fancies. I will admit though, the the Holy Spirit can, & often does, take a Word and apply to the reader's heart which may otherwise seem inconsistent to the normal understanding of that Scripture. In this instance, I see it as 'that Word from the Lord' that is given for personal reception & application & not for public circulation or promoting some new teaching.
Much more could be added, but your presentation deals with this important matter very well. Thanks again.
It is called spiritualizing the text because nothing has a solid and specific application. Instead, the Bible teaches only general moral principles. In this case, the meaning is not forced into a rigid structure and definition formed by words.
Exact words matter less in this approach, and it has led to the multitude of colloquial and casual Bible translations and even visual Bibles that intend to preserve the meaning without the words. There must be many of these options because resting on any one form of words would lead back to a literal reading.
Spiritualizing Leads to Not Knowing
In the case of the spiritual allegorical way of reading the Bible, the question arises as to how you know your interpretation is correct?
There are only two answers to this question.
The first option is that an educated expert or group of such experts must tell you if your interpretation is correct.
This only serves to divorce you, as an uneducated layman, away from interpreting the printed words of God for yourself. You are captive to other men's interpretations which stand upon the strength of numbers, tradition, or extra-Biblical visions, revelations, positions, etc.
In this way of interpreting the Bible you must rely on commentaries, church historians, and the tradition of your elders to know how to explain passages in the scripture.
You cannot know without them.
The way you know you are correct in this way of interpretation is not by trusting God's words, but by conforming to man's tradition.
Spiritualizing Leads to No Objective Truth
The second option is that there is no correct way to interpret the Bible. The idea that the Bible is communicating one objective truth to everyone that reads it is anathema from this perspective.
In this approach, the authority is solely upon your subjective feelings, circumstances, and needs.
Once we have taken those steps mentioned in part 1 we come to dispensational Bible study is the product of taking the Bible literally.
The opposite of taking the Bible literally is spiritualizing, also known as mystical or allegorical study of the Bible.
This is dangerous because it makes God's actual words unimportant, makes the Bible text itself irrelevant, and inhibits understanding the truth of God's revealed will.
Taking the Bible Literally
The word "literally" has fallen on hard times in the culture. People use the word, but not according to what it truly means.
'Literal' means according to the letter and word. If something literally happened, then it actually happened exactly as the words describe.
(If my mind was literally blown, then I could not be writing this and would not have a brain.)
Taking something literally requires adhering to the words exactly without imagination or exaggeration.
Taking the Bible literally is the idea that the meaning or interpretation is limited by the words that are used printed in black and white on the page. This requires attention and importance be given to every word. Words deliver meaning.
This is the approach that claims that God means what he said.
Spiritualizing the Bible
Not taking the Bible literally is when the interpretation is limited only by the imagination of the reader. This is to say, the meaning is not truly limited at all. It can mean whatever the receiver perceives it to mean and is often defined by outside authorities like tradition or popularity.
This is the approach that says that whoever wrote the Bible (it is not required to literally be God) did not say exactly what they mean.
This is called mystical because the meaning is secret and not clearly expressed in the words on the page.
It is called allegorical because it assumes the entire Bible must be representative of something else.
Part 1 of ?
Biblical hermeneutics is the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation. The word most often refers to how to interpret the Bible or other sacred texts from other religions.Literal Interpretation
This approach seeks out the "plain meaning" of a biblical text. This is not to imply that every passage of Scripture should be interpreted literally, but rather the plain meaning be accepted as truth. For instance, when Jesus said the Christians are the light of the world, we don't believe we are literally a 100-watt light bulb. We do believe that Jesus was telling us plainly that it is our role to showcase the love of God to everyone around us.
1) Define the Terms.
look up the words in the original. When you are first attempting to understand the Bible, knowing the definitions of the words used by the authors is a great first step. But you should also know if you're reading historical narrative, poetry, or a parable. Each literary style comes with its own rules of interpretation, undoubtedly understood by the authors who penned them.
2) Put scripture in its context! Knowing the context is key to being able to interpret anything, including the stories from the Bible. Understanding how Jesus' words would have been interpreted by his original audience is an important step to being able to properly apply the truth in our own lives.
3) Look to Jesus.
Suggest that every story, poem, or verse only has significance as we consider the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
4) And prayer.
Start with prayer, end with prayer, and make sure prayer permeates every step along the way in your interpretation of the Bible. Since God will be most concerned with our application of the Bible, it follows God would be most interested in ensuring we utilize biblical hermeneutics correctly.
See Part 2.
Sometimes the Lord leads you to a scripture that speaks to you directly in a way applicable to you with perfect timing. It's just for you and won't compromise the literacy of the msg.
I believe some ultra spiritualizing is a sign of one can't except the truth so one would have to compromise the attributes of God for their convenience.
Example:
One would say why would a loving God send someone to hell. So they say there is no hell. That relaxes them. But this contrast a Holy God and his judgment.
If we all are just vessels and there's no hell and there's no Satan who influence the evil in the world?
And what's the purpose of the inspired scripture if "none" of it says what it appears to say.
With this errored mindset you can't even use scripture to validate scripture!
More to come.
God bless.
Thus we get false foundational beliefs such as, only death being God's Judgement of the wicked & Heaven for the righteous; re-birth doesn't happen in this life but in readiness for the next; the preaching of the Gospel takes a back seat as God will accept all people, though some form of cleansing (purgatory) might be necessary; & one I read recently, that the whole Bible is written as a parable or maybe, allegorically. We can only pray that believers everywhere will attend to the Word as given, be taught by the Holy Spirit, & thus discern between Truth & error. This very same matter was brought up at our Lord's Day meeting during 'Teaching Time', as an evident evil permeating the Church - how we must strive for the Truth & stand only on the pure unadulterated Word of God.
The Lord bless you brother in your meditations & submissions here.
According to this dangerous practice the Bible exists only to help you learn more about yourself, and if it doesn't, then it can be replaced by any other book, scientist, experience, or gut feeling.
After all, the words are not what matter, and it is not about adhering to any one tradition. All that matters is whether you find solace, benefit, or help from how you read it.
This approach is identified by the question, "what does it say to you?"
Objective truth and facts cannot be understood without taking something literally. Spiritualizing is subjective.
Conclusion
Spiritualizing the Bible is the enemy of Bible believing dispensational study which tries to understand the meaning of God's words by the words.
Any attempt to retranslate, change the words, spiritualize, or otherwise separate the interpretation from the doctrinal and historical context of words on the page will lead to ignorance of the truth of God and his will.
If the Bible should be left alone and words matter to deliver meaning, then the Bible should be read literally.
This will eventually lead you to mid-Acts Pauline dispensational Bible study, understanding the truth, and knowing God's will.
One of the problems with over-spiritualizing is that you can forget the real meaning of the thing you are over-spiritualizing.
This causes over-spiritualization to have a devastating impact on the credibility of the church.
Another problem with over-spiritualizing is its propensity to narrate the wrong view of God. Those people and groups that excel in over exaggerating and over spiritualizing hardly give God any room in the normal workings of the world. He is omitted and ignored in the daily cycles of life and in simple acts of kindness. Yet Scripture says otherwise, God makes the sun and rain shine and fall on everyone
( Matthew 5:45.)
Just have to follow His written word, and you will walk in the right direction ( Joshua 1:8 ).
God bless.
I enjoyed the read and agree, the plain sense, not a secret mystical meaning, or choosing a meaning that will fit the teaching that the majority follow that is taken out of the context of the message of the scripture. While reading what you wrote a few scriptures kept popping into my head, the first was Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
My understanding is we cannot interpret the Bible, the scripture interprets itself with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If we have a bible, but we trust others for the truth and if they are wrong, we are fully accountable. Adam and Eve tried to shift the blame but all three were held accountable.
Another scripture that popped up was, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" which is in the bible many times. These few words speak very loudly and are true if we are not willing to clear our minds as if we know nothing and pray to God through Jesus for the Holy Spirit to show in the scripture the truth. We will not hear because our ears are not open to hearing the truth, we have already decided the answer on our own.
I understand what you said about divorce, shunned and treated like an uneducated layman or outcast, even a heretic. Sadly teachings, traditions, and doctrines sometimes become political (the majority rules), or like colors I like blue, she likes red, and he likes green, who is right, what is the truth.
May the Holy Spirit of truth guide us and love for each other control our tongue.
God bless,
RLW
When you said; "if we are not willing to clear our minds as if we know nothing and pray to God through Jesus for the Holy Spirit to show in the scripture the truth. We will not hear because our ears are not open to hearing the truth, we have already decided the answer on our own."
1 Corinthians 3:18-19. came to mind.
"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."
The natural man receiveth not the things of God.
What we have here is the attack on the word of God concerning the things of God!
God bless
The Bible is a both a Book of historical facts as well as a Book that leads the reader into spiritual Truth & challenge. Where concepts such as parables & allegories are clearly indicated, we need to learn & heed. Where they are not given, the Words written are to be read simply "without imagination or exaggeration". To do anything else that's intended, is to virtually re-write the Bible according to one's whims & fancies. I will admit though, the the Holy Spirit can, & often does, take a Word and apply to the reader's heart which may otherwise seem inconsistent to the normal understanding of that Scripture. In this instance, I see it as 'that Word from the Lord' that is given for personal reception & application & not for public circulation or promoting some new teaching.
Much more could be added, but your presentation deals with this important matter very well. Thanks again.
It is called spiritualizing the text because nothing has a solid and specific application. Instead, the Bible teaches only general moral principles. In this case, the meaning is not forced into a rigid structure and definition formed by words.
Exact words matter less in this approach, and it has led to the multitude of colloquial and casual Bible translations and even visual Bibles that intend to preserve the meaning without the words. There must be many of these options because resting on any one form of words would lead back to a literal reading.
Spiritualizing Leads to Not Knowing
In the case of the spiritual allegorical way of reading the Bible, the question arises as to how you know your interpretation is correct?
There are only two answers to this question.
The first option is that an educated expert or group of such experts must tell you if your interpretation is correct.
This only serves to divorce you, as an uneducated layman, away from interpreting the printed words of God for yourself. You are captive to other men's interpretations which stand upon the strength of numbers, tradition, or extra-Biblical visions, revelations, positions, etc.
In this way of interpreting the Bible you must rely on commentaries, church historians, and the tradition of your elders to know how to explain passages in the scripture.
You cannot know without them.
The way you know you are correct in this way of interpretation is not by trusting God's words, but by conforming to man's tradition.
Spiritualizing Leads to No Objective Truth
The second option is that there is no correct way to interpret the Bible. The idea that the Bible is communicating one objective truth to everyone that reads it is anathema from this perspective.
In this approach, the authority is solely upon your subjective feelings, circumstances, and needs.
See Part 4.
Once we have taken those steps mentioned in part 1 we come to dispensational Bible study is the product of taking the Bible literally.
The opposite of taking the Bible literally is spiritualizing, also known as mystical or allegorical study of the Bible.
This is dangerous because it makes God's actual words unimportant, makes the Bible text itself irrelevant, and inhibits understanding the truth of God's revealed will.
Taking the Bible Literally
The word "literally" has fallen on hard times in the culture. People use the word, but not according to what it truly means.
'Literal' means according to the letter and word. If something literally happened, then it actually happened exactly as the words describe.
(If my mind was literally blown, then I could not be writing this and would not have a brain.)
Taking something literally requires adhering to the words exactly without imagination or exaggeration.
Taking the Bible literally is the idea that the meaning or interpretation is limited by the words that are used printed in black and white on the page. This requires attention and importance be given to every word. Words deliver meaning.
This is the approach that claims that God means what he said.
Spiritualizing the Bible
Not taking the Bible literally is when the interpretation is limited only by the imagination of the reader. This is to say, the meaning is not truly limited at all. It can mean whatever the receiver perceives it to mean and is often defined by outside authorities like tradition or popularity.
This is the approach that says that whoever wrote the Bible (it is not required to literally be God) did not say exactly what they mean.
This is called mystical because the meaning is secret and not clearly expressed in the words on the page.
It is called allegorical because it assumes the entire Bible must be representative of something else.
See Part 3.
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