Basic Rules of Honest and Common Sense Bible Interpretation

Basic Rules of Honest and Common Sense Bible Interpretation

1. The Bible is infallible and inerrant in its original transmitted form. Do not doubt this.

• Since this is the Word of God, God does not make mistakes. Although the books of the Bible were written by about 40 different authors within the span of about 1,500 years, not only are the themes consistent among the books, there are no contradictions in the discussions of theology, doctrine and moral values, nor in the revelation of the character, mind and heart of God. Of course, we no longer have the "original" Word of God. We just have copies of it and these copies may have some minor variations and yet, there is no inconsistency nor contradiction when it comes to revealing the heart and mind of God.

1. Every word of Scripture is God-breathed (inspired). God does not waste any words. Every word is important. Pay attention to this. However, every word of Scripture is subservient to its immediate context. The context determines whether the sense of the word is literal, figurative, allegorical, idiomatic, or metaphorical.
2. Every passage must be interpreted in the light of its immediate context and purpose.
3. Every verse and chapter must be interpreted in the light of the purpose and context of the book it belongs to
4. Every passage must be interpreted INITIALLY on its own merit, language, context without the adulteration of doctrine. No adding, no subtracting to the word of God.
5. Each passage must have an interpretation that is reasonable and logical and does not contradict other parts of scripture (even if it contradicts one’s doctrine). When a simple and common-sense interpretation is reasonable, there is NO FURTHER NEED to expand or complicate the interpretation. Otherwise, our bias and opinion begins to make a louder voice than that of God.
6. Each passage as interpreted properly should add value, emphasis and/or clarification to rest of God’s revelation.
7. Respect resources with scholarship behind them but beware of doctrinal or personal bias.
8. Recognize absolute dependence on the Holy Spirit that will lead you into all truth (John 16:13)
9. Any passage especially in the New Testament must NOT contradict clear propositions and/or examples in the Old Testament. Remember that in Matthew 5:17-20, Christ Himself validated the Old Testament when the New Testament did not yet exist!
10. On any given subject or topic, when seeming contradictory passages discuss such subject, note preponderance.  If there are more passages supporting one side of the discussion, this should initially be assumed as the emphasis. The lesser passages that seem to be contradictory have to be interpreted against preponderance and not vice-versa.

The WORST version of the Bible is THE BIBLE OF YOUR OWN OPINION!