rightly handling the word
of truth part 10
A woman found herself in a bit of a dilemma. She and her husband had been married for 15
years but she found herself falling in love with a new man. One of her girlfriends suggested that she
meet with her counseling pastor at her church so she did. She met with the pastor and confessed to him
that she didn’t really know what to do.
He encouraged her to spend some time reading the Bible and that the Bible
had the answers she was looking for. That
week she read through the Pauline epistles.
The next time she met with the pastor she entered his office beaming
with delight, radiant with joy. He asked
her why she was so bubbly and she responded, “You were right! The
Bible did have the answer I was looking for.”
He said, “Oh good, so you are breaking
off ties with the new man and returning faithfully to your husband?” She looked at him strangely and said, “No!”
He said, “I don’t
understand. I thought you were going to walk
in line with the teachings of the Bible.”
She said, “Yeah. Ephesians 4:22-24 says to put off the old man
and put on the new man.”
To that we reply, “Foul
play! That’s not what that text means!”
This serves as a somewhat humorous introduction to our 12th
and final principle of interpretation in our series rightly dividing the word of truth: basics of bible
interpretation.
Principle #12: Discover the meaning of the text.
Now, I’d like to give you a handful of guidelines regarding this
principle:
#1: THE MEANING IS DRIVEN BY THE AUTHOR, not
by you and me.
(P 178 Grasping God’s Word) “In Biblical
interpretation, the reader does not control the meaning; the author controls
the meaning. This conclusion leads us to
one of the most basic principles of our interpretive approach: We do not create the meaning. Rather, we seek to discover the meaning that
has been placed there by the author.”
The text means what the author intended it to mean. The author controls the meaning of the
text. The reader does not control the meaning of the text. Just
because I think a text means something, that doesn’t mean that’s what it means
– it means what the author intended it to mean.
For example, if I
said, “Neil is a cool
cat. I dig him.” Did I mean that Jesse is a feline with a low
body temperature and I take a shovel to him? No!
I meant that I am fond of Neil; I think highly of him. If you think that
I meant that Jesse was a feline with a low body temperature to whom I take a
shovel, does it change the meaning of what I said? Not at all. I
meant that I am fond of Neil; I think highly of him. What you think I
meant doesn’t change what I actually meant. What I meant is determined by
me as the statement originated with me. I can be misinterpreted,
especially if the listener isn’t familiar with the type of language I’m using,
or if he isn’t familiar with some of my phrases, figures of speech and idioms.
In the same way, if
the Word of God says a certain thing and means a certain thing, we can misinterpret what is being
said if we are unfamiliar with
the type of language being used or if we aren’t familiar with some of the
phrases, figures of speech, idioms, culture, historical context, etc. And just because I think
the Biblical text means something, it doesn’t necessarily mean that. As
the reader, I don’t control the meaning. The author controls the meaning. We
must seek to understand the author’s intent. What did the author
mean? The text means what the author intended it to mean.
That’s the first guideline to discovering the meaning of the
text. The next guideline is:
THE TEXT ALWAYS MEANS WHAT
IT ALWAYS MEANT.
To put it another way:
THE TEXT CAN NEVER MEAN WHAT IT NEVER MEANT.
How to Read the Bible
For All It’s Worth (p30-31) “The
questions of hermeneutics are not at all easy, which is probably why so few
books are written on this aspect of our subject. Nor will all agree on
how one goes about this task. But this is the crucial area, and believers
need to learn to talk to one another about these questions – and to
listen. On this one thing, however, there must surely be agreement: A text cannot mean what it never
meant. Or to put it in a positive way, the true meaning of the biblical text
for us is what God originally
intended it to mean when it was first spoken. This is the starting
point.”
Someone will
surely ask, “But is it not possible for a text to have an additional [or fuller
or deeper] meaning beyond its original intent? After all, this happens in
the New Testament itself in the way it sometimes uses the Old Testament.”
In the case of prophecy, we would not close the door to such a possibility, and we would argue that,
with careful controls, a
second, or fuller, meaning is possible.
But how does one justify it at other points? Our problem is a simple one: Who speaks for God? Roman Catholicism has less of a problem
here; the magisterium, the authority vested in the official teaching of the
church, determines for all the fuller sense of the text. Protestants,
however, have no magesterium, and we should be properly concerned whenever
anyone says he or she has God’s
deeper meaning to a text – especially if the text never meant what it is now made to mean. Of such things are all the cults born, and
innumerable lesser heresies.”
THE TEXT ALWAYS MEANS WHAT
IT ALWAYS MEANT.
THE
TEXT CAN NEVER MEAN for
us WHAT IT NEVER MEANT for
the original audience.
If Ephesians
4:22-24 never meant that women are to divorce their husbands in pursuit
of a new man, then it cannot mean that today.
Whatever Eph 4 meant
when Paul wrote it is what it means for you and I today.
Now, we need to be careful to distinguish between the terms meaning
and application.
While the meaning is
fixed by the author and the same for every person, there
will certainly be differing application
of the text from person to person.
(P 179 Grasping God’s Word) “Meaning
is something we can validate. It is tied
to the text and the intent of the author, not to the reader. Therefore, the meaning of the text is the same for all Christians. It is not subjective and does not change from
reader to reader. Application, on the other hand, reflects the impact of the text on
the reader’s life. It is much more
subjective, and it reflects the specific life situation of the reader. The application
of the meaning will vary from Christian to Christian, but it will still have
some boundaries influenced by the author’s meaning.”
So to summarize and re-iterate, our 12th
and final principle of interpretation is discover the meaning of the text.
·
The author controls the meaning; we don’t. It means what the divine author intended it
to mean.
·
The text always means what it always meant
·
It can never mean what it never meant
·
The meaning is fixed – fixed by the author and doesn’t
change
·
Application of the text, however, will vary from
person to person.
HOW???
HOW DO WE DISCOVER WHAT THE AUTHOR MEANT???
The only absolute way to do that is to ask the original author and
none of them are around.
Since we can’t do that, let’s be very humble in our approach. Let’s agree as serious students of the Bible
to be humble, teachable, and willing to change our view if consistent exegesis
demands it.
All of the elders here at NCF will always do our best to discover
the true meaning of the text. But know
this: we are always going to be teaching from the AT&T position. That means that we will be teaching from the
position of our understanding of the text At This Time. We reserve the right to change our minds if
we find out that we were wrong.
Since we can’t ask the original authors what they meant we
approach this task with humility.
So, how do we go about discovering the meaning of the text? Ready for this?
1.
Be objective (set aside
presuppositions)
2. Context,
context, context (rule of context: context rules)
3. Interpret
scripture with scripture (analogy of Scripture)
4. Audience
relevance (consider how the original audience would understand)
5. Pay
attention to pronouns (rightly assign them to respective antecedents)
6. Historical
cultural analysis (consider the historical & cultural context)
7. Investigate
idioms
8. Consider
the covenantal context
9. Determine
the meaning of words (word studies in Hebrew & Greek)
10. Translation
considerations
11.
Genre analysis
How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth (p189) “We noted in chapter 1 that
there is a popular notion that everything in the Bible ought to be clear to
everyone who reads it, without studying or receiving outside help of any
kind. The reasoning is that if God wrote the Bible for us (for all
believers), we should be able to understand it completely the first time we
read it, since we have the Holy
Spirit in us. Such a notion lacks proper perspective. Parts
of the Bible are obvious on the surface, but parts are not. In accordance
with the fact that God’s thoughts are profound compared with human thoughts (Ps
92:5, Is 55:8), it should not be surprising that some parts of the Bible will
require time and patient study in order to understand.”
I share that, not to minimize the role of the Holy Spirit in the
believer’s life, but to dispel with the idea that we don’t need to study our
bible because we have the Holy Spirit and He is our teacher. If that alone is the case, then He seems to
be teaching contradictory things to different people. Based on my experience, it is those who are most
vocally asserting that the Holy Spirit told them such and such who are the most
diametrically opposed to one another in their interpretations.
So I don’t minimize the role of the Holy Spirit. In fact, I would maximize it, as His role is
integral in moving us to a God-centered life in application of the word of truth.
It is to application that we now turn.
APPLYING
THE BIBLE TO OUR LIVES IS A SIMPLE 3-STEP PROCESS:
1. Discover
the meaning of the text
2. Formulate
a precept based on that meaning
3. Apply
that precept to your life
STEP #1: is
discovering the meaning. That’s what we
have spent the first part of this morning discussing, principle #12. Discover that meaning that is determined by the
author.
STEP
#2: Formulate a precept based on the meaning of
the text.
The precept must meet certain
criteria. It must be:
·
Based on the author’s intended meaning (not based on
what I want the text to say)
·
Timeless truth (not bound by
time – as true for them then as it is for me today)
·
Cross-cultural (not bound by
culture – as true for them there as it is for me here)
·
Consistent with the rest of Scripture (cannot
contradict the teachings elsewhere in Scripture.)
Formulate a precept that is a cross-cultural,
timeless truth, true to the author’s intent and consistent with the rest of the
teachings of Scripture.
STEP
#3: MAKE APPLICATION: Apply that precept to
our lives.
In order to make right
application, our situation needs
to resemble the Biblical
situation.
Our interpretive process:
·
determine
what the text means (it always means what it always meant).
·
formulate
a precept that is not bound by time or culture, that is in line with what the
author intended and that does not contradict the rest of the teachings of
Scripture.
·
we
can then apply this precept to our lives when our circumstances that resemble
the circumstances of the text
LET’S DO AN EXAMPLE.
Let’s look at Ephesians
4:22-24 (NKJV) 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct,
the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man
Now, principle #10 – translation
considerations: NKJV is closer to a formal equivalent. Let’s look at these verses in the NIV (functional
equivalent) and with more context (the rule of context is: context rules).
Let’s go back to the beginning of the
paragraph for context. V20 begins with “you, however, did not come to know Christ that way.” What way? Need more context. Need to know what is meant by “that way.”
Let’s go back one paragraph. Beginning in verse 17
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that
you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated
from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening
of their hearts. 19 Having lost all
sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in
every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
So far, Paul has essentially said you gentiles who
are now in Christ must no longer live as gentiles typically do, because it is
in a way that is apart from the life that is in God.
20 You,
however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him
and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with
regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being
corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new
self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
In the NKJV we saw that a more literal rendering of
this text is put off the old man and put on the new man. A more dynamic or functional translation is
put off the old self and put on the new self.
Based on the text, the old self seems to pertain to their former way of
life as those living apart from God; that old self is defined by futile
thinking, ignorance, hard hearts, lack of sensitivity, impurity, sensual
indulgence, lust, and deceitful desires.
The new self is defined in Christ, likeness to God in true righteousness
and holiness.
So let’s apply this text. Remember our 3 step process.
1.
Discover meaning
2.
Formulate a precept
3.
Apply that precept
MEANING: Old self pertains to life apart from Christ
(simply put: unrighteousness), new
self pertains to life in Christ (simply put: righteous & holy)
PRECEPT: (yours may be slightly different) Believers should live in ways that are consistent with
the new creation, who they are in Christ. Simplified: God’s
people should live holy & righteous.
Does this meet our criteria?
·
Is it based on the meaning of the text? (yes)
·
Is it timeless? (God’s people should live holy &
righteousness 2000 years ago and today)
·
Is it cross-cultural? (God’s people in Africa should
live holy & righteous; and Gtown)
·
Is it consistent with rest of Bible? (certainly;
I’ve never found a verse encouraging unholiness or unrighteousness – numerous
verses encourage these same things)
APPLICATION: the situation of the reader should
resemble the circumstances of the original audience. In this case it is fairly broad. Paul’s audience is not those in Babylonian
captivity in the sixth century BC, but believers in Christ who had come out of
a life that was once apart from God. So
the scope of application is very broad.
The neat thing about the epistles is that often
times there is guidance for direct application right there in the text. If we keep reading the rest of chapter 4 –
25 Therefore each of you must put off
falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one
body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let
the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has
been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with
his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come
out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according
to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not
grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you.
So some of the ways that God’s people can apply this
precept and walk
in righteousness and holiness is to:
·
stop lying and tell the truth (cross cultural,
timeless, consistent with text & Bible)
·
stop stealing and start sharing (cross cultural,
timeless, consistent with text & Bible)
·
stop cutting others down with your words and start building
others up (cross cultural, timeless, consistent with text & Bible)
·
stop slandering others and be forgiving to them
(cross cultural, timeless, consistent with text & Bible)
Among a multitude of others, these are a
sampling of the ways that God’s people can practice the cross cultural timeless
truth that God’s people should live holy &
righteous.
Let’s try it with another verse.
Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves
discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
With proverbs, often times, you will find that the proverbs
themselves will act as the cross-cultural timeless truths, the precepts that we
can apply to our lives. In this case, the text is altered very
little. However, for the sake of simplicity I have modified it to:
Discipline is good. It’s foolish to hate correction.
·
Is this timeless? Is this as
true for the original audience as it is for you and I today? YES!
·
Is this cross-cultural? Is this as
true for Americans as it is for those living in Fiji? YES!
·
Is it based on the
author’s intended meaning? YES!
·
Is it consistent with
the rest of Scripture? YES!
That is the theological principle, the precept based on the
author’s intended meaning of the text. Though the meaning of the text is
fixed and does not vary, our circumstances vary and how each reader applies the
precept will vary. But remember that in
order to apply the text, our situation must resemble the text. The text pertains to corrective-discipline. (this is important since another valuable sense of the word
is the idea of “self-discipline” but since that’s not how it’s used here, it
would be a misapplication to say “I get up every day at 5:00 a.m. to jog because
I am applying Prov. 12:1.”)
So how would one apply this precept?
Perhaps one of you may experience corrective discipline as an employee as your boss calls
you into the office to have a talk with you about how much time you have been
spending on personal phone calls. In the midst of that corrective
discipline, you will apply this precept. Discipline
is good. It’s foolish to hate correction. You will fight the
temptation to be mad at your boss for correcting you and you will appreciate
the correction. Discipline
is good.
Perhaps one of you may experience corrective discipline as a child
whose parents sit you down to discuss your unacceptable grades in your classes.
In the midst of that corrective discipline, you will apply this precept. Discipline
is good. It’s foolish to hate correction. You will fight the
temptation to be mad at your parents for correcting you and you will appreciate
the correction.
The text means what the
author intended it to mean. The
meaning of the text does not change. The meaning is fixed by the author and does
not vary from reader to reader. The text always means what it
always meant. After we determined that fixed meaning we
found the cross-cultural timeless truth, a precept that we can apply to our lives. Though the meaning is fixed, the application will vary from
reader to reader as our circumstances will vary.
When in the midst of corrective
discipline (which we all experience in various ways) we apply this precept, we
live out this timeless truth that Discipline is good.
It’s foolish to hate correction.
A COUPLE OF WORDS OF EXHORTATION BEFORE WE
CLOSE.
At this point I want to reiterate something I shared at
the beginning of this series. If this is
a paradigm shift for you – a new way of approaching the Bible, it may be overwhelming
or frustrating for you. You may be
discouraged.
Be encouraged; this is a learning process that takes
time to assimilate. In the end, it is
worth it. Though at first it seems
tedious and frustrating, it is worth it.
Remember when you first drove a car? You had all these things to remember:
·
check your mirrors
·
hands at ten and two (9 & 3)
·
2 second following distance
·
signal my intent
·
aim high
·
gradual lane change
·
don’t change lanes in an intersection!
You do those things naturally now. You don’t have to focus on them and be as intentional
about them; they come easily now. It is
a joy to drive. Now you can drive, text,
and put on make-up at the same time, while driving a stick.
After a while this approach to the Bible will become more
natural to you and applying these principles will be like second nature.
WHY DOES IT MATTER IF I MAKE WRONG
APPLICATION OF THE BIBLE?
Why can’t I just apply it how I want to if I like what the verse says?
My personal opinion is that it is honoring to God to rightly
divide the word.
Ultimately when we misapply the Bible, we hurt ourselves by embracing
false realities and hurt others by pointing them in the wrong direction. We
put our hope in something we think is true when it is not, and we suffer for it. We have unwarranted expectations of God and
life and end up disappointed when those expectations aren’t met.
Phil 4:13 “I can do
everything through Christ who strengthens me” Since I’m a Christian I can
win my next tennis match. What happens when I don’t win? (not enough faith? God
loved my opponent more? What happens when I am matched up against another
believer who claims the same promise? Does the more spiritual of us
win? Are promises are cancelled out so I
should have an extra one just in case) key to
contentment in all circumstances is Christ.
Jer 29:11 God has
plans to prosper me and not to harm me. What
if I go share the gospel in a hostile country and get killed? What happened to no harm? What if I’m still working a crummy job and
can’t pay my bills? Why, then am I not
seeing prosperity? God is faithful to do what He said He would do when He
said He would do it. God is a covenant
keeper; he is faithful.
As a church, I want us to walk in the knowledge of the truth,
rightly dividing the word of truth, without disappointment, without faulty
expectations of God, without misplaced hope.
Rightly APPLYING the word of truth begins with rightly DIVIDING
the word truth.
Rightly
dividing the word of truth is one of the ways that we can honor God and love
Him with all of our minds. This, I
believe is for our good and God’s glory.
www.ncfgeorgetown.com Church in Georgetown, Texas. Reformed church
Georgetown, Texas Preterist church Georgetown Texas. Pastor David Boone. Sermon
audio mp3 sermon download Full Preterism. Covenant Eschatology. New Covenant
Fellowship Georgetown. Page House 10:00 am Loving God. Loving Others. Realized
eschatology fulfilled eschatology
Preterist church Austin Texas.
Bible church Austin Texas Second coming of Jesus Christ churches in
Austin area. Churches in Georgetown TX
You
can watch sermon videos or listen to sermon audio .mp3 at www.ncfgeorgetown.com/media.html
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