View source for Identify hermeneutical principles explicitly taught in the Gospels (e.g., Jesus interpreting the Scriptures in Luke 24)

The Gospels contain several explicit hermeneutical principles taught by Jesus and the evangelists, particularly regarding how to interpret the Scriptures in light of His person and work. These principles align with sensus plenior approaches and provide insight into the deeper meanings within the biblical text. Below is an analysis of these principles and their correlation with previously discussed hermeneutical rules:
1. Christocentric Interpretation

Explicit Teaching:

    Luke 24:27: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.”
    John 5:39: “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me.”

Principle:
All Scripture points to Christ, either directly or indirectly. This principle highlights that the purpose of the Old Testament is to reveal Christ, sometimes through types, shadows, and prophecies.

Correlation with Sensus Plenior Rules:

    Rule of Christ as the Key: Every element of Scripture, including historical narratives and laws, can be understood as prefiguring Christ.
    Rule of Symbolism: Specific symbols (e.g., water, dry ground, fish) in Scripture take on deeper meanings when viewed through the lens of Christ.

2. Fulfillment of Prophecy

Explicit Teaching:

    Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
    Luke 4:21: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Principle:
Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets, often in ways that transcend their original literal or immediate contexts. Fulfillment includes typology and spiritual application.

Correlation with Sensus Plenior Rules:

    Rule of Fulfillment: Biblical events, persons, and institutions are types that find their ultimate meaning in Christ.
    Rule of Prophetic Duality: Prophecies may have an immediate fulfillment in history but also a fuller, spiritual realization in Christ.

3. Spiritual/Deeper Meaning of Texts

Explicit Teaching:

    John 3:14-15: Jesus interprets the lifting of the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:9) as a typology of His crucifixion.
    Matthew 12:39-41: Jesus compares Jonah’s three days in the fish to His death and resurrection.

Principle:
Scriptural narratives often have a spiritual dimension that points to Christ’s redemptive work.

Correlation with Sensus Plenior Rules:

    Rule of Spiritual Meaning: Every story or law contains a deeper spiritual truth tied to Christ.
    Rule of Typology: Old Testament events prefigure New Testament realities.

4. Contextual Unity of Scripture

Explicit Teaching:

    Matthew 22:29-32: Jesus demonstrates the unity of Scripture by interpreting Exodus 3:6 to affirm the resurrection, showing that God’s covenant transcends time.
    Mark 12:10-11: Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23 to illustrate His rejection and eventual exaltation.

Principle:
Scripture must be interpreted as a unified whole, with later revelations building on earlier ones.

Correlation with Sensus Plenior Rules:

    Rule of Unified Canon: The Bible’s unity demands that no passage be isolated but interpreted in the context of the whole, especially its Christocentric climax.
    Rule of Progressive Revelation: Later Scripture provides the interpretive key to earlier texts.

5. Parabolic and Symbolic Teaching

Explicit Teaching:

    Matthew 13:10-13: Jesus explains that parables reveal deeper truths to those with spiritual understanding while remaining hidden from others.
    John 6:35-58: Jesus uses metaphors (e.g., “bread of life”) to explain profound spiritual truths.

Principle:
Symbols and parables are vehicles for conveying spiritual realities that require discernment and faith to understand.

Correlation with Sensus Plenior Rules:

    Rule of Symbolism: Symbols in Scripture (e.g., bread, water, fish) carry deeper spiritual meanings tied to Christ.
    Rule of Interpretive Riddles: Apparent mysteries in the text (e.g., the parables) are designed to reveal truths to those with faith.

6. The Necessity of Divine Illumination

Explicit Teaching:

    Luke 24:45: “Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”
    John 14:26: “The Holy Spirit... will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Principle:
Understanding the Scriptures requires divine revelation, particularly through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Correlation with Sensus Plenior Rules:

    Rule of Divine Guidance: Interpretation of Scripture, especially its sensus plenior, requires dependence on the Holy Spirit.
    Rule of Christocentric Illumination: The Holy Spirit works to illuminate how all Scripture points to Christ.

7. The Moral and Ethical Purpose of Scripture

Explicit Teaching:

    Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus summarizes the Law and the Prophets as commands to love God and neighbor.
    Matthew 23:23: Jesus criticizes neglecting the “weightier matters of the law” (justice, mercy, faithfulness).

Principle:
Beyond typology, Scripture instructs believers in moral and ethical living as part of their conformity to Christ.

Correlation with Sensus Plenior Rules:

    Rule of Practical Application: While texts have spiritual meanings, they also provide ethical guidance for living out the life of Christ.

Summary Table of Principles
Hermeneutical Principle	Explicit Teaching in Gospels	Sensus Plenior Correlation
Christocentric Interpretation	Luke 24:27, John 5:39	Christ as the Key, Symbolism
Fulfillment of Prophecy	Matthew 5:17, Luke 4:21	Fulfillment, Prophetic Duality
Spiritual/Deeper Meaning of Texts	John 3:14-15, Matthew 12:39-41	Spiritual Meaning, Typology
Contextual Unity of Scripture	Matthew 22:29-32, Mark 12:10-11	Unified Canon, Progressive Revelation
Parabolic and Symbolic Teaching	Matthew 13:10-13, John 6:35-58	Symbolism, Interpretive Riddles
Necessity of Divine Illumination	Luke 24:45, John 14:26	Divine Guidance, Christocentric Illumination
Moral and Ethical Purpose of Scripture	Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 23:23	Practical Application

These principles demonstrate that Jesus' hermeneutical methods align closely with a sensus plenior approach, emphasizing spiritual depth, unity, and Christological focus. They provide a model for interpreting Scripture that respects its historical context while uncovering its ultimate meaning in Christ.

The use of Old Testament citations in the Gospels does reflect the "Emmaus method"—Jesus' interpretive approach as described in Luke 24:27 ("beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself"). This method, which centers on seeing the Scriptures as a unified testimony to Christ, appears to be progressively applied in the Gospels in varying degrees of depth and clarity.