Rules for interpretation

Discussion

Rule - Introduction [∞] Discussion

The prophets of old packed away the mystery. As they wrote, God concealed the mystery in their words using prophetic riddles. They wrote about a literal history, while God hid prophecies of Christ in double meanings. Modern prophets unpack prophecies with the help of the Spirit to solve the prophetic riddles. They validate what the Spirit tells them, by these rules.

Rule - Divine meaning [∞]

Discussion

Since God’s word is established forever ; a metaphor/shadow means the same thing everywhere is it used. If a donkey is a metaphor of a prophet, everywhere there is a donkey, it is a metaphor of a prophet. This rule alone makes the metaphors humanly impossible to fabricate as it requires the interlocking of a double entendre found in all the scriptures. This keeps us in awe. The use of free-for-all allegory in other theological works has been properly criticized because allegorical or metaphoric meanings produced in this manner have no way to be verified; how do you know it is true? This rule of "Divine meaning" dis-allows free-for-all allegory by setting an impossible standard for the use of allegory such that every scripture participates in a hidden picture of Christ. Such a phenomenon is impossible for men to produce and therefore when we observe it occurring, we can have confidence that it is God’s intended meaning. Consequence of lack of Divine meaning: The resulting interpretation is likely to be free-for-all allegory and eisegesis.

Rule - Christocentric [∞]

Discussion

Since the riddle of Samson tells us Christ is the answer to all the prophetic riddles; if the shadow (prophetic riddle) doesn’t look like Christ, it isn’t a good shadow. This keeps us focused. Jesus told the disciples on the road to Emmaus that all the scriptures spoke of him , and chastised the scribes and Pharisees for searching the scriptures to seek life, but rejecting him, since they spoke of him. If we don’t see Christ in the scriptures, we have missed the primary purpose of the scriptures. And if Christ is not central to a proposed interpretation, it is to be rejected. This rule alone separates the mystery from Gnosticism, Kabbalah and Midrash . Consequence of lack of Christocentric meaning: You miss the point of the scriptures in revealing God through Christ.

Rule - Self-contained [∞]

Discussion

Since we are to let every man be a liar and God be true ; outside references are not required to solve the riddles and see the shadows. This keeps us devoted. Not only are we not going to bring in extra-biblical books to determine the meaning of scripture, but we will not make apostles out of historians, document critics or scholars by elevating their writings concerning the meaning of scripture. Historian We miss the meaning that Jesus intended as he confronted the rich man who asked how to get into the kingdom, if we accept a historian's report that here was a gate in Jerusalem called "the eye of the needle" . Do we really believe that people were incapable of understanding the word of God until this little gem was 'discovered' by a 'professor' who needed to publish or perish? Document critics We will not make apostles out of document critics. The mystery, written in the same words used for the literal history, act like security paper. If one were to change the words of the literal history, the mystery would be scrambled. If there are errors to documents that have been received, they will be plain when the hidden narrative is discerned. God said he would protect every jot and tittle of his word , so we know that one of the variant documents is true. Scholars We will not make apostles out of scholars. Scholars present opinions. They get no credit for presenting old truth, they must perpetually come up with something novel to get their name cited in other papers. You pastor has more motivation to teach truth than scholars. If we reference historians, document critics, or scholars, it will be to add color to the discussion, and more often than not, to refute popular myths they perpetuate. Consequence of using outside resources: You make the historian, the document critic, or the scholar into an apostle, giving him power over the interpretation of scripture.

Rule - Self examination [∞]

Discussion

Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? Our assumptions about scripture and the rules we use to guide our interpretation effect the ultimate meaning that we get from scripture. It is important to evaluate those assumptions and rules to ensure that they permit the scriptures to speak for themselves rather than permitting us to impose our own meaning upon them. My assumptions and convictions are these: 1. The Bible is the word of God which has been protected for us in such a manner that it is considered infallible in every jot and tittle. 2. It is acknowledged that there are variant texts in existing manuscripts. By using the proper methods of interpretation, as taught by the apostles, errant manuscripts may be discerned by the 'security paper' of the mystery. 3. The meaning of the Bible is contained in multiple layers as described by the church from the earliest days , as a literal and a spiritual layer. These layers are in complete agreement with each other in every way. Apparent contradictions are intentional riddles describing two sides of the issue. 4. The hidden spiritual layer is discerned using methods taught by the apostles in the New Testament. It is called the meat of the gospel, whereas the literal meaning is called the milk of the gospel. The milk is sufficient for salvation. The meat provides the spiritual nourishment to enable a mature faith and walk. The rules are discerned using the same methods as discerning the mystery, so it should be expected that those practicing literal methods may disagree with how the rules are determined. That doesn't matter. The mystery needs to be evaluated to see if it is self-consistent as well as if it produces verifiable, meaningful, and orthodox results. Consequence of not doing self-examination:: The measure of truth becomes the individual and the standard changes to meet your own goals.

Rule - Humility [∞]

Discussion

Since God has said that not a jot or tittle will pass away ; until one knows why each jot and tittle is there, a complete understanding has not been derived. This keeps us humble. Such humility is exemplified by one who listens to others’ observations based on scripture, and tests all things to hold fast to those things which are good . Such humility is missing in one who insists that his opinion is correct, and uses phrases like “The Bible says so” while pulling passages out of context and displaying an attitude of unwillingness to discuss the meaning or context of those passages. It is a shameful behavior to decide a matter before it is heard. Consequence of lack of humility The scriptures are wrested or twisted to mean what you want them to mean. 2Pe 3:16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Rule - Complete [∞]

Discussion

Since man shall live “by every word” ; a doctrine is not sound until it sums up and includes all that God has said about it. This keeps us searching. This attitude of searching recognizes that the Bible is full of meaning, and that perhaps one person in his own studies has not yet identified or considered all the applicable passages. This attitude is missing when a few verses are used as a shotgun to force a discussion to a preconceived conclusion. A doctrine must sum up and include everything the Bible says about it in the literal and hidden layers. Consequence of lack of completeness Conclusions may be premature.

Rule - Rigorous [∞]

Discussion

Since every word concerning life and death must be established by two or three witnesses ; every shadow/symbol must have at least two supporting scripture witnesses. This means we cannot define a shadow with a single verse. The shadows speak of Christ and the cross. There is no other topic which addresses life and death for all men. This keeps us rigorous in methodology. A shadow is a hidden meaning which is not contained in the literal meaning . Shadows are not the product of a wild imagination and are therefore verifiable by the scriptures. When a shadow has two or three witnesses, it should be regarded as a tentative meaning. This rule does not permit three verses to be the end of discussion, but specifically forbids a single verse from becoming definitive. Consequence of lack of rigor: Conclusions may be premature and/or wrong.

Rules - Conclusion [∞]

Discussion

If one skims through the rules without comprehending them, or like Naaman hears the instruction but is insulted at their apparent simplicity , the results of exegesis will look like the free-for-all allegory of others that we all reject. It should not be expected that using the 'Syrian waters' of free-for-all allegory should produce a result any different than before. The rules must be used rigorously to discern the truth of scripture.