The Correct Way to Read and Interpret Scripture

Eugene Shubert

There is a golden principle called the grammatical-historical method of Biblical interpretation. This is the only sensible way to understand the Bible:

“The aim of the grammatico-historical method is to determine the meaning required of Scripture by the laws of grammar and the facts of history. The grammatical meaning is the simple, direct, plain, ordinary, and literal sense of the phrases, clauses, and sentences. The historical meaning is that sense which is demanded by a careful consideration of the time and circumstances in which the author wrote. It is the specific meaning which an author’s words require when the historical context and background are taken into account. Thus, the grand object of grammatical and historical interpretation is to ascertain the specific usage of words as employed by an individual writer as prevalent in a particular age.” — (Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Toward An Exegetical Theology, p. 88).

As an example, please read the following passage and realize that Isaiah 28:10 (KJV) is not a recommended way to read the Bible unless you are totally incapable of thinking like a mature person and welcome God's judgment.

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.”

Here's the context in plain language:

Isaiah 28
7 And these also stagger from wine
and reel from beer:
Priests and prophets stagger from beer
and are befuddled with wine;
they reel from beer,
they stagger when seeing visions,
they stumble when rendering decisions.
8 All the tables are covered with vomit
and there is not a spot without filth.

9 "Who is it he is trying to teach?
To whom is he explaining his message?
To children weaned from their milk,
to those just taken from the breast?
10 For it is:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there."

11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
God will speak to this people,
12 to whom he said,
"This is the resting place, let the weary rest";
and, "This is the place of repose"-
but they would not listen.
13 So then, the word of the LORD to them will become:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there-
so that they will go and fall backward,
be injured and snared and captured.

14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers
who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15 You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the grave we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place."

16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
17 I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
and water will overflow your hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled;
your agreement with the grave will not stand.
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
you will be beaten down by it.
19 As often as it comes it will carry you away;
morning after morning, by day and by night,
it will sweep through."

Eve777 · Pentecostal Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 6

All scripture is spiritually discerned. If you try to analyze it from a carnal point of view, you will never understand. "Always learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth" Seek first the spirit to lead you and don't lean on your own understanding.
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You have not failed until you quit.

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 9:19 pm Post subject:

Dear Eve,

I agree that spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Do you agree with the words of the Bible according to their obvious meaning, as defined by the rules of grammar and context, i.e., as determined by grammatical-historical exegesis?

Scripture says, "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn." Isaiah 8:20.

Arquais · is under review Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 9

when i read the bible, I enjoy reading the stories, rather than words
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im o expert, but...

dan · believes in Jesus Christ Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 18

There is much that can be learned from exegesis. Many insights into the Bible have come because of man's insatiable desire to learn; and, although many false things have been taught, as well, the Spirit helps to guide those that are searching with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. As far as discerning the scriptures go, think of it like this: pray as if everything depended on the Lord, and then work as if everything depended on you. If you do that the Lord will give you the guidance you need in the moments when your intelligence isn't gonna hack it.

tall73 · Seventh-day Adventist Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 96

Eugene, A very good approach there. I would say that Adventists are some of the biggest spiritualizers out there when it comes to biblical interpretation. It is quite plain that when Paul wrote a letter for instance, that he did not intend it to be a grand mystery to be poured over forever. It was a message for the people then that had a straightforward point. It's principles apply today, but we can often have trouble relating to the letter if we do not take time to understand the historical and logical context of the various passages.

Another example that I see far too often is the text in which Paul says to the Corinthians, You are the temple of God. And if anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. This has tima and again been used to promote the idea that our bodies are the temple of God. That is not what this text was talking about, nor was health on his mind. Now it is true that later in chapter 6 this was his thought when speaking of immorality. But here he made it plain that the members of the church (the you is plural, which they did in Greek ,but which is not as easy to see in English), are the temple of Christ, and that their divisions and fighting were destroying it.

Too often we have strove to find the "deep" or "hidden" meaning in what is all too plain if we look at what the context says.

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2004 7:50 pm Post subject: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

tall73 · Seventh-day Adventist Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 96

Your very welcome ;)

For those wondering about how this meaning is derived, look at the passage. The whole context suggests it . In chapter 1 Paul begins by addressing divisions in the church in verse 10. He says that he has been informed of divisions, some following him, some following Peter, some Apollos. Each of these had of course played a crucial role in the church and so they had members of the church who revered one above the other...like we tend to do with some pastors. Paul then goes on to say in the remainder of chapter 1 and 2 that

a. there are no supermen, but only Christ is to be exalted, and God uses the foolish people of the world to shame the wise(1:18-2:5)

b. There is a wisdom that does not come from men but from God (2:6-16)

He then returns in chapter 3 to his main practial point, that of divisions.

The key passage is probably vs. 5-11