How to Study the Bible

Hermeneutics – the Study of Biblical Interpretation
A Bible Study by Kurt Van Gorden

In theological studies it is important to properly interpret the Bible. In this study, I provide several biblical examples to show that Jesus and the apostles used the same “Historical-Grammatical Interpretation” method that most evangelical and conservative Christians use today.
I am never surprised when someone rejects what the Bible by appealing to interpretation as an escape route with words like, “Well, that’s just your interpretation.” I always answer it with, “The difference between us is that I have solid reasons for my interpretation, but you have no reason to reject it.” Once we understand that Jesus and the apostles actually showed us how to read and understand the Bible, then you will not fear sharing with others who may reject His Word. With careful exegetical study and by applying good hermeneutic principles, you can be confident in your understanding of His Word—the Bible.

Why do we need to study our Bible?
1. Our doctrines have a divine origin (John 7:16). John 7:16 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
2. Our doctrines are outlined in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). 2 Timothy 3:16 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
3. We must continue in sound doctrine (1 Tim. 4:16). 1 Timothy 4:16 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
4. We guard doctrine by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 1:13-14). 2 Timothy 1:13-14 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
5. We hold sound doctrine (Titus 1:9).Titus 1:9 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
6. The Bible is God’s infallible word (Hebrews 6:18). Hebrews 6:18 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
Essential doctrines are those necessary for salvation.
1. It directly affects our relationship to God (1 Jn. 2:23-24). 1 John 2:23-24 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
2. It must center on the true Jesus, true Holy Spirit, and the true Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6-9). 2 Corinthians 11:4 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
  
  Galatians 1:6-9 English Standard Version Title No Other Gospel End Title 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Bible teachers bear a heavy responsibility to teach doctrine correctly (James 3:1; 1 Tim. 6:3-5). James 3:1 Title Taming the Tongue End Title 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
However, some variation on “non-essential” doctrines (doctrines other than salvation matters) is permissible between Christian believers without affecting our standing with God (Romans 14:1-5 – his own mind; Colossians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 – we know in part). Romans 14:1-5 Title Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another End Title 1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master[a] that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

Colossians 2:16 Title Let No One Disqualify You End Title 16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.

1 Corinthians 13:9-10 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
Sound doctrine in essential things is not private interpretation. Scripture best interprets Scripture; as the Westminster Con-fession (1:9) states, “The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself.”
1. There are proper and improper ways to approach Scripture. As evangelical Christians we believe that God spoke plainly for Himself, so we take his Word primarily in a plain sense, as in any regular commun-ication. I often tell people to read the Bible like any other non-fiction. The Self-Interpreting Bible (1873) instructs readers to “Ascertain …the plain, literal and primary meaning of Scripture [and] make all allowance for idiomatical and figurative diction….”
2. We must use proper rules for interpretation, which are exemplified by Jesus and the Apostles. We take the Bible in its “plain, literal and primary meaning” (a boat is a boat), yet recognizing metaphors where applicable. This is the Historical-Grammatical hermeneutic. God did not write His Word as some mystical secret, but He spoke plainly for normal people to understand Him.

The TEXT is studied in three main ways:
1. Literary genre—Jesus recognized figures of speech in John 6:48 and 15:5. John 6:48 48 I am the bread of life.
  
  John 15:5 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
2. Word studies—each word is important as seen in Matthew 5:18. Matthew 5:18 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
3. Grammar—Paul emphasized the importance of the singular number of a noun in Galatians 3:16. Galatians 3:16 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
The CONTEXT is studied in three main ways:
1. Immediate context—the surrounding paragraph (example: the context of “perfect” in relationship to “love” in Matthew 5:48). Matthew 5:48 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
2. Wider context—this considers the context of the entire book (Without the context of 1 John 1:7, one may wrongly interpret 1 John 3:6). 1 John 1:7 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
  
  1 John 3:6 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
3. Complete context—the context of the entire Bible must be considered. The context of Isaiah 40:10 and Psalm 139:1-6 prevents an erroneous interpretation of Genesis 3:9. Isaiah 40:10 10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
  
  Psalm 139:1-6 Title Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. End Title 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
  
  Genesis 3:9 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
The BACKGROUND is studied in three main ways:
1. Cultural background--Matthew 1:18-20 gives the custom for calling a betrothed person a “husband” or “wife.” Matthew 1:18-20 Title The Birth of Jesus Christ End Title 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
2. Historical elements—history and archaeology give evidence for historical verification and background (In John 19:23 Solomon’s porch was mentioned as a historical-archaeological fact, although it was built 1,000 years earlier). John 19:23 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,
3. Environmental elements—the fauna, flora, geography, and topography plays an important role in interpretation (Luke 19:28 and Matthew 13:26). Luke 19:28 Title The Triumphal Entry end Title 28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
  
  Matthew 13:26 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.

The diagram below summarizes the rules for interpreting the Bible. Enjoy your study of God’s Word

Jude 3 Missions – Utah Gospel Mission
P. O. Box 780, Victorville, CA 92393
Compiled by Kurt Van Gorden © 1990, revised 2019, Jude 3 Missions