STUDYING SCRIPTURE IN A RIGHT MANNER

Too many people nowadays are reading into the scriptures, reading them as less than literal, and looking way too far into scriptures to make it say what it doesn’t say. THE KEY IS SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD. These rules say it all. If you are not reading the scriptures this way, then you are doing it wrong.

Rules of Interpretation Proper Quoted from Dr. David L. Cooper The Golden Rule of Interpretation

“The knowledge of certain rules of interpretation and the observance of these rules when studying the Scriptures is very important and helpful in arriving at a clear understanding of God’s Word.”

WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE OF SCRIPTURE MAKES COMMON SENSE, SEEK NO OTHER SENSE; THEREFORE, TAKE EVERY WORD AT ITS PRIMARY, ORDINARY, USUAL, LITERAL MEANING UNLESS THE FACTS OF THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT, STUDIED IN THE LIGHT OF RELATED PASSAGES AND OBVIOUS AND CENTRAL TRUTHS INDICATE CLEARLY OTHERWISE.

1. SEEK THE PLAIN, LITERAL MEANING OF THE SCRIPTURES
2. The sum and substance of this most important rule is that one should take every statement of the Scriptures at its face value, if possible.
3. The following is an analysis of the adjectives “primary,” “ordinary,” and “usual.”
4. “Primary” emphasizes the original, natural idea in the term.
5. “Ordinary” and “usual” are practically substitutes, especially in this definition, “usual” being employed for the sake of emphasis.
6. “Literal” is used to emphasize the thought that every word must first be taken plainly as expressing the exact thought of the author at the time when it was used; and one is not to go beyond the literal meaning of the Scriptures unless the facts of the context indicate a deeper, hidden or symbolic meaning.
7. SEEK THE FIGURATIVE MEANING ONLY WHEN THE FACTS

DEMAND SUCH AN INTERPRETATION

1. Modernism and rationalism are the logical outgrowth of forcing a figurative meaning upon a passage that is clearly literal, or vice versa.
2. STUDY EVERY STATEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES IN CONTEXT

(“A TEXT APART FROM ITS CONTEXT IS A PRETEXT”)

Then study the facts of the context in the light of related passages and obvious fundamental truths. No prophecy of scripture is of private (special) interpretation (II Peter 1:20); The sum of thy word is truth (Psalm 119:160).

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.