The L-I-G-H-T-S to the Word of God By Hank
Hanegraaff
Here are the L-I-G-H-T-S to the Word of God:
Literal Interpretation, Illumination by the Holy Spirit, Grammatical
Principles, Historical Context, Teaching Ministry, Scriptural Harmony.
Principles of biblical interpretation ought
to be determined before developing one's theology, but in practice the
reverse is often true. Cultists in particular consistently read their
deviant theologies into the biblical text instead of allowing the text
to speak for itself. Faith teachers are also guilty of this practice,
as I document in my book "Christianity in Crisis".
In view of this growing problem, it would
be productive to consider some of the primary principles of hermeneutics.
Before you run off because of the formidable sound of this term, however,
let me quickly point out that hermeneutics is simply a "fifty-cent"
word that describes the science of biblical interpretation. The purpose
of hermeneutics is to provide the student of Scripture with basic guidelines
and rules for "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). To
help ensure that you will remember these principles, I've developed
the acronym L-I-G-H-T-S. Just remember that the science of biblical
interpretation "LIGHTS" your path as you walk through theWord.
Literal Interpretation
The L in LIGHTS will remind you of the literal
principle of biblical interpretation. In simple terms, this means that
we are to interpret the Word of God just as we interpret other forms
of communication - in its most obvious and literal sense. Most often,
the biblical authors employed literal statements to communicate their
ideas (such as when the apostle Paul said of Jesus, "By Him all things
were created, both in the heavens and on earth" - Col. 1:16). And where
the biblical writers express their ideas in literal statements, the
interpreter must take those statements in a literal sense. In this way,
the interpreter will grasp the intended meaning of the writer.
Of course, this is not to deny that Scripture
employs figures of speech. Indeed, the biblical writers often used figurative
language to communicate truth in a graphic way. And, in most cases,
the meaning of such language is clear from the context. When Jesus says
He is "the door" (John 10:7), for example, it is obvious He is not saying
He is composed of wood and hinges. Rather, He is the "way" to salvation.
Illumination by the Holy Spirit
The I in LIGHTS will remind you of the illumination
of Scripture that can only come from the Spirit of God. First Corinthians
2:12 says: "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit
who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."
Because the author of Scripture - the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). - resides
within the child of God (1 Cor. 3:16), he or she is in a position to
receive God's illumination (1 Cor. 2:9-11). And, indeed, the Spirit
of truth not only provides insights that permeate the mind, but also
provides illumination that can penetrate the heart.
Grammatical Principles
The G in LIGHTS will remind you that Scripture
is to be interpreted in accordance with typical rules of grammar - including
syntax and style. For this reason, it is important for the student of
Scripture to have a basic understanding of grammatical principles. It
is also helpful to have a basic grasp of the Greek and Hebrew languages.
If you do not know Greek or Hebrew, however, don't panic. Today there
are a host of eminently usable tools to aid you in gaining insights
from the original languages of Scripture. Besides commentaries, there
are "interlinear" translations that provide the Hebrew and Greek text
of the Bible in parallel with the English text. As well, Strong's concordance
has a number-coding system by which you can look up the Greek or Hebrew
word (along with a full definition) behind each word in the English
Bible. Moreover, there are dictionaries of Old and New Testament words
that are keyed to Strong's concordance. Tools such as these make it
easy for the layperson to obtain insights on the original Hebrew or
Greek of the Bible without being fluent in these languages.
Historical Context
The H in LIGHTS will remind you that the Christian
faith is historical and evidential (Luke 1:1-4). The biblical text is
best understood when one is familiar with the customs, culture, and
historical context of biblical times. Thankfully, there are a host of
excellent Bible handbooks and commentaries to aid us in the process
of understanding the people and places of the Bible.
Teaching Ministry
The T in LIGHTS will remind you that even
though the illumination of Scripture ultimately comes through the ministry
of the Holy Spirit, God has also provided the church with uniquely gifted
human teachers (Eph. 4:11). Therefore, as we seek to rightly interpret
God's Word (2 Tim. 2:15), we would do well to consult those whom God
has uniquely gifted as teachers in the church (cf. Tit. 2:1-15). Of
course, following the example of the Bereans (Acts 17:11), we should
always make sure that what human teachers say is in line with Scripture
(cf. 1 Thess. 5:21).
Scriptural Harmony
The S in LIGHTS will remind you of the principle
of Scriptural harmony. Individual passages of Scripture must always
be in harmony with Scripture as a whole. The biblical interpreter must
keep in mind that all of Scripture - though communicated through various
human instruments - has a single Author (God). And, of course, God does
not contradict Himself.
Studying the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits,
and rightly understanding it, the highest of all goals. The six principles
listed above can help you attain this goal. And as the science of biblical
interpretation continually LIGHTS your path through Scripture, you will
find yourself growing in your understanding of Him who is the Light
of the world - Jesus Christ (John 8:12).
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