FUNDAMENTAL HERMENEUTICS

“Intelligent people regularly disagree on what God is communicating to mankind.  They fail to agree on how the universe came into existence, on how the universe will come to an end, and on most points between those two issues!  The fault, of course, does not lie with God the communicator but with man the interpreter…”[1]

          -- Dr. Paul N. Benware

In the theological world there are literally hundreds of subjects surrounding the study of last things, appropriately called eschatology.  Some have branded this survey the study of the end times, prophecy, and the millennium or future events.  Whatever label is given to this doctrinal study, it remains a perplexing puzzle to most Christians.  In fact, some Christians have even chosen not to study eschatology because they feel that no amount of research could enable true comprehension.  They theoretically surmise that because the two primary biblical books (Revelation and Daniel) involving future events contain allegories and metaphors that it cannot be realized.  This is an unsubstantiated misconception.  The book of Revelation (and Daniel) can be understood and it should be read, for a blessing is attached to the person who takes the time to read its contents and meditate on the Scriptures.

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 1:3 NKJV

            The main reason that Christians choose not to read prophetical books is not that they are entwined with figurative, metaphorical or allegorical language, it is for a deficiency in understanding a simple rule in dissecting the Word of God.  This is a principle that is among the first rules of Scripture interpretation—properly called the literal or grammatical-historical method.

LITERAL INTERPRETATION

            Literal biblical interpretation of the Scriptures is employed by many conservative scholars, theologians and Bible students in an effort to not over-spiritualize the biblical text. The World Book Dictionary defines the word literal as: 1) following the exact words of the original. 2) taking words in their usual meaning and 3) true to fact; not exaggerated.[2]  Literal biblical hermeneutics (the science of proper interpretation of Scripture) then involves taking the text to mean exactly what is written and not seeking a hidden spiritual meaning.

There are many verses in the Bible that have been shrouded in the darkness of non-literal interpretation; one such verse involves Paul’s thorn of the flesh.  Paul’s thorn in second Corinthians twelve seems to be one of the most disputed verses in the entirely of the Bible.  Christians from every walk of life, and from every denominational line have fabricated their best hypothesis on what they feel Paul’s thorn may have been.  Some commentators have taken Paul’s thorn to mean that he had some type of physical ailment in his body that God would not take from him.  Some have even gone as far as to say that Paul had an ancient disease called Opthalmia, a condition that causes severe irritation and seeping of the eyes.[3]    This type of interpretation is called eisegesis.  It is a process of reading something in the text that is not explicitly mentioned.[4]  What is generally understood is that Paul did have some type of pain, whether inward or outward is not completely known, that God used to help him understand his personal weaknesses and God’s provision.[5]

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelation, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” I Corinthians 12:7-9 NKJV

 Although the thorn in the flesh is a figure of speech, it can still be interpreted literally and exegetically (the process of drawing out what is known about the text).[6]  The noun that identifies the cause of his pain may not be identified, but what is recognized is the verity that he was indeed in some type of pain.  It would be like me saying,  “That sure is a pain in my neck”.  When this figure of speech is conveyed, “that”(the cause of my pain) may not be completely understood or acknowledged.  What is clear, however, is that something is very troubling to me.  It is not that the something is literally a pain in my neck, but that it is definitely a pain or something that causes me anxiety.  The literal method is taking the verses of the Bible at face value and interpreting them without placing any other implication or meaning within the text.

 This is an excellent model to have when studying the Bible.  However, with any educational standard there are always exceptions, and that applies even to this hermeneutical rule.  There are several types and shadows[7] that reveal Christ in the Old Testament that would not be detected if this rule were heeded only in a strict, non-pliable manner.  The most conservative position in the literal biblical interpretation camp is to hold that the text has absolutely no other meaning or application then that of the grammatical-historical interpretation (using the standard rules of grammar and the accurate historical and cultural records of the Ancient Near East to scrutinize the biblical text)[8].   Although most scholars would never admit to holding such a dogmatic view, it exists and is taught in some biblical educational institutions nevertheless.[9] 

Literal interpretation of biblical texts should be utilized in all cases, although secondary interpretations and applications may be necessary to fulfill all that the text is intending to convey to the reader.  In fact, no verse in the Bible can be completely exhausted in interpretation.  This is due to the fact that new clues are being unearthed through archeological discoveries and more historical and customs research is coming to fruition.  Even without these factors the individual application of the verse among the various shades of humanity leaves abundant room for the case of inexhaustible interpretation.  Australian Aborigines might understand a particular text to mean something entirely different then it does to someone with a Western persuasion and mindset. This is because each group is applying their worldview and customs to the Scriptures, which consequently brings out various nuances of the verse.  Nevertheless, one thing that should be understood when reading the Bible is that the original writer of the passage or book in question had only one intention in what he was writing. 

When Paul wrote to the church at Galatia, he had one purpose in mind; to confront legalism head-on and prove that salvation was by grace through faith and not by the law.  There are no indications that what he was writing would ever be included as canonized Scripture.  He simply had a message that he felt that those in Galatia, or whatever church he was writing, needed to hear. He saw weaknesses among the churches that needed admonishment and encouragement to unify the Body of Christ.  The most amazing part of the Bible, however, is that although the writers of the Bible had a main goal and audience in mind when they wrote then, it is still applicable and valid for Christians today.  When Paul said he became all things to all men that he might save some (I Cor. 9:22), it would more than express the beauty of the Bible and its message for all humanity even today.  Nonetheless, it is still accommodating to keep the fundamental rules of interpretation in mind to become an unyielding reader of God’s Word. 

LITERALLY INSANE

            I have a great story when it comes to literal interpretation of the Bible.  On one occasion, I can remember having a conversation with a seminary professor and being shunned because of my remarks that I had discovered several types of Christ in the book of Jonah.[10]  When I relayed my conclusions, he claimed that I had not done the groundwork concerning biblical hermeneutics and that I should not “spiritualize” or “allegorize” the text.  What I heard from him was the standard defense of dogmatic literal interpretation that one might find in an ultra-conservative seminary textbook on hermeneutics.  What I did not have time to tell this gentleman, because he stormed away slightly offended, was that I actually use the literal method of interpretation when I study the Bible.  As he was leaving, he muttered that types and shadows could only be assumed when the foreshadowed event or person is clearly mentioned in the New Testament as being a type.[11]  Again, with his statement came a resounding amen as I agreed unreservedly.  He just didn’t want to take the time to hear what I had to say—nor could I tell him that someone surrendered to the will of God based, in part, by this research from the book of Jonah.

 The general rule of using literal interpretation exists to impose a limit on how far someone should take the text and to discourage exaggeration.  It is not enacted to suppress the other inferences that portray the knowledge or workings of God.  With that said, when any study of the Bible is initiated, a literal approach to the text should be demonstrated.  The rules, including the exceptions to the rules, should be applied to every scripture.  They must be examined, reexamined and prayed over until the Holy Spirit gives satisfactory comprehension.  

UNDERSTANDING EXEGESIS

              Exegesis, as was briefly covered, is the process of extracting what is known about the scripture.  It is a theological concept that is derived from the Greek word, exegeomai; it describes the proper discovery of a legal report or depiction.[12]  It could be compared to someone who is called in to testify before a Grand Jury to determine whether indictment should proceed in a criminal investigation.  If that witness testified that they had seen four Caucasian men leaving the scene of the crime, just how should the jury interpret what this innocent observer had seen?  Would they say that there were seven Hispanic women running from the crime scene?  This, of course, would be illogical and absurd thinking.  Truth dictates that they must take the testimony at face value, using the facts that were given to them to describe an accurate depiction of the event(s) surrounding the crime.  They would not presuppose any conclusions unless the evidence warranted them to do so; in fact, placing something in their report to the judge that was never specified could possibly land them in confinement for contempt of court.  Conversely, they would never assume that these white men were simply made up to look white and that they dressed and cut their hair to appear as men.  Although this could very well be the case, there is no hard evidence to back up this theory.  In fact, to simply theorize this would be unprofitable; by the time everyone had exhausted all theories, the real perpetrators would be off on some island rejoicing in their victory over the law and not getting caught. 

 The process of exegesis must be exploited in every area of Scripture to determine truth.  In David Horton’s, Portable Seminary, the process of exegesis is described as a fundamental part of dissecting Scripture and is directly related to literal interpretation:

Exegesis…forms the heart of hermeneutical theory.  Exegesis employs three approaches to the text: (1) understanding the grammar of the text, (2) understanding the meaning of individual

PIONEERS OF FAITH

            Lester Sumrall, like Smith Wigglesworth, D.L. Moody and others were true pioneers of the Christian faith and brought understanding to many dark areas of Scripture.  Dr. Sumrall brought fresh illumination on older revelations to the church on many issues and subjects in the Bible.  He is probably best known for his dissertation on the Total Man and the fact that the human person is a tripartite being consisting of a body, soul and spirit.  He also held to a grammatical-historical, exegetical interpretation of the Bible.  When many of his contemporaries were making outlandish claims about new research that they uncovered in the Bible, Dr. Sumrall (as well as Wigglesworth and Moody) held to the literal approach of the Scriptures and was highly respected for his unwavering position.  In all of his study guides, he used immense biblical support for every topic.  When ministers were teaching that if a Christian were to pray more than once for a specific issue that they were not walking in faith, Dr. Sumrall made it a point to demonstrate their theological error by citing scriptures where Jesus Himself prayed more than once.[14]  He used the literal approach to confront fallacies.  This should be the endeavor of every Christian yet today. 

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? I Cor. 6:2 NKJV

LITERAL INTERPRETATION AND PROPHECY

            Concerning the literal interpretation of the book of Revelation, Dr. Sumrall made this statement:

                The book of Revelation, with all of its allegories and figures of speech can still be understood in the light of literal interpretation.  For example, the Great Tribulation mentions locusts with hair like women, teeth like lions and tails like scorpions (Rev. 9:7-10).  This may or may not be military planes or helicopters as some commentators have theorized.[16]  What is known, based on the literal approach, is that this time will be one of intense pain, turmoil and anguish—a period that no person should want to be on earth to see. 

            Many great scholars and theologians hold to the literal-exegetical interpretation of the Bible, but when it comes to prophecy they seemingly forget how to interpret Scripture; or they blatantly disregard the proper modes of interpretation to fit their pet prophetical theory.  In Paul N. Benware’s classic work, Understanding End Times Prophecy, he makes this statement concerning those who have left their literalist philosophy to interpret prophecy through—what they say—is some deeper spiritual meaning:

            When Dr. Benware says that having two different systems of interpretation are a contradiction and pose problems in the theological world of understanding Scripture, he is not saying that one cannot use a secondary interpretation for Old Testament stories that point to a work of Christ.  He is merely stating a problem in using a literal and allegorical (spiritual) mode of interpreting Scripture to achieve truth from a passage that has metaphors, allegories, hyperboles, parables or figures of speech.

            In summary, the following steps should be taken to ensure a proper hermeneutical process in interpreting Scripture.

1.      Interpret the passage or verse using a literal, grammatical-historical method (that is using the standard rules of grammar, and applying the cultural background as a part of the context of the scripture).  Be cognizant that the writers of the books of the Bible had only one intention in their writings; seek to discover that intention apart from any presuppositions or by placing personal application above interpretation.

2.      Using the exegetical method, draw information out of the text of what is explicitly known (use word study books, lexical aids and statistical research—examining other areas in Scripture where the same words or figures are used—for each element within the verse).

3.      If you come across an Old Testament scripture that you think may have typological symbolism that point to the work of Christ in the New Testament or some facet about God, look for a clear New Testament reference to back it up.  If no New Testament scripture exists, look for other biblical clues to support your theory using the proper methods.  Understand that without a New Testament scripture that your ideas are just theories and cannot be included in doctrine or claimed dogmatically.

4.      Finalize the hermeneutical process by seeking personal application. Discover what the text is saying to you by applying it to your own life. Understand that the application may be different for you then it is for others.

A PENNY’S WORTH

            Before this paper is brought to a conclusion, it would be beneficial to briefly explore how deep individual worldviews run and how they affect every area of life—especially biblical understanding.  A good illustration to this point is the penny.

            The monetary value, as many people know, of the penny is equal to 1/100th of a dollar, which is rather insignificant to most.  In fact, scores of people gladly forfeit their pennies in the “take one, leave one” Styrofoam cup at the local gas station.  Furthermore, most people won’t even take the time or effort to bend over and pick up the lone penny in the shopping center parking lot.  In some third-world nations people would literally die for the opportunity to scavenge for pennies.  In America, however, the penny is slowly disappearing and may soon be obsolete; people treat it as more a hindrance than a blessing.

 One day I observed an individual in a nearby retail store asking the clerk for the price of a particular item; that’s when the idea of using the penny as a hermeneutical illustration hit me.  The clerk relayed that the price of the item was $8.99.  Then the individual asking the price yelled back, “Oh, so its nine dollars”.  This person’s worldview was that the penny didn’t matter.  But factually the item was indeed $8.99. 

Ask any accountant if the penny is important and you will probably hear many stories where a penny made all the difference in the world.  One penny can literally be the difference between a lower tax bracket and one that is higher.  It can be the catalyst that stands between you and the thing you are seeking because your debit checking account is short just one penny; and the bank is not in the habit of passing out money, no matter how small.   Why?  Because they know that one penny does make a difference. 

So, what does the penny have to do with hermeneutics?  Everything.  When people leave behind their pennies they are demonstrating—in the slightest way—their personal worldview. And whether it is admitted or not, a person’s worldview affects the way they view the Bible.   If anyone approaches the Bible with a frame of mind that the small details of Scripture are not important then they will miss out on great treasures.  These treasures are reserved and imbedded for the person who takes the time to dissect the Word of God.  Dissecting doesn’t merely involve observing the surface to make the final hypothesis.  It means taking off the outer shell and getting entrenched with the object tearing it apart piece by tiny piece until nothing has been left undone.  Just like the seemingly inconsequential penny, each piece does matter and could hold the key to obtaining abundant treasures of truth. 

…It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 NKJV Emphasis mine

…Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Matthew 5:18 NKJV[18]

CONCLUSION

Even though most Christians have very little concern for the accurate techniques of studying the Bible, it is, nevertheless highly essential.  When the proper method of hermeneutics is employed then most arguments and erroneous beliefs about impercipient segments within the individual scriptures are cleared away.  That means that when two individuals or denominations are contending over a scripture that is vague in its terminology, that the misunderstanding is eradicated because the accepted rules of interpretation will (or should) dictate the resolution.  The matter is resolved because “personal” beliefs, theories, and notions are all but wiped away through the exegetical process.  The challenge then is not to persuade someone to view the scripture as you do, but to interpret the scripture in the appropriate manner.

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…so that they may know the truth.  2 Timothy 2:23-25