Lesson 3: Learning Our Hermeneutic from the Bible
The Bible's Own Instruction
One key resource we will build through this course is a set of specific interpretive principles that Scripture teaches. Each lesson contains one primary interpretative principle and several sub-principles that summarize what the Bible itself demands from us as we interpret it. We've already learned several interpretative principle from our first two lessons:
Lesson 1:
The Bible demands that we interpret it according to its nature as the Word of God.
- The Bible calls us to understand (not merely read) what it says.
- The Bible is the Word of God. Thus, its nature is rooted in God.
- The Bible declares that it is inerrant and infallible, authoritative, historical and theological, translatable, hard and clear.
- The Bible was written by the Holy Spirit through men.
Lesson 2:
The Bible demands that we interpret it as disciples, not as critics.
- Sin, misuse, and unbelief can skew our interpretation.
- The Bible calls us to come with a humble posture, ready to learn.
- God grants understanding by his Spirit.
- True understanding of Scripture comes primarily through keeping it.
From Lesson 3 (this lesson), we can add from what we’ve already covered:
The Bible demands that we follow its own hermeneutic, which it teaches both by principle and by example.
- Godly teachers provide us with a good foundation.
- The Bible itself refines and develops our hermeneutic.
The remaining lessons in this course will continue to draw interpretative principles from the Bible as we seek to develop a biblical hermeneutic. However, one key question remains: Can we really follow the hermeneutic that the Bible itself uses?
The remaining steps in this lesson make the case that we should indeed follow the Bible’s own hermeneutic.
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:1-5
