Lesson 6 | Interpretational Stances
Is It This or That?
”How long will you deliberate between two opinions?“ said Elijah to the people of Israel. We might reframe the question toward ourselves, “How long will you deliberate between two interpretations, detective?”
Yet sometimes we end up stuck in the mud—too confused or afraid or unsure to begin. The best way to overcome the fog of mental ambiguity is to trust God and start asking questions. Often it takes several attempts to reframe a question before you’re confident you are even asking the right one.
Questions to Help You Ask the Right Question
1. Textual questions
- What word or phrase is specifically confusing to me?
- Are there two ways to express this word or phrase?
- Can I articulate each one?
In this passage the word “law” seems confusing to me. Is it saying, “For the Old Testament legal requirements of the Spirit of life...?” or is it saying something broader like, “The way the Spirit of life operates...?”
2. Contextual questions
- Does the context itself provide possible interpretive answers?
- Can I articulate which verses might lead to which interpretations?
What is the point of Jesus’ first miracle? Was it to show that he is submissive to his mother (vv. 3–5) or to begin to publicly display who he was (v. 11)? Or was it to manifest his glory privately to his disciples so that they believe him (v. 11)?
3. Theological questions
- Are there multiple theological implications in the text?
- Do any of them not fit with what I know to be theologically sound?
- If so, can I articulate other interpretations that do fit established theology and still do justice to the passage?
Is this saying that believers will inherit eternal life because of their works? That doesn't sound right because it contradicts clear New Testament theology. So perhaps it is a setup: saying that God would give eternal life to the one with good enough works (only to show later that no one meets that standard)? Or perhaps it is presuming a prior faith?
Deliberate!
Throughout lesson 5 of Biblearc’s Interpretation Course, principles are given to aid you in interpreting each genre of the Bible. These principles include example deliberation questions you might ask. We’ve provided an example for each below, along with a clear answer (something a lot easier to arrive at after you’ve identified the question!) and a paraphrase making the answer explicit.
Gen 2:24 – “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife…” Is this description or prescription? Answer: Prescription Paraphrase: “That's why we understand that in marriage, a man should separate from his parents and embrace his wife...”
Dt 6:6–7 – ”And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children...” Is this law apodictic or casuistic? (That is, is it a base principle or is it situational?) Answer: Apodictic Paraphrase: “No matter what situation you are in, these Scriptural words I speak to you should be on your heart. Everyone, without exception, needs to intentionally teach them to your children…”
Prv 18:15 – “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Is it synonymous, antithetic, or synthetic parallelism? Answer: Synthetic Paraphrase: “A person whose inner life is shaped by thoughtfulness is willing to learn things, and taking it a step further, a person whose ear is tuned to wisdom is eager to learn as much as they can.”
Is 8:8 – “and [Assyria] will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck...” Does this symbolism refer to something concrete, or is it illustrating a general principle? Answer: Concrete Paraphrase: “and Assyria, will not only attack northern Israel, but come across the border, like a swollen river, and attack Judah, making it even as far as the very gates of Jerusalem. In other words, if Jerusalem is the head, they will make it to the neck...”
Mat 13:24b–25 – “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat...” Is this kingdom language present or future? Answer: Present Paraphrase: “God's kingdom, as it expands worldwide through the lives of believers, is like a man that planted a good seed, but his field ended up riddled with weeds (symbolizing false believers) due to the subterfuge of Satan…”
Acts 14:12 – “And the priest of Zeus...brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice [to Paul and Barnabas]...” Should I frame this character's motive as right or wrong? Answer: Wrong Paraphrase: “And the priest of the false god Zeus, stirred with the blindness of emotional fervor rather than legitimate honor, brought sacrificial bulls and celebration ribbons to the gates so he could sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas....”
1Co 5:7 – “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened.” Is this particular promise a bare gospel truth for the sake of instruction, or does it ground a command? Answer: It grounds a command Paraphrase: “God commands that you clean the sin out of your life like a family would clean out leaven in preparation for the Passover, since it is true that you are already declared clean due to the sacrifice of Christ, the Passover lamb.
Rev 12:1 – “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” Does this passage relate to Eve, faithful Israel, or Mary? Answer: Faithful Israel (This is the author's personal take) Paraphrase: “And a sign appeared as a story being told in the sky. Here’s how it went: Israel appeared in the form of a woman wearing the sun for clothing, standing on the moon, and having a crown of stars, just like in the dream God gave Jacob.”