The
Attributes of God – Part 7
Rules
of Interpretation
Understanding
Biblical truths (doctrines)
Rule #1-
Definition
Define your terms and stick to them
Rule #2 - Usage
The whole Bible may be regarded as written to
the Jew first. In interpreting the words, phrases and histories, it is not so
much what we think of them from notions of our own… But in what sense these
things were understood by the heavens and the lookers on, according to the
usual custom and dialect of the nation.
Rule #3 -
Context
Every word you read must be understood in the light of the words before
and after it.
(What is the subject being discussed.)
Rule #4 -
Historical Background
To understand one must be aware of Jewish life and society at the time
it was written –
(what was in the mind of the authors.)
Rule #5 - Logic
The Bible comes to us in the form of human language and appeals to our
reason.
(It invites investigation)
Rule #6 –
Precedent (First Mention)
We must not violate the known use of a word
and invent another for which there is no precedent.
Rule #7 - Unity
Scripture is part of a whole and must be consistent with the whole.
Rule #8 -
Inference
A fact reasonably implied from another fact.
It is a logical consequence
Romans 9:10-13
Not only that, but Rebekah
Just as it is
written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
Romans
9:16-18
It does not, therefore,
depend on man
"I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in
you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God
has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he
hardens whom he wants to harden.
Harden (Chazaq) To strengthen or give
courage – indicating God not causing him to be an evil man or
do evil actions – but gave him strength and courage, even when the plagues
became overwhelming & terrifying, to stand by his intent to not let
Dave Hunt wrote in the book
“What Love Is This”
“We affirm
as Biblical and reasonable God’s sovereign right to arrange circumstance and to
position on the stage of life these players who he for knows, so his will is
effected in human affairs and to do so without violating their will or
encouraging their crimes.”
Exodus
10:1
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh,
for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform
these miraculous signs of mine among them."
Romans
9:16-17
It does not, therefore, depend on man
"I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you
and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
Romans
9:20-21
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?
"Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,
Jeremiah
18:5-12
Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house
of
Romans
9:22
What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make
his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted
to destruction.
Vine - N.T. word Study:
Fitted (is in the middle
voice)
indicating that the vessels of wrath
fitted themselves for destruction.
Remember - Interpretation is
more that a set of rules but the spiritual sense cannot be separate from the
grammatical sense.
Romans
9:21
Does not the potter have the right to make out of
the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
2
Timothy 2:20-21
In a large house there are articles not only of
gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and
some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an
instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to
do any good work.
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Romans 9, 10
&11 (Are a unit of thought)
Two thoughts:
1.) Jew /
Gentile
and
2.) Faith / Works
Not… Heaven or
Hell
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Marvin R Vincent
(an authority on biblical language explains)
“EKLOGE, election is used as Gods selection of men or agencies for special
missions or attainments...
Nowhere in the N.T. is there any warrant for
the revolting doctrine that God predestinated a definite number of mankind to
eternal life and the next to eternal damnation.“
2 Peter 1:10
“Wherefore the rather,
brethren,
give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye
do these things,
ye shall never fall”
The whole Bible is a unit.
We cannot determine the meaning of election or predestination by a few
verses
Other Relevant Scriptures