Interpreting the Bible correctly

DR John F MacArthur Jnr, the senior pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, said in his How To Study The Bible lessons that the reason why there are so many Christian churches is because they have come to interpret the Bible differently. (Most of what is shared in this and other items come from his message.)

MacArthur said despite what anybody thinks about a text, there is one meaning and that is the meaning that the serious Bible student must get.

To interpret the Bible correctly good students must close certain gaps. Good study uses tools to close the language, culture, geography and history gaps.

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the New in Greek with parts of it in Aramaic – the language spoken in the area and time of Jesus.

Hence to better understand words it is good to use Bible dictionaries and concordances.

A good Bible dictionary will inform you that the word "love" in I Corinthians 13 is not the same word "love" in other places.

In that chapter the word is "agape", the unconditional type of love – as distinct from "brotherhood" or "man-woman" types.

For those who use the King James Version, find a good dictionary because a good number of words are almost archaic – like ravens, kine and fowls, the names of some animals.

Reading about the culture helps you better understand the Bible.

MacArthur said the word "Word" was used in John 1.1 because it was a concept that was understood clearly by both Greeks and Jews as the cause of everything that is, a manifestation of God.

Understanding a bit about the culture of the Jews (while being ruled by a Roman government in Jesus’ time) will help one understand why they reacted to events and teachings.

To get a good picture of the places in the Bible, refer to the map at the back of your Bible – or better yet, get a Bible Atlas with nice pictures.

As you read about Jesus and the disciples exiting Jerusalem to go pray at Gethsemane, follow them crossing the Kidron Valley with your map. The reading will be enlivened.

Learning some history about the Bible times broadens your knowledge of studying the Book.

Reading what Egypt was like in the times of Moses may help you understand Exodus better or reading about Babylon and Persia will help you enjoy the first chapters of Daniel better.

Next week: Principles to use in interpretation