THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE: CONTEXT

Let all passages in the Bible speak for themselves within the context of the sentence, the paragraph, the chapter, the book. Our major problem in properly interpreting a passage may be our bias or our subjectivity. If we approach a passage thinking we already know what it teaches we may read our own meaning into the passage. This is called eisegesis (eis is a Greek word meaning "into" or "unto"; Cf. Acts 2:38). To correctly interpret the Bible one must practice exegesis (ex is a Greek preposition meaning "out of"). The "rules" of Hermeneutics are established to assist one in the fine art of exegesis. We will consider the rules for Bible Study by Dr. Carroll Kendrick from his book Rules of Bible Study, The Old Paths Book Club, 1946 - WHAT IS NEEDED IS AN "OBJECTIVE METHODOLOGY"

Rule One: Cherish the love of Truth. 2 Thess. 2:10; John 4:23; 2 Tim. 2:5; John 8:31,32

2 Thess. 2:10
10* and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

John 4:23
23* "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24* "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

2 Tim. 2:5
5* Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

John 8:31-32
31* So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

Rule Two: We must act from proper motives when we search for truth. John 6:26; 5:42; Luke 8:15; Matt. 13:23; Mk. 4:20

John 6:26
26* Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

Luke 8:15
15* "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

Matt. 13:23
23* "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."

Mk. 4:20
20* "And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

Rule Three: "Rightly divide the word of Truth." (2 Tim. 2:15) Discriminate between the Old and New Testaments Gal. 3:24,25; Eph. 2:15-18; 2 Cor. 3:3-15;

Col. 2:14
**CAUTION - DO NOT go to the extreme here.

2 Tim. 2:15
15* Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Gal. 3:24-29
24* Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25* But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26* For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27* For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28* There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29* And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

Eph. 2:15-18
15* by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16* and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17* AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; 18* for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

2 Cor. 3:2-15
2* You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3* being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4* Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5* Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6* ¶ who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7* But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8* how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? 9* For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. 10* For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. 11* For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. 12* Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, 13* and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. 14* But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;

Part 2 

Col. 2:14
14* having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. The Old Testament illustrates for us WHAT sin is and WHAT God does in response to sin. THEREFORE we MUST study diligently what the Old Testament teaches. For example consider:

Rom. 15:4
4* For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Rom. 7:7-14
7* What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." 8* But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9* I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10* and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11* for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12* So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13* Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. 14* For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.

1 Cor. 10:6-14
6* Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7* Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY." 8* Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9* Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10* Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11* Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12* Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13* No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 14* Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Part 3 

Rule Four: Observe who is the author of the passage under consideration. Observe who is speaking, are they speaking by inspiration, or are the Bible writers recording a statement that is not necessarily a statement of fact?

Job 42:8
8 "Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has."

John 9:31
31* "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.

Add the following to your list: Consider Paul's use of "I" according to Bible context:

1 Cor. 7:8-12
8* But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9* But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10* But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband 11* (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife. 12* But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her.

1 Cor. 14:37
37* If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.

2 Tim. 3:16-17
16* All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17* so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

We are MUCH better prepared to understand a context when we know who is the author, i.e. - Job, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Paul, or Nicodemus. This RULE must be considered with all of the following rules.

Rule Five: See who is addressed. (Cf. 1 & 2 Timothy)

1 Tim. 1:1-2
1* Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, 2* To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Tim. 4:14
14* Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

Observing this rule will keep people from taking things out of context and applying it to themselves.

John 14:26
26* "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

1Tim 5:23
"No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments."

Matt. 10:32 (see the context here)
"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven."

Rule Six: Find, if possible, what was intended to be accomplished by the passage under consideration.

Most passages have a special reason for being, that is, they are there to teach a lesson.

What is the lesson under consideration in the context. It may be to prevent an error, or to correct one already committed. It may be to remove some type of misinformation.

Rom.6:1-2
1* What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2* May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

1 Cor. 11:22
What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

Part 4 

Rule Seven: Find, if you can, what gave rise to the lesson under consideration.

This can generally be done by observing the context and circumstances connected with it, and will go far to elucidate the end aimed at, and everything pertaining to it. (see Gal. 1:6-10)

Gal. 1:6-10
6* I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7* which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8* But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9* As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 10* For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Rule Eight: Consider, carefully, all the surrounding circumstances. This includes the time, the place, the people, their special conditions and positions.

See Luke 15 here

We have three parables here, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. All three, especially the last one have been sadly, and often ruinously perverted. We will not go into all of the false doctrine taught by twisting these verses, but note verses ONE & TWO. What gave rise to and what was intended to be accomplished by the lesson here?

Luke 15:1-3
1* Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2* Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3 So He told them this parable, saying,

THIS IS THE CAUSE OF THE THREE PARABLES. Jesus is the speaker. The Pharisees and scribes are the persons addressed. The end to be accomplished is the answer and exposure of their complaint. The character and condition of the complainers SHOULD BE OBSERVED. Their character is abundantly apparent - They would not associate with sinners -- especially they would not eat with them; and they would judge, or measure Jesus by themselves. Therefore, he does not tell them, as he did some others, that he had come "to seek and to save the lost." They were not prepared to appreciate the mission of the Messiah. It would have had no weight with them. He considered their peculiar condition, and defended himself by exposing their inconsistency.

They knew what it was to be shepherds, and that when a sheep went astray, they would go and search for it until they found it. They would not cease; and when they found it, they rejoiced.

Some who were listening to him were women. Women are always loosing things! (Just kidding) Every woman there KNEW what she would do if she lost a piece of money. She would drop EVERYTHING until she found it, and then she would rejoice. This struck them squarely in the face.

Some of them were fathers, and all of them knew of prodigal sons; how gladly the prodigal was received when he returned, and how they all scorned one, like the elder brother, who was not willing to receive him, and join in the rejoicing. How overwhelming they must have felt this. Therefore, Jesus would make them SEE and FEEL concern for the lost Gentile world. In condemning Jesus they were condemning themselves because they ALL DID EXACTLY what Jesus was doing, the fathers, the shepherds, the women, and all who lived before them.

All the parables of Jesus are founded on matters of fact, and serve, in the same way, to illustrate important truths and principles. We will talk more about parables later.

Part 5 

Rule Nine: Collect all the divine testimonies on the matter under consideration; find just what each clearly means; claim all that, and no more.

See the word "RICH" in the NT (attached)

Rule Ten: Doubtful passages, which are capable of more than one construction, must be so construed as to harmonize with those which are positive, and can have but one meaning. (Cf. Matt. 7:1 & John 7:24)

Matthew 7:1-2
1* "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2* "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

John 7:24
24* "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

Romans 14:4
4* Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Luke 7:43
43* Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly."

Matthew 7:16-20
16* "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17* "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18* "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19* "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20* "So then, you will know them by their fruits.

1 Cor. 14:29
29* Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.

The terms "judge" and "judgment" have several meanings, as most words have, and in the Scriptures to judge is frequently to condemn. That is why Jesus said: "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." (Matt. 7:2). Do not willingly, readily, or harstily condemn.

This does not in any way forbid using good sense in observing one's behavior and or character. We MUST judge, we are commanded to.

1Co 5:12
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?

1Co 5:13
But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

1Co 6:1
Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?

1Co 6:2
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?

1Co 6:3
Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?

1Co 6:4
So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?

1Co 6:5
I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren,

Part 6 

Rule Eleven: Consider the meaning of each word, sentence and paragraph.

This seems so self-evident as to need no further explanation, but it does. Some people will allow for the weirdest definition of a word when it comes from the Bible.

Here you will need the help of a Greek dictionary, not necessarily an English dictionary. Determine the meaning in the original language.

Illustration: - teaching Bible class in Vacaville and reading from the text:

Matt. 5:13 (KJV)
13* Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Rule Twelve: When the law gives the manner of doing a thing, then every other manner is excluded, and the manner of procedure is as binding as the thing to be done; it is part of the law. (Cf.1 Sam. 15; 2 Kings 5)

These passages demonstrate how God illustrates the importance of following HIS directions AS SPECIFICALLY AS HE GIVES THEM. Consider the following classic examples:

2 Sam. 6 (see context)
Lev. 10:1-2
1 Sam. 15 (see context)
Num. 8:4; Exod. 25:8ff (1 Chron. 28:19); Acts 7:44; Heb. 8:5
 

Num. 8:4
4* Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold; from its base to its flowers it was hammered work; according to the pattern which the LORD had showed Moses, so he made the lampstand.

Ex. 25:8-9
8* "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. 9* "According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.

1 Chron 28:19
19* "All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the details of this pattern."

Acts 7:44
44* "Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen.

Heb. 8:5
5* who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN."

Rule Thirteen: "Hold fast the form of sound words" (2 Tim. 1:13)

2 Tim. 1:13
13* Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

1 Cor.1:10
10* Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Tim. 6:3-5
3* If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4* he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5* and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

Rule Fourteen: No important teaching or practice is to be based upon doubtful or ambiguous Scriptures. (i.e.Psalm 37:20)

Psalm 37:20
20* But the wicked will perish; And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures, They vanish--like smoke they vanish away.

2 Thess 1:7-10
7* and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8* dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9* These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10* when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed--for our testimony to you was believed.

Rule Fifteen: Observe the special reason given, if any, for the thing said or done, or to be done.

Example - Why keep the sabbath?

1. It was a sign between Israel and God (Ex. 31:13; Ezek. 20:12-20)

2. God rested on the seventh day and therefore required the Jews to rest (Ex. 20:11).

3. God delivered Israel, and therefore they should keep his sabbath in remembrance of this event (Deut. 5:15).

Rule Sixteen: "Meditate upon these things" (1 Tim. 4:15-16)