Back to Basics

[Anthony Pritchard]

Kindergarten Hermeneutics

The Science Of Bible Interpretation​

Note: This is not a comprehensive hermeneutical study, just the first basic principles.

There are a few simple principles that every believer must understand before approaching the Word of God. These are not complicated but they are the foundation stones.

The first principle is that you must know the Author. Scripture is plain on this point. The natural man cannot grasp the things of God because he does not belong to God. First Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The Lord Jesus asked the Pharisees in John 8:43, “Why do ye not understand my speech, even because ye cannot hear my word.” He continued in John 8:47, “He that is of God heareth God’s words, ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

To understand Scripture one must first be a true child of God, born again, redeemed, and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. Colossians 1:12 through 14 says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Without this first step there is no hope of having any depth of understanding in the Word of God.

The second principle is what theologians sometimes call the Principle of Human Willingness in Illumination. The language may sound lofty, but the truth is simple. A person’s understanding of Scripture depends entirely upon his willingness to obey what God shows him. Obedience is a major key to understanding. The Lord said in John 7:17, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” God teaches the obedient heart. He withholds light from the stubborn one.

The third principle is to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. This is the safest and most honest method of understanding the Bible. Isaiah 28:10 says, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little.” Verse 13 repeats the same truth and adds the warning that those who refuse the Word will stumble over it. “But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little, that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.”

A wise man once said, “We are not to expect, in every place, the whole circle of Christian truth, for all things are not taught in every place.” This is attributed to Cardinal Stanislaus Hosius, Polish Catholic Cardinal 1504-1579, and it captures the heart of the matter. No single verse contains everything. God has spread His truth throughout His Word so that the humble reader must compare Scripture with Scripture.

These are the basics. Know the Author. Obey the light you have. Let Scripture interpret Scripture. When these simple principles are followed, the Word of God opens like a flower in the sun.

Simplicitas est lux Veritatis - Simplicity is the light of truth.

~Tony

© A.K. Pritchard 1989 -

Free to use with proper attribution.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

There is much to agree with what you have written above.
The only addition I would make is to add what I wrote before: that we should always look for Christ in the Scriptures (John 5:39; Luke 24:27).
There has been some talk recently on this board about the five Levitical sacrifices, but if we look at them without Christ we shall miss the point spectacularly. The sacrifices speak of Christ. Three of them are sacrifices for acceptance; as a 'sweet savour;' two of them are sacrifices for sin. But each one has an offering, a priest and an offerer. Who are they? Christ is the offering, Christ is the priest and Christ is the offerer (Heb. 10:5-12).

 

[Anthony Pritchard]

There is much to agree with what you have written above.
The only addition I would make is to add what I wrote before: that we should always look for Christ in the Scriptures (John 5:39; Luke 24:27).
There has been some talk recently on this board about the five Levitical sacrifices, but if we look at them without Christ we shall miss the point spectacularly. The sacrifices speak of Christ. Three of them are sacrifices for acceptance; as a 'sweet savour;' two of them are sacrifices for sin. But each one has an offering, a priest and an offerer. Who are they? Christ is the offering, Christ is the priest and Christ is the offerer (Heb. 10:5-12).

Brother, I appreciate what you’ve added here. There is certainly much to agree with. And yes, looking for Christ in all the Scriptures is exactly what our Lord Himself taught us to do (John 5:39; Luke 24:27). Everything finds its fulfillment in Him.

My only aim in the original post was to lay out the simple principles that keep us grounded as we read: knowing the Author, being willing to obey, and letting Scripture interpret Scripture. When those basics are in place, the Christ‑centered reading you’ve described becomes clear and natural.

The Levitical sacrifices are a good example. If we look at them without Christ, we will miss the point entirely. They speak of Him. He is the offering, He is the priest, and He is the offerer (Hebrews 10:5–12). The whole system was a shadow pointing to the substance.

So yes, we are in agreement. The Scriptures open when we follow the simple principles and keep our eyes on Christ.

"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10

Excellent!