What are methods of Bible study and Interpretation?

What are the guidelines for interpreting this passage of scripture that permit someone to disregard it's immediate context?

Bro. Dallas </font>[/QUOTE]Personally, I believe that the Bible in general must be interpreted in terms of its cultural context. This passage specifically is at the end of Christ's message to Laodicea. He rejects with disgust (spews them out of His mouth) because there works are not indicative of a body of Christians. Therefore, I don't accept the explanation that is usually given which is this verse is directed to Christians only, necessarily.

These members of this church are suspect in terms of their true Christianity and there their salvation. This is the condition of most of mankind. Therefore, Christ is addressing this statement to all of mankind. He's telling them what they must do to be truely saved.

 

No scripture should be privately interpeted, so God's Word has only one meaning. Either an interpretation is right or it's wrong. Though, this is true it seems that a scripture can be applied to several different situations, but it's meaning should not change.

Many individuals get into a lot of trouble when they study scripture and do not observe to whom it is written to. It's wise to ask questions before interpreting and applying. Who, What, When, Where, and Why?

I don't think applying the above scripture to lost church members does any damage to this verse, since these churches are symbolic of churches that exist today. I agree with StraightAndNarrow.

All the bible was written for us, but not all of it was written to us.

 

Revelation 3:20 says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." This is fellowship. This is not salvation. Jesus is not knocking on the door of your heart so He can enter and you will be saved. This message in Revelation 3:20 is to a church who had lost their vision of having fellowship with the Lord.

The only way to have fellowship with the Lord is through the Word of God. The church at Laodicea was lukewarm, self-sufficient and in need of nothing. The spiritual condition of this church made it hard for the Lord to get in where it counted to have any meaningful fellowship with them. In Revelation 3:20 the Lord is inviting anyone who will hear Him to respond to this invitation to have fellowship with him. Fellowship had to do with eating and talking about things of common interest. Notice the phrase “will sup with him.” For the Lord to sup with anyone in the church of Laodicea would mean that there had to be preparation by those who were in the church behind the door.

 

I completely agree with you here.

It's misused because it sounds good for evangelism.

 

But Christ ultimately speaks to individuals and that is what he is doing here. By their acts, the members of this church caused Christ to reject them (as individuals because He only judges individuals not groups). He's not calling for the church as a whole to truely follow Him. He's asking for individuals out of that dead church (if any man hear my voice...) to believe upon Him and to truely follow Him not in a "lukewarm" manner but enthusiastically and genuinely. Otherwise the individual will be damned.

This statement is talking about an individual's hope for salvation:

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

Just like so many other "evangelism" verses.

Verse 21 clearly goes on to show that it has to do with overcoming; works; so, it cannot apply to simple salvation.

 

I have to agree with StraightAndNarrow, the local church is made up of individuals. Unfortunately, some members are not part of the Bride. We know Christ wants to be preeminent in the church body as well in the hearts of mankind.

On the other hand, I know what you're saying. Some evangelists may not even know the correct context of the scripture and are just using it due to it's popularity in evangelism sermons.


There are a lot of scriptures taken out of context that really do God's Word damage, but I don't think this one is a major one.

 

Bold lettering is mine.

Bro. Dallas Eaton </font>[/QUOTE]Respectfully, I'm not sure I nderstand your point. Are you saying that because Christ is the head of the church then He saves individual churches as a body rather then the people in those churches individually? Obviousy, this verse is talkin about salvation.

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne"

It doesn't say to my Church that overcometh i sys to him that overcometh.at

 

I disagree. There are several:

1 - What was said by the author to his intended audience?

2 - How does #1 apply to people today?

3 - What is the Holy Spirit saying to you, personally, in this particular point in your own life?

The answer to 1 is always static.
The answer to 2 will change as today changes, i but it will always be consistent, and relevant to #1.
The answer to 3 is completely individual. The Holy Spirit may use a verse to speak to you differently than to another.

 

Don't we let the Spirit (of which there is only) interpret for us? Is it not the way it is written? Can not God, through the Spirit, accomplish what He wants to accomplish with His Word?

So I say if God's desires to use this to convict an individual then we should let Him. (Just kidding. Don't comment on this last sentence. It is an attempt to let us know how high and mighty we sometimes seem by what we say.)

 

*******************
1 - What was said by the author to his intended audience?

2 - How does #1 apply to people today?

3 - What is the Holy Spirit saying to you, personally, in this particular point in your own life?

The answer to 1 is always static.
The answer to 2 will change as today changes, i but it will always be consistent, and relevant to #1.
The answer to 3 is completely individual. The Holy Spirit may use a verse to speak to you differently than to another.
*****************

I agree if you're referring to application. A single or portion of scripture can be applied to different situations for different individuals. My statement was referring to individuals who might go to the extreme, in that they justify ignoring the context of a verse to produce an interpretation that distorts the message that God intended. I hope this clarifys my comment. Still, I believe scripture has one underlyong message and one that opposes the right one, is a wrong one.

 

Yes, you're correct Bro. Dallas.

I do find (speaking for myself) the Spirit puts a verse there in my mouth that I know is not being used contextual.