Articles

Internal Laws of Biblical Interpretation

Miles Coverdale, who gave us our first complete English translation of the Bible, had in the fly-leaf of his Bible the following words concerning the laws of interpretation: “It shall greatly helpe ye to understande Scripture, if thou mark not only what is spoken, or wrytten, but of whom, and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstance, considering what goeth before, and what followeth”. …Miles Coverdale

Many books have been written attempting to explain how to get at the real meaning of scripture. Theologians call the study of this subject, hermaneutics . However, the Bible itself explains this and thus our title, The Internal Laws – or Principles – of Biblical Interpretation. We have chosen eight of these principles contained in the Divine Library. These principles are tools by which the Holy Spirit enables the honest workman to discover the proper interpretation of the Word.

1. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (II Timothy 3:16)
2. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God that the man of God may be perfect (fitted), thoroughly furnished unto all good works (II Timothy 3:16)
3. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth (II Timothy 2:15)
4. No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation (II Peter 1:20)
5. The dispensation of God which is given to me (Paul) for you to fulfil (complete, fill to the full so no more can be added) the Word of God; even the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but is now manifest to His saints. (Colossians 1:25,26)
6. I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this man, ‘Go’, and he goeth, and to another ‘Come’, and he cometh; and to my servant, ‘Do this’, and he doeth it…”. When Jesus heard this he marvelled and said to them that followed, “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:8-10)
7. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17) 8. That you may approve the things that are (more) excellent (Phillipians 1:10) comparing spiritual things with spiritual (I Cor. 2:13).
8. That you may approve the things that are (more) excellent (Philippians 1:10) comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1 Cor. 2:13)