The Reliability and Usability of Scripture In Our Present Ag e

1. The Reliability and Usability of Scripture In Our Present Age Session 4:Scripture Interpreting Scripture and the Redemptive Historical Method

2. The Infallible Rule of Biblical Interpretation:Scripture Interpreting Scripture Michelangelo Buonarroti 1475 – 1564 The Conversion of Saul

3. The Vital Role of Scripturein Interpreting Scripture The only infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly. WCF 1:9 • The Issue of Redemptive-Historical vs. “Proof-texting” in Interpretation: WCF1.1 “therefore it pleased God at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself and to declare…”

4. The Role of Scripturein Interpreting Scripture A Covenantal Way of Reading the Scripture vs. proof-texting— • There are many “texts” but one context—The redemptive history of God • NT relation to OT—not a new religion, but a progressive revelation of redemption wherein the Old is developmentally mature in the New…. c.f. Emmaus Road: Luke 24: 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. c.f. Heb. 1:1-3 Heb. 1:1Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,

5. A redemptive historical orientation is not some kind of dispensable exegetical luxury. At stake is nothing less than the right way of interpreting Scripture. At issue here is simply the fundamental principle that the test is to be interpreted in the light of its context. In the case of Scripture, the redemptive-historical structure or framework established by Scripture itself is the contextual factor having the broadest bearing on a given text. ( Richard Gaffin, p.xxii) Continued Next Lesson

6. Advantages of Covenantal (Redemptive-Historical) Method: The Preservation of Objectifying Grace! 1. Guards against moralizing certain passages through the use of false analogies between the biblical narrative and contemporary life even to the detriment of the fuller theological significance. 2. Guards against a theology of "proof-texting." 3. Can recognize both the significance of certain passages within its own redemptive context and in the present redemptive context whereby the biblical-theological understanding of scripture is made relevant to us. 4. Guards against emotionalism and subjectivistic interpretations whereby the normative (governing) value of Biblical revelation is retained to the interpreter in any practical sense. (We are still the listeners.) 5. Provides a proper hermeneutic from which to derived "biblical ethics."

7. Example 1: How Do We Reconcile? • Should we expect the spiritual gift of prophecy today? (Special gifts of discerning God’s word in a given context for example). Compare: • YES- Rom. 12:6  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if  prophecy,  in proportion to our faith (also 1 Cor.12:10 • NO- Rev. 22:18  I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:  if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,  19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in  the tree of life and in  the holy city, which are described in this book.  Question: Same Redemptive “Era” as NT History, or Not?

8. Example 2: How Do We Reconcile? 2) Are we engaged in a Holy War Today (e.g. Jahweh’s war 1 San 25:28). If so, shouldn’t the church have a military and to be engaged in geo-political warfare? Compare: • YES- Deut. 20:1   “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see  horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is  with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And when you draw near to the battle,  the priest shall speak to the people… “the LORD your God is he who goes with you  to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’ • NO- Matt. 5:39 But I say to you,  Do not resist the one who is evil. But  if anyone  slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. •  Matt. 26:52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For  all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Question: Is the OT the same religion as the NT? (note 2nd AD Marcion Controversy)

9. EXAMPLE 3 How Do We Reconcile? • Are Christians held accountable to obeying the OT law of God? Compare: • YES- Rom 7:6 we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. • NO- Tim. 1:8. Now we know that  the law is good, if one uses it lawfully ( c.f. James 2:8ff, 4:11) Question: Is the OT all bout law/judgement, and the NT all about gospel/grace?

10. How Many Books Are In The Bible? • One? Two (39 in 1st, 27 in 2nd) ? Sixty-Six? One Book, One Author, Two Parts • Like a good novel, we must learn to read the Bible both forwards and backwards as to allow the more developed portions to inform the under developed portions, even if the embryonic portions give meaning to the mature portions. Thus, there is a singleBiblical Theology of the bible that must inform the way we interpret a given passage. • A Redemptive-Historical Understanding • Revelation is the interpretation of redemption HISTORY; it must, therefore, unfold itself in installments as redemption does. Usual Order- Promissory Word--Historical Event-- Instructional Word • The facts of history themselves acquire a revealing significance. • A developmental history or the Gospel (From Acorn to Oak Tree)

11. R/H interpretation "deals with the process of God’s self-revelation deposited in the Bible throughout redemptive history." G. Vos • It is God who is ultimately speaking such that we must work hard at JUST being the listeners lest we impose our own voice/narrative into the text. • Truth is from God alone as relevant to God's redemptive historical purposes and is therefore not many voices but one ultimate voice with non-contradicting meaning assigned to a passage in relation to the whole. • The Meaning is developing within a revelation process consistent with a history of redemption that culminates in climax. • Revelation is the interpretation of redemption; it must, therefore, unfold itself in installments as redemption does. (Vos. p.6) ) • If there may be multiple significances in relation to multiple historical/covenantal/cultural contexts, there is never multiple meanings within a singular text since it is ultimate derived from the one mind of its single divine author—God!

12. The actual embodiment of revelation in history. • "the facts of history themselves acquire a revealing significance."(Vos. 6) • "The usual order is: first word, then the fact, then again the interpretive word." • Example: "The Old Testament brings the predictive preparatory word, the Gospels record the redemptive-revelatory fact, the Epistles supply the subsequent, final interpretation." (p.7) • The organic nature of the historic process is observable in revelation. • I.e. From seed form to full growth, qualitatively, the seed is not less perfect than the tree. We should therefore read the Bible as within an expectation that there is not multiple theologies presented within it, but rather one theology as becoming more and more clear as redemptive history progresses. We have license then to understand the "theological vision" of an earlier portion by it's relevant to a later portion

13. How? • We must learn to read the Bible backwards and forwards looking to locate each text into the trajectory or context of the whole of redemptive history and the working out of God’s covenant with Adam ultimately… 1. Step One: To relate the text to its immediate covenantal context 2. Step Two: To understand the text in light of God's total revelation especially as ultimately revealed in the New Covenant

16. The Covenantal Nature of the Bible There was never a time in all of Redemption history when salvation was transacted apart from the forensic oriented Covenant of God. • The use of the words “old” and “new” covenant respectively throughout the Bible • Jeremiah in the old covenant context anticipates the coming of a “new covenant” (Jer.31: 31. c.f Malachi 3:1) • Paul in the new covenant context references the “veil” of the old covenant that was lifted by Christ in the new covenant (c.f. 2Cor 3:14). • Paul’s he use of “law” (nomos) for “covenant” after the same use of “law” after the prophets reference to the “book of the covenant” (Josh 24:26, Neh. 8:8, 18; Rom. 7:22, 25, 1Cor.9: 21).

17. The Covenantal Nature of the Bible • OT: The Hebrew word for “covenant” (berith) is used at least 289 times. • The word covenant is explicitly used to summarize the whole of the Genesis history in Exodus 2:24 • The Old Covenant “Bible” itself was called the “book of the covenant” in Exodus 24:7. • NT: The fulfillment motif • “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. “(Matthew 5:17-18) • Christ the ”mediator of the new covenant” (Heb 9:15, 12:15)

18. What is a Covenant? • It is a gracious condescension by God in order to establish a meaningful and flourishing relationship with humanity that is based on objective terms order to preserve the gracious nature of human redemption in relationship with God. (WCF 7.1) Think “Wedding Covenant” The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of Him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which He hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.  • Contractual- Ancient Treaty Form– Preamble, Historical Prologue, Requirements, Sanctions (Curse/Promises), Renewal Instructions, Oath of Covenant • Forensic-Legal– Righteousness as before the law– one emerges as either Justified or Condemned by ones “righteous” standing under the law

19. The Two Covenants Clarified: The priority of works unto grace As Discerned from the vantage point of Creationl-0 Two Covenants, One Works Based and The Other Grace Promising • Covenant of Works (WCF 7.2) “Pre-Redemptive” The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. • Covenant of Grace (WCF 7.3-4) “Redemptive” Man, by his fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe. (c.f. Gen 3ff)

20. The Difference Clarified: The difference between the pre-redemptive and redemptive covenant is not then that the latter substitutes promise for law. The difference is rather that redemptive covenant adds promise to law. Redemptive covenant is simultaneously a promise administration of guaranteed blessings and a law administration of blessing dependent on obedience, with the latter foundational. The weakness of the traditional designation, "Covenant of Works" for the pre-redemptive covenant is that it fails to take account of the continuity of the law principle in redemptive revelation. The principles of "works" continues into redemptive covenant administration, such that the blessings of redemption are secured by the works of a federal head who must satisfy the law's demands, Coherence can be achieved in Covenant Theology only by the subordination of grace to law." Meredith Kline, “Law Covenant)

21. The Dual Function of the Covenant In OT: • To Direct Us Back to the Covenant of Works– Geo-Political • To Direct Us Forward to the Covenant of Grace • The Determining Distinction: "It is this swearing of the ratificatory oath that provides an identification mark by which we can readily distinguish in the divine covenants of Scripture between a law covenant and one of grace promise. • Adamic: • Adam’s Broken Vow and resulting curse of Death • Adam’s acting as Federal Executor such as to establish the principle that anticipating a 2nd executor to fulfill what Adam didn’t. c.f. Rom 5 (Adam), Rom 7– *Marriage Federal headship as Covenant Executor- the metaphor of no longer being federally bound to the 1st who dies such as to be wed to another”.) • Noahic- • Noah was saved by grace through faith– • his temporal salvation was conditioned upon his obedience.

22. The Dual Function of the Covenant In OT: • Abrahamic: Directing Us Forward albeit in a geo-political typology • Gen 15– • Grace “reckoned unto him as righteous • Works– Abraham never entered the promised "land” (temporally) • Mosaic: • Sinai: Exodus 24;7- Israel’s pledge of performance • Temple: God’s provision of a substitutionary sacrifice without pledge of obedience but confession of disobedience and faith in God’s mercy revealed

23. A Basic Method Summarized: Prayer For Illumination (not to be confused with revelation) • Our affections will largely help or hinder our interpretation in so far as we are willing to submit to God. Only God can create in us such a disposition that is genuinely willing to hear God's voice as He speaks through His Word. "Create in me a clean heart O God! And then read as if you have never read it before, suspending judgement on its meaning until an analysis is done (see below). • Eph 1:6 I  do not cease to give thanks for you,  remembering you in my prayers, 17 that  the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,  may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation (e.g. give you the The Holy Spirit) in the knowledge of him (in greater knowledge of God), 18  having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is  the hope to which he has called you, what are  the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, 

24. A Basic Method Summarized: Access to Several Translations (Versions) • Not withstanding the relative trustworthiness of most English translations, the “inspired” text (non translated/interpreted) is in Hebrew, Greek and some Aramaic. All translations therefore involve interpretive decisions that can sometimes obscure the origional intent. Different translations reflect different translation theories. (Literal, dynamic, free, etc.) Furthermore, there are two major sources for the Biblical text itself. (Textus Receptus (one manuscript) and Eclectic (a compilation of many ancient manuscripts) Whereas you will not be able to escape these extra-Biblical realities, you can at least minimize their implications if you work with the following texts: • 1. So as to have access to the Textus Receptus text, secure a New King James. (The text of the New Geneva Bible) • 2. So as to have access to a more literal translation based on an ecletic text, you will want to have access to a New American Standard Bible. • 3. So as to have access to a dynamic equivalence translation based on an eclectic text, you will want to have an Revised Standard (or New Revised Standard) or New International Version) or ESV (English Standard Version) I would make this my primary text,

25. A Basic Method Summarized: The advantage of different translations: Illustrated • Rom. 2:17   But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law andboast in God • Rom. 2:23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. • Rom. 3:27   Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. • Rom. 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. • Rom 5;2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and werejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  • 1 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. • Note also, grammatical decision such as the genitive case in Greek often translated “of” could just as well be

26. A Basic Method Summarized: The advantage of using different Translations Illustrated in the use of Cases (Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative) • Example: The Genitive Case-- (often transated ”of” but could mean different things: • Attributive Genitive- Luke 18:6 ‘judge of u nrighteousness’ = ‘unrighteous judge’ • Possessive Genitive- Matt 26:51 ‘his ear’ Matt 26:51 ‘slave of the high priest’ Heb 11:25 ‘the people of God’ • Partitive Genitive Rom 11:17 ‘some of the bra nches’ Ro m 15:26 ‘the poor of the saints’ • Genitive of Apposition- Joh n 2:21 ‘temple of his body’ Rom 4:11 ‘si g n of circumcision • Genitive in Simple Apposition- Col 1:18 ‘the body, the church’ Titus 2:13 ‘Savior, Jesus C hrist’ • Descriptive Genitive - Rom 13:12 ‘armor of light’ John 2:16 ‘house of merchandise’ 2 Cor 6:2 ‘ day of salvation’ • Genitive of Comparison- Matt 6:25 ‘is not your life worth more than food?’ John 14:28 ‘Father is greater than I’ • Etc.

27. A Basic Method Summarized: Do a Book Review/Study (e.g. Get a Bible Encyclopedia or commentary) This is very important-- and is why I prefer expositional series through whole books at a time so as to not exempt this very important step in exegetical method-- a step that takes quite some time so as to be hard to do every week or so... You will want to answer questions like: 1. Who wrote the book and the persons significance/role in the bigger story 2 What where the historical circumstances? I.e. when, where, how, why, etc. - What were the political factors? - What was the cultural issues of that day? - To whom was the book written? - Was there a controversy that is being addressed? 3. What is the general theological themes emphasized in this book? 4. Look for key words often repeated and discern their "technical" use by the author. C.f. A Biblical Survey/Introduction • -New Testament: A Survey of the New Testament, Gundry • - Old Testament: Introduction to the Old Testament, Harrison

28. A Basic Method Summarized: Define Your Passage The fundamental unit of all language is not a single word, not even a single sentence, but the unit (paragraph or series of related paragraphs with a discernible start and finish) Look for the beginning and end of an argument, story or poetic piece of scripture. A "self-contained unit" may consist of a single sentence in the case of a proverb or perhaps several chapters of Scripture in the case of an historical story. (as in Genesis for instance)

29. A Basic Method Summarized: Define Your Passage Illustrated How would it change your lesson if • The passage was define like this (1—19): Eph. 1:15   For this reason,  because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love  toward all the saints, 16 I  do not cease to give thanks for you,  remembering you in my prayers, 17 that  the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,  may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18  having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is  the hope to which he has called you, what are  the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,  according to the working of  his great might • Or Like This(15-23): 20 that he worked in Christ  when he raised him from the dead and  seated him at his right hand  in the heavenly places, 21  far above  all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above  every name that is named, not only in  this age but also in the one to come. 22 And  he put all things under his feet and gave him as  head over all things to the church, 23  which is his body,  the fullness of him  who fills  all in all. E.g. How does the Holy Spirit bring to us Illumination and power? Option 1: Individualistically/Subjectively Option 2: Communally/Confessional

30. A Basic Method Summarized: Discern the Immediate Context 1. Given a general outline of the book of the Bible you are studying, where is your passage? 2. What is the main point before and after your passage? 3. How does the author make the transition to your passage? Notice the key transitional words: - therefore, moreover, but, otherwise, since, etc.

31. A Basic Method Summarized: Discern The Literary Genre What Genre is your book and how does this impact the way you interpret it: • See next several lessons on Genre specific interpretation: • Prophets and Apocalyptic • Narratives • Sermon on the Mount • Gospels • Epistles • Wisdom

32. A Basic Method Summarized: Discern the Sentence Structures You want to notice the relationships between clauses (not verses, or sentences, since these may be artificial anyway) 1. Try to distinguish between supporting clauses and main clauses. (Notice particularly the verbs-- main verbs vs. supporting verbs) 2. Try to distinguish the various relationships between clauses in your passage. (see attached)

33. A Basic Method Summarized: Discern the Redemptive- Historical/Covenantal Context (see above on R/H or Covenantal Method) A redemptive historical orientation is not some kind of dispensable exegetical luxury. At stake is nothing less than the right way of interpreting Scripture. At issue here is simply the fundamental principle that the test is to be interpreted in the light of its context. In the case of Scripture, the redemptive-historical structure or framework established by Scripture itself is the contextual factor having the broadest bearing on a given text. (Gaffin, p.xxii) 1. Step One: To relate the text to its immediate theological horizon. (immediate covenantal context) 2. Step Two: To understand the text in light of God's total revelation especially as ultimately revealed in the New Covenant.

34. A Basic Method Summarized: Discern Main Point, and Confessional Context • Main point: Attempt to summarize the plain meaning of your passage, taking into consideration all the above. IF possible write it down in one sentence. This is called the “doctrine” of your passage. • Confessional Context: Compare your “doctrine” to what the church consensus about what the scriptures principally teach about that doctrine. (e.g Compare to Westminister Confession of Faith, or Heidleburg Confession) See above on Confessional/Communal Reading of the Bible

35. A Basic Method Summarized: Discern Related Significance (“Take Home”) You will want to carefully limit your application to only that which naturally and genuinely may be derived from the mainpoint. In some cases, your text may have "secondary" points, but they will related to the mainpoint in an obvious way. Your "application" then ought to be governed by the mainpoint. Also remember that many passages will not have a "to do" application. It may be informative in so far as you better understand the nature of your salvation such that you will be more thankful, for instance. • Some questions you may want to ask are, although not always intended to be answered by your text: • 1. What does the mainpoint infer about your relationship to God? • 2. What duty does this passage teach in your relationship to God, to people? • 3. How might I change my understanding of God, His ways, redemption, etc. so as to "grow in spiritual understanding? • 4. How does this passage challenge assumptions in my culture? • etc.

36. A Basic Method Summarized: Discern Meaning of Significant Words You will want to make sure you understand the significant words in your passage. Don't assume you know the meaning. See how the word is used in the same book of the bible you are studying, by the same author of other books of the Bible, in the Bible itself. a. You will then want to discern the "range of meaning" and then see which best fits the immediate context of your passage. (Imagine a X were your word shows up in other passages and fill in what the context suggests it means) c. You will want to be particularly careful to notice how the word is used by your author. d. Consult a good "lexicon" (dictionary) if you can discern the Greek or Hebrew word in it.

37. A Basic Method Summarized: A Warning Word Studies Warning: Don’t rely on “Root Word” Studies(such as the use of Strongs Concordance) —its all about semantics (the fluid and evolving use of words in a given cultural/historical context) vs. a static and technical use based on the origin of the word. Example: “Sick” means??? 1. Root Word Study of Sickness: from Old English seocnesse. • seoc - probably from Proto-German *seukaz – unwell • ness - suffix of action, quality or state, attached to an adj. or pp. to form a noun, from O.E. -nes(s) and ultimately from Proto-German 2. Today’s Uses: great, amazing, awesome, crazy, cool, insane

38. A Basic Method Summarized: Theme Comparison • Where do you see the theme of your passage elsewhere in scripture—e.g. Compare and contrast. 1. Is your passage derived from another passage in the Bible? Sometimes your bible will actually help you some by noting in the margins cross-references. 2. If you locate an cross-reference that your author has intentionally used, you will want to go back and understand the OT passage in its original context and meaning. Often times, the author will intend to import the whole contextual meaning of the previously revealed text merely with the use of an abbreviated phrase taken from that passage. Often times, you will discover that your passage assumes knowledge of previous revelation-- the prophets will assume familiarity with the Mosaic law for instance (especially Deut.), NT writers will assume familiarity with both prophets and Moses. But rarely will they directly quote from previous books. You will there need to see if key phrases or even words are used in other portions of the bible. 3. How does your passage compare with the cross-references? Are words used in similar ways? If there is variance, what does it accentuate so as to provide a theological emphasis?