Because of the differences in time, space, culture, and language, the interpretation of the Bible is more difficult than everyday communication in one’s native tongue. Even in one’s native tongue, human error and distractions can color the understanding of a person’s communication resulting in error. Miscommunication can occur and be problematic where there are no major gaps (time, space, language, and culture). Thus, where those gaps exist, the possibility of misunderstanding the intent of the author will rise greatly. In order to ascertain exactly what the original writer meant to say to the original audience, great care and study must be exercised in order to remove doubt as to the author’s intentions.

1. A Time Gap

The Bible was written from 1400 B.C. (Moses) to around A.D. 95 (Apostle John). This was 3 ½ to 2 Millennia Ago! The book of Job may be even older. Unlike the scriptures of many other religions, the Bible contains actual historical events and people.

2. A Space Gap

The writers and audience were located mostly in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean Sea. That’s some distance from the average reader of today’s local geography. A good Bible atlas can be an invaluable reference tool that can help one comprehend the geography of the Bible.

3. A Culture Gap

The customs of people change over time. This has happened in our own culture. The way people do things and think are very different from that time, (e.g. Electricity [toasters, microwaves], cars and planes [travel], vocations [blacksmith, plumber, computer systems administrator], Family[modern nuclear family], etc.) Realize that scripture must be viewed in the context of the culture it was written in.

4. A Language Gap

The Language that the people used and wrote in is different than ours. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. Also their methods of writing for differing genres are different than ours.

The interpretational gaps that separate us from the original audience don’t stop at the four above. There can be many different types of interpretational problems.

For more information see:

• Roy Zuck,  Basic Bible Interpretation, “Problems in Bible Interpretation,” 15ff.

• Klein, Blomberg, and Hubbard, Introduction of Biblical Interpretation, “Some Challenges of Bible Interpretation,” 12ff.

• Grant Osborne, The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation.

• Duvall and Hayes, Grasping God's Word, "The Interpretive Journey," Chapter 2.

As a result of the gaps in time, space, language, and culture, we need to be diligent in study in order to make sure that we are reading and understanding the scriptures properly.

In attempting to understand the authorial intent of the writer, you will need to understand the text in the same way that the original audience did. To do this, you will need to be able to think and perceive in the same way that the audience of the scriptures did when they originally read them. In order for interpreters to do this today, they need to narrow the gaps between themselves and the original audience. This is done through diligent study of: the text itself, the history of the people involved, the cultures of the peoples involved, and sometimes even the language involved. Understanding what the authorial intent of the writer is, who the original audience was, and how they would have understood the message is the basis for the biblical understanding of the text.

The goal of interpretation is to understand what the author intended. There has been debate through the centuries as to what this means. Early Christian interpreters were challenged by the Old Testament scriptures given to Israel, and they had various methods to understand and apply these scriptures. Today we still wrestle with many interpretive issues.

Some different theories (which have been oversimplified here) are:

1. Literal Sense

   • Author intended only one meaning

2.  Multiple Senses

   • The author may intend multiple meanings. An example of this is the Quadriga (four horses pulling one chariot). The Quadriga became a standard of interpretation in the middle ages. The four senses of the Quadriga are: 

     1. Literal sense 

     2. Typological (or allegorical) sense

     3. Tropological (or moral) sense

     4. Anagogic (futuristic) sense

3. Reader Response

   • Later readers bring their own meaning. Reader Response can be seen as an application of Existential philosophy. Bernard Ramm referred to this as the New Hermeneutic.

4. One meaning with multiple referents

   • The original author had meant to reference one thing, but a later author something else (e.g. Isa 7:14 & Matt. 1:23, ).  Sense refers to the verbal meaning expressed in the text, regardless of the referent. Reference indicates that which is specifically referred to be the sense meaning.

For further reading:

4. • Klein, Blomberg, Hubbard, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, “The Goal of Interpretation,” Chapter 5.

   • John Cassian, Conferences XIV.8

To study the Bible effectively, we now see that we need to be diligent in order to study it effectively. Getting more detail and knowledge of the text will help to understand it correctly.

The Bible student is very much like a detective at a crime scene. He is looking through every bit of information for clues that point him towards a determination of who executed the crime. In a similar way, students of the Bible are looking for information that helps them understand what the original writers meant to say.

As students of Scripture, we attempt to use all the relevant tools and resources we can to help give us the necessary information to arrive at the authorial intent. We use methods to uncover the objective truths. Those methods will be explained more in the next session.

Many sections of this site are just introductions to different aspects of Bible Study Methods. There are more figures of speech to be found than those listed here; there are more principles of interpretation to understand also. The purpose of this Bible Study Methods instruction is to give the student the ability to use more tools, so that they are able to widen their own biblical knowledge, and shrink the gaps between the original audience and us.

Basically, the more you know, the better your understanding of the Bible. And Knowing is Half the Battle. Often in studying the Bible, people make the error of studying the words only, or they look for just the big picture. In a sense, some people look at the individual trees, and some look at the whole forest. Proper Bible study is like looking at the trees closely, and getting a picture of the whole forest (from the study of the trees).

The scholar Bernard Ramm noted that there are different ways to study the Bible. He had two main categories: the Devotional use of the Bible and the Scholarly use of the Bible. The Scholarly usage of the Bible is one that is devoted to knowledge and understanding. The Devotional use of the Bible is an approach to the Scriptures that is looking to learn and apply the Scriptures. Christians interpret the Scriptures with a motive that these Scriptures have import into the life of the reader. The Scriptures themselves are God's messages to humanity, and as such, are important for more than just knowledge, but also for wisdom and direction. God uses the Scripture in our lives despite our incorrect perceptions or incomplete  comprehension. However, that should not be an excuse for a lack of diligent study of God's word.

There are some important things we need to know about how Christians approach the Bible. Like anything in life, one approaches the Bible from their own unique perspective. Everyone’s experiences in life are to some degree different. Thus, we all have unique perspectives in how we approach something. However, we are all human and are bound by common means of communication and understanding.

One thing that we all bring to the table is presuppositions. Presuppositions are ideas that we bring with us to the observational and interpretive process. We all have preconceived notions about what any person or thing might say, and the Bible is included in these.

The group of preconceived notions, or the whole/totality of them, might be called a worldview. This is essentially one’s perception of the whole world. Everyone has a worldview, and because everyone’s life experiences are unique, their perceptions of the whole (or reality) is unique. Thus a person’s worldview is their unique possession. However, many of the experiences of life are a commonality, and as a result people’s worldviews have parts in common.

Understanding that people have a worldview is very important to Biblical Studies. We need to understand that how a person views the world will affect their approach to the Bible. A person who is an atheist will not believe the testimony of the scriptures, instead they see miracles as some sort of coincidence, but certainly not supernatural.

Presuppositions of Believers

In order for us to understand scripture properly, we need to approach it with the proper presuppositions. Some presuppositional beliefs that Christians bring to the interpretive process:

1. The Bible is God’s Word

The Bible claims ultimate spiritual authority in doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction, because it is the inspired Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NAS) “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

2 Peter 1:19-21 (NAS) “And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

1 Corinthians 2:6-13 (NAS) “Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”

2. The Bible is inerrant

The word inerrant means to be free from error.

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, (1978) part XI, reads: “We affirm that Scripture, having been given by divine inspiration, is infallible, so that, far from misleading us, it is true and reliable in all the matters it addresses.”

The character of God, being perfect, is reflected in His communication (Titus 1:2 “God, who cannot lie”). 

Psalm 12:6 “The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.” 

John 17:17 “Thy Word is truth.”

Ps 119:140; Prov 30:5a; Matthew 5:17-18; John 10:34-35.

3. The Bible is unified

The scriptures are complete and finished. All of the scriptures are contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. All of the scriptures are equally inspired.

Psalm 119:160 (NAS) “The sum of Thy word is truth, and every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.”

4. The Bible is authoritative

The Holy Spirit works through the Scriptures to confirm the reliability of Scripture, giving us certainty that the Bible is the Word of God.

1 Thes. 1:5 (NIV) “because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.”

5. Have the insight of the Holy Spirit

Without the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will not be able to discern Spiritual Truth. This means that unbelievers cannot truly understand the scriptures unless God is working in their lives.

1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (NAS) “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”

6. Have the right attitude

The student of God’s word must approach His word in a spirit of humility and as a learner. The word disciple, one of the most common names for a follower of Jesus, literally means a ‘learner,’ or a ‘student.’

Understanding that every interpreter brings some kind of understanding with them when they read the Bible is important, and for Christians to properly understand the Bible, the previously mentioned principles are part of our entire process of studying the Bible.

James 1:21 (NAS) Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 

Realize that the Bible is God's word for us, but that knowing God is our ultimate goal.

John 5:39–40 (NAS) You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

For more information on Believer’s Presuppositions, consult:

• Klein, Blomberg, and Hubbard, Introduction of Biblical Interpretation, “Presuppositions about the nature of the Bible,” 81ff.

• Ramm, Bernard, Protestant Biblical Interpretation, “Protestant System of Hermeneutics,” 97ff.
  
  

1. Homework: Example of Context.

Have everyone print out and bring in a mail or email message that was written to you (personally) in the last month.

2. Homework: Analyze the Gaps.

1. Read the entire book of I Timothy and pick a favorite verse.

2. Determine the Time Gap.

3. Determine the Space Gap (Author and Recipient).

4. Determine the Culture Gap.

5. Determine the Language Gap.

6. Determine the theme of the book.

7. Determine the major outline of the book and how your favorite verse fits into the outline.

This famous painting represents something to many people, but it was contrived. Think about art, meaning, and significance (this may help you to understand Reader Response):

• YouTube: Nothing in this famous painting is what it seems.

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