Term 1 : Foundation of Knowing God
Scripture as It’s OWN Interpreter
1. The Principle: Scriptura sui ipsius interpres
o "Scripture is its own interpreter." This means we don't need an external key (like a church authority, a new prophecy, or a philosophical system) to unlock the Bible's meaning. The key is inside the book itself. The Holy Spirit illuminates the meaning that is already present in the text.
2. The Practical Method:
Rule #1: The Clear Interprets the Unclear. The vast majority of Scripture is plain in its meaning. We use the passages that speak clearly and repeatedly on a topic (e.g., salvation by grace through faith in Ephesians 2:8-9) to interpret the handful of verses that are more difficult or seem to suggest something different. The Bible does not contradict itself.
Rule #2: Context is King. Scripture must be interpreted in its context.
- Immediate Context: The verses and chapter surrounding a passage.
- Book Context: The purpose and themes of the specific book it's in (e.g., reading a verse from Proverbs differently than one from Romans).
- Bible Context: The overarching redemptive story of the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
Rule #3: Scripture Defines Scripture. The Bible is its own dictionary. To understand the "Lamb of God" in John 1:29, we don't start with our modern ideas.
We look back to the Passover lamb in Exodus, the sacrificial system in Leviticus, and the suffering servant in Isaiah 53. Scripture builds its own concepts