How to soundly interpret the Bible part 3

how to soundly interpret the Bible part 3

this is a 5 part serious on how to soundly interpret the Bible. i learned these points in my hermeneutics class but this particular list comes from Bible teacher John MacArthur.

part 3: The Grammatical Principle

Often the syntactical construction of a passage is the key to its meaning. Sometimes, for example, the meaning of a sentence can hinge on something as simple as a preposition. It obviously matters a great deal whether a passage says "because of," "through," "into," "in," "by," or "with." And in some cases the original Greek word used can be translated by two or more different English words. It is important to know whether the word appearing in your English Bible has a possible alternative translation. Also, if a sentence refers to "this" or "it," it is important to know the antecedent of the pronoun.

Grammar may not be your favorite subject--it certainly isn’t mine--but we need to grasp the basics when interpreting the language of Scripture. We have to follow the sequence of the words and phrases to know precisely what the Word of God says. An accurate understanding of the passage may depend on it.

People sometimes ask me, "What is the first thing you do when you prepare a message?" I tell them that I study the biblical text in the original language--Greek or Hebrew. I note the proper order of the words and sentences. I go over the sentence structure and the grammar. I want to know exactly what is being said.

This can be done by anyone willing to invest a little time and effort. Even if one does not know Greek or Hebrew, an interlinear translation, which shows the Greek or Hebrew text with corresponding English words above the original language, can be used. At the very least, a good Bible commentary can be consulted. Take note of those writers and speakers who seem to pay attention to grammar--and watch out for those who do not. Learn to do inductive Bible study by breaking down the English verses into phrases, showing nouns, verbs, modifiers, and other parts of speech to see their meaning more clearly.