How to soundly interpret the Bible part 4

How to soundly interpret the Bible part 4.

this is a 5 part series 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.

The Synthesis Principle.

The Reformers [the guys who started and worked through the protestant reformation] used the expression “scriptura scripturam interpretatur,” or “Scripture interprets Scripture.” By this they meant that obscure passages in Scripture must be understood in light of clearer ones. If the Bible is God’s Word, it must be consistent with itself. No part of the Bible can contradict any other part. One Divine Author—the Holy Sprit—inspired the whole Bible, so it has one marvelous, supernatural unity. The synthesis principle puts Scripture together with Scripture to arrive at a clear, consistent meaning. If we hold to an interpretation of one passages that does not square with something in another passage, one of the passages is being interpreted incorrectly—or possibly both of them. The Holy Spirit does not disagree with himself. And the passages with obvious meanings should interpret the more arcane ones. One should never build a doctrine on a single obscure or unclear text.

We I teach a passage of Scripture, I often guide the congregation to different parts of the Bible to show how the passage under study fits into the total context of Scripture. In his fine book, God Has Spoken, J.I. Packer said:

“The Bible appears like a symphony orchestra, with the Holy Ghost as its Tocanini; each instrumentalist has been brought willingly, spontaneously, creatively, to play his notes just as the great conductor desired, though none of them could ever hear the music as a whole…The point of each part only becomes fully clear when seen in relation to all the rest.”

Peter said much the same thing when he wrote, “As to salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you…made careful search and inquiry, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating.” (1 Peter 1:10-11) Even the Bible writers did not always know the full meaning of what they wrote. Today, because the New Testament is complete, we see how the Bible connects into one glorious comprehensive whole.