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That's Your Interpretation

Introduction

  • The challenge of understanding the Bible.

  • I never heard that before! Never heard it sadi that way? Blindness and Ignorance are present conditions, but they are not the only conditions -- "We all have to start somewhere".

  • How Scripture is Given:

"That's your interpreation. We Know Scripture isn't given that way:

2 Peter 1:20-21 — Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Timothy 3:16 &mdash All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

  • Know this first ... FIRST PRINCIPLE ... "is not the impulse of the prophet"
  • Verse how Scripture is received.
  • "That's Your Interpretation": Your Faith and Your Mind
  • How do we know God's intended interpretaion? Know who God is. How do we know who God is?
  • Set the stage and then give instruction

I. Rich Words of the Bible We Share (The Reality of the Landscape)

A primary way in which our minds and faith are influenced are words.

A. The Bible is fundamentally a collection of Books

  • Inspried by the same one: 2 Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
  • But given to 40 different authors over a period of a few thousand years
  • I use to think if I could just memorize the whole Bible, keep all of it in my mind at one time, I could then know it all, understand it all, point out what others have "missed".
  • At least two kinds of "understanding" 1) Introduction (things are by definition reached, haven't gotten to them yet) 2) Harmonizing it all together (frameworks, lenses, denominations; things are not necessarily MISSED they are differently placed.)

B. Just Interpret the Bible "Literally"

  • Literal? Metaphor?
  • "A land flowing with milk and honey"

Jeremiah 32:22 — And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;

  • "I am the door"

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

  • Faith is armour

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

  • Lense. Criminal, selfish - - "Waiting for a teacher" ... ACTUAlLY OFTEN We are waiting for a framework, a lense. <-- HOW DOES IT FIT -- Puzzle, edge piece? foreground, background, center? We kekep referencing the box.

C. "Run" - "Words are a bundle of sticks." George Mounce

  • "Words are bundles of sticks" George Mounce
  • Some dictionaries list 40–100+ distinct senses in which "RUN" can be used, and each sense can generate unlimited sentences.
  • Semantic range of run
  1. Physical movement - "I run every morning before school."
  2. Participating in a race - "She ran the 100-meter dash."
  3. Functioning machines - "The engine is running."
  4. Managing something - "She runs her own business."
  5. Flowing substances - "Tears ran down her face."
  6. Extending in space - "The crack runs across the wall."
  7. Lasting over time - "The meeting ran late."
  8. Being shown - The ad ran during the game.
  9. Competing for a position - "She is running for class president."
  10. Transporting regularly - "Buses run every 15 minutes."
  11. Publishing or presenting (media) - "The newspaper ran the story."
  12. Causing something to happen - "They ran an experiment."
  13. Escaping or fleeing - "The thief ran from the scene."
  14. Melting or blending (especially colors or solids) - "Colors ran in the wash."
  15. Experiencing a condition - "She ran into trouble."
  16. Allowing or permitting - "They run a tight schedule."
  17. Gambling / risk - "They ran the chance of failing."
  18. Noun: an act or period of running - "He went for a run."
  19. Noun: a series - "The team had a winning run."
  20. Noun: defect or streak - "There’s a run in my nylon."
  21. Phrasal verbs (very common): "ran into" , "ran out of" "run away" "run over" "run through"

D. BREAD

[Literal Food] Mark 6:42 &mdash ;And they did all eat, and were filled.

[Daily provision] Matthew 6:11 — Give us this day our daily bread

[God’s provision in the wilderness] Exodus 16:4 — Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

[Life and sustenance (symbolic)] Luke 4:4 — And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

[Jesus as spiritual sustenance] John 6:35 — And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

[Fellowship and community] Acts 2:42 — And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

[Sacrifice and remembrance] Mt 26:26 ¶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

II. Proven Ways of Understanding These Words (How to Receive the Word)

A. The Spirit's Speaking to Me is an Experience (Subjective)

  • Given by God, but Received by Men. -- Both the original hearer and his audience (use)

  • 7 times in Revelation: Re 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear...

Lu 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

Titus 1:15 — Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

  • If we are looking for an excuse for our sin, We can find it somewhere in the Bible. (Example: FROM PULPITS and PENS of Bible Readers: What's wrong about people loving each other. Just leave them alone.)

B. READ the Bible, Yes. But How?

How to avoid Error in inferences? Don't just willy nilly Read one part with another part.

  1. Know Yourself (What is the lense I'm looking through):

Luke 8:10 — And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Philippians 2:12 — Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

2 Timothy 2:15 — Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

  • The end of bible reading is not the emotional high. It is not about me, it is about Jesus.
  1. Humility: know many things about alot of things but not everything about anything
  2. Read books. Boom target not time target. Start small. Stqrt new testament
  3. Endeavor to Allow Scripture to interpret itself where possible. Allow the MORE CLEAR to direct the LESS clear.
  4. Read scripture in light of the purpose of scripture. Which brings us back to where we started. What was God's purpose? We begin with who God is, what God is like, and we learn who God is by walking with Him. Worshipping HIM truly as God. And Not I. I am not in the driver's seat, God is.
  5. Reading to mine facts. As historians- learning. Fortifying our mind
  6. Reading as devotion communion fellowship ... prayer -- as theologians encountering God - I'm Walking with God. It is a journey, but a journey with a DESTINATION!

Ps 47:7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding

Ps 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Conclusion:

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 John 1:5 — This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

  • "We all have to start somewhere".

  • God leads

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads His dear children along; Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night, God leads His dear children along.

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