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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2022 17:24:17 GMT -8
Basic precepts in Sound Biblical Exegesis I noticed the thread on Biblical exegesis and wanted to contribute but not overwhelm or otherwise hijack the existing conversations. There are several hermeneutical approaches, but the exegetical basics are the same, regardless of the hermeneutical model. Anyone can Google "rules of biblical interpretation," or "rules for biblical exegesis" and they'll find a host of websites all coming from various points of view hermeneutically. The list of basic exegesis rules will all be the same. I may post an op on those models later but for now here is a list of twelve basic precept anyone can practice, and everyone should practice. This may look long but it takes only a page and half in a Word document. Remember entire books are written on this in greater detail. I'll post a list of books I have found helpful (and maybe one or two to avoid). I've synthesized this list from all the reading I have done. Keep in mind there are more principles, many of greater detail than is needed by the average reader of the Bible. These are the basics. Basic Rules for Sound Biblical Exegesis. - Read what is written as you would read any other book, understanding what is written in its normal usage with the ordinary meaning of the words….. unless there is something in the passage itself indicating otherwise. This is called the Grammatical Principle.
a. Make not of the language and syntax used, such as the occurrence of predicate or conditional statements.
b. Make note of how the author himself builds his presentation, asserting individual points and working toward larger principles or conclusions.
- Read the text in its self-reported context.
a. Context helps define the text. Context gives meaning to the text.
b. Note who is writing and to whom he is writing. This is one of the first contexts established by any given text. Start with the reason(s), purpose, or intent the author himself states.
c. Understand the text as the original author and his original first century readers would have understood what they were reading at the time when it was written.
d. Do not generalize what is said to one person to a group of people or all people unless the text itself gives reason for doing so. Do not apply what is stated about one group of people to all groups of people unless the text itself provides reason to do so.
e. Avoid proof-texting, or the practice of taking a single sentence or verse and treating that one statement as defining of all other scripture. This happens when the verse is removed from its surrounding text and/or its inherent context and made t say something inconsistent with the whole of scripture.
f. New covenant conditions are different than Old covenant conditions in many but not all ways.
g. Notice the occasions when an author speaks for himself or of his own personal experience rather than as a voice for God.
- Start with what is plainly, explicitly stated and move from what is explicitly stated to what can be inferred from what is stated. Apply the immediately surrounding text to the individual verse and work outwardly from the paragraph or passage to the chapter, then the book, then the larger and more global contexts the scriptures themselves provide (not those of hermeneutical systems devised after the canon was closed).
- Scripture renders scripture. This is called the Synthesis Principle.
a. The literal interprets the figurative, not the other way around. This is called the Literal Principle. The clear passages define, interpret or otherwise render the vague, unclear, or otherwise interpretable passages.
b. Figurative language is best understood by using other scripture first to define and understand its own imagery, figures of speech, and idioms.
c. Prior examples establish precedents. Exceptions to the rules are not the rule.
- When considering cultural, historical, or other sociological or political contexts start first with what the scriptures themselves state. There are reasons the scriptures provide certain information, beginning with the fact that is the information the scriptures themselves provide. Consulting external sources may be valid and useful but never at the expense of what scripture reports. This is called the Historical Principle.
- The Old Testament informs the New Testament, but it is the New Testament that renders or interprets the Old Testament. The newer revelation reveals content that was veiled or obscured by God in the Old Testament (or had been perverted by the flesh in extra-biblical sources of the New Testament era). We should handle scriptures as the apostles did, not as the rabbis did. If and when a New Testament writer treats an Old Testament passage literally, then we should do likewise. Conversely, on all occasions when a New Testament writer treats an Old Testament passage figuratively then we should, again, do likewise. The apostles established the precedent for the Christians’ handling of scripture.
- Note the genre or type of literature being read. History is written differently than art, prophecy, gospel, or epistle. Meaning is often genre dependent.
- There are four basic ways or “modes” with which scripture speaks: literal, moral, allegorical, and analogical. They work together cohesively and not in opposition to one another.
- Scripture is always first and foremost God-centered, not human-centered.
- Scripture is reasonable and rational. It may be extra-rational, or beyond our comprehension but it is never irrational.
a. Scripture is revelation, and as such it was provided by God for the very purpose of our understanding it.
b. Working from individual or specific facts toward a conclusion is called inductive reasoning. Working from a proposition to discover its constituently supporting facts is called deductive reasoning. Most errors in exegesis are deductive errors because starting with a proposition not found stated in scripture and working to prove it through the selective use of scripture is a matter of confirmation bias, otherwise known as eisegesis. Eisegesis is never exegesis.
c. All scripture speaks as a whole, as one unified voice. Therefore no one part of scripture can or ever should be read to contradict the whole. In all cases where one text seems to contradict another that is always a matter of incomplete understanding of the readers and never a flaw in the scripture.
- The canon of scripture is closed. God may continue to illuminate His already written word, but no one can claim to have new scripture, new revelation. The written word is the measure of the individual’s interpretations, not the other way around.
- The purpose of examining scripture is so that it can be correctly applied. Interpret your personal experience in light of what scripture says; scripture, not personal experience, is the authority. This is called the Practical Principle.
Anyone can find their own list online or in various books, but they'll all list these items. This op can be used as a reference. I'll also post versions adapted specifically for soteriology and eschatology in those boards because discussions on those topics tend to fall prey to a specific set of exegetical errors (such as proof-texting in soteriology). Valid input will be used to tweak and amend the list and if warranted I'll ask the mods to let me make amendments where necessary. Otherwise, this should suffice for most of the discussions in a Christian forum. Blessings, J~ |
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Post by Admin on Aug 12, 2022 3:19:03 GMT -8
Sounds good, feel free to make any amendments you deem necessary.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2022 11:08:42 GMT -8
If this op's list is a valid, veracious, and just summary of proper and sound technique for the examination of scripture (and it is), then every member of the forum can use this as an objective means of measuring their own posts and those of another's. When we see a context is being ignored (for example), we can point out that neglect (post, not poster) and do so with an expectation the neglect will be acknowledged and amended....... OR we objectively know there is a serious exegetical flaw in the case we're reading. Likewise, if it is an objectively verifiable fact scripturally self-stated context is being ignored, or a verse is being singled out in neglect and direct opposition to another verse over and over again and again..... then we can also KNOW when to walk away, move on, and not further engage that poster ( Titus 3:9-11). That failure of boundaries NOT walking away is a "me" problem, not a "them" problem. Understanding sound exegesis helps us all avoid the rancorous division common in internet forums. You might not like me, my attributed attitude or motive, or my style of posting, but no one can argue with the facts. Eisegetic prooftexting is always failed exegesis. My cologne (or lack thereof) does not change that fact. So I hope the readers use this op well and take the opportunity to apply it in other threads. |
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alive
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Post by alive on Aug 12, 2022 12:32:03 GMT -8
I think Josh’s suggestions is a good metric for general conduct to be embraced early on in a new forum.
It is not overly difficult to engage differences in a respectful manner, while still being direct and pointed.
When things get some heated…a good tool in the toolbox is hesitation and remembering to breathe while looking above.
Make no mistake, there is an audience.
;-)
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Post by civic on Aug 12, 2022 12:37:55 GMT -8
I think Josh’s suggestions is a good metric for general conduct to be embraced early on in a new forum. It is not overly difficult to engage differences in a respectful manner, while still being direct and pointed. When things get some heated…a good tool in the toolbox is hesitation and remembering to breathe while looking above. Make no mistake, there is an audience. ;-) Amen that is sound advice , thank you ! |
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Post by TibiasDad on Aug 12, 2022 13:44:54 GMT -8
Basic precepts in Sound Biblical Exegesis I noticed the thread on Biblical exegesis and wanted to contribute but not overwhelm or otherwise hijack the existing conversations. There are several hermeneutical approaches, but the exegetical basics are the same, regardless of the hermeneutical model. Anyone can Google "rules of biblical interpretation," or "rules for biblical exegesis" and they'll find a host of websites all coming from various points of view hermeneutically. The list of basic exegesis rules will all be the same. I may post an op on those models later but for now here is a list of twelve basic precept anyone can practice, and everyone should practice. This may look long but it takes only a page and half in a Word document. Remember entire books are written on this in greater detail. I'll post a list of books I have found helpful (and maybe one or two to avoid). I've synthesized this list from all the reading I have done. Keep in mind there are more principles, many of greater detail than is needed by the average reader of the Bible. These are the basics. Basic Rules for Sound Biblical Exegesis. - Read what is written as you would read any other book, understanding what is written in its normal usage with the ordinary meaning of the words….. unless there is something in the passage itself indicating otherwise. This is called the Grammatical Principle.
a. Make not of the language and syntax used, such as the occurrence of predicate or conditional statements.
b. Make note of how the author himself builds his presentation, asserting individual points and working toward larger principles or conclusions.
- Read the text in its self-reported context.
a. Context helps define the text. Context gives meaning to the text.
b. Note who is writing and to whom he is writing. This is one of the first contexts established by any given text. Start with the reason(s), purpose, or intent the author himself states.
c. Understand the text as the original author and his original first century readers would have understood what they were reading at the time when it was written.
d. Do not generalize what is said to one person to a group of people or all people unless the text itself gives reason for doing so. Do not apply what is stated about one group of people to all groups of people unless the text itself provides reason to do so.
e. Avoid proof-texting, or the practice of taking a single sentence or verse and treating that one statement as defining of all other scripture. This happens when the verse is removed from its surrounding text and/or its inherent context and made t say something inconsistent with the whole of scripture.
f. New covenant conditions are different than Old covenant conditions in many but not all ways.
g. Notice the occasions when an author speaks for himself or of his own personal experience rather than as a voice for God.
- Start with what is plainly, explicitly stated and move from what is explicitly stated to what can be inferred from what is stated. Apply the immediately surrounding text to the individual verse and work outwardly from the paragraph or passage to the chapter, then the book, then the larger and more global contexts the scriptures themselves provide (not those of hermeneutical systems devised after the canon was closed).
- Scripture renders scripture. This is called the Synthesis Principle.
a. The literal interprets the figurative, not the other way around. This is called the Literal Principle. The clear passages define, interpret or otherwise render the vague, unclear, or otherwise interpretable passages.
b. Figurative language is best understood by using other scripture first to define and understand its own imagery, figures of speech, and idioms.
c. Prior examples establish precedents. Exceptions to the rules are not the rule.
- When considering cultural, historical, or other sociological or political contexts start first with what the scriptures themselves state. There are reasons the scriptures provide certain information, beginning with the fact that is the information the scriptures themselves provide. Consulting external sources may be valid and useful but never at the expense of what scripture reports. This is called the Historical Principle.
- The Old Testament informs the New Testament, but it is the New Testament that renders or interprets the Old Testament. The newer revelation reveals content that was veiled or obscured by God in the Old Testament (or had been perverted by the flesh in extra-biblical sources of the New Testament era). We should handle scriptures as the apostles did, not as the rabbis did. If and when a New Testament writer treats an Old Testament passage literally, then we should do likewise. Conversely, on all occasions when a New Testament writer treats an Old Testament passage figuratively then we should, again, do likewise. The apostles established the precedent for the Christians’ handling of scripture.
- Note the genre or type of literature being read. History is written differently than art, prophecy, gospel, or epistle. Meaning is often genre dependent.
- There are four basic ways or “modes” with which scripture speaks: literal, moral, allegorical, and analogical. They work together cohesively and not in opposition to one another.
- Scripture is always first and foremost God-centered, not human-centered.
- Scripture is reasonable and rational. It may be extra-rational, or beyond our comprehension but it is never irrational.
a. Scripture is revelation, and as such it was provided by God for the very purpose of our understanding it.
b. Working from individual or specific facts toward a conclusion is called inductive reasoning. Working from a proposition to discover its constituently supporting facts is called deductive reasoning. Most errors in exegesis are deductive errors because starting with a proposition not found stated in scripture and working to prove it through the selective use of scripture is a matter of confirmation bias, otherwise known as eisegesis. Eisegesis is never exegesis.
c. All scripture speaks as a whole, as one unified voice. Therefore no one part of scripture can or ever should be read to contradict the whole. In all cases where one text seems to contradict another that is always a matter of incomplete understanding of the readers and never a flaw in the scripture.
- The canon of scripture is closed. God may continue to illuminate His already written word, but no one can claim to have new scripture, new revelation. The written word is the measure of the individual’s interpretations, not the other way around.
- The purpose of examining scripture is so that it can be correctly applied. Interpret your personal experience in light of what scripture says; scripture, not personal experience, is the authority. This is called the Practical Principle.
Anyone can find their own list online or in various books, but they'll all list these items. This op can be used as a reference. I'll also post versions adapted specifically for soteriology and eschatology in those boards because discussions on those topics tend to fall prey to a specific set of exegetical errors (such as proof-texting in soteriology). Valid input will be used to tweak and amend the list and if warranted I'll ask the mods to let me make amendments where necessary. Otherwise, this should suffice for most of the discussions in a Christian forum. Blessings, J~ As a whole, this is a good summary. There are, however, a couple of places that I think are a bit biased: Scripture is truth centered about God and about Man. It is about both God and Man. From God's perspective, it is focused on mankind, but from our perspective, it is about God's actions toward us, and his character in those who believe. This is the goal of exegesis, not the means. Everyone thinks that their reasoning is what the author and hearers understood it to mean. If this were true, then we cannot assume that the truth spoken to the Romans would also apply to the Philippians or any other set of believers. This principle, as stated, seems to be slighted toward a Reform viewpoint. Doug |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2022 14:04:43 GMT -8
Reminds me of that old children's song, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the contextual hermeneutical socio-rhetorical cultural exegesis from the original languages within their semantic ranges tells me so."
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Post by Obadiah on Aug 12, 2022 15:03:47 GMT -8
Reminds me of that old children's song, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the contextual hermeneutical socio-rhetorical cultural exegesis from the original languages within their semantic ranges tells me so." I sang that one when I was 3. I did have a hard time hitting the high notes and pronouncing exegesis. I still have a phobia about saying or spelling exegesis. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2022 15:06:00 GMT -8
Nice! Children need to learn early!
"Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he his exegetically sound!"
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Post by Obadiah on Aug 12, 2022 16:29:28 GMT -8
Nice! Children need to learn early! "Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he his exegetically sound!" For real.. it was 1954 in Silverlake district of Los Angeles ca. And my parents took me to this church there called "Chrich of the Nacrein" I loved it. They had this painting of Jesus sitting on a log with a bunch of kids looking at Him. I never forgot that picture. I have one I found at a Christian store and now have it on my wall now. So I see it everyday. ![]() |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2022 16:32:53 GMT -8
For real.. it was 1954 in Silverlake district of Los Angeles ca. And my parents took me to this church there called "Chrich of the Nacrein" I loved it. They had this painting of Jesus sitting on a log with a bunch of kids looking at Him. I never forgot that picture. I have one I found at a Christian store and now have it on my wall now. So I see it everyday. ![]()
Epic. Love stuff like that.
Both my parents have passed on but I still have this wooden plaque with Proverbs 3:5 on it. I remember seeing it when I was just a few years old.
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Post by Obadiah on Aug 12, 2022 17:14:27 GMT -8
For real.. it was 1954 in Silverlake district of Los Angeles ca. And my parents took me to this church there called "Chrich of the Nacrein" I loved it. They had this painting of Jesus sitting on a log with a bunch of kids looking at Him. I never forgot that picture. I have one I found at a Christian store and now have it on my wall now. So I see it everyday. ![]()
Epic. Love stuff like that.
Both my parents have passed on but I still have this wooden plaque with Proverbs 3:5 on it. I remember seeing it when I was just a few years old.
Thanks for sharing that and Proverbs 3:5, ESV: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. That is the best advice ever. I have always liked that one a lot. I always say Jesus's way always works...my way never works. My way is like Bullwinkel trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat. That trick never works. |
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Post by civic on Aug 12, 2022 17:16:33 GMT -8
Epic. Love stuff like that.
Both my parents have passed on but I still have this wooden plaque with Proverbs 3:5 on it. I remember seeing it when I was just a few years old.
Thanks for sharing that and Proverbs 3:5, ESV: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. That is the best advice ever. I have always liked that one a lot. I always say Jesus's way always works...my way never works. My way is like Bullwinkel trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat. That trick never works. One of my first memory verses in the early 80's when I went through the navigators study program.  |
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Post by TibiasDad on Aug 12, 2022 19:10:41 GMT -8
Nice! Children need to learn early! "Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he his exegetically sound!" For real.. it was 1954 in Silverlake district of Los Angeles ca. And my parents took me to this church there called "Chrich of the Nacrein" I loved it. They had this painting of Jesus sitting on a log with a bunch of kids looking at Him. I never forgot that picture. I have one I found at a Christian store and now have it on my wall now. So I see it everyday. ![]() Ah, you went to a Nazarene church in L.A.! Good things happen in a Nazarene church! Doug |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2022 5:59:11 GMT -8
Basic precepts in Sound Biblical Exegesis I noticed the thread on Biblical exegesis and wanted to contribute but not overwhelm or otherwise hijack the existing conversations. There are several hermeneutical approaches, but the exegetical basics are the same, regardless of the hermeneutical model. Anyone can Google "rules of biblical interpretation," or "rules for biblical exegesis" and they'll find a host of websites all coming from various points of view hermeneutically. The list of basic exegesis rules will all be the same. I may post an op on those models later but for now here is a list of twelve basic precept anyone can practice, and everyone should practice. This may look long but it takes only a page and half in a Word document. Remember entire books are written on this in greater detail. I'll post a list of books I have found helpful (and maybe one or two to avoid). I've synthesized this list from all the reading I have done. Keep in mind there are more principles, many of greater detail than is needed by the average reader of the Bible. These are the basics. Basic Rules for Sound Biblical Exegesis. - Read what is written as you would read any other book, understanding what is written in its normal usage with the ordinary meaning of the words….. unless there is something in the passage itself indicating otherwise. This is called the Grammatical Principle.
a. Make not of the language and syntax used, such as the occurrence of predicate or conditional statements.
b. Make note of how the author himself builds his presentation, asserting individual points and working toward larger principles or conclusions.
- Read the text in its self-reported context.
a. Context helps define the text. Context gives meaning to the text.
b. Note who is writing and to whom he is writing. This is one of the first contexts established by any given text. Start with the reason(s), purpose, or intent the author himself states.
c. Understand the text as the original author and his original first century readers would have understood what they were reading at the time when it was written.
d. Do not generalize what is said to one person to a group of people or all people unless the text itself gives reason for doing so. Do not apply what is stated about one group of people to all groups of people unless the text itself provides reason to do so.
e. Avoid proof-texting, or the practice of taking a single sentence or verse and treating that one statement as defining of all other scripture. This happens when the verse is removed from its surrounding text and/or its inherent context and made t say something inconsistent with the whole of scripture.
f. New covenant conditions are different than Old covenant conditions in many but not all ways.
g. Notice the occasions when an author speaks for himself or of his own personal experience rather than as a voice for God.
- Start with what is plainly, explicitly stated and move from what is explicitly stated to what can be inferred from what is stated. Apply the immediately surrounding text to the individual verse and work outwardly from the paragraph or passage to the chapter, then the book, then the larger and more global contexts the scriptures themselves provide (not those of hermeneutical systems devised after the canon was closed).
- Scripture renders scripture. This is called the Synthesis Principle.
a. The literal interprets the figurative, not the other way around. This is called the Literal Principle. The clear passages define, interpret or otherwise render the vague, unclear, or otherwise interpretable passages.
b. Figurative language is best understood by using other scripture first to define and understand its own imagery, figures of speech, and idioms.
c. Prior examples establish precedents. Exceptions to the rules are not the rule.
- When considering cultural, historical, or other sociological or political contexts start first with what the scriptures themselves state. There are reasons the scriptures provide certain information, beginning with the fact that is the information the scriptures themselves provide. Consulting external sources may be valid and useful but never at the expense of what scripture reports. This is called the Historical Principle.
- The Old Testament informs the New Testament, but it is the New Testament that renders or interprets the Old Testament. The newer revelation reveals content that was veiled or obscured by God in the Old Testament (or had been perverted by the flesh in extra-biblical sources of the New Testament era). We should handle scriptures as the apostles did, not as the rabbis did. If and when a New Testament writer treats an Old Testament passage literally, then we should do likewise. Conversely, on all occasions when a New Testament writer treats an Old Testament passage figuratively then we should, again, do likewise. The apostles established the precedent for the Christians’ handling of scripture.
- Note the genre or type of literature being read. History is written differently than art, prophecy, gospel, or epistle. Meaning is often genre dependent.
- There are four basic ways or “modes” with which scripture speaks: literal, moral, allegorical, and analogical. They work together cohesively and not in opposition to one another.
- Scripture is always first and foremost God-centered, not human-centered.
- Scripture is reasonable and rational. It may be extra-rational, or beyond our comprehension but it is never irrational.
a. Scripture is revelation, and as such it was provided by God for the very purpose of our understanding it.
b. Working from individual or specific facts toward a conclusion is called inductive reasoning. Working from a proposition to discover its constituently supporting facts is called deductive reasoning. Most errors in exegesis are deductive errors because starting with a proposition not found stated in scripture and working to prove it through the selective use of scripture is a matter of confirmation bias, otherwise known as eisegesis. Eisegesis is never exegesis.
c. All scripture speaks as a whole, as one unified voice. Therefore no one part of scripture can or ever should be read to contradict the whole. In all cases where one text seems to contradict another that is always a matter of incomplete understanding of the readers and never a flaw in the scripture.
- The canon of scripture is closed. God may continue to illuminate His already written word, but no one can claim to have new scripture, new revelation. The written word is the measure of the individual’s interpretations, not the other way around.
- The purpose of examining scripture is so that it can be correctly applied. Interpret your personal experience in light of what scripture says; scripture, not personal experience, is the authority. This is called the Practical Principle.
Anyone can find their own list online or in various books, but they'll all list these items. This op can be used as a reference. I'll also post versions adapted specifically for soteriology and eschatology in those boards because discussions on those topics tend to fall prey to a specific set of exegetical errors (such as proof-texting in soteriology). Valid input will be used to tweak and amend the list and if warranted I'll ask the mods to let me make amendments where necessary. Otherwise, this should suffice for most of the discussions in a Christian forum. Blessings, J~ As a whole, this is a good summary. There are, however, a couple of places that I think are a bit biased: Scripture is truth centered about God and about Man. It is about both God and Man. From God's perspective, it is focused on mankind, but from our perspective, it is about God's actions toward us, and his character in those who believe. The angel is in the details. I think the protest proves the point. The Bible is about God's actions, not ours. It's about God's actions from God's perspectives, not ours. Without the revelation of God about the events of history we'd have a completely different perspective. Our understanding would be human-centric. Consider context. From the very beginning to the very end the overarching context of every single word of the Bible is " God exists." It is not " humans exist." From God's perspective the focus is on Christ. The Bible itself plainly states all the law, the psalms, and the prophets testify about Christ. It does not say the scriptures testify about humanity. It seems self-evident that the entirety of scripture is about humans and what they've done and what God has done because of what we've done but humanity is not the center of the Bible. Besides, we're talking about exegesis. When examining the Bible it should be remembered this is God's revelation to humanity and not human revelation to God or itself. Exegetically, that is preeminent. I said, " first and foremost". I did not say " never consider the human experience." Notice principles 2.g and 12 recognize the human experience. It is not denied; it is simply subordinated to the Bible being about God's actions toward us. Humans are not more important than God when it comes to understanding scripture. But..... if you can find me a source that says the Bible is first and foremost about humans and that is how we should approach the Bible when we do our exegesis then I will examine that source and edit my op if it proves correct. Otherwise, principle 9 is correct exactly as written. The words " first and foremost" are biased: they place hierarchy on all other viable possibilities, but alternatives are not excluded. They are simply subordinated to the preeminence of the principle. THE sound exegetical principle the Bible is first and foremost God-centric, not human-centric. I remind everyone of something I specifically noted earlier: This list was compiled from more than two dozen sources and those sources came from a wide range of theological orientations. The covenantalists, dispensationalists, premils, amils, post mils, idealists, catholics, augustinians, calvinists, arminiains, wesleyans, liberals, historical-critical, historical-cultural, grammatico-historical, redemptive-historical and more were used. THEY ARE ALL USING THE SAME BASIC PRINCIPLES! Anyone perceiving the existence of a bias in the list is more likely noticing the bias within their approach to scripture. Adhering to the principles listed in that op will solve that problem when you examine scripture. EVERYBODY is looking at the same source material, the Bible. People look at the exact same evidence but draw different conclusions. Why? It is always because they have somewhere somehow neglect one or more of their own rules = the rules of sound exegesis. It is not that their rules vary from theology to theology. The rules are the measure by which bias is measured. But, Doug, as I said, if you can show me a source that says, exegetically speaking, first and foremost the Bible is about humans then I will examine that source for its veracity and amend the op accordingly. |
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