“WHAT IS HERMENEUTICS?”

INTRO:

Hermeneutics is the science of “BIBLICAL” interpretation.

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

Many principles are involved.

“Contextual Principle,(taking the scripture in the context that they are written.)

“The Ethnic Principle,(1Co 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the [Jews], nor to the [Gentiles], nor to the [church of God]:)

“Typology”(a good example)

2Sa 9:1  And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
2Sa 9:2  And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
2Sa 9:3  And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
2Sa 9:4  And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
2Sa 9:5  Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
2Sa 9:6  Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
2Sa 9:7  And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
2Sa 9:8  And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

If you substitute God for King David.

And, Jesus for Jonathan.

And, The Holy Spirit for Ziba.

And Grace for the Chariot that was sent for:

And Myself (a dirty old sinner) for Mephibosheth.

You have a perfect picture of God’s Mercy and Grace and Salvation.

(thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.)

“IF WE ARE SAVED AND KNOW IT, THEN WE SHOULD BE SAVED AND SHOW IT”

I.) THE DESIGNATIONS OF THE BIBLE:

1.) The Bible: “Biblos” (Greek), The Book.

(Note: The Koran is not an “Equal” to the Bible)

The Bible should be the standard of language as well as of faith.

2.) The Word of God: (God’s Love Letter to ALL people.)

Heb 4:12  For [the word of God] is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This phrase(the word of God) is used only 4 times in the Old Testament but 44 times in the New Testament. Those of the New Testament times only had the Old Testament to study. We can see that the “INSPIRED” writers felt the Old Testament was truly the “Word Of God”. That the Bible was Heaven sent.

3.) The Scriptures; The Writings:

The Phrase “it is written” is used 17 times in the Old Testament and 63 times in the New Testament. Here again the “Inspired” writers of the New Testament made reference to the written word of God.(they only had the Old Testament)

4.) The Testaments: The Old Testament before Jesus and the New Testament after the 1st Coming of Jesus.

5.) The Oracles: A declaration; something uttered.

Heb 5:11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

The word Oracle is used 17 times in the Old Testament.

The word Oracles is used 4 times in the New Testament. Here again referring to the Old Testament Scriptures.

6.) The Precepts: Prescribed Truth. (applied particularly to commands respecting moral conduct.)

Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Isa 28:13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

And God Said:

(Isa 5:4  What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?)

**The Precept was so strong a word to God that Inscribe or Engrave could be used. (written in Stone) The Ten Commandments were the moral law of God written in stone with the FINGER OF GOD.

7.) The Statutes: intended as a permanent rule or law. Things that will not change because we have a God that “DOES NOT CHANGE”.

Mal 3:6  [For I am the LORD, I change not]; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

These are fixed “obligations”. (The binding power of a vow, promise).

8.) The Commandments: Most people think of the Ten Commandments(the Moral Law) but there are actually 613 commandments given to the Jews.

Rom 2:14  [For when the Gentiles, which have not the law], do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Rom 3:20  [Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight]: (for by the law is the knowledge of sin).

Rom 3:28  [Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith] without the deeds of the law.

Rom 5:13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Jas 2:10  [For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all].

(Note: 613 Commandments not just the Ten.)

Jas 4:11  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: [but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge].

Rom 10:5  For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, [That the man which doeth those things shall live by them].

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: [for ye are not under the law, but under grace].

9.) The Judgements; Thus Saith the Lord:

This Phrase is used 413 times in the King James Bible.

10.) The Covenants:

Note: Not the Davidic Covenant nor the others like it.

But: The Written Promises of God.

In short: God’s WARRANTY.(a promise or covenant by deed)

God’s “Warranty” is real!

II.) THE DECLARATION OF THE BIBLE:

(what does the Bible declare?)

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The Bible is God Breathed!

2Pe 1:21  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].

Luk 1:70  [As he spake] by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

Act 3:18  But those things, [which God before had shewed] by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

1.) The “meaning” of Inspiration.

God Breathed!

The infusion of ideas into the mind by the Holy Spirit; the conveying into the minds of men, ideas, notices or monitions by extraordinary or supernatural influence; or the communication of the divine will to the understanding by suggestions or impressions on the mind, [which leave no room to doubt the reality of their supernatural origin].

A.) The Record of Truth given “directly” from God.

Rom 3:4  God forbid: [yea, let God be true], (but every man a liar); as it is written, [That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged].

Gen 18:25  That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: [Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?]

Job 8:3  Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

I DON’T HAVE TO WONDER IF GOD’S WORD IS TRUE.

In the time before Christopher Columbus sailed to America, the powers of the world declared the world to be flat. Christopher Columbus presented his case to the powers of that time with the words from God’s Bible:

Isa 40:22  [It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth], and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

God had long said the Earth was round and it is a proven fact!

By the way the name Christopher means “I Carry Christ”.

B.) God overtook the “mind” and the “hand” of those that penned the Bible.

2.) The “extent” of Inspiration: (the Bible is the Word of God)

A.) The Bible is TOTALLY AND FULLY INSPIRED.

Not Containing Inspiration but is truly “inspired” of God.

B.) I REJECT PARTIAL INSPIRATION!

3.) THE PROOF OF INSPIRATION:

A.) It’s preservation:

Exo 17:14  And [the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book], and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

Memorial:  Preservative of memory.

Exo 34:27  And the LORD said unto Moses, [Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words] I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.

The Tenor: The conversation was of the same tenor as that of the preceding day and every day. These are similar words used to tell us about salvation.

Isa 30:8  [Now go], (write it before them in a table, and note it in a book), that it may be for (the time to come for ever and ever0:

Be precise, write it now and it will last.

Jer 30:2  Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, [Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book].

Write only God’s words!

Eze 24:2  Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.

Write and BE PRECISE.

Hab 2:2  And the LORD answered me, and said, [Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables], that he may run that readeth it.

Write and make it plain, KEEP IT SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

God’s word will be around till the end. How do we know? We now have the words to Daniel’s book.

Rev 1:19  Write the things which thou hast seen, and [the things which are], and [the things which shall be hereafter];

Write, some of those things will happen in your time and some in the future. BUT THEY ALL WILL HAPPEN!

GOD USED THE HANDS AND MINDS OF MEN TO WRITE DOWN WORDS THAT WE COULD UNDERSTAND BUT THE MESSAGE CAME FROM GOD HIMSELF!

THE BIBLE IS STILL THE BEST SELLING BOOK IN THE WORLD!

B.) It’s transforming power:

1Pe 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, [which liveth and abideth for ever].

Because the word of God is alive in can still comfort me in my day and time!

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2Th 2:16  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
2Th 2:17  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Only the Bible could transform a dirty old sinner like me into a vessel of use to the Living God!

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

C.) THERE IS ARCHEOLOGICAL PROOF!

Just one example:

When the walls of Jericho were finally dug up, THEY HAD FALLEN JUST EXACTLY LIKE DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE!

Jos 6:20  So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

There are more than 5000 places that have been verified using the Bible as a guide.

D.) The “Unity” of the Bible:

The English form of the Greek name Biblia, meaning “books,” the name which in the fifth century began to be given to the entire collection of sacred books, the “Library of Divine Revelation.” The name Bible was adopted by Wickliffe, and came gradually into use in our English language. The Bible consists of sixty-six different books, composed by many different writers, in three different languages, under different circumstances; writers of almost every social rank, statesmen and peasants, kings, herdsmen, fishermen, priests, tax-gatherers, tentmakers; educated and uneducated, Jews and Gentiles; most of them unknown to each other, and writing at various periods during the space of about 1600 years: and yet, after all, it is only one book dealing with only one subject in its numberless aspects and relations, the subject of man’s redemption.

III.) THE DIVISION OF THE BIBLE:

1.) 66 BOOKS

A.) OLD TESTAMENT: 39 BOOKS

The Pentateuch: The first five books of the Old Testament.

The History Books: Joshua thru Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon is a poetic Book. (17)

The Prophets: Minor and Major. Isaiah thru Malachi (17)

B.) THE NEW TESTAMENT: 27 BOOKS

The Gospels: 4 Matthew, Mark, Luke, And John. (4)

The Book of Church History: Acts (1)

The Epistles: Romans thru Jude (21)

The Prophetic Book: The Revelation of Christ. (1)

2.) 1189 Chapters.

Note: The Chapters were divided by man for convenience to learn and for preachers.

Rom 10:14  [How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed]? and [how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard]? [and how shall they hear without a preacher]?
Rom 10:15  [And how shall they preach, except they be sent]? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

3.) 31,173 Verses: Also man divided.

The Bible is a massive Book but is a miracle in itself.

Mat 13:51  Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, [Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old].

Ecc 12:9  And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Ecc 12:10  The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Ecc 12:11  The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

2Co 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

AMEN