~ubuntu-branches/ubuntu/saucy/bibletime/saucy

<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"><title>Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in language</title><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.75.2"><meta name="keywords" content="Bible, Study, HowTo"><link rel="home" href="index.html" title="The Biblestudy HowTo"><link rel="up" href="h2-rules.html" title="Chapter�3.�Rules of Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics)"><link rel="prev" href="h2-rules-hcontest.html" title="Rule 3 - Interpret within the historical and cultural context"><link rel="next" href="h2-rules-parables.html" title="Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the difference between a parable and an allegory"></head><body bgcolor="white" text="black" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084" alink="#0000FF"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in language</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="h2-rules-hcontest.html">Prev</a>�</td><th width="60%" align="center">Chapter�3.�Rules of Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics)</th><td width="20%" align="right">�<a accesskey="n" href="h2-rules-parables.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr></div><div class="section" title="Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in language"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="h2-rules-normal"></a>Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in language</h2></div></div></div><p>Let literal language be literal and

figurative language be figurative. And watch out for idioms, which have special meanings.</p><div class="section" title="Example 4A"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="h2-rules-normal-ex4a"></a>Example 4A</h3></div></div></div><p><span class="quote">“<span class="quote">evil eye</span>”</span> in Mt.6:23.</p><p>Rule 1, definition of "evil" and "eye" - no help here. Rule 2, context: seems to confuse us even

more. It doesn't seem to fit with what goes before and after! This should tip us off that we aren't

understanding it rightly!!</p><p>What we have here is a Hebrew idiom, <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">evil eye</span>”</span>. Let's look up other uses of this idiom: Mt.20:15

"<span class="emphasis"><em>Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious [lit."evil"] because I

am generous [lit. "good"]?</em></span>" We find that having an "evil eye" is a Hebrew idiom for being stingy or envious.

Now go back to Mt.6 and notice how this understanding ties in so perfectly to the context.</p></div><div class="section" title="Example 4B"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="h2-rules-normal-ex4b"></a>Example 4B</h3></div></div></div><p>Is.59:1 <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">The Lord's hand is not short;</span>”</span></p><p>Deut.33:27 <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">Underneath are the everlasting arms.</span>”</span></p><p>

References to body parts of God are used by Latter-Day Saints to prove that God was once a man just as we

are. Once they convince people of that, they go on to teach that we can become God just like He is! At a

lecture he was giving, a group of Mormon elders challenged Walter Martin (author of <span class="emphasis"><em>Kingdom of the Cults</em></span>)

with an enumeration of verses like these. Dr. Martin then asked the Mormons to read one more scripture:

Ps.91:4 <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">He will cover you with His feathers; And under His wings shalt thou trust</span>”</span>. W.M. said, <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">By the same

rules of interpretation that you just proved God to be a man, you just proved that He is a bird</span>”</span>. The Mormons

had to laugh as they realised the ridiculousness of their position.

</p></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="h2-rules-hcontest.html">Prev</a>�</td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="h2-rules.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right">�<a accesskey="n" href="h2-rules-parables.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">Rule 3 - Interpret within the historical and cultural context�</td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top">�Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the difference between a parable and an allegory</td></tr></table></div></body></html>

language</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="h2-rules-hcontest.html">Prev</a>�</td><th width="60%" align="center">Chapter�3.�Rules of Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics)</th><td width="20%" align="right">�<a accesskey="n" href="h2-rules-parables.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr></div><div class="section" title="Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in language"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="h2-rules-normal"></a>Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in

language</h2></div></div></div><p>Let literal language be literal and figurative language be

figurative. And watch out for idioms, which have special

meanings.</p><div class="section" title="Example 4A"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="h2-rules-normal-ex4a"></a>Example 4A</h3></div></div></div><p>

<span class="quote">“<span class="quote">evil eye</span>”</span>in Mt.6:23.</p><p>Rule 1, definition of "evil" and "eye" - no help here. Rule

2, context: seems to confuse us even more. It doesn't seem to fit

with what goes before and after! This should tip us off that we

aren't understanding it rightly!!</p><p>What we have here is a Hebrew idiom,

<span class="quote">“<span class="quote">evil eye</span>”</span>. Let's look up other uses of this idiom:

Mt.20:15 "

<span class="emphasis"><em>Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is

my own? Or is your eye envious [lit."evil"] because I am generous

[lit. "good"]?</em></span>" We find that having an "evil eye" is a

Hebrew idiom for being stingy or envious. Now go back to Mt.6 and

notice how this understanding ties in so perfectly to the

context.</p></div><div class="section" title="Example 4B"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="h2-rules-normal-ex4b"></a>Example 4B</h3></div></div></div><p>Is.59:1

<span class="quote">“<span class="quote">The Lord's hand is not short;</span>”</span></p><p>Deut.33:27

<span class="quote">“<span class="quote">Underneath are the everlasting arms.</span>”</span></p><p>References to body parts of God are used by Latter-Day

Saints to prove that God was once a man just as we are. Once they

convince people of that, they go on to teach that we can become

God just like He is! At a lecture he was giving, a group of

Mormon elders challenged Walter Martin (author of

<span class="emphasis"><em>Kingdom of the Cults</em></span>) with an enumeration of

verses like these. Dr. Martin then asked the Mormons to read one

more scripture: Ps.91:4

<span class="quote">“<span class="quote">He will cover you with His feathers; And under His wings

shalt thou trust</span>”</span>. W.M. said,

<span class="quote">“<span class="quote">By the same rules of interpretation that you just proved

God to be a man, you just proved that He is a bird</span>”</span>. The

Mormons had to laugh as they realised the ridiculousness of their

position.</p></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="h2-rules-hcontest.html">Prev</a>�</td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="h2-rules.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right">�<a accesskey="n" href="h2-rules-parables.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">Rule 3 - Interpret within the historical and cultural

context�</td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top">�Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the

difference between a parable and an allegory</td></tr></table></div></body></html>

Older »