How Do We Understand What We Read in the Bible?
When it comes to language, most of us interpret what others say literally on a regular basis. This means that we accept what is said at face value and do not assume they are meaning something else.
For example, if you are at a restaurant and a waitress asks you “what do you want to order,” you will more than likely interpret what she said literally rather than some other part of speech (metaphor, allegory, etc). You would then proceed to tell her what you want on the menu. She would take your order and tell the cooks what to make. Later on, you would expect the food to arrive just how it was communicated to the waitress and described on the menu.
This is the normal way we communicate with people. We approach speech and writing with a literal, grammatical and historical perspective. Literal is taking words in their basic meaning; grammatical is the set of rules which explains how the words are used in a language; and historical is understanding the words within the context of a situation.
The Process of Studying the Scriptures
The fancy word for this process is Hermeneutics or “the study of the methods for interpretation, especially the texts of the Bible or other literature.” When we read the Bible, we will understand the passages based on the methodology we use. If you believe that the Bible only speaks in metaphors and allegories, then its meaning will be subjected to whatever you want it to mean.
The Bible does use these parts of speech, but the author usually says what he is using, and in the case of prophecy and parables, the interpretation usually follows in the text.
There are SIX STEPS you can follow to learn what a passage means. These are:
- Recognize the normal, natural sense of basic communication
- Recognize historical setting
- Recognize original language and rules of grammar
- Recognize context
- Recognize author’s intent
- Recognize progress in the writing
You can always get a richer picture of the text by studying other passages and even researching the geography and history of the time. Fortunately, the Bible does a good job of standing on its own with each individual passage you read.
Let’s put this model to the test by observing a parable which Jesus spoke about Himself.
The Parable of the Good Shephard – John 10:1–21
1 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them meant.
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life and have itabundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.”
19 Dissension occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who is demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of those who are blind, can it?”
The 6 Step Model of Hermeneutics in Action
1. Recognize the normal, natural sense of basic communication.
The mode of communication was Jesus’ speaking literally to people in a way that they could understand his words. However, the text says in verses 1–5 that Jesus was using a figure of speech, and the people did not understand the story (vs. 6). If we read further, Jesus explains it to them so that they did not have to guess or interpret it on our own (vv. 7–18).
For deeper study on why Jesus spoke in parables you can read Matthew 13, which also cross-references Isaiah 6.
2. Recognize Historical Setting
Jesus is around the temple in Jerusalem (Chapters 8:59 – 9:1; 10:22–23) and is speaking about sheep and shepherding. This would be a familiar practice for the Jews to understand that concept since shepherding is a common job in their society. Jesus also speaks about familiar passages and themes in the Old Testament that the Jews would pick up on (e.g. Psalm 23).
3. Recognize original language and rules of grammar
The language that this passage is written in is Koine Greek. This is the common language of the time, and the passage does not say that Jesus spoke in any other language like Aramaic (e.g. Matthew 27:46; Mark 5:41).
4. Recognize context
Chapter 10 starts off with Jesus speaking to a crowd of people. But who were these people? At the end of chapter 9, Jesus sets off to find the man born blind whom He had healed earlier in that chapter. He engages in conversation with the man and there were Pharisees present with them all (9:35–41).
5. Recognize author’s intent
John’s intent in his gospel is to show Jesus as God (chapter 1:1–18). Jesus was from the beginning with God the Father. He became flesh to explain the Father and to carry out His redemptive plan.
Chapter 10 speaks of Jesus as being the Good Shepherd of the Old Testament and the only way to salvation (Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:11–16). Jesus compares Himself to the false shepherds that the Jews would have been familiar with (Jeremiah 23; John 10:7–10).
6. Recognize progress in the writing
In chapter 8, Jesus was in the temple talking to the Jews who had believed Him (8:30–31; c.f. 7:31). Here, Jesus compared Himself to God in His great “I AM” statement and this caused those Jews to pick up stones to throw at Him (vs. 59). Jesus went out of the temple and walked past a man born blind and He healed him. The blind man’s neighbors saw the effects of the miracle and brought the man to the Pharisees.
The Pharisees could not believe this miracle happened (especially on the Sabbath) nor did they understand how Jesus did it. A division arose among them (9:16) and they kicked the “blind” man out. Jesus searched for the man and spoke with him. There were Pharisees there who heard Jesus speaking and engaged with Him (this leads us to chapter 10).
Jesus speaks His parable and then explains His parable. A second division occurred among the Jews and it appears that Jesus is back in the temple (10:23). Jews came to Him and asked that He tell them plainly if He is the Christ. Jesus said that He told them already that He does the work of His Father, and the Jews picked up stones again to throw at Him (vs. 31). Jesus eludes their grasp and leaves beyond the Jordan.
Final Thoughts on Hermeneutics
It is important to interpret the Bible accurately. That way we can know and understand what God is wanting to communicate to us through His Word. Without using proper hermeneutics such as this 6 Step Model, it is easy to miss the meaning of a passage, which can ultimately result in bad doctrine. It is worth taking more time to do this deeper study of each passage so that you can strengthen your certainty about what the Bible teaches and come to a fuller knowledge of God’s plan and purpose for you and the world.
For Further Study
These are Great Resources that I have read and used in my study of the Scriptures. They are Amazon affiliate links and I receive a commission from any purchase. For other study methods, check out this article: How To Study the Bible For All It’s Worth!