Guest Summer Sun Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 Hello! I'm new on here. But as for interpretation - well, Jesus only ever used scripture in context - it was only the devil who used it out context (I ws thinking of the temptations). I always wish there was more 'good eduction' of scripture (for want of a better phrase) which can help people understand better, and also to be encouraged in their faith - after all we serve a faithful God whose word is true! Summer Sun, there is a great little book by RC Sproul entitled Knowing Scripture that really lays out the good basics of interpretation. I am sure its still available through most Christian stores. sw Thanks St Worm! I'll look out for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anne24 Posted September 5, 2006 Share Posted September 5, 2006 (edited) I need help understanding something. In Luke 18:18-18 the Bible says: "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. " Jesus is God too, and so that makes Him good. Why would He say that He wasn't? Edited September 5, 2006 by Anne24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricH Posted September 5, 2006 Group: Royal Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 366 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 10,933 Content Per Day: 1.57 Reputation: 212 Days Won: 1 Joined: 04/21/2005 Status: Offline Author Share Posted September 5, 2006 I need help understanding something. In Luke 18:18-18 the Bible says: "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. " Jesus is God too, and so that makes Him good. Why would He say that He wasn't? It is because the man came to him not recognizing that He was God. He thought he was only a "good teacher". Jesus was basically saying "If you don't think I am God, why are you attributing an attribute tp me that belongs only to God to me. If you look at the entire passage, the man's concept of what constituted goodness and obedience are messed up. He though he was good because he had obeyed some commandments. Jesus had to show him God's standards are much higher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anne24 Posted September 5, 2006 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Oh ok, that makes so much more sense now. I was just doing a study on different verses and I should have read the entire passage. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribulation Posted September 6, 2006 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 5 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 142 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 3 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/22/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted September 6, 2006 8. Interpret prophetic books literally unless the context demands a symbolic interpretation. Is it possible that someone could explain this one to me? Are you saying that all the scriptures within the prophetic books are only supposed to be taken literally? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricH Posted September 6, 2006 Group: Royal Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 366 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 10,933 Content Per Day: 1.57 Reputation: 212 Days Won: 1 Joined: 04/21/2005 Status: Offline Author Share Posted September 6, 2006 8. Interpret prophetic books literally unless the context demands a symbolic interpretation. Is it possible that someone could explain this one to me? Are you saying that all the scriptures within the prophetic books are only supposed to be taken literally? No, it means that a literal understanding should be the 'default path" unless the context of the passage demands that it be taken symbolically. In other words we should take the authors literally inless they themselves give us clues that they intended their writings to be understood in some symbolic way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribulation Posted September 6, 2006 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 5 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 142 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 3 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/22/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted September 6, 2006 8. Interpret prophetic books literally unless the context demands a symbolic interpretation. Is it possible that someone could explain this one to me? Are you saying that all the scriptures within the prophetic books are only supposed to be taken literally? No, it means that a literal understanding should be the 'default path" unless the context of the passage demands that it be taken symbolically. In other words we should take the authors literally inless they themselves give us clues that they intended their writings to be understood in some symbolic way Are you saying that the prophecies contained in these books cannot relate to our current lives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest yod Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Dang....people can't even interpret what EricH wrote? Thank you EricH for this valuable and timely post. It should be pinned somewhere prominent for everyone to reference easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricH Posted September 6, 2006 Group: Royal Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 366 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 10,933 Content Per Day: 1.57 Reputation: 212 Days Won: 1 Joined: 04/21/2005 Status: Offline Author Share Posted September 6, 2006 8. Interpret prophetic books literally unless the context demands a symbolic interpretation. Is it possible that someone could explain this one to me? Are you saying that all the scriptures within the prophetic books are only supposed to be taken literally? No, it means that a literal understanding should be the 'default path" unless the context of the passage demands that it be taken symbolically. In other words we should take the authors literally inless they themselves give us clues that they intended their writings to be understood in some symbolic way Are you saying that the prophecies contained in these books cannot relate to our current lives? No, I am saying that texts have one meaning. That meaning is the one the author of the text willed to convey using normal rules of grammar context etc. When looking atg prophetic texts we accept the literal meaning unless the author indicates we understand what he says symbolically. Once we understand the meaning, we are free to make applications to our current life. But these applications must be in line with the one meaning the author intended Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribulation Posted September 6, 2006 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 5 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 142 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 3 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/22/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted September 6, 2006 No, I am saying that texts have one meaning. That meaning is the one the author of the text willed to convey using normal rules of grammar context etc. When looking atg prophetic texts we accept the literal meaning unless the author indicates we understand what he says symbolically. Once we understand the meaning, we are free to make applications to our current life. But these applications must be in line with the one meaning the author intended Okay! Thanks for clearing it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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