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Principles and Examples of Scripture Interpreting Scripture

Scripture Interpreting Scripture: Principles and Examples

The principle of interpreting Scripture with Scripture is foundational to Christian biblical interpretation. This approach involves using clearer passages to understand more obscure ones, and it is rooted in the Bible's own self-referential nature [8]. The idea is that Scripture is its own best interpreter because it is a unified, coherent whole, despite being written by multiple authors over several centuries.

Biblical Foundations

The practice of interpreting Scripture with Scripture is exemplified in the New Testament's use of the Old Testament. For instance, Jesus himself interprets Scripture by referencing other parts of Scripture, as seen in Luke 24:27, where he explains the Scriptures to the disciples on the road to Emmaus [7]. The apostles also follow this practice, as observed in Acts 13:15 and 15:21, where they read from the Old Testament in their teachings and discussions.

The Bible provides examples of interpreting one passage in light of another. For example, the Psalmist's reflections on the law in Psalm 119 demonstrate a deep understanding of earlier biblical texts. The New Testament writers frequently quote or allude to the Old Testament, showing how earlier Scriptures are fulfilled or illuminated by later events and teachings [2].

Historical Development

The early Church Fathers, such as Origen and Augustine, advocated for interpreting Scripture with Scripture. They recognized that the Bible is a complex, interconnected whole, and that understanding one part often requires considering other related passages [10]. This approach became a cornerstone of Christian biblical interpretation.

The Reformation reinforced the importance of Scripture interpreting Scripture. Reformers like Calvin emphasized the need to understand the Bible in its own light, using clearer passages to clarify more obscure ones. Calvin's commentaries, for example, frequently cross-reference different biblical passages to illuminate their meaning [11, 12].

Principles and Examples

Several key principles guide the practice of interpreting Scripture with Scripture:

  1. Contextual understanding: Understanding a passage within its broader biblical context is crucial. This involves considering the historical, literary, and theological contexts in which a passage was written [1].
  2. Cross-referencing: Using cross-references to compare related passages can provide deeper insights into a text's meaning. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is a valuable resource for identifying these cross-references [4, 5, 6].
  3. The analogy of faith: This principle, rooted in Romans 12:6, involves interpreting Scripture in a way that is consistent with the overall teaching of the Bible. It ensures that interpretations are not contradictory or inconsistent with other biblical teachings [8].

Examples of Scripture interpreting Scripture include:

Tradition and Interpretation

Different Christian traditions have approached the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture in various ways. For example, Reformed traditions have emphasized the importance of understanding the Bible as a unified whole, with a focus on the literal, grammatical-historical method of interpretation [11, 12]. Eastern Orthodox traditions, on the other hand, have often incorporated a more allegorical or mystical approach, while still recognizing the importance of Scripture interpreting Scripture [10].

The practice of interpreting Scripture with Scripture remains a vital part of Christian biblical interpretation, guiding readers to a deeper understanding of the Bible's complex and interconnected message.

The cross-referencing in biblical commentaries and study Bibles facilitates this practice, enabling readers to explore the rich interconnections within Scripture. As Calvin noted, the Bible is its own best interpreter, and by allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture, readers can gain a more profound understanding of its teachings [13].

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — [See [1052]Bible]”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
  4. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Proverbs 26:1 cross-references: Judges 9:7, Judges 9:20, Judges 9:56, 1 Samuel 12:17, Esther 3:1, Esther 4:6, Esther 4:9, Psalms 12:8, Psalms 15:4, Psalms 52:1, Proverbs 17:7, Proverbs 19:10, Proverbs 26:3, Proverbs 26:8, Proverbs 28:16, Ecclesiastes 10:5”
  5. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Proverbs 24:2 cross-references: 1 Samuel 23:9, Esther 3:6, Job 15:35, Psalms 7:14, Psalms 10:7, Psalms 28:3, Psalms 36:4, Psalms 64:4, Psalms 140:2, Proverbs 1:10, Proverbs 6:14, Proverbs 24:8, Isaiah 59:4, Micah 7:3, Matthew 26:3, Luke 23:20, Acts 13:10”
  6. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Psalms 4:2 cross-references: Exodus 10:3, Numbers 14:11, 1 Samuel 12:21, Psalms 2:1, Psalms 3:3, Psalms 5:6, Psalms 14:6, Psalms 31:6, Psalms 50:15, Psalms 57:4, Psalms 58:1, Psalms 58:3, Psalms 63:11, Psalms 72:2, Psalms 106:20, Proverbs 1:22, Ecclesiastes 8:11, Ecclesiastes 9:3, Isaiah 20:5, Isaiah 45:17, Isaiah 59:4, Jeremiah 2:5, Jeremiah 2:11, Jeremiah 9:3, Hosea 4:7, Jonah 2:8, Acts 24:9, 1 Corinthians 1:31, Ephesians 4:25”
  7. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:13: Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21”
  8. 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:20: Knowing this first,.... Especially, and in the first place, this is to be known, observed, and considered; that no prophecy of the Scripture, that is contained in Scripture, be it what it will, is of any private interpretation: not that this is levelled against the right of private judgment of Scripture; or to be understood as if a private believer had not a right of reading, searching, examining, and judging, and interpreting the Scriptures himself, by virtue of the unction which teacheth all things; and who, as a spiritual man, judgeth all things; otherwise, wh”
  9. Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 5:10: Kings and priests - See Exo 19:6 (note); Pe1 2:5 (note), Pe1 2:9 (note), and the notes there.”
  10. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:1 1:2 1:3 1:20 1:26 1:26 2:7 2:17 2:18 3:5 3:9 3:9 3:10 3:16 3:18 3:19 4:4 4:7 4:7 4:9 4:10 6:2 6:5 6:9 7:1 11:4 12:1 12:7 12:7 13:15 13:15 15:5 15:6 17:14 18 18 18:15 18:17 18:21 18:21 21:12 22:1 22:1-2 22:12 23:4 25:27 26:18-22 27:41 28:20 37:7 37:9 37:10 47:9 47:9 47:31 49:9 Exodus 2:14 2:14 2:14-15 3:6 3:14 6:9 12:3 12:46 14:21 17:12 17:12 19 19:16 19:16 19:18 19:19 19:19 19:19 19:20 19:20 20:9 20:13 20:19 20:21 23:3 32:10 33:13 33:20 35:23 Leviticus 15:18 Numbers 5 6:3 9:12 11:12 14:3 14:29 16:5 17:12 Deu”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 28.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:1-6 1:1-31 1:2 1:28 1:29-30 2:1 2:1-25 2:15 2:19 3:1 3:1-24 3:7 3:16 4:1 4:1-26 4:7 5:1 5:1-32 6:1 6:1-22 6:11-16 7:1-24 7:11 8:1-22 9:1 9:1 9:1-29 9:2 9:24 10 10:1 10:1 10:1-32 10:21 11:1 11:1 11:1-32 11:28 12:1 12:1 12:1 12:1-20 12:4 12:4 12:6 13:1 13:1-20 14:1-24 15:1-21 15:7 16:1-16 16:2 16:8 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1-27 18:1 18:1 18:1-33 18:19 19:1-38 20:1 20:1 20:1-18 21:1-34 21:15 22:1-24 22:18 23:1-20 24:31 25:1 25:13-16 35:7 48:1 Exodus 6:3 12:40 Leviticus 7:18 17:4 18:25 Numbers 6:2”
  12. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 28.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 9:21 11:1 11:1 11:31 15:13 15:13 16:1 17:1 17:1-22 21 21:5 21:22 22:18 23:9 24:1-67 24:2 24:40 24:49 24:60 24:60 25:1-34 25:20 26:1 26:1-35 26:24 27:1-46 28:1-22 29:1 29:1-35 29:4 30:1-43 30:33 31:1 31:1-55 31:15 32:1-32 32:18 33:1-20 33:19 34:1-31 34:12 35:1-29 36:1 36:1-43 37:1-36 37:3 37:20 37:36 38:1-30 38:7 39:1 39:1-23 40:1-23 40:3 41:1-57 41:45 41:46 42:1-38 43:1-34 44:1 44:1-34 44:7 44:16 45:1 45:1-28 45:10 46:1-34 46:28 47:1-31 47:4 47:29 48:1 48:1-22 49:1 49:1-33 49:19 50:1-26 Exodu”
  13. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 1.5: more recently been subjected. Still his verbal criticisms are neither few nor unimportant, though he lays comparatively little stress upon them himself. 5 5 The reader is referred, for full information on this subject, to a small volume entitled, “The Merits of Calvin as an Interpreter of the Holy Scriptures,” by Professor Tholuck of Halle. To which are added, “Opinions and Testimonies of Foreign and British Divines and Scholars as to the Importance of the Writings of John Calvin.” With a Preface by the Revelation William Pringle. ”
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