How Do You Know Your Interpretation Is Right? - Dr. James Borror article

Today, Dad brought home an old paper he had found at church by Dr. Borror entitled,

How Do You Know Your Interpretation Is Right?

I'd like to copy that down here. It contains invaluable principles for dealing with how to understand Scripture (particularly difficult passages).



"How many times have you heard the old saw, 'Well, that's just your interpretation?' Too many times I would guess. Is there some way to verify whether an interpretation is what the author meant? Here are some guidelines to help.

          Question to Ask:

1. Does it fit the context? Context is the most important rule of interpretation. Always check the context of the passage, book, and writer.

2. Does it square with grammar, esp. the original languages? Good interpretation emphasizes the parts of speech that the writer does, and relates conjunctions, adverbs, and adjectives as they should be.

3. Does it square with the culture? What were 'upper rooms' in the time of Christ? How was water purified (John 2:6)? What did it mean to 'break bread'? A study of Egyptology makes the story of Joseph come to life.

4. Does it square with history? Archaeology, and extra-Biblical writings help us know the history of the time.

5. Does it follow the conventions of  the genre? Poetry, proverbs, narrative, prophecy, and parables all have distinct and different rules of thought.

6. Does it contradict the 'analogy of faith'? If an interpretation contradicts a doctrine accepted as historic Christianity, it is suspect.

7. Does it contradict experience? This is not as important as the text but is a factor to be dealt with. E.g. both Scripture and experience teaches that we do not come to a point in this life where we do not sin.

8. Does it fit with parallel passages? Scripture is its own best interpreter.

9. Does it fit with the best of modern science? We need to be careful here, as science changes, but if an interpretation contradicts a clear, recognized principle of science, it should be questioned.

10. Is it 'what has always been believed everywhere, always, and by all?' This is a Roman Catholic principle but is one that protestant Christians can use in a less than literal sense.

11. Is it Christological? All Scripture revolves around the Savior. Any view that denigrates Christ is wrong.

12. Is it coherent and makes sense?

13. Does the interpretation have a 'sense of spiritual rightness?' we should follow our spiritual instincts until proven wrong from the text.

14. Does it square with the discerning community of believers? (See Praxis 3)

15. Does it stand when tested cross-culturally? The wealth and welfare theology should see if it resonates in Bangladesh.

16. What practices does it legitimize? Polygamists often use their interpretation of Scripture to justify their actions.

17. Who benefits from it (Does it serve the interests of the powerful?) Slave owners in the early days of our country interpreted certain verses to justify their slavery.

          PRAXIS

1. Focus: on the original author and the text. Watch for interpretive abuse: (a) allegorizing or spiritualizing tests and (b) 'reader response' interpretation (what-it-means-to-me).

2. Look for these five areas that provide at least limited verification: 1. Historical setting. 2. Literary context. 3. Grammatical structures (syntax). 4. Contemporary word usage. 5. Relevant parallel passages. 6. Genre.

3. Look for the clearest teaching passage on your subject using: a) 'systematic theology' books; b) reference Bibles; c) concordances; d) study Bibles; e) Bible encyclopedias, handbooks and dictionaries; f) Bible introductions; g) Bible commentaries (at this point in your study, allow the believing community, past and present, to aid and correct your personal study.)

4. Look for a possible paradoxical pair within your subject. Many interpretive conflicts come from proof-texting half of a biblical tension. All of the Bible is inspired, and we must seek out its complete message in order to provide a Scriptural balance to our interpretation.

5. Look for parallels within the same book, same author or same genre.

6. Check that your interpretation does not contain a logical flaw.

7. Do not argue from silence.

8. Do not allegorize the text.

9. Distinguish between interpretation and application.

10. Do not engage in faulty 'proof-texting.'

'In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity.' - Augustine"