The Interpretation of Scripture: Understanding God's Word Through the Literal-Historical-Grammatical Method
The interpretation of Scripture is one of the most important aspects of Christian theology. What a person believes about God, salvation, the church, and Christian living is largely determined by how he or she interprets the Bible. Throughout church history, improper methods of interpretation have often led to doctrinal error. Likewise, sound interpretive principles have helped believers accurately understand and apply God's truth. The principles of sound interpretation are collectively known as hermeneutics. How can a reader of Scripture correctly understand the meaning of a text? Hermeneutics is the answer.
Following natural sense, grammatical structure, and historical context, any reader of the Bible can make it their goal to accurately understand the text. Because God is a God of truth and communication, He inspired Scripture in a manner that can be understood by ordinary people. The Bible was not written as an unintelligible mystery requiring secret knowledge. Rather, God revealed Himself through human authors who communicated using normal language, grammar, historical settings, and literary forms. Consequently, the only acceptable method of interpretation is the literal-historical-grammatical method. But what is this method, and how do you use it in your own study of Scripture? Continue reading to learn more.
The Need for God's Hermeneutic
Every reader approaches the Bible with assumptions, experiences, and preferences.. These are called presuppositions. However, faithful interpretation requires submitting those preferences to the authority of God's Word. The goal is not to determine what a passage means to the reader but what the passage meant to the author under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This requires careful examination of all relevant biblical evidence before drawing conclusions. As a detective gathers facts before rendering a verdict, so too must careful students of the Bible carefully examine the Scriptures. Only after weighing the evidence from careful study can a student render an interpretive verdict. This is critically important. Building an entire doctrine upon a single difficult or ambiguous passage can lead to serious error. Clear passages should help interpret less clear passages, allowing Scripture to explain Scripture. Pursue a sound understanding because it is attainable! In Ephesians 5:15–17, the Apostle Paul directs Christians to walk wisely and to understand the will of the Lord. This command assumes that God's will is understandable! Hermeneutics ensures an accurate understanding of the Word and His will.
The Literal Principle
The first component of the literal-historical-grammatical method is the literal principle. The term "literal" is often misunderstood. It does not mean interpreting every statement in Scripture with a rigid or wooden literalism that ignores figures of speech, symbolism, or literary devices. Rather, it means seeking the author's intended meaning as expressed through normal language. The literal principle recognizes that authors communicate through various literary forms. Poetry, narrative, prophecy, wisdom literature, and epistles all use different methods of expression. Understanding these forms is necessary for proper interpretation. Figurative language is understood as such when the context indicates its use. Likewise so to with narrative, prophecy, excetera.
Let's look at an illutration of figurative language. Psalm 98:8 says "Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together." An interpretation that ignores the poetic literary style would require rivers to possess physical hands and perform literal applause. We see that the psalmist is clearly using personification. This literary device attributes human characteristics to nonhuman objects. The intended meaning is that all creation rejoices in God's rule and righteousness. Recognizing the figure of speech allows readers to understand the author's true message.
Speaking of presuppositions, we don't come to the Bible with an empty head. Instead, we come to the Scriptures with the right understanding. The literal interpretive principle rests on the conviction that the author's intended meaning is the meaning God intended. Since God inspired human authors to write Scripture, understanding the human author's intent leads to understanding God's intent. Therefore, interpreters must resist the temptation to assign meanings to a text that were never intended by its author. The easiest way to avoid this is to continually ask, "What does the author communicate and how did his audience understand it?"
The Grammatical Principle
The second component of biblical interpretation is the grammatical principle. Grammar serves as the framework through which language communicates meaning. Sentence structure, verb tenses, pronouns, conjunctions, and word relationships all contribute to the author's message. Ignoring grammatical details can result in significant misunderstandings.
A humorous example illustrates the importance of grammar. Isaiah 53:6 states, "All we like sheep have gone astray." Without proper attention to grammar, someone might incorrectly read the verse as saying, "We all like sheep." The prophet's intention is not to describe a preference for sheep but to compare humanity's wandering nature to that of sheep that stray from their shepherd. These are two very different interpretations based solely on recognizing the grammar of the passage, or ignoring it.
The grammatical principle emphasizes careful observation of the text. Readers should pay close attention to verb tenses, as they often reveal whether an action is past, present, or future. Pronouns must be traced to their proper antecedents, which will tell you who is being discussed. Likewise, conjunctions such as "therefore," "because," and "but" frequently reveal important logical relationships within a passage. Through careful grammatical analysis, interpreters gain a clearer understanding of what the biblical authors intended to communicate. Since God chose to reveal Himself through language, grammar becomes one of the essential tools for accurately understanding His Word.
The Historical Principle
The third component of the literal-historical-grammatical method is the historical principle. The Bible was written over a span of approximately fifteen hundred years by authors who lived in cultural settings very different from those of modern readers. Understanding the historical circumstances surrounding a text often provides valuable insight into its meaning.
Historical interpretation seeks to understand the customs, geography, political conditions, religious practices, and social norms that existed when a passage was written. Such information helps modern readers bridge the cultural gap between themselves and the biblical world.
Malachi 4:2 provides an example of how historical background can illuminate a passage. The prophet declares, "The sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings." Modern readers may find the phrase "healing in its wings" puzzling because the sun does not possess wings. However, in the Ancient Near East, artistic depictions of the sun often portrayed its rays extending outward like the wings of a bird. Understanding this historical imagery clarifies the prophet's meaning. The passage describes the life-giving and healing power associated with the coming of God's righteousness.
Historical study does not create new meanings within Scripture. Rather, it helps modern readers recover the original meaning that would have been understood by the initial audience. By understanding the historical context, believers can better grasp the message God intended to communicate through His inspired Word.
Practical Application of Biblical Interpretation
The literal-historical-grammatical method provides believers with a reliable framework for understanding Scripture. While some passages may present challenges, God has not hidden His truth behind an impenetrable barrier. The Bible was written to be understood. Faithful interpretation simply requires diligent use of the tools God has provided.
Believers should approach Scripture with humility, recognizing that difficult passages may require additional study. Consulting knowledgeable teachers, pastors, or scholarly commentaries can often provide helpful insight. Nevertheless, the responsibility of interpretation does not belong exclusively to experts. Every Christian can grow in understanding by carefully examining the text according to sound interpretive principles.
Applying the literal, grammatical, and historical principles consistently helps protect believers from misinterpretation and doctrinal error. These principles encourage readers to focus on the meaning intended by the biblical authors rather than subjective impressions or personal preferences. As a result, Christians are better equipped to understand God's revelation and apply it faithfully to their lives.
Conclusion
The interpretation of Scripture is foundational to Christian theology and practice. Hermeneutics provides the principles necessary for understanding God's Word accurately and responsibly. The literal-historical-grammatical method remains the most reliable approach because it seeks to uncover the author's intended meaning through careful attention to language, grammar, and historical context.
The literal principle recognizes the natural use of language, including figures of speech and literary devices. The grammatical principle emphasizes the importance of sentence structure and linguistic details in determining meaning. The historical principle acknowledges the cultural and historical settings in which Scripture was written. Together, these principles enable believers to understand the message God intended to communicate.
Ultimately, God has revealed Himself in a way that can be understood. While diligent study is required, Scripture is not beyond the reach of ordinary believers. By faithfully applying the literal-historical-grammatical method, Christians can grow in their knowledge of God, deepen their understanding of His Word, and live in greater obedience to His will.