07. Principles for Historical Interpretation

7. Principles for Historical Interpretation 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Although Church history is important it is not decisive for interpretation 7.3 Scripture should be interpreted in the light of Biblical history 7.4 Scripture is progressive 7.5 Historical facts or events become symbols of spiritual truth only if the Scriptures say so 7.6 Presuppositions 7.6.1 Historical background 7.6.2 The Bible is historical 7.6.3 Location, time, circumstances 7.6.4 The Word is Living 7.7 Know the author or speaker 7.7.1 Who was the author?

7.7.1.1 What was his habitual mode of thought? 7.7.1.2 What was his disposition? 7.7.1.3 What was his temperament? 7.7.1.4 What were the motives that controlled his life? 7.7.1.5 What was his character? 7.7.1.6 What was his profession? 7.7.1.7 What was his language? 7.7.1.8 What was his manner? 7.7.1.9 Was he different than his peers?

7.7.2 Who was the speaker?

7.8 Odd circumstances surrounding the writing 7.8.1 By whom did the author originally intend his work to be read or heard?

7.8.2 Why did the author write it?

7.8.3 Were there any special circumstances?

7.8.4 What frame of mind did the author have?

7.8.5 In what period of the author’s life was the work written?

7.9 The social aspect 7.9.1 Geographical

7.9.1.1 Climate 7.9.1.2 Productions 7.9.1.3 The land

7.9.2 Religious 7.9.3 The political situation

The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years in three different languages--Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. It covers many different cultural settings and historical backgrounds. Moses lived 1,000 years before the most ancient Greek philosopher or mentor; and John, the last writer of Scripture, wrote his work on the island of Patmos 1,500 years after Moses.

We would expect that from this great span of time the world would not remain static but would go through changes, especially in languages, customs, expressions, habits, and people, and the land itself would take on a different face. In order to avoid making blunders, the interpreter should be careful in his research down the road of Bible times.

Historical backgrounds are helpful in interpreting figures. These figures are often drawn from the physical features of the land, the daily life and customs, the history of the Jews, or the religious institutions of Israel. The consequences of ignoring the historical aspect of interpretation has been pointed out quite eloquently by Donald K. Campbell of Dallas Theological Seminary: "If the teacher of Scriptures ignores the historical element, he is in allegorizing, that is, seeking a deeper sense in the text on the ground that the natural historical sense is unsatisfactory or inadequate" (Donald K. Campbell, "Interpretation and Its Use," Bibliotheca Sacra, CXII, No. 447 [July, 19551, p. 253).

There is a false teaching among liberal interpreters who use the Scripture in a historical method to discount the relevance of the Word of God for today. They do this by deducing that since literal interpreters insist on interpretation geared to the historical, the Bible is limited to its early readers and hearers. In his excellent book, The Interpretation of Prophecy, Tan commented: "By misunderstanding the concept of Sitz im Lebem (life situation of the prophets), liberals eviscerate the practical relevance of the Scripture on the altar of the historical" (P. 97). This leaves us with the question, What is the proper concept of the historical in Bible interpretation? The answer must be that the Scriptures are to be viewed as having been written during given ages and cultures. With that in mind, we can draw applications which can be applied to our day and age. For example, the length of hair for men and women can only be interpreted from the historical and cultural setting of the New Testament times. The principles to be drawn are relevant for us today. Not only does the Bible deal with the historical situations of Bible times, but a great portion of the Word contains spiritual teachings as well as doctrinal concepts which are ageless or directly applicable in any age. Naturally we would not give as much credence to the historical and cultural if the passage in question were one of a doctrinal nature. A good rule of thumb in the interpretation of prophecy is to determine whether the prophet was talking about a specific historical and contemporary event or was predicting something in the future.

One must see the historical background of the author before he can fully understand and interpret his words.

The Bible was written in history and in a historical way; therefore, it can only be fully understood in light of its history.

Location, time, circumstances, and the mindset of the world at the time of a writing will color the things written during that time period, and even sometimes into the future.

The words must be considered living, to be correctly understood, and as having had their origin in the heart of the author.

The same things apply to the speaker that apply to the author. It must be noted, as a general rule, that unless there is some evidence that the author has switched from his own voice to that of a speaker, we should assume that the author is speaking.

Seasons, Wind, Temperature

Trees, Shrubs, Fruits, Grains, Vegetables, Animals, Insects, Birds

Mountains, Valleys, Lakes, Rivers, Cities, Roads, Deserts

The interpreter should be acquainted with the religious institutions and practices of Israel as regulated by the Mosaic Law. The special feasts should also have a place in our study of history.

An important impression will be left in the literature of a country by the political influence of the time.