B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #19

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #19
October 20, 2003

I. Cor. 16:9  For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION
We Are To Interpret Scripture Grammatically – #11
We are to look at the very sentence structure and word meaning of the words in the Bible. For instance the “so” of John 3:16 tells us that God love us very much. In John 1:1 we know from “was” that Jesus is the eternal God.  In Matthew’s account of the temptation of our Lord we know he has the chronological order because he uses “then”.  We must differentiate between figurative and literal passages.  The literal sense is basic. Only on compelling evidence in the context should we interpret in a figurative sense.  The “day” in the Genesis account of creation is clearly literal, a 24 hour day.  When the Psalmist says that a “day in they courts is like a thousand years” we know from  the context that the “day” is used in a figurative sense.  Also, when Christ calls us the “light”, the “salt” of the earth and the “leaven” of society, He is speaking obviously  in a figurative sense.  Every passage has one intended meaning, but may have many applications.  Take a word in Scripture in its normal, literal and grammatical sense to  find its intended meaning, unless the context indicates there is a figurative sense.

PRINCIPLIES OF INTERPRETATION
Scripture Interprets Scripture – #12
2 Pet. 1:20-21, Mt. 15:3, Col. 2:8  To understand Scripture one easy method is to use  cross references.  There are parallel passages which shed light on other passages. Sometimes the same word or wording is used in different places.  Other times there may be a thought parallel with the use of different words.  A word parallel is Rom. 5:1 and Heb. 11:1.  Can you see it?  A thought parallel is Luke 21:33 and I Pet. 1:25  Do you see that?  There are also parallel sections like Phil. 2 and Heb. 2.  There are even  parallel books like Ephesians on the church as the body and Colossians on the church’s head, Christ.  It must always be a case for us of the less clear passage being interpreted by the clearer passage.  We interpret for instance Rev. 20 in light of Mt. 24 and Mk. 13.  An interpretation given to a passage also must stand in the light of the whole of Scripture.  This principle of Scripture interprets Scripture is an overarching rule for us to follow.

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THE FOLLOWING IS PART OF A LETTER RECEIVED FROM REV. ANGOWI IN TANZANIA.

We of the L.C.E.A. are doing well in the wonderful grace which has always being  blessed to us and bring a wonderful growth of our Church here and there.

1. A new Station has been founded in Msitu wa Tembo, Manyara Region; which comprises of different tribes and Masai people.  The villagers (leaders) gave us land for Church building and other development.  The work started in March this year with a membership of 25 elders and children.  Msitu wa Tembo is twenty five kilometres from Moshi.

Second station – Njoro Majengo, is underway to be started.  We’ve been given a primary school room for worshiping every Sunday by the government officials. This station has about 20 participants.

2. St. Peter Lutheran Seminary at Himo 9 (nine) students, is gaining Christ’s influencial power, in His Lord and Evangelism as they work hard in their studies under their teachers.  We pray that our Lord will strengthen our students for His wonderful Work in our Church here in Tanzannia, Kenya, Uganda and other areas.  We beg you to continuously pray for this Seminary – for Christ’s purposes.  We aim to have new students enrollment for next year.
(Rev. Angowi)
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In Christ,
Pastor David Koenig