B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 107
B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 107
I Cor. 16:9 “For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
Oct. 31, 2007
PROPER HERMENEUTICS RESTORED
God was at work to restore His Word to the people in the Reformation. He also restored proper hermeneutics, the principles of interpretation, to His people. In celebration of this work of God let’s consider some quotes of Luther on this subject. Prior to the Reformation there was for some time current a fourfold interpretation of Scripture. Basically this method allowed the Scriptures to say wild and outlandish things because it all depended on man’s interpretation. The allegorizing of Scripture was particularly pitiful because it allowed one to go into some real flights of fancy as one preached ‘figuratively’. Luther, “When I was a young man, my own attempts at allegory met with fair success… Anyone who was somewhat more skilled in contriving allegories was also regarded as a rather learned theologian.” (1) In His mercy toward this bewilderingly confusing situation God restored the principle that Scripture interprets Scripture. “…no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation.” I Pet. 1:20 The people by God’s grace began again to pay attention to the Lamp shining in this dark place instead of trying to light their own pitiful little candles in the dark.
Back to the Word
In preparation for the Reformation God brought about a renaissance of learning in Europe. The Dark Ages were dark above all due to the people’s ignorance of the Word. This rebirth brought about a renewed study of the biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek. “As dearly as we love the gospel, so diligently let us hold to the study of language. (Hebrew and Greek). …And let us recognize that fact that we will not be able to preserve the gospel well without the languages. The languages are the scabbard in which this sword of the Spirit is sheathed. They are the jewel box in which we carry this treasure. They are the cask in which this beverage is contained. They are the pantry in which this food is kept. And as the gospel itself shows, they are the basket in which these loaves and fish and fragments are preserved.” (2)
Even though you don’t know the original languages, yet you too can interpret Scripture, because the Holy Spirit works on your heart through the Word in any language. The plain, common folk can read and know because God reveals the truth. The plain and common folk should simply take the plain meaning. “…in the interpretation of Holy Scripture the main task must be to derive from it some sure and plain meaning…(The Scriptures must be taken) in their historical meaning, which is their real and true one.”(3)
Scriptures are Clear
This plain meaning can be readily found because the Bible is clear. “For it ought above all to be settled and established among Christians that the Holy Scriptures are a spiritual light far brighter than the sun itself, especially in things that are necessary to salvation.” (4) “If Scripture is obscure or ambiguous, what point was there in God’s giving it to us? (5) Men should “stop imputing with blasphemous perversity the darkness and obscurity of their own hearts to the wholly clear Scripture of God.” (6) “If the words are obscure in one place, yet they are plain in another.” (7) A clear passage is to interpret a less clear. Scripture interprets Scripture.
Set Aside Preconceived Notions and Ideas
In connection with the Old Testament, “I beg and really caution every pious Christian not to be offended by the simplicity of the language and stories frequently encountered there, but fully realize that, however simple they may seem these are the very words, works, judgments, and deeds of the majesty, power, and wisdom of the most high God…Therefore dismiss your own opinions and feelings, and think of the Scripture as the loftiest and noblest of holy things, as the richest of mines which can never be sufficiently explored, in order that you may find that divine wisdom which God here lays before you in such simple guise as to quench all pride. Here you will find the swaddling cloths and the manger in which Christ lies, and to which the angel points the shepherds. Simple and lowly are these swaddling cloths, but dear is the treasure, Christ, who lies in them” (8)
In his commentary on Galatians he warns to keep personal thoughts away, “since they ought to come empty and take all their thoughts out of the sacred letters, then diligently consider the words and compare what preceded with what follows, and pay attention to this: they grasp the whole sense of the passage and do not construct their own dreams out of isolated words torn out of context.”(9)
Faith is the Touchstone
To the unbeliever the wisdom of God is foolishness. The talisman that allows understanding is not reason, but faith. The Scriptures do not contradict themselves. Reason says they do, but this is an area beyond reason’s grasp or understanding. “Therefore, if Christ himself is the price of my redemption, if he himself is made sin and a curse, that he might justify and bless us, I care nothing for passage of Scripture–even if you bring up six hundred for the righteousness of works against the righteousness of faith and scream that the Scriptures contradict themselves. I have the author and the Lord of Scripture, on whose side I would rather be than to believe you, although it is impossible that the Bible should contradict itself, except in the minds of senseless and hardened hypocrites. Among the pious and the intelligent it produces testimony for its Lord. If you contend that Scripture contradicts itself, go manufacture your own reconciliation. I will stay with the author of Scripture.” (10)
Christ is the Center
From quotes already it is seen that a principle of Luther’s is that Christ is the key and center of the Word. Indeed, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” John 1:14 As we read the Scriptures, we behold His glory. “Therefore who would correctly and profitably read Scripture should see to it that he finds Christ in it; then he finds life eternal without fail.” (11)
Context and So Forth
There is so much more to be considered in a thorough review of hermeneutics, the proper type as restored by God. Luther stressed the importance of context in interpreting Scripture. He warned, “They pick out one thing here and another thing there; and where they find a word or two, they pounce upon these and hoodwink people, to keep them from seeing what else Scripture has to say about this.” (12)
“No conclusion or figure of speech is to be permitted in any Scripture passage, unless the context clearly compels it and the absurdity of the matter manifestly conflicts with an article of faith. Rather, everywhere we must cling to the simple, pure, and natural meaning of the words, which is dictated by grammar and common usage, which God has created in men.” (13)
Let us cling to the Word for our soul’s salvation and to preserve this heritage for our children..
_______________________
Footnotes
l. Luther’s Works (in English) vol. 1, p. 232
2. Weimar Edition of Luther’s Works (WA) vol. 15, p.37f.
3. LW l, p .231, 4. LW 33, p. 91, 5. LW 33, p. 94
6. LW 33, p. 27, 7. LW 33, p. 26, 8. LW 35, p. 236
9. WA 40, 2, 36f. 10. WA 40, 1, 420. 11. Ewald Plass,
“What Luther Says”, No. 206. 12. LW 24, p. 104.
13. WA 18, 700.
CLCI BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE
(India)
There are many ways in which we can communicate God’s Word to people. Here are excerpts from the annual report on the correspondence course that Pastor Jyothi Benjamin carries out to reach people with the Word through the mail.
“Over the many years through the blessings of our Lord our CLCI Bible Correspondence Course has been moving very well. As we see from the Bible that the Word of God will make a person wise about salvation. As you know, now we have an advantage of the fast-increasing literacy rate in India. Printed copies of correspondence course are used to provide instruction to students via mail. Distance learning allows the student the flexibility of working at their own place, therefore, the amount of time it takes to complete the course will depende largely on the time and determination of the student.
Now this year we have received eight applications till now. Last June ten individuals, both men and women, had completed the course and received the certificate. There is a lot of opposition to the public Gospel proclamation in India. We should not be discouraged about the situation. Studying the Bible is the most important thing in a person’s life and we are thrilled and excited to inform you that many have received jesus by taking this course on God’s Word. Through this course, many of the non-Christians have been learning more about who they are, where they came from, why they are here, and where they are going and finally that Jesus is their only Savior. We are happy to tell you that many Hindu and Muslim friends are also taking this Bible correspondence course from us…We are praying that through them, someday their entire families could come to Christ. There won’t be any outside pressure for the to take this course. If one person from a family is converted, he could guide the entire family in his own manner. In this way this course is making up souls to hold Christ. The Holy Spirit has been working in them through this ‘invisible way.’
We have been sending this CLCI correspondence course from 1993 to the inquirers. For this, we have been placing advertisements in newspapers, annual calendars, telephone directories, yellow pages, etc. The course is totally free of cost. Until now 406 students have taken this course. It requires intensive study on the part of the learner. Spiritual life depends on the Bible…We are praying our Almighty living God, Jesus Christ, for His grace to grant us courage and strength to carry on his blessed work. May the Lord bless this Bible Correspondence study of His Word.”
There are many ways in which we can communicate God’s Word to people. Here are excerpts from the annual report on the correspondence course that Pastor Jyothi Benjamin carries out to reach people with the Word through the mail.
“Over the many years through the blessings of our Lord our CLCI Bible Correspondence Course has been moving very well. As we see from the Bible that the Word of God will make a person wise about salvation. As you know, now we have an advantage of the fast-increasing literacy rate in India. Printed copies of correspondence course are used to provide instruction to students via mail. Distance learning allows the student the flexibility of working at their own place, therefore, the amount of time it takes to complete the course will depende largely on the time and determination of the student.
Now this year we have received eight applications till now. Last June ten individuals, both men and women, had completed the course and received the certificate. There is a lot of opposition to the public Gospel proclamation in India. We should not be discouraged about the situation. Studying the Bible is the most important thing in a person’s life and we are thrilled and excited to inform you that many have received jesus by taking this course on God’s Word. Through this course, many of the non-Christians have been learning more about who they are, where they came from, why they are here, and where they are going and finally that Jesus is their only Savior. We are happy to tell you that many Hindu and Muslim friends are also taking this Bible correspondence course from us…We are praying that through them, someday their entire families could come to Christ. There won’t be any outside pressure for the to take this course. If one person from a family is converted, he could guide the entire family in his own manner. In this way this course is making up souls to hold Christ. The Holy Spirit has been working in them through this ‘invisible way.’
We have been sending this CLCI correspondence course from 1993 to the inquirers. For this, we have been placing advertisements in newspapers, annual calendars, telephone directories, yellow pages, etc. The course is totally free of cost. Until now 406 students have taken this course. It requires intensive study on the part of the learner. Spiritual life depends on the Bible…We are praying our Almighty living God, Jesus Christ, for His grace to grant us courage and strength to carry on his blessed work. May the Lord bless this Bible Correspondence study of His Word.”
Pastor Koenig