Post by Deepfriar on Apr 10, 2016 16:00:43 GMT -6
Thought I would share this. It lost some of the formatting, but should still be easily read. Here is an essay I wrote for the unofficial Bible college class I teach on Tuesday nights:
Rightly Dividing
(a treatise on basic interpretation of the Bible by [Deepfriar])
"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." (Prov. 25:2)
The Bible is undisputedly the single most influential book in the modern history of mankind to some, and a captivating love letter from an inviting Creator to many others. As such, how to interpret the Bible has been a compelling topic in the minds of its students since its canon was approved at the First Council of Nicea (a council of bishops under Roman Emperor Constantine I) in AD 325.
Augustine of Hippo (also known as Saint Augustine), a fourth century early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings greatly influenced Western Christianity, had this to say about interpreting the Bible (or, "rightly dividing the word of truth,"-2 Tim. 2:15): "The New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New." A modern mnemonic rendering of Augustine's axiom is phrased in this manner: "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed." This principle has been referenced in the OBC (Online Bible College) curruciulum as well, and is a fundamental principle of understanding Biblical doctrine.
There is more than one way to apply this princple, however. We will look at one important method in this essay.
The Law of First Mention is a method that is often useful for Bible interpretation. The first reason for its usefulness is that it relies on the Bible itself to help with exegesis (critical interpretation of text, esp. scripture). Another reason worth mentioning is that it helps paint a picture of a spiritual idea. When possible, it is good to let the Bible interpret itself because we can always rely on God's truth.
First, let's get an understanding of exactly what the Law of First Mention is. The Biblical Research Society says that the Law of First Mention can be described as, "the principle that requires one to go to that portion of the Scriptures where a doctrine [or word/phrase] is mentioned for the first time and to study the first occurrence of the same in order to get the fundamental inherent meaning of that doctrine."1 This basically means that, "the very first time any important word is mentioned in the Bible [usually, of course, is in Genesis, the first book of the Bible] Scripture gives that word its most complete, and accurate, meaning to not only serve as a 'key' in understanding the word's Biblical concept, but to also provide a foundation for its fuller development in later parts of the Bible."2
Now, (to help us get a better picture of this method of letting the Bible interpret itself), let's look at the Law of First Mention in action (in the following examples):
"The first prophecy recorded in Scripture supplies the key to the whole subject of Messianic prediction, furnishing a remarkable outline and forecast of all that was to follow. Said the Lord God to the serpent, 'And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel' (Gen. 3:15) ...In the prophecy of Genesis 3:15, it was revealed that all human hope was to center in a Coming One...the woman’s “seed,” and therefore of supernatural birth. It announced that He would be the object of Satan’s enmity. It foretold that He should be temporarily humiliated — bruised in His heel. It also proclaimed His ultimate victory, for He should bruise the serpent’s head, and therefore must be more than man. It intimated the age-long strife there would be between the two seeds: the children of the Devil and those united unto Christ...
And the Lord said unto Cain, 'What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground' (Gen. 4:10). That is the first time that all-important word 'blood' is mentioned in the Scriptures...foreshadowing as it does some of the most essential and outstanding features of the atonement of Christ. Abel was a shepherd (Gen. 4:2) and was hated, though without cause, by his brother (1 John 3:12). He did not die a natural death, but met with a violent end: as the good Shepherd was crucified and slain by wicked hands (Acts 2:23). In the light of those facts, how deeply significant are the words 'the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me.' That is the all-important but inexpressibly blessed thing in connection with the blood of Christ: it is vocal Godwards! It is 'the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel' (Heb. 12:24), for it satisfied every demand of God and procured inestimable blessing for His people."3
Here is another noteworthy example:
"Two cities figure prominently in events on earth during the 2,600-year period covering 'the times of the Gentiles': Jerusalem, and Babylon. And these two cities, both mentioned very early in Scripture (Gen. 10:10; 14:18), stand in complete contrast to one another at every point. Babylon is first mentioned in connection with Nimrod (the name means 'rebel,' 'one who revolts'), and Jerusalem is first mentioned in connection with Melchizedek (meaning, 'King of peace' [Heb. 7:2]), establishing first-mention principles which hold constant throughout Scripture."4
These demonstrations are only the tip of the iceberg; indeed, even the old covenant sacrifices and laws and Levitical priesthood garments/ceremonies allude to their eventual realization in Jesus Christ and His ultimate sacrifice and victory over sin and death. Mount Sinai and Mount Zion stand opposite of one another representing the old covenant (law of Moses) and the new covenant (grace of Christ) respectively. The Biblical narrative is interwoven and interconnected with clues and celestial 'nods' in such a way that irrefutably attests to its divine inspiration. "For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?" (Rom. 11:34)
It is easy to see how utilizing this helpful tool can help flesh out some of the more shrouded and symbolic themes of the Word of God. I will defer to the Biblical Research Society's succinct closing comments on the Law of First Mention:
"The field in which the law of first mention operates is wide indeed. It is a very important law. If a person wishes to understand the revelation of God, he must study the Book of Genesis, which lays down the fundamentals that are developed and set forth in the rest of the Scriptures. There are, however, certain themes that are mentioned later on in the Scriptures for the first time. Thus the first mention of them gives the fundamental conception of such teachings. That the law of first mention, therefore, is of greatest importance to the Bible student can be readily seen from this brief study."1
1www.biblicalresearch.info/page56.html
2www.netbiblestudy.com/00_cartimages/thelawoffirstmention.pdf
3Arthur W. Pink's "Interpretation of the Scriptures" ISBN 1589603052
4Arlen L. Chitwood's "Focus on the Middle East" ASIN: B000OT0SHC
Rightly Dividing
(a treatise on basic interpretation of the Bible by [Deepfriar])
"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." (Prov. 25:2)
The Bible is undisputedly the single most influential book in the modern history of mankind to some, and a captivating love letter from an inviting Creator to many others. As such, how to interpret the Bible has been a compelling topic in the minds of its students since its canon was approved at the First Council of Nicea (a council of bishops under Roman Emperor Constantine I) in AD 325.
Augustine of Hippo (also known as Saint Augustine), a fourth century early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings greatly influenced Western Christianity, had this to say about interpreting the Bible (or, "rightly dividing the word of truth,"-2 Tim. 2:15): "The New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New." A modern mnemonic rendering of Augustine's axiom is phrased in this manner: "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed." This principle has been referenced in the OBC (Online Bible College) curruciulum as well, and is a fundamental principle of understanding Biblical doctrine.
There is more than one way to apply this princple, however. We will look at one important method in this essay.
The Law of First Mention is a method that is often useful for Bible interpretation. The first reason for its usefulness is that it relies on the Bible itself to help with exegesis (critical interpretation of text, esp. scripture). Another reason worth mentioning is that it helps paint a picture of a spiritual idea. When possible, it is good to let the Bible interpret itself because we can always rely on God's truth.
First, let's get an understanding of exactly what the Law of First Mention is. The Biblical Research Society says that the Law of First Mention can be described as, "the principle that requires one to go to that portion of the Scriptures where a doctrine [or word/phrase] is mentioned for the first time and to study the first occurrence of the same in order to get the fundamental inherent meaning of that doctrine."1 This basically means that, "the very first time any important word is mentioned in the Bible [usually, of course, is in Genesis, the first book of the Bible] Scripture gives that word its most complete, and accurate, meaning to not only serve as a 'key' in understanding the word's Biblical concept, but to also provide a foundation for its fuller development in later parts of the Bible."2
Now, (to help us get a better picture of this method of letting the Bible interpret itself), let's look at the Law of First Mention in action (in the following examples):
"The first prophecy recorded in Scripture supplies the key to the whole subject of Messianic prediction, furnishing a remarkable outline and forecast of all that was to follow. Said the Lord God to the serpent, 'And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel' (Gen. 3:15) ...In the prophecy of Genesis 3:15, it was revealed that all human hope was to center in a Coming One...the woman’s “seed,” and therefore of supernatural birth. It announced that He would be the object of Satan’s enmity. It foretold that He should be temporarily humiliated — bruised in His heel. It also proclaimed His ultimate victory, for He should bruise the serpent’s head, and therefore must be more than man. It intimated the age-long strife there would be between the two seeds: the children of the Devil and those united unto Christ...
And the Lord said unto Cain, 'What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground' (Gen. 4:10). That is the first time that all-important word 'blood' is mentioned in the Scriptures...foreshadowing as it does some of the most essential and outstanding features of the atonement of Christ. Abel was a shepherd (Gen. 4:2) and was hated, though without cause, by his brother (1 John 3:12). He did not die a natural death, but met with a violent end: as the good Shepherd was crucified and slain by wicked hands (Acts 2:23). In the light of those facts, how deeply significant are the words 'the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me.' That is the all-important but inexpressibly blessed thing in connection with the blood of Christ: it is vocal Godwards! It is 'the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel' (Heb. 12:24), for it satisfied every demand of God and procured inestimable blessing for His people."3
Here is another noteworthy example:
"Two cities figure prominently in events on earth during the 2,600-year period covering 'the times of the Gentiles': Jerusalem, and Babylon. And these two cities, both mentioned very early in Scripture (Gen. 10:10; 14:18), stand in complete contrast to one another at every point. Babylon is first mentioned in connection with Nimrod (the name means 'rebel,' 'one who revolts'), and Jerusalem is first mentioned in connection with Melchizedek (meaning, 'King of peace' [Heb. 7:2]), establishing first-mention principles which hold constant throughout Scripture."4
These demonstrations are only the tip of the iceberg; indeed, even the old covenant sacrifices and laws and Levitical priesthood garments/ceremonies allude to their eventual realization in Jesus Christ and His ultimate sacrifice and victory over sin and death. Mount Sinai and Mount Zion stand opposite of one another representing the old covenant (law of Moses) and the new covenant (grace of Christ) respectively. The Biblical narrative is interwoven and interconnected with clues and celestial 'nods' in such a way that irrefutably attests to its divine inspiration. "For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?" (Rom. 11:34)
It is easy to see how utilizing this helpful tool can help flesh out some of the more shrouded and symbolic themes of the Word of God. I will defer to the Biblical Research Society's succinct closing comments on the Law of First Mention:
"The field in which the law of first mention operates is wide indeed. It is a very important law. If a person wishes to understand the revelation of God, he must study the Book of Genesis, which lays down the fundamentals that are developed and set forth in the rest of the Scriptures. There are, however, certain themes that are mentioned later on in the Scriptures for the first time. Thus the first mention of them gives the fundamental conception of such teachings. That the law of first mention, therefore, is of greatest importance to the Bible student can be readily seen from this brief study."1
1www.biblicalresearch.info/page56.html
2www.netbiblestudy.com/00_cartimages/thelawoffirstmention.pdf
3Arthur W. Pink's "Interpretation of the Scriptures" ISBN 1589603052
4Arlen L. Chitwood's "Focus on the Middle East" ASIN: B000OT0SHC