Scripture interprets Scripture | Bible Study Framework

Scripture interprets Scripture is built on the belief that all Scripture is from God. Essentially, if all of the Bible is from an unchanging God then it must also be inerrant and without contradiction. It’s from one, divine author. Therefore, the goal should be to let Scripture interpret Scripture. We like the way it was put here:

The inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture is so profound that by studying it carefully, we can not understand only that we are reading truth, but learn how to know truth. This takes careful study and application, but it does not require a Bible college degree. Scripture itself is our best theology professor in helping us understand and apply Scripture.

How does Scripture interpret Scripture, Answers in Genesis

But more importantly, what does the Bible say or show about applying this interpretive standard?

how Scripture answers "Should ‘Scripture interprets Scripture’ be our standard?"

We should have full confidence in Scripture interpreting Scripture since all Scripture is divine and perfect (from God)^1,6. Its entirety forms a complete picture^{2,8,9,10,12,13}. The very idea that God is the sole author^1,6 forces the conclusion that Scripture cannot contradict itself⁵ and must also interpret itself since God cannot lie. Of course, we still must draw conclusions and/or teach/explain as needed^7,9,14. Jesus required the lawyer to form a conclusion after reading it¹⁰ (and only it). Scripture is the sole source for morality and obedience…it was this way for those under the Law^3,4,7,8,10 (“Scripture” for that time) as well as for those (like Timothy¹ and us) under the Gospel^9,11,13,14.

Further Study if you're interested...

The Bible Study Framework is built specifically for the purpose of “forcing” we humans to let Scripture interpret Scripture. We specifically want to steer away from the other human tendencies that might inhibit Scripture’s ability to interpret Scripture. Of course, there comes a point where we have to draw a conclusion. “What is this passage telling us?” We can still go wrong here, but the steps of the BSF are intended to keep us pointed in the right direction for the best possible conclusion…

Hopefully, we can deal with Scripture honestly. Looking at what it says. Putting it in the proper context of “all Scripture,” without going beyond Scripture with too much context. Gathering any, only, all passage(s) that might apply without Scripture weighting or disqualifying any part of God’s word because “it doesn’t fit” our preconceived belief or doctrine.

our answer is built on the following scripture-blocks

please comment if you feel it’s not adequately or correctly presented

3

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

What does it say?

When the king sits on his throne, he will write a personal copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. He shall keep it with him and read it all the days of his life. By doing this, he will learn to obey God by adhering to the words and doing them. It will also keep him humble, not thinking better of himself over others, keeping on the narrow path and living long in his kingdom.

What is the context?

Moses is re-telling the law to the people before they enter in to the Promised Land.

How does it apply here?

Scripture’s care, preservation and studying are demonstrated, giving us a principle of how God expects us to know Him and the means by which we know and understand.

4

Deuteronomy 31:11-13

when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,

What does it say?

When everyone comes before God [to worship] at the place He will choose, you shall read this law for everyone to hear. Assemble all people – men, women, children, and the foreigner – that they may hear and learn to obey God, being careful to do all the words of this law.

What is the context?

Moses is re-telling the law of God to the people before entering the Promised Land. Here, he is giving this instruction of public reading to occur every seven years when they are together for the Feast of Booths.

How does it apply here?

The reading of the law (all of it) was to be the source (single) for not just the kings but for all the people.

5

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. (As in all the churches of the saints,)

What does it say?

God is not a God of instability or disorder, but of order. An in all the churches of the saints….

What is the context?

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth about orderly worship. In this immediate context, he’s applying this truth to discourage everyone from speaking at once in worship. In particular, they were using miraculous gifts of tongues improperly (with no interpreter – vs 27).

The second part of this verse is punctuated to start a new paragraph that continues with verse 34 to read, “As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.”

Other translations such as the KJV and NASB punctuate and include it with verse 33 to read, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

How does it apply here?

Paul is making a universal statement about God’s character that can be applied to the inerrancy of Scripture (since it comes from God).

6

2 Peter 1:19-21

And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

What does it say?

We have the prophetic word that is more sure which you should pay close attention to as it is a lamp that shines in the dark. It shines until that day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts/minds. You know of first importance that no prophecy of Scripture came from one’s own interpretation, but rather the men were moved by the Holy Spirit to share what was from God.

What is the context?

Peter is warning all Christians about false teachers and goes on to compare them to false prophets. His overarching message is encouragement to hold fast to his and the apostles’ teaching as they “were eyewitnesses” (vs 16) of Jesus Christ. In addition to their eyewitness testimony, he is suggesting they pay attention to the prophecies that serve as confirmation of their faith, and he continues in the next few verses to warn about “false words” from “false teachers” (2:1-3).

How does it apply here?

The words of Scripture are God’s words and were not “filtered” or given their own meaning by those that were “carried along” to write them.

8

Matthew 4:1-2

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he fasted 40 days and 40 nights he was famished.

What does it say?

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by Satan and was famished after fasting forty days and nights.

What is the context?

Jesus has just been baptized by John the Baptist and has not yet begun his public ministry. He is led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted and is there fasting for forty days and forty nights. Satan tempts Jesus three times, each time appealing to a different facet of our ego.

How does it apply here?

In each temptation, Satan either uses direct scripture or a scriptural principle to justify his claim. On the surface, Satan’s statements are not false except when Jesus expands the thought or principle with additional Scripture. In each case, Jesus applies the ‘Scripture interprets Scripture’ principle.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

9

Acts 28:23

When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

What does it say?

After appointing a day, they came to his quarters in greater numbers. He preached all day, giving witness to the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them about Jesus using the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

What is the context?

Paul has finally arrived at Rome (as a prisoner). He has greeted the brethren (fellow Christians) and is calling for an audience with his Jewish brethren (vs 17) to share more about the “hope of Israel” (vs 20). Some believed and others didn’t, but Paul ended up staying two years “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (vs 31)

How does it apply here?

Paul preaches the gospel message (kingdom of God and Jesus) using the Law and Prophets.

10

Luke 10:25-28

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it? And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.

What does it say?

A lawyer tested Jesus by asking him a question. Jesus replied with two questions about what he understood to be written in the Law. The lawyer gave an answer based on two passages in the Law (from

and

). Jesus said he answered right and that if he practiced them he would live.

What is the context?

Jesus is in the midst of His public ministry, teaching the people while gaining notoriety.

How does it apply here?

This exchange demonstrates the Scripture interprets Scripture principle. At Jesus’ behest, the lawyer correctly concluded what was required to inherit eternal life, not from any explicit passage but from the full body of work in the Law and Prophets.

11

1 Peter 4:10-11

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

What does it say?

As each has been given, use it to serve your brethren in order to be good stewards of God’s grace: whoever speaks, as one speaking God’s words and whoever serves, as one strengthened by God’s rich supply – doing all to the glory of God through Christ Jesus, to whom belongs all glory and dominion forever. Amen.

What is the context?

Peter’s first letter to the “elect exiles” (brethren) that were faced with “various trials” (1:6). He wrote to strengthen and encourage them.

How does it apply here?

In the broader context of serving each other, Peter is counseling Christians that they speak encouraging words being mindful to stay within the authority of God’s word.

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…and if you’re wondering more about what we’re doing and why, here are some links we hope can help explain it (and maybe even get you excited about contributing):

the Bible Study Framework and scripture-blocks
our format and the anatomy of a question
the Bible study standard that we follow
our top four obstacles to letting scripture interpret scripture

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