Biblical hermeneutics refers to the principles and methods used to interpret Scripture and determine its intended meaning. When interpreting the Bible, we rely on principles such as historical context, grammatical structure, and the meaning of words to understand what the author intended to communicate.
When you enter a church, you are often taught a particular interpretation of Scripture based on what that pastor or denomination believes to be true. When you first open a Bible and begin studying on your own, you may also form an initial understanding of what it teaches about God, salvation, and other subjects. Yet, as your understanding of Scripture grows, you may discover that some of your earlier conclusions were mistaken.
The things we learn through sermons, audio clips, our upbringing, parents, friends, and other family members can all shape our understanding of individual verses, passages, and even the character of God Himself. Sometimes these influences help us understand Scripture more accurately; other times, they can lead us to incorrect conclusions.
One of the greatest obstacles to studying Scripture is our own bias, or the “lens” through which we read the text. Some people have grown up in the church, while others have not, but we all carry biases shaped by our life experiences. Sometimes, the problem can be as simple as not fully understanding the meaning of English words. The distinction between words such as “gift” and “reward,” for example, can be misunderstood and conflated, potentially leading people to false gospels or causing them to doubt their salvation. Perhaps we assume that every time the Bible uses the word “saved,” it refers to eternal life, or that “death” always means eternal separation from God rather than the death of the physical body.
These assumptions can influence how we interpret individual verses and entire passages. Once we begin reading Scripture through a particular “lens,” it can be difficult to recognize that lens or consider the text from another perspective. We may even struggle to read the Bible as a whole without allowing our preconceived ideas to influence our conclusions.
This raises an important question: How can we arrive at a correct understanding of Scripture?
Below are two categories of principles, along with the subpoints we recommend for studying and interpreting the Bible. The first category focuses on biblical principles and attitudes that should guide our study, while the second focuses on the practical methods we use to interpret Scripture.
I. Biblical Principles for Understanding Scripture
The following are biblical principles we have found helpful in our study. Some are directly based on biblical instruction, while others are practical observations we have found useful through experience. Where we offer a practical observation, it should be understood as an application of biblical principles rather than a direct promise or command from Scripture.
1. The Holy Spirit Is Our Teacher
Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit teaches and guides believers into all truth. As we study God's Word, we should seek His guidance, ask for wisdom, and remain receptive to what He teaches us through Scripture.
See John 14:26; 1 John 2:27; James 1:5.
2. If We Diligently Seek Truth, We Will Find It
Scripture encourages us to seek wisdom and understanding diligently. When we genuinely desire the truth and faithfully seek it, we should not give up simply because the answer is difficult to find. Our goal should always be to seek the truth, regardless of whether it is popular or unpopular.
See Proverbs 2:3–5; Matthew 7:7.
3. We Must Be Humble
We must be willing to be wrong if we are to grow in wisdom and understanding of Scripture. Otherwise, pride may prevent us from recognizing our mistakes and lead us to misinterpret or misunderstand a passage.
Humility means being willing to reconsider our conclusions when Scripture or another person shows us that we may have misunderstood something. We must not allow pride, reputation, or a desire to defend our previous beliefs to prevent us from accepting the truth.
See Proverbs 11:2; Psalm 25:9.
4. Be Faithful, and More Will Be Given
Jesus teaches that those who are faithful with what they have been given will be entrusted with more. We have also found this principle helpful in studying Scripture. As we faithfully study, consider, and revisit difficult passages, our understanding has grown over time. Sometimes, an answer does not become clear until years or even decades later.
We should not become discouraged when we do not immediately understand a passage. Instead, we should continue studying faithfully, trusting that our efforts are worthwhile even when we have not yet found the answer.
See Mark 4:24–25; Luke 16:10.
5. Set Aside Preconceived Viewpoints
When studying a passage, try your best to set aside your previous assumptions, biases, and doctrinal conclusions so that you can examine what the text actually says. Even when a passage appears to contradict what you have previously believed, allow its wording and context to speak for themselves rather than immediately forcing the passage to fit your existing understanding.
Do not approach a text with the attitude, “I already know what this means because of another verse over here.” Instead, remain open to examining the passage from a different perspective, even if it challenges what you have always been taught or what you have heard from others.
We recognize that this can be difficult, but it is especially helpful when certain verses initially appear to contradict the teachings of many other passages. Rather than dismissing the difficult verse or forcing it to fit our existing beliefs, we should study it carefully and seek to understand how the passages relate to one another.
The Bible itself encourages this approach. The Bereans examined the Scriptures daily to determine whether what Paul taught was true (Acts 17:11). Paul also instructs believers to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). These passages remind us that we should examine what we hear rather than accept it without consideration.
Jesus also rebuked those who allowed human traditions to take precedence over God's commandments (Mark 7:8–13). This demonstrates the danger of allowing established teachings or traditions to influence our understanding in ways that depart from God's Word.
Setting aside our preconceived viewpoints does not mean rejecting everything we have previously learned. Rather, it means being willing to test our beliefs against Scripture and correct them when necessary.
See Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; Proverbs 18:13; Mark 7:8–13.
II. Hermeneutical Principles for Interpreting Scripture
The following are basic hermeneutical principles that provide a method for studying and interpreting Scripture. Although these principles are particularly useful for biblical study, many of them can also be applied to the interpretation of other texts and forms of communication.
1. Context Interprets Scripture
Consider the surrounding verses, paragraph, chapter, and book. Do not build a doctrine from an isolated verse.
The immediate context includes the surrounding verses and the broader context of the biblical book in which a passage appears. We must also consider the historical, cultural, and linguistic context.
Context is not limited to a single chapter or even a single book. Sometimes, New Testament authors refer to Old Testament passages and draw upon details, events, or teachings with which their original audiences were familiar. To understand these references properly, we must also study the Old Testament passages to which the authors refer.
2. Consider the Historical and Cultural Context
Ask the following questions: Who wrote the passage? To whom was it written? When was it written? Why was it written? What circumstances was the author addressing?
Before asking, “What does this mean to me?” ask, “What did the author mean to his original audience?”
3. Scripture Interprets Scripture
Often, Scripture helps explain itself and serves as its own commentary. In some instances, one biblical author directly explains or interprets another biblical passage.
We must become familiar with Scripture as a whole before taking a firm position on certain subjects. Otherwise, we risk forming conclusions without considering other passages that may clarify or correct our understanding. We must rightly divide the Scriptures rather than base our conclusions on an incomplete understanding of God's Word.
4. The Clear Takes Precedence Over the Obscure
No verse of Scripture should be interpreted in a way that contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture as a whole. When we encounter a difficult or obscure passage, we should not discard what is clearly taught in other passages.
A difficult verse that appears to contradict the broader teaching of Scripture should prompt further study rather than an immediate rejection of either passage. We should not discard an entire body of doctrine simply because one verse initially appears to teach something different. At the same time, we must not dismiss a difficult passage merely because it challenges our established beliefs.
Instead, we should pause, seek the Lord, and continue studying. Sometimes, the answer may not become clear until years later, as we continue to study Scripture and our understanding deepens. Several factors may need to be considered, including grammar, translation from the original languages, our own lack of understanding, and things we have yet to learn.
We should not build major doctrines on obscure passages when other passages address the subject more clearly and directly.
5. Consider Grammar and Syntax
Pay attention to pronouns, conjunctions, verb tenses, subjects, objects, modifiers, and the relationships between clauses. These grammatical details can significantly affect the meaning of a passage and help us understand how its individual statements relate to one another.
6. Do Not Cherry-Pick Verses; Follow the Author's Argument
Do not isolate individual verses from the argument the author is developing. Instead, consider how each statement relates to the surrounding passage and the author's overall point.
Especially in Paul's writings, ask: Why does he say this here? What question is he answering? What argument is he making, and how does this statement contribute to it?
In 2 Peter 3:16, Peter warns that unlearned and unstable people distort Paul's writings, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. This serves as a reminder of the importance of handling Scripture carefully and understanding passages in their proper context.
7. Pay Attention to Literary Genre
Different literary genres communicate in different ways. Poetry, prophecy, narrative, wisdom literature, epistles, parables, and apocalyptic imagery must each be considered according to their particular characteristics.
Recognizing the type of literature we are reading helps us understand how the author intended to communicate his message.
8. Let the Context Determine the Meaning of a Word
Do not rely on a dictionary definition alone to determine the meaning of a word. Consider how the word is used in its immediate context and throughout the passage.
For example, words such as “world,” “all,” “draw,” “chosen,” and “believe” should not automatically be assigned one fixed theological meaning every time they appear in Scripture. Their meaning must be determined by how they are used in each particular context.
9. Practice Exegesis, Not Eisegesis
Exegesis is the process of drawing out a text's intended meaning by carefully examining its historical, cultural, grammatical, and literary context. Eisegesis, by contrast, is the practice of reading one's own ideas, biases, or preconceived beliefs into the text.
Our goal should be to discover what Scripture communicates rather than impose upon it what we already believe or think it must say.
10. Consider the Meaning of a Passage to Its Original Audience
The meaning of a passage must remain grounded in what the author intended to communicate. Although the application of that passage may extend to us today, we must first establish its intended meaning before determining how it applies to our lives.
