Biblical Interpretation (Speer) - Course Study Guide (Print)

INTRODUCTION
The name of this course is “Biblical Interpretation.” The more technical name
for this subject is “Sacred Hermeneutics,” which is the study of the methods
of determining the meaning of our biblical text, interpreting the Bible. Some
people might ask, “Why should we study such a thing?” Others might say, “Doesn’t
the Holy Spirit within a person give him understanding of Scripture? If that is so,
then why do we even need a methodology, as it were, to help the person decide what
the text means?” This theory is what we call illumination.
Another might suggest, “Experience shows us that everyone has his own
interpretation and that is as it should be. Therefore, we don’t need a standardized
hermeneutic because it simply won’t work.” This sounds like existentialism. Still
others might comment, “Why bother? The Bible is just too hard to understand,
anyway.” This person has simply given up and, therefore, sees no benefit in such a
study. I would like for us to look at each one of these to see if they are valid
arguments.


TABLE OF CONTENTS.
LESSON ONE: Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
LESSON TWO: The Proper Attitude for Good Biblical Interpretation . . . . . 8
LESSON THREE: Basic Assumptions of Biblical Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . 14
LESSON FOUR: Successive Readings with an Angle . . . . . . . . . 21
LESSON FIVE: Successive Readings – Part II . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
LESSON SIX: Further Steps in the Exegetical Process Interpreting Whole Bible Books . . . . .  . . . . . . 48
LESSON SEVEN: Fundamental Rules of Interpretation of a Passage . . . . . . . 64
LESSON EIGHT: Tools of the Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
LESSON NINE: What Commands Are Binding on Us Today . . . . . . . . . . . 83
LESSON TEN: Biblical Examples as Precedents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
LESSON ELEVEN: The Silence of Scriptures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
LESSON TWELVE: Interpretation Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Charles Speer received a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University in 1970. From there he went directly to Sunset School of Preaching in Lubbock, Texas. After graduation from there in 1972, Charles went to work with the Northside congregation in Dallas for five years. In 1977 Charles and Cara were married and moved to Weatherford, Oklahoma, where he preached for eight years. Their two children, Bryn and Jamin, were born in Weatherford. In 1985 the Speer family attended six months of mission training at Sunset School of Preaching before leaving for New Zealand where they worked for three and a half years training preachers for New Zealand, New Guinea, and other points in the south Pacific at South Pacific Bible College. Since 1989, Charles has been working full time with Sunset International Bible Institute. (Formerly Sunset School of Preaching.) Charles has a passion for the word of God and believes deeply that we need to have more respect and love for the word of God. He emphasizes the need for a strong family life and the need to take the gospel to the lost. This study will convince you of man's need to study the Bible to know God and His word.