We will be studying Philippians in Sunday school. This study will be an inductive Bible study. I've never done this type of study before, and I'm looking forward to breaking out the colored pencils.
The "what it means to me" eisegetical method was the norm in my pre-reformed days. It was a sign of "being spiritual" if you could find something new in the verses. In fact, it was discouraged to be too academic, a sort of missing the forest for the trees argument. The problem was that you could say you saw a lunar landscape instead of the forest, and no one would bat an eye.
I have read into and interpreted verses from a purely subjective point of view, completely missing the point of the passage in my effort to find something "for me". Part of it was looking for genuine comfort in the Word. But true comfort comes from seeing who God is as revealed in Scripture, not in imaging the verses mean something other than what is written.
I cringe inside for the years we encouraged our daughter to "listen" for the Holy Spirit speaking directly to her above and beyond what was in the written Word. To this day, she is thankful that she never "heard" anything.
When I was reviewing our handbook, this caused me to literally cheer out loud:
The "what it means to me" eisegetical method was the norm in my pre-reformed days. It was a sign of "being spiritual" if you could find something new in the verses. In fact, it was discouraged to be too academic, a sort of missing the forest for the trees argument. The problem was that you could say you saw a lunar landscape instead of the forest, and no one would bat an eye.
I have read into and interpreted verses from a purely subjective point of view, completely missing the point of the passage in my effort to find something "for me". Part of it was looking for genuine comfort in the Word. But true comfort comes from seeing who God is as revealed in Scripture, not in imaging the verses mean something other than what is written.
I cringe inside for the years we encouraged our daughter to "listen" for the Holy Spirit speaking directly to her above and beyond what was in the written Word. To this day, she is thankful that she never "heard" anything.
When I was reviewing our handbook, this caused me to literally cheer out loud:
- Take the Word at face value.
- Don't look for a hidden meaning; first look for the clear teaching of Scripture.
Thank God you have come to understand these truths. Scripture says what it means and means what it says. If the first sense of scripture makes sense, seek no other sense! Itrust you will enjoy Phillipians.
ReplyDeleteI am so with you in regard to inductive Bible Study and the perils of reading stuff into Scripture. It is almost midnight in the UK, Hertfordshire, just North of London - so I will have to discpline myself to wait till tomorrow to explore your blog!
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