My rules for studying Scripture
I have set for myself rules for how I study Scripture and thought it might be interesting to share them for others to consider. These may also serve as a companion tool for the Scripture Studies section.
1. The rule of first-mentions:
- A. This rule establishes that whatever is first mentioned as one thing (i.e. pig meat is unclean/not food), it remains consistent. When food is mentioned again, you know what is being talked about and what is not.
- B. Mark 7:19 is a good example. It states, “In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.”
The rule then establishes that Yeshua/Jesus was not talking about something like pig meat as food. Though some dismiss this statement as a later addition to the original text; contextually, this wasn’t even part of the conversation. - C. There are exceptions where a word, phrase, or term can have it’s own unique meaning independent of other times. An example would be where leaven representing the persuasion of sin vs. leaven representing Heaven – Matt. 13 and Gal. 5)
2. When the typical sense of Scripture makes sense, seek no other sense, lest you lose the common sense:
- A. In essence, if it already makes sense, don’t try to make it mean something else.
- B. As an example, Scripture establishes that the lights in the sky are what determine the times, seasons, days, and years (Genesis/Bereshit 1:14). It has also established that a Month is determined by the renewed moon (a lunar calendar). Therefore, the conjunction of the moon (when it is dark and unseeable) cannot be the beginning of the month. Instead, common sense dictates it is when it first gives off it’s light as stated in Gen. 1:14.
3. Where there is no instruction, there is no doctrine:
- A. There are many practices within Scripture that come with their own instructions on conduct and understood practices. As an example, we are commanded to wear tassels on the borders of our garments. The established purpose is for remembering all that we have been commanded (Numbers 15). It comes with instructions to make them as tassels with a blue cord and on the borders of our garments. This is a command with instructions that we can follow with a style, color, placement, and purpose.
- B. A doctrine in the Christian church is that the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week) was changed to Sunday. You will find absolutely no command or instructions for this anywhere in Scripture.
This is a completely baseless and gross misunderstand of the phrase “the Lord’s day.” The phrase is used throughout Scripture often as “on the day of the Lord”. It is understood to be a time or an event when God performs an act of great significance.
4. If not “thus says the Lord”, it’s not a Command:
- A. A simple example is when it is written that the law (lower-case “l”) was “nailed to the cross” (Col. 2:14). God established that the Law/Torah is eternal (perpetual, from generation to generation, etc.). Therefore, that is not what was nailed to the Cross/Stake. It makes no sense that an eternal and unchanging God would establish His Torah/Law as eternal only to have His own Son die on a cross because of the violation of it only for it to be “done away with” as a result. God never established that His perfect and eternal Torah/Law was ever “done away with”, therefore, it never was.
- B. This rule also applies to the above example of the Sabbath being changed.
5. Context is key:
- A. Context is often considered to be all the text surrounding a verse, thought, or even an entire chapter. This is why I do not adhere to the chapters and verses as their own independent thoughts. Sometimes, the thought carries on in the next chapter. If the reader stops short, they may miss out on the proper context.
- B. An example of this is when a politician may write a speech to comfort their constituents in a time of calamity or tragedy. They might quote a passage such as Isaiah 9:9 that says, “The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild…” This sounds like a statement of strength, however, within context, this was spoken as rebellion against God’s judgment on a nation. Given this context, the politician sounds rather ignorant.
- C. Another rather unfortunate example is that I’ve seen calendars with daily Bible verses on them where one day was Luke 4:7 which says, “If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.” The unfortunate thing was that the context of this passage is satan tempting Yeshua to bow to him. Context is key!
While not an exhaustive list, nor is it a required list of rules; I think they are wise to follow and have helped me tremendously. Hopefully, they can help you, too!