Feb. 01, 2026

Principles for Biblical Interpretation I (18 JAN 26)

Introduction - This lesson is a follow-on to my last sermon which introduced the main methods of biblical interpretation.  Image the point that the safest and best method is the Literal Method, which is actually the Literal-Historical-Grammatical method more specifically.  Today I will expand seven principles used within that method.  Hopefully this lesson will help you to:

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. NASB

Most Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.  Many Christians, however, have disagreements about how it should be applied because they have no systematic way to interpret it.  The following principles should help you to “rightly divide” or “accurately handle” the Word:

1. The Context Principle - the principle by which the interpretation of any verse is determined by consideration of its context.  The context of a verse is the passage or section it is in.  The context of a passage is the book.  The context of a book is the Testament (Old or New).  The context of the Testament is the whole Bible.  

    Example: Luke 24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to             stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” NASB

This verse is used to promote “tarrying “ to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  The context of the New Testament clearly shows that this period of waiting was not necessary after the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

2.  The First Mention Principle - The First Mention Principle means that the interpretation of any verse is aided by considering the first time its subject appears in Scripture. 

Example:  Genesis 22:5 - Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the boy will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” NASB. 

First mentions can be done through a thing, a person, an act or event, a place, or a prophecy.  Here, contrary to the modern church’s emphasis on music as worship, this first mention contained not a note of song.  Worship can include music, but the Biblical idea is that it is a lifestyle of sacrifice. 

3.  The Comparative Mention Principle is that principle by which a certain version group of verses may be interpreted by comparing and/or contrasting it with another verse or group of verses.  

Example:  Use this method when two or more verses deal with the same subject.  

Ephesians 4:22-24 teaches to:                 Colossians 3:5-14 teaches to: 

 - put off the old man                           - put off all these (list of sins)

 - Be renewed in the Spirit of your mind              - be renewed in knowledge of Christ

 - put on the new man                      - put on (list of virtues)

4.  The Progressive Mention Principle is that principle by which the interpretation of any verse is aided by the progressive mentions of its subject in Scripture.  

Example: Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. NASB. Is Peter the rock upon which the church is founded?  A trail of references to “rock” or “stone” leads us to a pretty strong picture:  that a rock is a symbol of something very strong and powerful.  

Genesis 28:16-22        The rock anointed to be Bethel, the House of God

Genesis 49:24            The shepherd, the stone of Israel

Exodus 17:1-17        The smitten rock provides living waters

Deuteronomy 32:4,15        God, the rock of our salvation

Deuteronomy 32:18        The rock that begat thee

Psalms 31:2            The strong rock

Psalm 62:7            The rock of strength and refuge

Psalm 95:1            The rock of defense

Isaiah 42:11            the inhabitants of the rock

Daniel 2:34,35            The stone, kingdom smashing the kingdoms of the world

Matthew 16:18        The foundation rock of the church

1 Peter 2:6,8            The chief cornerstone, the stone of stumbling, rock of offense

By the time we get to Matthew 16:18 it is evident that a rock in Scripture is not a human.  We have a strong progressive mention to this point.

5.  The Complete Mention Principle says that the interpretation of any verse is determined upon a consideration of the complete mention of its subject in Scripture.  This is a companion to the last two principles.  They work together, each being an outgrowth of the former, ands each more certain in determining a correct interpretation. 

Example: 1 Peter 2:6,8 leaves no doubt that the Rock mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 is Himself.  There are no singular mentions of the symbol of a rock in the remainder of Scripture.  The revelation of the symbol is complete at this point and we may safely conclude that Jesus is the Rock upon which the church is built.  

6.  The Election Principle is that principle in which the interpretation of any verse of group of verses is determined by considering its relation to the election involved in the purposes of God.  This principle is only useful when election (the sovereign choice of God) is a factor.  Election involves the sovereign choice God based upon foreknowledge.  God simply knows who will serve Him, because He is all-knowing.  This is not a capricious choice based on His emotion or whims.  

Example: Romans 9:11-13 …for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” 13Just as it is written: “JACOB I HAVE LOVED, BUT ESAU I HAVE HATED.”  God could love Jacob and hate Esau before they were born because He foreknew their characters.   

7.  The Covenantal Principle is that by which the interpretation of a verse or group of verses is determined by a consideration of its covenantal setting.  Major Covenants of the Bible, such as the Everlasting Covenant, the Edenic Covenant, the Adamic Covenant, the Noahic Covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant, The Mosaic Covenant, the Palestinian Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and the New Covenant, must be considered when interpreting a verse or verses.  

Example: the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is a good example of a Scripture which is often seen as part of the New Covenant, but clearly does not contain many elements of the New Covenant.  For example, there is no mention of the Holy Spirit, no reference to the death of Christ or its produce: redemption, reconciliation, or propitiation. The idea of a new creation, and the phrase in Christ is missing.  There is no enabling power to meet the severe demands posed by Jesus’ use hyperbole (cutting off hands and plucking out eyes) and no mention of justification.  Righteousness is  mentioned in relation to the human effort displayed by the Pharisees, not the righteousness bestowed by grace.  There is no mention of being saved from hell by simply believing. Verses 3-11, commonly called the Beatitudes, are completely works-reward descriptions related to human effort, not grace.  

Conclusion - in coming weeks I will introduce the remaining principles for a total of 17 principles. 

    the Ethnic Division Principle        The Parabolic Principle

    The Allegorical Principle        The Typical Principle

    The Chronometrical Principle        The  Numerical Principle

    The Breach Principle

    The Christo-Centric principle

    The Moral Principle

    The Symbolic Principle      

Principles for Bible Interpretation, part 2 (01 FEB 2026)

Introduction - This is a continuation of my last lesson by the same title.  Both are expansions of a previous sermon in which I discussed the main Methods of Interpretation: The Allegorical Method, the Mystical Method, the Devotional Method, the Rationalistic Method, and the Literal Method.  Of these, the Literal Method is the one our church and its elders use to interpret the Scriptures. I have thus far taught seven principles of interpretation that are used within the Literal Method: the the Context Principle, the First Mention Principle, the Comparative Mention Principle, the Progressive Mention Principle, the Complete Mention Principle, the Election Principle, and the Covenant Principle.  Today, we’ll continue the series of the remaining ten principles:

8.  The Ethnic Division Principle is that principle by which the interpretation of any verse or passage of the Scripture is determined upon a consideration of God’s appointed ethnic divisions.  The Bible talks about three great divisions of humankind: 1) The Jews (including Israel and Judah, the southern kingdom) 2) the Gentiles (all other nations of the world) and 3) the Church (people from every tongue, kindred, people, and nation who have believed in Jesus, Both Jew and Gentile).  

Examples: Jeremiah 31:31-4 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah…,  (All of Israel, not the divided Kingdom)

Matthew 12:18-21 “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN;MY BELOVED IN  WHOM MY SOUL DELIGHTS;I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM,AND HE WILL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES…AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.” (Gentiles)

I Cor 12:13 by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.  (The Church)

We must be careful when claiming promises that do not belong especially to our ethnic group.  For example, the Church does not have an earthly inheritance of land, as does Israel.  Our home forever is the New Jerusalem.  

9. The Chronometrical Principle is that principle by which the interpretation of a verse or passage is determined upon a consideration of its Chronometrical setting.  Chronometric has to do with time and its measurement.  God has measured out ages and times: 1) the eternal ages past, 2) the age of creation, 3) the age of re-creation, 4) the age of Patriarchs-Promise (Adam-Abraham), 5) The age of the Chosen Nation-Law (Isaac-Christ) 6) the Messianic Age - first coming to second coming 7) the Age to come, 8) the eternal ages future.  Much confusion comes when an interpreter attributes something which belongs to another age into the age it was not meant for:  Law, animal sacrifices, Aaronic priesthood, ceremonial laws, circumcision, the keeping of Sabbaths into the Messianic Age, or marriage, death and mortality into the Future Ages 

Examples: Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day— 17things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 

Luke 20:34-36 Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and the women are given in marriage, 35but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

10.  The Breach Principle is that principle by which the interpretation of a certain verse or passage of Scripture is aided by a consideration of certain breaches of time and promise.  There are a number of major events in the Bible affected by a breach, which could be a breach of faith, promise, privilege, peace, or trust.

Examples: A breach of faith and trust created a large gap in Israel’s spiritual history.  The gap started with the rejection of Jesus during His first coming and will close at the Second Coming of Christ.  This allowed a massive number of Gentiles to receive Jesus and become God’s children. Eventually all Jews who God knows will believe in Him will be saved, hence, “all Israel will be saved.” 

Romans 11: 25 …that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26and so all Israel will be saved;

11.  The Christo-Centric Principle is the principle by which Scripture is interpreted in relation to its center—Christ.  The Old Testament contains many vague references to Christ.  He is the central person of the Bible.  These Scriptures must be interpreted in the light of the clear New Testament revelations of Jesus.  The clear and historical must interpret the obscure and prophetical.  

Example:  Genesis 22:1-14  This passage, Too long to include here, concerns the potential sacrifice of Isaac, by his father, Abraham.  There are numerous mentions of Christo-centric elements in this passage which are referenced in the New Testament:  A father/son relationship, an only Son, the Son intended to be a sacrifice, the question of God providing a Lamb, three days.

Jesus is pictured in every major division of Scripture: the Old Testament historical books, OT poetical books, OT prophetical books, the Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles, the Revelation

12.The Moral Principle is the principle by which the interpretation of a verse or passage is determined by the moral it contains. This can be applied to most of the Scripture, as the Bible has countless practical lessons.  

Example: 1 Chronicles 13: 12-14, 15:13-15 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months; and the LORD blessed the family of Obed-edom and all that he had.

David had a noble desire to bring back the stolen ark of the covenant, but didn’t take the time to examine how God wanted it done.  The idea was to reverence God, even in its transport back to Jerusalem.  David just loaded it on a “new wagon” and took off with two men driving it, just like the Philistines who stole it.  At one point the oxen pulling the cart stumbled and Uzza reached out to steady it.  It essentially was being hauled like a piece of common freight.  God’s anger over this irreverent procession burst forth on Uzza and he died.  David parked the ark short of Jerusalem in the house of Obed-Edom, figured out that the ark was to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites, and got it safely to Jerusalem.  The moral: God’s work must be done in God’s way in order to have God’s blessing.

13.  The Symbolic Principle is that principle by which the interpretation of a verse or passage in Scripture containing symbolic elements can be determined by the proper interpretation of the symbol(s) involved.  There are 7 categories of symbols used in the Bible: 1) Objects, 2) Creatures, 3) Actions, 4) Numbers, 5) Names, 6) Colors, and 7) Directions.

Example: Luke 10:30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he encountered robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 

Directions are probably the least understood symbols in our knowledge of Bible interpretation. Here, the reference to the man traveling down generally denotes digression in Scripture.  Other examples: Abraham went down into Egypt/ went up out of Egypt/ Lucifer …brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit/ (Jonah) from the presence of the Lord and went down…down…down. / Capernaum…shall be thrust down to hell (unto Hades)

14.  The Numerical Principle is that principle by which the interpretation of a verse or passage in Scripture containing numbers is aided by a recognition of the symbolic significance of the numbers involved.  Almost every page of the Bible refers to numbers in some way.  God communicates important truths using numbers.  The saint who answered Daniel’s question in Daniel 8:13-14 about how long till the sanctuary would be cleansed was called, in the original language, “the numberer of secrets.”

Example:  Luke 10:1 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.     

This verse uses the number 70 (the number of imminent increase, indicating a multitude).  It also uses the number two (the number of witness).  One person would be insufficient; two can provide convincing  testimony.  The third number, three, is implied by the presence of Jesus.  Three is the number of Divine completeness.  This verse may be interpreted as follows using the numerical principle:  Jesus sent out the seventy disciples to represent the multitude of believers and to indicate am imminent increase.  He sent two by two because their mission was to bear witness and give testimony of Him.  He purposed to follow their witness with His own perfect divine testimony.  

15.  The Typical Principle is the principle by which the interpretation of a verse or passage of Scripture containing typical elements can be determined only through a proper interpretation of the type or types involved.  A type is an emblem (a person, office, institution, or event) usually seen in the Old Testament which prefigures persons or things which are realized in the New Testament.  Since Types and Symbols are a bit confusing, Here are some comparisons to help you decide which is which:

A symbol may represent a thing, either past, present or future.

A type is essentially a prefiguring of something future from itself.

A symbol is a figure of something either past, present, or future.

A type is a figure of that which is to come.

A symbol has in itself no reference to time.

A type has inherent in itself a reference to time

A symbol represents certain qualities in that which it represents.

A type is a larger, more complete representation of something or someone to come.

A symbol, to be interpreted requires the identifying of the features common to the symbol and that which it symbolizes.

A type, to be interpreted, requires more complete description of the person, office, institution, or event it represents.  

Example: Exodus 15-40 (too long to include here) these chapters describe the instituting of the Tabernacle of Moses, which is a detailed type of Christ.  Every part of the Tabernacle had some significant corresponding counter quality on the life of Jesus.  For example:

The Ark of the Covenant corresponds to (with John 1:14 as a key) Jesus being “(the One who)…dwelt amongst us.”  The Mercy Seat signifies propitiation, the Rod that budded signifies Resurrection, etc.  No doctrine should be built on types alone, but types can illustrate doctrines.  

16. The Parabolic Principle is the principle by which any parable is interpreted by discerning its moral and interpreting its elements. Parables can generally be classified as either short or long parables.  They are fictional stories about earthly situations that have a singular spiritual lesson to communicate.  Here’s an example of a short parable inserted into a longer lesson on the kingdom of God:

Example: Matthew 13:52 And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure new things and old.”

the man-householder                    The Scribe-disciple    

The treasure house                    The heart (Matthew 12:34,35)    

Things new                        New teachings of truth

Things old                        Old teachings of truth

The moral lesson of this parable is: as every disciple has received instruction in the things of the kingdom, he must also instruct others in the same way.  

When interpreting the parts or elements of a parable, it is best to let Scripture (what is written before and after this Scripture) interpret the Scripture in question.  

17.  The Allegorical Principle is that principle by which any allegory is interpreted by discerning its lessons and interpreting its elements.  Allegories and parables are very similar but different in one point: Allegories have within themselves or in the surrounding context, its own interpretation.  Allegories are extended metaphors, a figure of speech in which one thing is likened to another.  They are used to teach and illustrate, not so much to make a moral lesson.  By contrast, Parables are extended similes, usually introduced by “like” or “as.” Both allegories and parables are interpreted similarly, in that we examine the moral lesson and identify the elements.  

Example:  Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.

The elements of this allegory are these:

Salt                        Ye-disciples of Jesus

Of the earth                    The world-mankind

Lost savour                    Lost influence

Wherewith shall it be salted            Influence hard to be regained

Good for nothing                of no profit to the Kingdom

To be cast out                    Excommunicated

To be trodden underfoot of men        Despised by unbelievers

The moral lesson of this allegory is: the world’s only influence for good, the people of God, must maintain that influence, lest they come under judgment.

Conclusion:  There is a moderate amount of discipline involved in reading and understanding the Bible, but is not impossible or even difficult.  It was meant to be understood by all of us.  Much of the Bible consists of plainly understood sentences simply connecting one thought to another.  The Literal method assumes that very thing.  No one needs to spell out for you what is plain.  The principles mentioned in these short lessons are designed to help you recognize certain types of specialized writing, like parables, allegories, symbols, types, things which are progressively mentioned, the special significance of numbers, etc. when they appear.  You will really benefit from understanding and responsibly applying the eternal wisdom loaded in your Bible.  I’d suggest an excellent book written by two men whom I have met in years past:  Interpreting the Scriptures by Kevin J. Conner and Ken Malmin, available at kevinconner.org for $10.00.  I have borrowed these 17 points from their wonderful work.