APR 29

1 Peter 1:1-12
Memorise 1 Peter 1:10-12
“The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple”

WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL LITERAL METHOD?

This is the oldest method in existence. It is said to have originated with Ezra, the Father of Hermeneutics. The progress of its history is through the Palestinian Jews, Christ and the Apostles, the School of Antioch, and the Reformers, to the fundamental Conservatives of today.

This approach regards the Bible to have been written as history, that is, neither allegorical, nor composed of fables and traditions. However, this does not mean that everything is to be interpreted literally, without recognizing the fact that the Bible also made use of figures of speech, metaphors and idioms. It accepts every kind of figurative language as well as the spiritual meaning in a literal context. It also does not rule out the possibility of having multiple applications of a particular verse or passage. Whilst there can be only one right meaning and interpretation of any verse, we can draw multiple applications for our Christian life from it.

In today’s reading we see that the prophets of old could not fully understand the exact order of events that would transpire at the coming of the Messiah. They could not discern the difference between the prophecies of a suffering savior and a victorious king. Yet the prophets faithfully reported and wrote what God would have them to write, and now their writings as recorded in the Bible benefit us. Only with hindsight and the complete canon of Scripture are we able to understand that Christ came the first time to save us, and then He will come again the second time to judge those outside His kingdom. Between these two comings, a period of more than 2,000 years has already passed, and only God knows how long more we will have to wait. Whilst it was hard for them to understand, it is clear to us when we interpret the prophecies literally, and not attempt to find any deeper allegorical or mystical meaning behind each verse.

Dear teen, the golden rule of Bible interpretation is always to seek the plain sense and then to seek no other sense. This is a good and safe rule to avoid error and wild speculations. We need to seek what God says and accurately understand it. Thank God for godly and faithful preachers/ teachers of the Word who will exegete and expound Bible texts and passages to aid us in our understanding too.

Thought: There is one interpretation but many applications.
Prayer: Help me, Lord, to be a good student of Thy infallible, inerrant and fully preserved Word