How Do We Interpret Scripture? What Is Scripture?

Exegesis vs Eisegesis Exegesis (from the Greek ἐξηγεῖσθαι 'to lead out') is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text. Biblical exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of the Bible. The goal of Biblical exegesis is to find the meaning of the text which then leads to discovering its significance or relevance. - The idea of exegesis is to be objective. Sometimes the terms exegesis and hermeneutics have been used interchangeably. However, hermeneutics is a more widely defined discipline of interpretation theory. Hermeneutics includes the entire framework of the interpretative process, encompassing all forms of communication: written, verbal and nonverbal. Exegesis consists of interpretation principles that focus primarily on the written text. - Exegesis is not word study. Word study is the study of every word in a sentence. Word study can be abused. Eisegesis (from the Greek root εις, meaning into, in, among) is the process of misinterpreting a text in such a way that it introduces one's own ideas, reading into the text. This is best understood when contrasted with exegesis. While exegesis draws out the meaning from the text, eisegesis occurs when a reader reads his/her interpretation into the text. As a result, exegesis tends to be objective when employed effectively while eisegesis is regarded as highly subjective. - Exegesis is drawing what you read out from the text, and eisegesis is reading into the text your own preconceived opinions, beliefs, or experience. - So when a Pentecostal reads I Corinthians chapter 14 or Acts chapter 2, they read into it their own eisegesiscal interpretation due to their own experience with tongues, instead of using an exegesis to draw out the real meaning of the text. - When Calvinist and Arminians debate, they pick all of their favorite scriptures, deny the scriptures that they don’t like, then fill in the blanks with there eisegesiscal interpretation. - The bottom line is; You can’t theorize your way to the truth. You have to search the scriptures and let the Holy Spirit teach you all things. - Another unfortunate eisegesis you may run into is the government’s interpretation on Romans 13 that the hirelings are instructed to preach in order to control the masses in the case of martial law. - Jesus tells us that the Spirit of truth will teach us all things. John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

- With that being said, here is an interesting note: - Jesus, which is the word that became flesh and dwelt among us, gave us biblical interpretation that would otherwise be considered eisegesis if Christians were to come up with the interpretation on their own. For example: John 6:51

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

- When we read Exodus 16:15, which reads: Exodus 16:15

And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

- Another example: - Jesus was the voice in the burning bush: Exodus 3 John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. John 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

- Another example: Exodus 17 I Corinthians 10:1 I Corinthians 10:2 I Corinthians 10:3 I Corinthians 10:4

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

- We would probably never have come up with this interpretation with our own exegesis, unless we were actively looking for Jesus in scripture from an eisegesis view point. - As Christians that love Jesus, and know that the Old Testament speaks of Jesus, we are now looking for Jesus in the Old Testament as we read it; which would give us a different eisegesis interpretation than someone who wants to disprove that Jesus is the Messiah. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

- This is important because when you get involved with pseudo Christian movements that teach from the Talmud, you are listening to interpretations from those who give their eisegesis on scripture based on their hatred for Jesus. I can’t trust the exegetical interpretation of those that think that Jesus is the bastard son of a whore.

- The Talmud (Hebrew: ‫ ַתּלְמוּד‬talmūd "instruction, learning", from a root lmd "teach, study") is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history. It is a central text of mainstream Judaism.

He that hateth me hateth my Father also. John 15:23 John 15:24 John 15:25 John 15:26 John 15:27

If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

- They say that they study the Torah, but they believe the Talmud, because the Talmud is their interpretation of the Torah. Matthew 22:29

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

- The oral traditions took precedence over the law and the prophets to the Pharisees and the Sadducees . Jesus told them that they were in error for not knowing the scriptures. But those that did study scripture knew that there was a coming Messiah. Examples: - The woman at the well knew about prophecy of the coming Messiah, but the Pharisees had been playing around with the Talmud for so long, that they had to go back and check in scripture what was suppose to be happening. John 4:25 John 4:26

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

New Testament not scripture? Note: The word “scripture” is used 24 times in the four gospels combined which is the number of worship. Also the word Scripture is used 12 times in the five books written by the apostle John. Twelve is a perfect number, signifying perfection of government, or of governmental perfection. It is found as a multiple in all that has to do with rule. The argument: Matthew 22:29

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

- HRM movement brings up the question: What scripture do you think he was talking about? - The Septuagint (pronounced /’sɛptʊ.ədʒɪnt/), or simply "LXX", is the Koine Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, translated in stages between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC in Alexandria - Jesus is the word of God which became flesh and dwelt among us. John In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:1

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

- If you say that the New Testament is not scripture, then you are denying that the word became flesh and dwelt among us. Anyone who says that the word did not become flesh and dwell among us is a liar and an antichrist. I John 4:2 I John 4:3

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

- If everything Jesus has done was written down, the world would not be able to contain the books. John 21:25

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

- Holy Spirit inspired men wrote the scriptures in the bible that God wanted recorded. - God does not change. Even though that is the argument that the New Testament retractors use to support their heresy, they use it to make their listeners believe that the New Testament scriptures are “different” or a “changed work” from the Old Testament. Malachi For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 3:6

- Every word out of the mouth of God is Scripture. It’s not a changed work, it’s a completed work. Matthew 4:3 Matthew 4:4

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

- Anyone who says that it is a different spirit that inspired the New Testament than inspired the Old Testament are themselves coming with a strange spirit. Here is an excerpt from a HRM web site:

At one time I was like most Christians in my belief that the New Testament scriptures were more credible (or at least equally as credible), and somehow more profitable for reproof and for doctrine than the Old Testament. I used to think that this verse was only talking about the New Testament scriptures: - This person was never a Christian. This is a reverse psychology method of misrepresenting Christianity. - If this person was a Christian, they would recognize every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is scripture. 2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: - If this person had not cut off what Paul was saying mid sentence while he was being inspired by the Holy Spirit, They would see that we are being thoroughly furnished unto all good works with both the New and Old Testament. II Timothy 3:16 II Timothy 3:17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works .

But what I did not understand at one time is that when this letter to Timothy was written by Paul, the New Testament had not gone into print yet. “All Scripture” was referring to the “two or three witnesses” that Yeshua referred to when telling us “how to establish a matter.” When Paul wrote about “All Scripture” he meant “The Torah” (5 Books of Moses), The Prophets, & The Psalms. - She fails to address the fact that the law, the prophets, and the psalms point to Jesus. Luke 24:27

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

My understanding of things has changed as I have spent more time in prayer over the past few years. The Holy Spirit has been teaching me some basic principles about hermeneutics, and how to interpret New Testament doctrine. I, like most Christians, used to place the New Testament scriptures above the Old Testament scriptures in their authority. - The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, and the Old Testament is in the New Testament Revealed. If she did study the New Testament, it would have shown her the over 333 prophecies that were fulfilled when Jesus went to the cross. And there are over 500 prophecies that are yet to still be fulfilled in the Old Testament about Jesus’ second coming. John 1:14 John 1:15

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. John 1:16 John 1:17

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

- If we recognize the law and the prophets and the Psalms, why would we not want to recognize grace and truth? But then in 2007 when I was in a time of intense prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to me “Maria, the Double Portion Anointing is that of Moses & Elijah,” and as he said this I had a vision of Yeshua at the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses & Elijah. I suddenly realized that he had both anointings on his life (law & prophets). That is who the two witnesses are! - She doesn’t deny the law. And she doesn’t deny the prophets. She only denies the Messiah. II John 1:7 II John 1:8 II John 1:9 II John 1:10 II John 1:11

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

- The wicked Jezebel must be cast out: Revelation 2:20 Revelation 2:21 Revelation 2:22 Revelation 2:23

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

- You don’t owe her an explanation for throwing her out: II Kings 9:30 II Kings 9:31 II Kings 9:32 II Kings 9:33

And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?

And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.

- But if ye believe not Moses writings, how shall ye believe Jesus words? Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which John testify of me. 5:39 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. John 5:40 I receive not honour from men. John 5:41 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. John 5:42 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own John name, him ye will receive. 5:43 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that John cometh from God only? 5:44 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even John Moses, in whom ye trust. 5:45 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. John 5:46 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? John 5:47 - In conclusion: Proverbs 6:23 Proverbs 6:24

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

God’s commandments are the lamps that we are to follow, and the lamps are the Spirits of God: Revelation And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven 4:5 Spirits of God. The law is the light. Matthew 5:17 tells us that Jesus came to fulfill the law. Matthew 5:16 Matthew 5:17 Matthew 5:18

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Jesus is the light: Revelation 21:22 Revelation 21:23

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Reproofs of instruction are the way of life: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the John Father, but by me. 14:6 - If you deny that Jesus is the word of God, then you can not come to the Father.