The Source of Meaning

There are three components in Bible interpretation that we can use to determine the meaning of certain passages.  They are the text, the reader (you), and the author (e.g. Paul).  Since interpretation is finding the meaning of the verse, it is important to know which one we going to use to find the meaning of Bible passages.

Some say that the text should be used to find the meaning. But once you separate the text from the person who authored it, the text would no longer have the message that the author originally wish to convey.  The result would be the same in making the reader (you) determine the meaning of the text.  The passage can produce a meaning that is totally different from the one intended by the author.

Example:  John 20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (NIV)  If we will use either the text or ourselves (the reader) to determine the meaning of this verse, we end up with Christians having the authority just like God to literally forgive and not to forgive other people sins.  But is that what Jesus meant by these statement?

Therefore we should see the meaning of the Bible passage as being controlled by the original author.  The text means what it meant when it was first written.  It is our job to find out the meaning that was understood by the original hearers from the author.  We should note that today we can have various applications of the meaning of Bible verses, but the original meaning of the verse as intended by the author never changes. Our application should not contradict the original meaning of the verse.  Again, it is back to the process of proper exegesis first before exposition. (see Definition)

  Example:  Ephesians 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (KJV)  Today, we can say "be not drunk with beer or whiskey" or "be not overdose with drugs" as a proper application since we can argue that the effect in our body of both substances are close enough to wine in Paul's day.  But to suggest that we can also say "don't drink to much coffee" or "don't eat to much fattening food" as an application of the verse is going out of the meaning intended by the author.  Remember, application should be in harmony with the original meaning of the verse.

Adapted from Robert H. Stein, A Basic Guide To Interpreting the Bible, chapter 1 (see Bibliography)

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