Rule of interpretation Rule #2

Rules of Interpretation #2

We are examining the Rules of Interpretation used in Law and proper Bible study. Yesterday we looked at the first rule, which was the Rule of Definition. Today we will look at Rule #2, the Rule of Usage.

Rule of Usage

When studying God’s Word and understanding it in the in context of which it was written, it’s imperative that we consider the Rule of Usage. In other words, who was it written to? The answer…..the Jew. It was written to the Hebrew speaking Jew. Gentiles could partake, but they would have had to understand a thing or two about being Jewish. This is just as important for us today, as Gentiles. It is a Jewish book. As pointed out in the article, “Christ accepted the usage He found existing. He did NOT alter it.” What an important point! If He didn’t alter it, how dare we alter it.

Jesus was Jewish and He was a Hebrew. He said Himself He came for the Jew first, (Matthew 15:25). Each culture has nuances specific to them. The US is full of various people with varying beliefs, customs, habits, foods, etc. To understand them, these things must be examined to understand the person. My daughter-in-love is from Long Island and she didn’t understand half of what I said at first. Not so much the accent, but the colloquialisms I often use.

“In interpreting very many phrases and histories of the New Testament, it is not so much worth what we think of them from notions of our own…. As in what sense these things were understood  by the hearers and lookers on, according to the usual custom and dialect of the Nation.”

The Rule of Usage then applied to the study of the Word, is to take into consideration the culture, the history of that culture, things that dictated that culture. What they believed and how they lived. What sayings did they have what prejudice did they have?  

Let’s review:

# 1 Rule of Definition

# 2 Rule of Usage

Happy studying!

Blessings

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