Definitions

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Definitions

1. Apostasy
   Apostasy is having departed from the faith that one has professed. Having departed from the faith that one has professed does not imply that having professed a faith the one making the profession was ever truly a member of the faith.
2. Hermeneutics
   A term used to denote either the study and statement of the principles on which a biblical text is to be understood or the interpretation of a text in order to express its meaning to someone else.
   
   
   
3. Exegesis:
   1. An explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible)
      downloaded from wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn 31-Dec-2010
   2. The act of reading the words of the bible and receiving the truth that God put there.


4. Eisegesis
   The act of reading the words of the bible and only receiving what agrees with your own ideas.


5. Theology
   The discovery, systematising, and presentation of the truths about God.
   

The "Golden Rule" of Interpretation (Rule 1 of 4)

"When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning, unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.

"The key point is that the Bible should not be approached on the assumption that it is loaded with symbols and hence hard to understand. It is not. The Bible should be approached with the assumption that this is a book that can be understood just like any other book that is taken literally. Besides figures of speech, the Bible does use symbols, but the symbols are usually explained, they are explained by the usage of literal words. Unless the text indicates clearly that it should be taken symbolically, the passage should be understood literally."

- The Footsteps of the Messiah pp 4 (Dr A.G.Fruchtenbaum)
Used with permission of Ariel Ministries

The Law of Double Reference (Rule 2 of 4)

"This law observes the fact that often a passage or a block of Scripture is speaking of two different persons or two different events that are separated by a long period of time."

According to Dr. Fruchtenbaum, the two are blended into one passage. It can be determined that there are two events, or two persons being referred to, because of what other portions of scripture say.

An example of this law is the first and second coming of Christ. No hint is given that there is a period of time between the two events. See Zechariah 9:9-10, 9:9 is speaking of the first coming, 9:10 the second.

Dr. Fruchtenbaum is at pains to point out that this is NOT the "Law of Double Fulfilment" which he rejects. This law suggests that a prophecy may be fulfilled twice.

Excerpts from: - The Footsteps of the Messiah pp 4-5 (Dr A.G.Fruchtenbaum)
Used with permission of Ariel Ministries

The Law of Recurrence (Rule 3 of 4)

"This law describes the fact that in some passages of Scripture there exists the recording of an event followed by a second recording of the same event giving more details to the first."

See Genesis 1:1-2:25. Genesis 1:1-2:3 - 7 days in chronological order. Genesis 2:4-2:25 goes back to the sixth day to provide added details.

- The Footsteps of the Messiah pp 4 (Dr A.G.Fruchtenbaum)
Used with permission of Ariel Ministries

The Law of Context (Rule 4 of 4)

"A text apart from its context is a pretext.A verse can only mean what it means in its context and must not be taken out of its context. "

- The Footsteps of the Messiah pp 6 (Dr A.G.Fruchtenbaum)
Used with permission of Ariel Ministries


A pretext is an excuse to do something or say something. Pretexts may be based on a half-truth or developed in the context of a misleading fabrication. Pretexts have been used to conceal the true purpose or rationale behind actions and words.

Without this law, the statement "you can make the Bible say anything", would be true.

The Gate of Glory

Title: The Gate of Glory
Author: George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton, Great Britain
Year Published: 1986, 1992
ISBN: 0-8028-3724-7