(Joshua 1:8 NIV) “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

(2 Peter 1:20-21 NIV) “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Hermeneutics is the study of how we study the text of the Bible. What rules do we have when reading the text? The Bible does not mean whatever we want it to mean, it means exactly what the author intended. Being careful how we read the text helps us to be sure that we are understanding what God intended us to understand.

Listed below are some of the rules that should govern our reading of the text of scripture. These were written by leaders in the church when the church was still very young. These principles have also been repeated throughout church history. Keeping these basic principles in mind will help us to avoid a lot of major pitfalls.

“It cannot but be right (as we have shown above) that uncertain statements should be determined by certain ones, and obscure ones by those that are clear and plain.” (Tertullian, Bercot p.338).

“He cites these words without understanding what precedes them. For whenever they wish to attempt anything underhanded, they mutilate the Scriptures. Instead, let him quote the passage as a whole!” (Hippolytus, Bercot p. 338).

“Every word will also seem consistent to him if he diligently reads the Scriptures in company with those who are presbyters in the church, among whom is the apostolic doctrine.” (Irenaeus, Bercot p. 338).

“But for the searching of the scriptures and true knowledge of them, an honorable life is needed, and a pure soul, and that virtue which is according to Christ; so that the intellect guiding its path by it, may be able to attain what it desires, and to comprehend it, in so far as it is accessible to human nature to learn concerning the Word of God.” (Athanasius, Incarnation of the Word, vol 4, p 67 ).

“More strength will be given you, and the knowledge of the heart will be increased more and more, as you examine more fully the Scriptures, old and new, and read through the complete volumes of the spiritual books.” (Cyprian, Bercot p. 599).

“Let no day pass without reading some portion of the sacred Scriptures – at such convenient hour as offers. And give some time to meditation. Never cast off the habit of reading in the Holy Scriptures. For nothing feeds the soul and enriches the mind as much as those sacred studies do.” (Theonas of Alexandria, Bercot p. 599).

