The study of interpretation [1]

Can we reproduce the exegesis of the NT? Richard Longenecker posed and answered this question in his 1969 Tyndale House lecture. His answer was that the NT writers' exegesis of OT passages largely follows contemporary Jewish methods. Since these methods go beyond strictly grammatical-historical exegesis, while we believe their interpretations to be revelation, we cannot ourselves reproduce their exegesis in other texts of the OT. [2]

"But someone will say, "The NT writers did it; why can't we? Don't we learn our hermeneutics from them?" The answer lies in a difference of qualifications. [Thomas says NO!] NT writers possessed the gift of apostleship and/or the gift of prophecy that enabled them to receive and transmit to others direct revelation from God. [3]

According to Moises Silva, “If we refuse to pattern our exegesis after that of the apostles, we are in practice denying the authoritative character of their scriptural interpretation–and to do so is to strike at the very heart of the Christian faith.” In similar fashion, S. Lewis Johnson writes, “We not only can reproduce their exegetical methodology, we must if we are to be taught their understanding of Holy Scripture.” Curtis Crenshaw and Grover Gunn agree, writing, “Anything else than the apostles’ hermeneutic is based on speculative human reasoning.” [4]

In speaking of hermeneutic systems, it is appealing to fall back to Greek philosophy and rhetorical invention. However well-intentioned we may be in doing so, the temptation must be resisted, because they do not reveal truth, but derive a pseudo-truth from the heart, will and mind of man. It is one of the surest means by which men create a god in their own image.

Not only can God not be discovered using these things, as He must be revealed, but the way we may know him must also be revealed. We may discover the revelation of the means to know God in the same fashion that we may discover the revelation of God; through the scriptures.

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Since Jesus said that he protected every jot and tittle of his word, they must have meaning and purpose. Nothing is redundant, trivial, useless, or unimportant which is in his word. This concept is mocked "Sometimes a rock is just a rock". But if the metaphor is not always a metaphor for Christ, then man's reason is interjected into the revelation of God, deciding when and when not to apply it. No man could impose the metaphor consistently upon every rock in scripture. When we find that every rock speaks of Christ, we can only observe in awe.

This is how revelation works. It is mysterious and odd to our experience, but bold and obviously divine. It always suits his purpose in the revelation of God to man, through his Son. "It is not good for [the] man to be alone" and so Christ came for his bride. It is good for God to dwell with men. --Bob Jones