The Bible is alive. It is a message told in colorful human language made clear and true to life by examples, teaching and history. This message must be understood by applying common sense rules of interpretation. These same rules are employed in the daily interchange of thoughts between any two rational persons.
1. Every passage has but one meaning. We expect the writer to mean what he says, no more and no less; There are exceptions to this rule that in no way contradict it. Sometimes a Prophecy was given which had an immediate fulfillment as well as a future meaning.
2. The most simple and obvious meaning of any passage is usually the correct one. God is speaking to man in his own language and directing His message to normal experiences on earth. To insist that a passage must mean other than what it says is a poor method of interpretation.
3. Always interpret a passage in harmony with the context. Examine the entire section of written thought in which the passage is found. What precedes and follows must be properly connected to it. It may be a paragraph, on entire chapter or the complete book. There is a continuous, logical flow of thoughts.
4. One passage will often explain another. Scripture explains scripture. Don't become disturbed over a difficult verse but read on and understanding will suddenly occur. Exercise caution, however, by not forcing comparisons that are not relative.
5. All passages on any given subject must be studied. Truth has many sides. Each passage, though true, does not always give all the truth. Never draw a general conclusion on any Bible subject until all passages concerning it have been collected, considered, and compared.
6. Observe the proper balance of scriptural truth. Many false doctrines have arisen because some passages have been slighted. Sometimes the passage itself contains signs of emphasis or urgency by repetition, sentence structure and the words themselves.