The Biblical Hermeneutic is a Threefold Process

EBF uses the Biblical method or hermeneutic to interpret the Scriptures. The literal, historical grammatical method of interpretation is not found in the Bible. It is a hermeneutic derived from the minds of men. And because of that, it leads its adherents far away from the truths of the Word of God.

The Biblical hermeneutic is a threefold process that leads its adherents to truth as it is derived directly from the Bible itself. We could say that the Biblical hermeneutic is God's own methodology designed to guide His elect people into truth. First, the Bible student must allow God the Holy Spirit to be his guide by following this direction:

FIRST STEP IN THE BIBLICAL HERMENEUTIC: COMPARE SPIRITUAL WITH SPIRITUAL

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

SECOND STEP IN THE BIBLICAL HERMENEUTIC: LOOK FOR THE DEEPER SPIRITUAL MEANING OF A PASSAGE

Matthew 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

THIRD STEP IN THE BIBLICAL HERMENEUTIC: MAKE SURE ALL CONCLUSIONS HARMONIZE WITH THE WHOLE OF SCRIPTURE

2 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Comparison of spiritual things (Romans 7:14: "the law is spiritual") means we must compare each word used with other passages wherein the same word is used. Typically, this process allows God to define His own terms. And that is the reason why we are told, "the Holy Ghost teacheth". A Bible student who faithfully follows this process is turning over teaching to the man (God Himself). Failure to follow this process results in the woman (even though one is physically a man as part of the bride of Christ, he is viewed as a woman) teaching. The church has failed miserably on this point of proper Bible hermeneutics.

By emphasizing the plain and literal meaning of Scripture (and further saying, once you have found that look for no other), theologians have emptied the Bible of its riches and glory and left nothing of the Bible but an empty, pathetic husk unable to provide spiritual nourishment for those who follow their blind counsel. It is astounding that the gospels present us a record of God Himself in the flesh in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are even told that He, the Word, has been made flesh (John 1:1,14) and dwelt among us. Moreover, this God man went about teaching for three and half years. We even have a detailed record of His teaching recorded for us in each of the four gospels. You would think, then, that the learned men who call themselves theologians and who have developed a hermeneutic for Bible interpretation would take serious and careful note of Christ's teaching. After all, the theologians are studying the Word of God. And Christ is the very essence of the Word of God. Certainly, study of His teaching would instruct us on how to properly study the written Word of God, the Bible.

And yet, despite Christ always teaching in parables – not sometimes – but always teaching in parables, the theologians have come up with the idea that we are to look for the plain, historical, grammatical method of Bible interpretation. One cannot develop a more contradictory method of Bible interpretation than that. If these men had set out to establish a hermeneutic that was contrary and against, and as far away as possible than Christ's own method of teaching – they would have come up with the literal, historical, grammatical method. Is this being too hard on them? Not at all. Here's what we read of Christ's teaching:

Matthew 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

Without a parable He did not speak. It does not tell us that Christ always spoke literally and without speaking literally He did not speak. But without a parable He did not speak. And since He is the Word, and everything in the Bible concerns Him (Luke 24:44-45), we can come to the obvious conclusion that Jesus always spoke in parables in order to instruct us (His elect people) on how to rightly divide and understand His Word, the Bible.

Finally, after comparing Scriptures, and searching the Bible for the deeper spiritual meaning (or parabolic meaning) of each verse, we must do one last thing: make sure whatever conclusions our search has yielded are themselves checked against the rest of the Bible for harmonic agreement. As the Lord declared in 2 Corinthians 13:1, in the mouth of two or three witnesses is every word established. So, we find in Acts 16 with the Philippians jailor that it appears one can simply believe and become saved. Maybe in comparing Scripture we find this similar idea in a few additional places. However, as we try to establish this word (or harmonize) with the rest of the Bible, it will not harmonize. The rest of the Bible tells us that man is dead in sins (Ephesians 2:1) and is without faith. We also read of God's election program in numerous verses. Therefore, we must reject the conclusion that a man is able to accept Christ. Harmony between Biblical witnesses is the safety net God has established that helps to safeguard this entire Biblical process or Biblical hermeneutic for coming to truth.

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