ÿWPCõ r¾›Ž¢4-€u¢·‡-–u”€óCIf_!¿},ÆÅ‹—ºÖop/”˵1z#S¼½–ÔAþó D&±ªÈVng'Þcó©’äî£Ì¯üA¿á‹Eö_ Sö‹]bézLG! µïtNá÷½Sº(ø5šfíCC ¦… ãv­ªÊö‰^Ž3L¡_rßy”âþÂSàÆx3Ø­tNê­ Fœª::‡‹ÖIÊìÔ~é½Ôÿ¢l=„@zÉ_{H픀2–;»*éj"a|ÎËöóÅ ;”B«fndnc}b ¯ö™Q‚ lÄÑÑÐÄa‹¢VrçÙÙÚ8›_°§ZqÒR7¤Q:E^c;ǃ$#^ymèû‘ûíÁTìKÞ;"=ëtÞ€ g©²·lÙžŒ?¡÷Ÿ*4ãßtAÁ—¨êÆr×x2Û`J¢…lÖåPØDpgúñ=Ô/ÁN5㿎vÄÙ• ^€"œtúÏ”® ²ò™Õ*9T¯‘7–‘…%ùYâh×ʾ").3’aý*f9l—¾»`ù/Yðh$}ö?Œ3,u­ëK%.jrþ‰8éü#FÝàHp«ÎJ,›z¿\ÓÇt0|ý;ùR~¸U“Ã0öƒPn[##!êU N  %Y 0Ž_w@í4-A²P 0ª 0ªÅ o ˆEŠ 0ªŒ m66666M&kkG‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘ BؘMicrosoft Fax,22,0(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX(f\é$¡¡ÑTRW¤Ì6Ä&ÿA43Ø' Ì6Ä&ÿA4ÿ3Ø'TÑÔCEUS.,Ô µ¶E·¸¹º¼U½£¾V¿î…[&PPPPPP3|x¿exhortational KJV NKJV ASB NASB NIVTorrey"Christadelphian CSSSSouthgateCrawfordJohanneumReceptus CYCGuntripSnobelen4sguntrip.freeserve.co.uksds28cus.cam.ac.uk R.A. Ý ƒ  Ú)ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝßA€") °°xdÔE°¯LAßÐ ° ÐÔ€ôаõXXÔÓðÓòòWorkbook€on€First€Principles:€Introductionà€$ $ Bü!àPage€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úóó(‚3 Ú$§§Ý ƒ\é!ÝÑTRWÌ6Ä&ÿA43Ø'Ï6Á&ÿA4ÿ3Ø'TÑÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  Ý(‚3 Ú$©©Ý ƒ\é!ÝÑTRWÌ6Ä&ÿA43Ø'Ï6Á&ÿA4ÿ3Ø'TÑÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  Ý Ý ƒ Ú*ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝßA€") °°xdÔE°¯LAßÐ ° ÐòòÔ€ôаõXXÔÓðÓPage€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úà€xxxü!àWorkbook€on€First€Principles:€Introductionóó (‚3 Ú$ªªÝ ƒ\é!ÝÑTRWÌ6Ä&ÿA43Ø'Ï6Á&ÿA4ÿ3Ø'TÑÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÿU‹ÿÀÀÀScriptura(ConstantinopolitanJudaizersAbrahamicHezekiahDomitianPatmosabherations"annihilationism$annihilationists Ý ƒ  Ú)ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝßA€") °°xdE°¯LAßÐ ° ÐòòÔ‡ôаõXXÔÓðÓWorkbook€on€First€Principles:€Biblical€Interpretation€€à€$ $ Ðü!àPage€Ú  Ú5Ú  Úóó =Ý ƒ Ú*ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝßA€") °°xdE°¯LAßÐ ° ÐÓðÓòòÔ‡ôаõXXÔPage€Ú  Ú5Ú  Úà€ÈÈÈü!àWorkbook€on€First€Principles:€Biblical€InterpretationÔ#†X5Xõôа”#Ôóó dÝ ƒ\é!ÝÑTRWÌ6Ä&ÿA43Ø'Ï6Á&ÿA4ÿ3Ø'TÑÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ‡è´çXXÔÓ  ÓòòÖ€ ÿÿÖÖ€ ÿÿÖ›ÑTRXà3Ø' LetterWÌ6Ä&ÿA43Ø' LetterÏ6Á&ÿA4TÑÑ,ÑThe€First€Principles€of€the€Oracles€of€GodÐ ° ÐPart€1ÌóóÔ#†X5Xçè´#ÔÌÓ ÓÓ  ÓÓ*°X°†,–X°œX*ÓÌò òYouth€Conference€1999ó óÐ ˜ è ÐThe€Book€of€Hebrews€tells€us€that€we€must€all€begin€by€laying€down€ð ðthe€first€principles€of€theÏoracles€of€Godðð€and€then€go€on€to€strong€meat€(Hebrews€5:12„14).€It€is€thus€important€for€us€asÏyoung€people€to€make€sure€that€these€foundations€are€in€place.€We€also€know€from€the€words€ofÏChrist€himself€that€eternal€life€is€not€possible€without€knowing€him€and€his€Father€(John€17:3).€IsÏthe€ð ðknowingðð€here€only€personal,€or€is€it€doctrinal€understanding?€One€of€the€purposes€of€thisÏWorkbook€is€to€demonstrate€that€knowing€God€and€His€Son€involves€both€aspects,€and€that€it€isÏwrong€to€separate€them.€In€this€study€we€will€make€it€our€goal€to€learn€more€about€the€òòLordóó€GodÐ  \  Ðand€Jesus€Christ.€The€more€we€know€about€our€Heavenly€Father€and€our€Saviour,€the€better€ableÏwe€will€be€to€love€and€serve€them.€Additionally,€it€is€also€crucial€that€we€know€what€the€Bible€saysÏabout€our€own€nature€and€mortal€condition.€This,€too,€means€more€to€us€than€doctrine€inÏisolation.€Such€knowledge€has€a€personal€impact€on€the€way€we€live€our€lives€in€Christ.ÌÌIt€is€to€these€ends€that€Youth€Conference€1999€is€directed.€Part€1€of€the€Workbook€will€tackleÏthe€general€theme€of€the€Oneness€of€God,€while€Part€2€will€explore€the€subject€of€the€nature€ofÏman.€Because€these€topics€do€not€derive€from€any€particular€biblical€book,€as€is€usually€the€caseÏwith€Youth€Conference,€we€have€divided€the€study€into€ten€thematic€units.€These€ten€units€alsoÏrepresent€the€ten€discussion€groups€to€be€held,€Lord€willing,€two€times€a€day€for€the€fiveÏweekdays€of€the€Conference.€Each€of€the€two€Parts€of€the€Workbook€will€have€five€sections.€HereÏis€the€breakdown€of€Parts€1€and€2:ÌÌà Ü àò òPart€1ó óÐ ôD Ðà Ü àà  àIntroduction:€principles€of€biblical€interpretationÌà Ü àà  àStudy€1:€à Œ àThe€One€GodÐ Ì Ðà Ü àà  àStudy€2:€à Œ àThe€Only€GodÐ ¸ Ðà Ü àà  àStudy€3:€à Œ àThe€Fatherhood€of€GodÐ ¤ ô Ðà Ü àà  àStudy€4:€à Œ àThe€Power€and€Dominion€of€GodÐ !à Ðà Ü àà  àStudy€5:€à Œ àJesus€Christ:€Son€of€God€and€Son€of€ManÐ |"Ì ÐÌò òà Ü àPart€2ó óÐ T$¤! Ðà Ü àà  àStudy€6:€à Œ àMan:€a€living€soulÐ @% " Ðà Ü àà  àStudy€7:€à Œ àThe€mortality€of€man€and€death€stateÐ ,&|!# Ðà Ü àà  àStudy€8:€à Œ àThe€end€of€the€wickedÐ 'h"$ Ðà Ü àà  àStudy€9:€à Œ àResurrection€and€JudgmentÐ (T#% Ðà Ü àà  àStudy€10:€à Œ àThe€reward€of€the€righteousÐ ð(@$& ÐÌThe€introductory€section€on€interpretation€lays€out€some€guidelines€for€the€sound€exposition€ofÏboth€first€principles€and€wrested€Scriptures.€This€section€is€intended€to€be€of€use€for€both€PartsÐ ´+') Ðof€our€study.€Each€of€the€ten€individual€studies€includes€some€background€exposition€to€get€youÏstarted,€along€with€a€few€explanations€of€the€technical€aspects€of€the€Hebrew€and€Greek.€TheÏmain€focus,€however,€will€be€on€the€questions,€through€which€it€is€hoped€you€will€make€manyÏimportant€discoveries€yourself.€As€usual,€completed€Workbooks€will€provide€the€basis€of€ourÏdiscussion€during€Conference.€So€remember€to€write€down€all€the€verses€and€record€all€theÏnecessary€information€in€your€Workbooks€in€preparation€for€the€œdiscussion.€Where€the€WorkbookÏasks€you€to€list€verses€of€particular€categories,€you€may€want€to€go€beyond€this€and€discuss€theseÏpassages€in€your€notes.›€If€you€havenððt€enough€room€in€the€œWorkbook›€to€write€down€yourÏanswers,€you€can€always€insert€loose„leaf€sheets€where€needed.€As€many€of€the€œthemes›€intersect,Ïyou€should€familiarize€yourself€with€all€the€questions€in€each€Part,€as€you€will€likely€come€acrossÏanswers€to€œother€questions›€œwhile€working€on›€œspecific€questions€in€different›€œsections.›€This€willÏsave€you€time€and€avoid€œduplication.€Finally,€you€neednððt€try€to€fill€up€the€space€below€eachÏquestion€in€your€first€attempt;€leave€room€for€additional€material€that€you€encounter€later€in€yourÏstudy.›ÌÌÌò òFirst€principles,€wrested€Scriptures€and€exhortationó óÐ pÀ ÐOne€of€the€advantages€of€this€yearððs€topicð"ðgiven€its€potential€rangeð"ðis€that€we€will€have€greaterÏscope€than€normal€to€go€as€far€as€we€want€in€our€studies€beyond€the€bare€minimum€of€theÏWorkbook.€Even€within€the€Workbook€there€are€many€opportunities€for€the€more€advancedÏstudents€to€take€individual€elements€of€the€study€to€great€depths.€Another€additional€benefit€ofÏour€studies€is€that€we€will€learn€just€how€inter„related€first€principles€are.€Thus,€although€we€areÏfocusing€on€the€two€broad€themes€of€the€Oneness€of€God€and€the€nature€of€man,€we€will€alsoÏtouch€on€all€the€other€major€first€principles,€including€the€death€state,€resurrection,€baptism,€theÏdevil€and€the€Kingdom.€We€will€gain€a€greater€appreciation€for€a€whole€range€of€biblical€teachingsÏand€themes,€and€one€of€our€goals€will€be€to€build€up€a€powerful€repertoire€of€verses€that€for€usedÏin€our€discussion€at€Youth€Conference,€and€to€teach€and€defend€the€Gospel.€ÌÌThe€study€will€also€have€a€very€practical€element€with€regard€to€our€witness€to€those€around€us.ÏThe€main€intent€of€the€study€is€positive,€and€the€best€way€to€learn€how€to€discern€false,€unbiblicalÏteachings€is€to€have€a€very€clear€idea€of€what€biblical€Truth€is.€This€is€why€we€will€start€with€andÏfocus€on€the€positive€teachings.€Throughout€the€notes,€however,€we€will€also€tackle€some€of€theÏimportant€ð ðwrested€Scripturesðð€that€are€used€to€support€the€unbiblical€notions€of€the€Trinity€andÏthe€immortal€soul.€This€will€help€us€prepare€ourselves€to€contend€for€the€faith€once€given€to€theÏsaints€(Jude€3),€and€to€give€an€answer€of€it€to€everyone€(1€Peter€3:15).ÌÌNo€Youth€Conference€would€be€complete€without€the€all„important€exhortational€benefit.€For€thisÏreason,€the€studies€will€also€be€geared€to€themes€that€will€encourage€us€in€our€walk€to€theÏKingdom.€Each€Study€is€set€up€so€that€we€start€with€the€milk€of€the€first€principles€and€then€goÏon€to€more€spiritual€matters:€the€meat€of€the€Word.€This€may€be€how€many€of€the€discussionÏgroups€at€Conference€progress€as€well.̛̜Ð h+¸&* ÐFinally,€we€also€plan€to€prepare€a€historical€overview€of€the€corruption€of€the€original€teachingsÏon€God€and€the€nature€of€man,€along€with€the€recovery€of€their€truth€in€the€time€since€theÏReformation.€This€material€will€be€made€available€at€the€Youth€Conference,€Lord€willing.ÌœÌò òÔ& Ä ÔStudy›€tools€and€other€suggested€sourcesó óÐ `° ÐAs€always,€our€Workbook€study€is€intended€to€involve,€first€and€foremost,€you€and€your€Bible.ÏThere€is€no€question€Ô'Ä`Ôthat€the€best€way€to€fill€your€mind€and€heart€with€the€Word€is€to€read€andÏstudy€it€yourself.€Thus,€your€most€important€tool€will€be€a€good,€literal€Bible€translation€with€aÏcomprehensive€cross„referencing€system.€Literal€translations€include€the€KJV,€NKJV,€RV,€RSVÏand€NASB.€In€addition,€it€would€be€helpful€to€have€access€to€several€other€less„literal€BibleÏversions€for€comparative€purposes,€including€the€NIV.€You€will€find€some€doctrinal€bias€in€allÏmainstream€versions,€so€keep€an€eye€out€for€alternative€(and€often€more€literal)€renderings€in€theÏmargin€or€footnotes.€It€is€also€important€to€realize€that€the€KJV€and€NKJV€are€based€on€theÏTextas€Receptus€(Received€Text),€while€most€modern€versions€are€based€on€ð ðeclecticðð€GreekÏtexts€(that€is,€texts€based€on€a€wide€range€of€textual€authorities,€including€many€more€ancient€thanÏthose€available€in€1611).€There€is€a€debate€over€which€textual€tradition€is€best,€but,€with€theÏexception€of€John€1:18,€you€will€find€a€greater€number€of€potentially€Trinitarian€corruptions€inÏthe€Received€Text,€including€the€infamous€òòcomma€Johanneumóó€(1€John€5:7).€Our€advice€here€isÐ \¬ Ðto€compare€between€the€versions€for€yourself.ÌÌIn€addition€to€your€most€basic€and€precious€tool,€you€will€want€to€add€the€venerable€Youngððs€and€ÏStrongððs€Concordances.€Also,€if€you€can€get€hold€of€a€copy,€R.A.€Torreyððs€òòTreasury€of€ScripturalÐ  \ ÐKnowledgeóó€will€greatly€expand€the€number€of€cross€references€available€to€you.€To€these€toolsÐ øH Ðwe€can€add€Bible€dictionaries.€Of€course,€computer„aided€Bible€programmes€have€now€becomeÏstandard€tools€of€the€Bible€student,€and€allow€us€to€carry€out€a€wide€range€of€studies.€Even€theÏfree€On„Line€Bible€is€valuable,€as€with€it€you€can€do€one€thing€a€standard€concordance€cannot:Ïphrase€and€multiple€word€searches.ÌÌAs€we€have€said,€we€recommend€that€in€your€initial€study€you€limit€yourself€to€the€Bible€and€BibleÏstudy€tools.€After€you€have€completed€Part€1€of€the€Workbook,€however,€you€may€want€to€referÏto€two€helpful€Christadelphian€works.€The€first€is€Percy€E.€Whiteððs€òòThe€doctrine€of€the€Trinity:Ð X ¨ Ðanalytically€examined€and€refutedóó€(Torrens€Park:€CSSS,€1996).€This€work€originally€dates€fromÐ D!” Ðearlier€in€the€twentieth€century,€but€still€offers€much€of€value,€including€sections€on€history€andÏwrested€Scriptures.€The€second€and€much€more€recent€work€is€James€H.€Broughton€and€PeterÏJ.€Southgateððs€òòThe€Trinity:€true€or€false?óó€(Nottingham:€ð ðThe€Dawnðð€Book€Supply,€1995).€ThisÐ $X" Ðwell„researched€book€covers€first€principles,€wrested€Scriptures€and€the€historical€developmentÏof€the€doctrine€of€the€Trinity.€In€addition€to€these€sources,€there€is€a€range€of€ChristadelphianÏpamphlets€and€articles€on€the€Trinity€and€kindred€subjects.€Brother€Aleck€Crawfordððs€computerÏindex€to€Christadelphian€writings€is€a€very€helpful€tool€for€uncovering€articles€by€topic€inÏChristadelphian€magazines.€But,€for€your€own€good,€donððt€touch€these€sources€until€youððve€firstÏgone€through€the€Workbook€yourself!ÌÌÐ h+¸&* Ðò òWorking€togetheró óÐ ° ÐAs€many€have€found€when€preparing€Youth€Conference€Workbooks,€Bible€study€can€also€be€veryÏprofitable€and€enjoyable€as€a€collaborative€effort.€While€the€emphasis€should€remain€on€your€ownÏpersonal€study,€you€may€find€it€helpful€to€spend€some€time€working€on€these€notes€informally€withÏother€young€people€in€your€area.€Perhaps€the€topics€can€also€be€put€on€the€CYC€schedule€forÏmore€formal€consideration.€For€those€living€in€the€Great€Lakes€Region,€a€Study€Day€is€alsoÏplanned,€Lord€willing.€Of€course,€not€everyone€is€blessed€with€living€near€large€numbers€ofÏChristadelphian€young€people.€If€you€are€in€this€categoryð"ðor€even€if€youððre€notð"ðon„lineÏdiscussion€œand€help€will›€be€available€through€the€Youth€Conference€Web€site.€Finally,€if€you€haveÏany€difficulties€with€the€Workbook€that€others€around€you€arenððt€able€to€deal€with,€please€feel€freeÏto€contact€either€of€us€(Brother€Simeon€Guntrip€or€myself,€Brother€Steve).€We€both€live€inÏCambridge,€UK€and€can€be€contacted€by€e„mail€at€sf@sguntrip.freeserve.co.uk€(Simeon)€orÏsds28@cus.cam.ac.uk€(Steve).€Bear€in€mind€that€Simeon€is€mainly€responsible€for€Part€2,€whileÏI€am€mainly€responsible€for€Part€1.€Also,€any€specific€questions€relating€to€Hebrew€should€beÏdirected€to€Simeon,€and€those€relating€to€Greek€to€myself.€œñµñFinally,€we€would€like€to€thank€SistersÏMary€Jane€Abel€and€Julie€Sñµññ¶ññµñoñµññ¶ññ·ñnobelen€for€ñ·ññ¸ñtheir€help€in€proof„reading€and€ñ¸ññ·ñworking€through€Part€1Ïto€test€our€questionsñ·ññ¹ñ.€ñ¹ñWe›€hope€you€œñºñall€ñºñenjoy›€your€studies.€May€God€bless€you€as€you€study€HisÏWord.ÌÓ  ÓSteve€SnobelenÌÓ±1ÓÓ  ÓCambridge,€œUKñ¼ñÌñ¼ññ½ñÓ  Óñ½ññ¾ñÐ   p Ðñ¾ññ¿ñÖ€ ÿÖÖ€ ÿÖ›Ó  ÓòòÔ‡¶ÌI·àX5ÔThe€First€Principles€of€Biblical€InterpretationóóÐ ° ÐÓf2ÓÓ  ÓÔ#†X5X·¶ÌIu2#ÔÌÌò òSound€principles€for€interpreting€the€Word€of€Godó óÐ üL ÐBefore€beginning€our€study€of€some€of€the€major€doctrinal€first€principles,€it€will€be€important€forÏus€to€consider€a€series€of€ð ðfirst€principlesðð€for€interpreting€the€Word€of€God.€Truth€comes€throughÏa€correct€reading€of€the€Bible,€just€as€false€doctrine€derives€from€corrupt€scriptural€œinterpretation.›ÏThus€if€we€are€to€arrive€at€a€right€understanding€of€Godððs€Word,€it€is€imperative€that€we€developÏright€methods€of€interpretation.ÌÌWe€must€first€of€all€found€all€our€interpretation€on€the€firm€conviction€that€the€Bible€is€the€inspiredÏWord€of€God€(2€Timothy€3:15„17).€When€we€embrace€the€divine€origin€of€the€Scriptures,€weÏaccept€that€it€is€both€without€error€and€free€from€contradiction.€Christ€himself€confirmed€thatÏð ðScripture€cannot€be€brokenðð€(John€10:35),€and€we€read€elsewhere€that€Godððs€Word€is€ð ðtrue€fromÏthe€beginningðð€(Psalm€119:160).€The€Bible€is€also€for€us€our€only€standard€in€doctrine;€it€is€howÏwe€test€teachings€to€determine€whether€they€come€from€God.€As€it€says€in€the€prophecy€of€Isaiah:Ïð ðTo€the€law€and€to€the€testimony:€if€they€speak€not€according€to€this€word,€it€is€because€there€isÏno€light€in€themðð€(Isaiah€8:20).€Letððs€never€forget€this€principle!ÌÌItððs€also€important€that€we€seek€Godððs€blessing€on€our€study€of€His€Word€through€the€power€ofÏprayer.€Letððs€all€pray€with€the€Psalmist:€ð ðOpen€thou€mine€eyes,€that€I€may€behold€wondrous€thingsÏout€of€thy€lawðð€(Psalm€119:18).€We€must€pray€that€our€motivations€are€pure,€that€we€are€onlyÏinterested€in€discovering€what€the€Word€has€to€say,€and€that€we€will€not€let€our€own€biases€andÏpreconceptions€get€in€the€way.€Letððs€also€pray€that€we€do€not€learn€merely€to€debate€and€to€boastÏof€our€own€knowledge.€Godððs€Wordð"ðnot€ourselvesð"ðis€the€final€arbiter,€and€all€biblical€truth€isÏknowledge€from€God,€not€man.€A€humble€perspective€is€crucial.€Neither€should€our€study€of€theÏBible€be€merely€academic.€The€Bibleððs€teachings€will,€in€fact,€become€part€of€us,€because€theÏWord€is€living€and€active€(Hebrews€4:12).ÌÌMoreover,€we€need€to€continue€to€read€and€study€Godððs€Word€daily,€for€the€more€we€fillÏourselves€with€the€Word,€the€better€able€we€will€be€to€understand€its€teachings.€The€more€familiarÏwe€become€with€Scripture,€the€more€readily€we€will€be€able€to€discern€what€is,€and€what€is€not,Ïbiblical€teaching.€Above€all,€we€need€to€develop€biblical€discernment:€the€ability€to€tell€theÏdifference€between€sound€and€faulty€interpretation.€This€skill€only€comes€with€time€and€byÏimmersing€ourselves€in€the€Word.€Let€it€never€be€said€that€we€teach€for€doctrines€theÏcommandments€of€men€(Matthew€15:9)!ÌÌÌò òDeriving€Godððs€teachings€directly€from€His€Wordó óÐ @(#& ÐOne€of€the€most€important€principles€of€biblical€interpretation€should€also€be€one€of€the€mostÏobvious:€we€must€take€œteachings›€òòfromóó€the€Bible,€not€bring€them€òòtoóó€it.€It€is€because€so€many€in€theÐ *h%( Ðpast€have€knowingly€or€unknowingly€failed€to€heed€this€principle€that€so€many€false€doctrinesÏabound.€Simply€put,€the€crucial€difference€boils€down€to€ð ðexegesisðð€versus€ð ðeisegesis:ððÐ ð+@'* Їò òÓ  ÓòòÔ& ° ÔExóóegesis:€deriving€òòGodððsóó€teachings€òòout€ofóó€Scriptureó óÐ ° ÐÌò òòòEisóóegesis:€bringing€òòouróó€ideas€òòtoóó€Scriptureó óÐ ˆØ ÐÓË?ÓÔ'°°Ú?ÔÌThe€word€òòexegesisóó€is€a€Greek€term€for€interpretation€and€can€be€roughly€translated€as€ð ðleadingÐ `° Ðout€of.ðð€In€other€words,€proper€biblical€interpretation€derives€meaning€òòfromóó€the€Word.€We€readÐ L œ Ðthe€Word,€seek€to€understand€its€meaning€and€then€obtain€Godððs€teachings€from€it.€When€thisÏprocess€is€reversed,€people€force€their€ideas€òòintoóó€Scripture.€This€is€òòeisegesisóó:€a€ð ðleading€into.ðð€Ð $ t ÐÌThose€who€have€a€familiarity€with€the€methods€of€science€will€recognize€a€similarity€betweenÏcorrect€exegesis€and€what€is€called€the€empirical€approach.€Good€scientists€observe€nature€andÏdraw€their€ideas€from€itð"ðthey€do€not€enforce€preconceived€notions€on€it.€So€it€is€with€the€Bible.ÌÌA€classic€case€of€eisegesis€is€the€attempt€by€Trinitarians€to€re„interpret€the€Bible€in€light€of€theÏòòlateróó€doctrine€of€the€Trinity.€The€post„biblical€development€of€the€Trinity€is€well„documented€andÐ ˜è  Ðit€is€evident€that€the€complete€doctrine€did€not€arrive€until€the€end€of€the€fourth€century€AD.€ThusÏany€attempt€to€read€the€Scriptures€in€light€of€this€post„biblical€doctrine€is€eisegesis:€a€reading€intoÏthe€Word€of€ideas€that€œwerenððt€developed€until€much€later.›€Instead,€when€we€seek€to€derive€ourÏteachings€from€the€Bible€alone,€we€seeð"ðas€we€will€in€this€studyð"ðthat€the€Bible€œfrom€theÏbeginning€to€end€only›€teaches€that€God€is€One.ÌÌLetððs€look€at€a€helpful€example.€Many€Trinitarians,€coming€at€the€Bible€with€a€preconceived€ideaÏthat€God€is€triune,€read€2€Corinthians€13:14€as€teaching€the€Trinity:ÌÌà8 Ü àœThe›€grace€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ,€and€the€love€of€God,€and€the€communion€of€the€HolyÏSpirit,€be€with€you€all.€œAmen.›Ð ÜÐ ÜÐ  ÐÌSince€they€assume€that€the€Bible€teaches€the€Trinity,€many€Trinitarians€automatically€andÏuncritically€read€this€verse€in€a€Trinitarian€manner.€Yet€there€is€absolutely€nothing€in€theÏvocabulary€or€structure€of€this€passage€that€positively€teaches€anything€of€the€sort.€When€we€drawÏour€beliefs€from€the€text,€we€see€in€this€case€that€it€speaks€about€the€grace€of€Christ,€the€love€ofÏGod€and€the€communion€of€the€Holy€œSpiritð"ðperiod.›€There€is€nothing€here€about€co„equality€orÏconsubstantiality€of€divine€beings,€or€that€Christ,€God€and€the€Holy€Spirit€are€three€persons€in€theÏGodhead.€In€fact,€a€closer€analysis€reveals€that€not€only€does€the€verse€not€follow€the€standardÏorder€of€the€Trinitarian€formula€ð ðFather,€Son€and€Holy€Spirit,ðð€but€the€Father€is€not€mentionedÏseparately,€as€He€must€to€avoid€œconfusion,›€since€in€the€Trinity€ð ðGodðð€is€supposed€to€be€all€œthree.ÏFinally,€the€verse€does€not€say€that€the€three€mentioned€are€one€being.›ÌÌIt€is€œdifficult›€for€many€people€to€rid€their€minds€of€ideas€that€are€so€œpervasive.›€But€this€is€exactlyÏwhat€we€œmust›€do€if€we€want€to€read€the€Bible€as€it€was€read€by€its€original€recipients.€We€mustÏtest€constantly€every€teaching€and€ask:€does€this€come€from€the€œtext,›€or€from€an€external€or€laterÏsource?€This€is€a€skill€that€no€Bible€student€or€good€historian€can€be€without.€œAgain,›€œa€key›€is€theÏbelief€that€the€Bible€alone€offers€Truth.€This€brings€us€to€our€next€(and€related)€principle.Ð h+¸&* М‡ò òBasing›€doctrine€solely€and€only€on€the€Word€of€Godó óÐ ° ÐOne€of€the€fundamental€differences€between€biblical€Truth€and€the€orthodox€corruption€of€it€isÏthat€the€former€relies€entirely€on€the€œWord,€while›€the€latter€is€forced€to€resort€to€the€fallible€wordÏof€men.€Many€orthodox€commentators€claim€to€hold€to€the€principle€of€òòsola€Scripturaóó€(ScriptureÐ tÄ Ðalone),€but€in€the€end€fall€back€on€the€Creeds€and€Church€tradition.€In€the€case€of€the€Trinity,Ïwhich€is€not€found€in€the€Bible,€this€is€crucial.€In€order€to€prop€up€and€fill€out€their€unbiblicalÏteaching,€Trinitarians€use€the€Nicene€(325),€Constantinopolitan€(381)€and€Athanasian€(fifthÏcentury)€Creeds.€No€supplementary€authority€is€needed€according€to€the€Apostle€Paul,€who€saidÏthat€the€believer€could€be€perfect,€or€complete,€with€the€Bible€alone€(1€Timothy€3:17).ÌÌWhat€this€means€is€that€our€Bible€study€must€be€exactly€that:€òòBibleóó€study.€Once€we€becomeÐ è 8  Ðdependent€on€authorities€and€commentaries€we€are€in€danger€of€relying€on€(or€worse€yet,Ïbecoming€dependent€on)€the€word€of€men.€When€we€become€reliant€upon€such€ð ðauthoritiesðð€weÏfall€into€the€above„mentioned€trap€of€eisegesis.€This€does€not€mean€that€we€must€never€dip€intoÏa€commentary.€It€does€mean,€however,€that€we€must€rigidly€subordinate€human€teachings€to€theÏWord€of€God.€If€we€never€forget€this€priority,€weððll€be€in€good€shape.ÌÌÌò òThe€Unity€of€Scriptureó óÐ H˜ ÐSince€all€Scripture€has€God€for€its€Author,€we€can€have€confidence€that€it€is€always€consistentÏwith€itself.€The€inspired€unity€of€the€Word€of€God€provides€us€with€another€important€tool€ofÏbiblical€interpretation:€we€should€interpret€difficult€and€obscure€verses€by€those€more€easilyÏunderstood.€In€doing€this,€we€start€with€a€stable€and€certain€foundation.€We€move€from€the€simpleÏto€the€more€difficult,€from€what€is€understood€to€what€is€not,€and€from€the€known€to€theÏpotentially€unknown.€In€other€words,€we€œlet›€the€Bible€interpret€itself.ÌÌWe€can€contrast€this€sound€principle€with€the€practice€of€selecting€a€verse,€isolating€it€from€itsÏimmediate€and€general€context,€applying€a€meaning€to€it€and€then€using€this€interpreted€verse€asÏnormative€for€the€rest€of€the€passages€on€this€teaching.€This€is€the€method€many€orthodoxÏscholars€use€to€impress€unbiblical€doctrines€onto€the€purity€of€the€Word.ÌÌThus€Trinitarians€will€lift€a€verse€such€as€John€20:28€out€of€its€immediate€and€general€contexts,Ïand€claim€that€as€Christ€is€therein€referred€to€as€ð ðGodðð€he€must€be€ð ðvery€God€of€veryÏGodððð"ðnever€mind€that€nowhere€else€in€the€Bible€is€there€support€for€such€a€notion.€Instead€ofÏisolating€a€verse€like€this€and€applying€a€post„biblical€idea€to€it,€we€must€first€look€at€theÏimmediate€context€of€the€passage€for€clues€as€to€what€the€verse€may€and€may€not€be€teaching.€InÏthis€case€we€find€a€very€relevant€detail€in€the€same€chapter:€in€verse€17€Christ€says€that€he€himselfÏhas€a€God.€ÌÌNext,€we€analyse€the€language€of€John€for€further€light.€Once€again,€we€are€not€let€œdown:›€in€JohnÏ17:3€Christ€clearly€states€that€the€Father€alone€is€the€òòTrueóó€God.€These€two€details,€then,€tell€usÐ )à$( Ðhow€we€must€not€interpret€John€20:28.€With€this€example,€we€are€given€guidance€on€how€weÏshould€interpret€the€verse€when€we€move€to€both€the€wider€context€of€the€Gospel€according€toÐ h+¸&* ÐJohn€and€the€general€context€of€the€entire€Bible,€where€we€see€that€in€the€special€case€of€menÏacting€as€representatives€of€God,€they€can€take€on€this€œdesignation›€in€an€honorary€sense.€AnÏimportant€clue€is€given€in€John€10:34,€which€is€in€turn€a€quotation€from€Psalm€82:6.€These€versesÏtell€us€that€Israelite€judges€were€called€Gods.€But€is€this€all?€No.€John€10:36€adds€a€crucialÏelement€where€œChrist›€œreinforces›€the€teaching€that€he€is€in€the€special€category€of€ð ðSon€of€God.ððÏIn€other€words,€if€men€acting€as€Godððs€representatives€can€be€called€God,€how€much€more€theÏperfect€representative,€who€is€also€His€only€Son!ÌÌThis€example€has€relied€on€the€fact€that€the€Bible€is€a€unity€and€that€it€is€its€own€best€interpreter.ÏWe€need€to€approach€Scripture€holistically.€For€this€we€use€our€cross€references€andÏconcordances€to€find€other€occurrences€of€concepts€and€œother›€uses€of€pivotal€words.ÌÌÌò òÔ& ° ÔUsing€both€the€Old€and€New€Testamentsó óÐ ¬ü  ÐOne€sound€principle€that€derives€from€our€understanding€that€the€Bible€is€a€unity€is€that€we€mustÏbase€scriptural€teachings€on€both€the€Old€and€New€Testaments.€We€need€to€be€able€to€see€howÏdoctrines€are€initially€presented€in€kernel€form€in€the€early€parts€of€the€Old€Ô'°¬l^ÔTestament€and€thenÏelaborated€and€given€more€detail€throughout€the€later€Old€Testament€books€and€all€of€the€NewÏTestament.€Some€orthodox€interpreters€may€claim€or€imply€that€œcompletely€new›€revelations€areÏgiven€in€the€New€Testament€œand€that€these›€œcompletely€supersede›€those€given€in€the€Old,€but€theÏNew€Testament€is€based€on€the€Old€and€is€perfectly€consistently€with€it.€ÌÌBiblical€teachings€are€introduced€in€the€earlier€Old€Testament€booksð"ðespecially€Genesisð"ðandÏthen€expanded€throughout€Scripture.€Thus,€when€studying€biblical€doctrine€in€a€systematic€wayÏ(and€these€notes€are€no€exception),€we€start€in€the€Old€Testament€to€discover€the€foundations€andÏœthen›€œwork€our€way€through€to›€the€New€Testament€to€trace€the€elaboration€of€œteachings›€firstÏpresented€in€the€Old.€We€see€this,€for€example,€in€the€case€of€œthe›€Messiah.€Teaching€on€theÏMessiah€is€first€specifically€introduced€in€Genesis€3:15,€then€elaborated€further€in€the€AbrahamicÏCovenant€and€into€the€Prophets,€and€finally€presented€in€its€most€detailed€form€first€in€the€GospelÏaccounts€and€then€in€the€New€Testament€Epistles.€It€is€only€when€we€view€the€entire€range€ofÏteaching€from€Old€Testament€to€New€that€we€œcan€grasp€the€fullness€of€the€doctrine.›€To€do€this,Ïwe€need€to€make€effective€and€thorough€use€of€cross€references€and€a€œconcordance€to€trace€theÏð ðBible€echoesðð€that€sound€throughout€Scripture.›ÌÌIf€we€were€to€start€with€the€New€Testament,€as€many€orthodox€commentators€do,€we€would€beÏbypassing€the€crucial€background€to€teachings€given€in€the€Old€Testament.€Thus€when€weÏencounter€passages€where€the€term€God€is€applied€to€Christ€(such€as€John€20:28),€we€would€beÏmissing€the€important€principle€laid€out€in€the€Old€Testament€that€men€and€angels€can€be€calledÏGod€when€acting€for€Him.€Similarly,€it€would€be€wrong€to€begin€a€study€of€Satan€with€the€NewÏTestament,€since€the€word€œòòsatanóó›€is€Hebrew€and€œteachings›€about€ð ðthe€adversaryðð€are€firstÐ ¤(ô#' Ðpresented€in€the€œOld€Testament.›€œIn€each€case,€our€understanding€would€be€incomplete.›ÌÌYet€another€example€comes€in€Revelation€14:10„11,€which€is€used€by€many€to€support€theÐ h+¸&* Ðdoctrine€of€eternal€hellfire€torment.€But€this€passage€includes€a€direct€quotation€from€Isaiah€34:10,Ïwhich€is€embedded€in€a€highly€symbolic€chapter€dealing€with€the€destruction€of€Israelððs€enemies.ÏA€close€examination€of€the€passage€reveals€that€the€burning€pitch€and€smoke€from€the€destructionÏof€the€nations€(verse€1)€is€not€meant€to€last€forever€any€more€than€the€mountains€will€really€meltÏwith€blood€(34:3),€or€the€heavens€will€literally€roll€up€like€a€scroll€(34:4).€Elsewhere€in€the€OldÏTestament€we€see€that€the€imagery€of€unquenchable€fire€and€everlasting€destruction€is€meant€toÏdepict€œcompleteness€and€finality.›€Illuminating€material€in€Jeremiah€17:27€and€Nehemiah€2:3,13Ïdescribes€the€ð ðunquenchableðð€fire€as€having€gone€out.€In€the€first€fulfilment€of€Isaiah€34:10,Ïancient€Israelððs€enemies€were€consumed;€they€are€certainly€not€burning€to€this€day.€ÌÌHere€we€see€a€related€principle.€Often€a€wrested€Scripture€in€the€New€Testament€will€be€basedÏon€a€quotation€or€allusion€œtaken€from€the›€Old.€Trinitarians€like€to€argue€that€Matthew€1:23,€whichÏspeaks€about€the€meaning€of€the€name€Emmanuel,€shows€that€Jesus€was€œliterally€himself›€ð ðGodÏwith€us.ðð€Yet€this€verse€is€a€direct€quotation€from€Isaiah€7:14,€the€first€fulfilment€of€which€wasÏthe€birth€of€Hezekiah€(or,€perhaps,€a€son€of€Isaiah€himself).€This€first€fulfilment€shows€that€theÏbirth€of€the€child€was€a€sign€that€God€was€with€the€people,€not€that€the€child€himself€was€God.ÏThus,€without€the€Old€Testament,€our€information€on€doctrine€is€incomplete€and€thus€potentiallyÏmisleading.€Orthodox€theologians€notoriously€ignore€or€gloss€over€the€Hebraic€roots€of€biblicalÏdoctrine.€If€we€do€the€same,€it€will€be€to€our€own€doctrinal€peril.ÌÌÌò òDiscerning€between€biblical€œstylesó ó›Ð  \ ÐThe€Bible€is€written€in€several€different€œstyles€or€genres,›€including€œprose,›€historical€narrative,Ïpoetry,€parable,€symbolic€prophecy€and€epistolary€exhortation.€While€most€principles€of€biblicalÏinterpretation€hold€true€in€all€these€genres,€each€still€needs€to€be€approached€in€subtly€differentÏways.€Care€must€be€taken€to€identify€the€style€of€a€particular€passage,€as€the€very€manner€ofÏwriting€itself€can€convey€important€elements€of€the€meaning.€We€need€to€be€particularly€vigilantÏwhen€interpreting€parabolic,€poetic€and€symbolic€portions€of€Scripture.€ÌÌLetððs€consider€the€genre€of€parables.€In€the€Gospel€accounts€we€are€told€that€JesusÏcharacteristically€taught€in€parables€(Matthew€13:34;€Mark€4:33„34).€We€are€also€told€that€whenÏJesus€used€this€manner€of€teaching,€he€was€often€misunderstoodð"ðeven€by€the€disciples€(MarkÏ4:10„13;€John€10:6).€Moreover,€citing€from€Isaiah€6:9„10,€Jesus€said€(when€discussing€hisÏparables)€that€the€spiritually€undiscerning€would€see€and€not€perceive,€and€hear€and€notÏunderstand€(Mark€4:12).€It€is€thus€imperative€for€us€to€strive€to€understand€how€parables€work€Ïif€we€are€to€fathom€some€of€the€more€important€aspects€of€Christððs€teaching.€The€same€goes€forÏpoetry€and€symbolic€prophecy.€ÌÌFirst,€we€must€approach€these€genres€with€a€different€set€of€expectations€than€the€more€literalÏprose€passages€in€Scripture.€Thus,€when€reading€highly€symbolic€and€spiritual€portions€of€theÏBible,€such€as€the€Gospel€according€to€John,€we€take€the€spiritual€tone€into€account€in€ourÏinterpretation.€Unfortunately,€many€Trinitarians€fail€to€allow€for€Johnððs€profound€and€spiritualÏstyle,€which€includes€many€ð ðhard€sayingsððð"ðsuch€as€Christððs€comparison€of€himself€to€manna€fromÐ h+¸&* Ðheaven€to€be€eatenð"ðand€this€helps€explain€why€a€œhigh›€number€of€Trinitarian€proof„texts€comeÏfrom€this€book.€John€even€records€Christððs€statement€that€he€had€been€using€ð ðproverbsðð€orÏð ðfigures€of€speechðð€(John€16:25).€ÌÌSecond,€we€should€accumulate€a€repertoire€of€secure€biblical€identifications€of€metaphors€orÏsymbols.€For€example,€Christ€interprets€the€Parable€of€the€Sower€in€Mark€4:14„23€and€the€symbolÏð ðmany€watersðð€is€identified€within€the€Book€of€Revelation€as€referring€to€ð ðpeoples,€andÏmultitudes,€and€nations,€and€tonguesðð€(17:15).€We€then€use€these€secure€identifications€asÏbuilding€blocks€in€our€interpretation€of€the€other€elements€of€parables€and€prophecy.€This€is€yetÏanother€example€of€the€tried€and€proven€method€of€using€Scripture€to€interpret€Scripture.€Third,Ïwhere€such€help€is€not€given,€we€must€search€out€the€internal€logic€of€metaphors€and€symbol.ÏAgain,€how€symbols€are€interpreted€elsewhere€in€Scripture€should€help€give€us€a€feel€for€this.ÏThere€is€no€substitute€for€sound€familiarity€with€the€Word!ÌÌÌÔ& Ø Ôò òHistorical€backgroundó óÐ „Ô  ÐNo€biblical€passage€exists€in€a€vacuum.€As€we€have€noted€above,€each€verse€is€situated€within€Ô'Ø„^zÔaÏtextual€and€thematic€context.€We€need€to€take€into€account€how€the€language€and€concepts€areÏused€in€a€particular€book€and€within€the€Bible€as€a€whole.€But€each€passage€is€also€located€in€aÏhistorical€context.€Most€of€the€historical€background€we€will€need€œcan›€be€œtaken›€from€the€BibleÏitself.€But€it€is€sometimes€helpful€to€turn€to€historical€and€archaeological€sources€for€additionalÏinsight.€This€is€not€the€same€as€turning€to€an€òòinterpretationóó€given€œin›€a€commentary,€although€suchÐ  \ Ðhistorical€sources€are€often€found€in€commentaries.€ÌÌThus€sources€on€Jewish€customs€of€the€first€century€AD€will€be€immensely€valuable€in€bringingÏinto€sharper€relief€discussions€about€Judaizers€in€the€New€Testament€œEpistles.›€Similarly,€historicalÏdetail€on€idolatry€in€Old€Testament€times€can€help€us€understand€what€the€prophets€of€Israel€andÏJudah€were€up€against€in€their€battles€with€false€worship.€It€is€also€helpful€to€know€whenÏinterpreting€John€20:28€that€the€Roman€Emperor€Domitian,€œduring€whose€reign€John›€œlikely€wroteÏhis€Gospel€account,›€insisted€on€being€addressed€as€ð ðOur€Lord€and€God.ðð€Not€so€for€the€earlyÏChristians!€Their€Lord€and€Saviour€was€Jesus€Christ.ÌÌIn€some€cases,€a€statement€in€the€Bible€will€be€made€against€a€current€pagan€teaching.€AnÏexcellent€example€of€this€is€Isaiah€45:7,€where€the€òòLordóó€says:€ð ðI€form€the€light,€and€createÐ #l! Ðdarkness:€I€make€peace,€and€create€evil:€I€the€òòLordóó€do€all€these€things.ðð€No€biblical€statement€isÐ $X" Ðempty€and€œaimless,›€and€this€one€is€no€exception.€In€this€case€history€tells€us€that€the€contemporaryÏPersians€held€to€the€principle€of€cosmic€dualism:€the€idea€that€there€is€a€God€of€Good€and€a€GodÏof€Evil€in€constant€combat.€The€passage€in€Isaiah€challenges€this€false€notion€with€the€Truth:ÏYahweh€is€the€source€of€all.€In€fact,€the€immediate€textual€context€(45:5„6)€and€the€chaptersÏaround€this€passage€(òòcfóó.€41:4,€44:8,€46:9)€bring€home€this€point€with€power€and€clarity:€there€isÐ ¤(ô#' Ðno€God€beside€Yahweh.ÌÌÐ h+¸&* Ðò òð ðWrested€Scripturesððó óÐ ° ÐIn€our€studies€we€will€be€considering€some€of€the€Scriptures€wrested€to€support€false€teachings.ÏThe€term€ð ðwrested€Scripturesðð€comes€from€2€Peter€3:16,€where€Peter€speaks€about€the€unlearnedÏand€unstable€wresting€the€Scriptures€to€their€own€destruction.€There€are€some€general€things€weÏcan€say€about€our€approach€to€interpreting€such€contested€passages.ÌÌFirst,€there€is€absolutely€no€question€that€the€best€way€to€deal€effectively€with€ð ðwrestedÏScripturesðð€is€to€know€the€positive€teachings€of€Scripture€through€and€through.€If€we€have€aÏsecure€knowledge€of€what€the€Bible€really€does€say,€weððll€have€no€difficulty€when€faced€with€aÏScripture€wrested€to€support€something€the€Bible€does€not€teach.€We€must€not€treat€œwrested›ÏœScriptures›€as€a€series€of€isolated€challenges€to€be€tackled€one€at€a€time.€Rather,€we€have€to€be€ableÏto€deal€with€them€as€part€of€a€holistic€approach€to€the€Bibleð"ðan€approach€in€which€we€know€theÏpositive€teachings€so€well€that€the€apparent€problem€passages€fit€neatly€into€the€general€teachingsÏof€the€Word.€This€is€well€in€accord€with€the€principle€that€the€secure€passages€should€interpretÏthose€less€easily€discernable.€Second,€we€should€use€the€interpretative€principles€outlined€above.ÏThese€are€equally€valuable€for€studying€wrested€Scriptures.ÌÌThird,€we€should€look€for€patterns.€Are€those€who€argue€for€a€particular€false€doctrine€overlyÏreliant€on€one€part€of€Scripture,€while€ignoring€the€rest?€Think,€for€instance,€of€the€suspiciouslyÏhigh€number€of€wrested€Scriptures€Trinitarians€strive€to€use€in€the€Gospel€according€to€œJohn€(itÏshould€also€be€noted,€however,€that€many€of€the€key€passages€that€oppose€this€doctrine€comeÏfrom€John€also).›€Is€there€an€unwarranted€emphasis€on€the€New€Testament,€as€opposed€to€the€Old?ÏRemember€what€we€said€above:€all€the€major€doctrines€first€appear€in€the€Old€Testament.€ThusÏany€suggested€teachingsð"ðsuch€as€the€ideas€that€God€is€three€or€that€the€soul€is€immortalð"ðthatÏare€not€directly€founded€in€the€Hebrew€Old€Testament€have€to€be€treated€with€a€great€deal€ofÏscepticism.€Many€false€teachings€are€formed€partly€as€a€result€of€a€neglect€of€either€the€Old€orÏNew€Testaments:€Godððs€Truth€is€found€throughout€the€Bible.ÌÌFourth,€it€is€valuable€to€have€a€working€knowledge€of€the€relevant€false€doctrine.€Few€will€expectÏyou€to€have€a€detailed€and€exhaustive€knowledge€of€other€peopleððs€beliefs,€but€it€is€important€thatÏyou€donððt€misrepresent€them.€For€example,€we€need€to€remember€that€the€doctrine€of€the€TrinityÏholds€that€the€One€God€exists€as€three€co„equal€and€co„eternal€persons,€Father,€Son€and€HolyÏSpirit.€Orthodox€Trinitarians€believe€that€God€is€three€persons,€not€œone€person.›€They€also€believeÏthat€the€three€persons€cannot€be€confounded;€thus,€the€Father€is€not€the€same€person€as€the€Son,Ïand€neither€the€Father€nor€the€Son€is€to€be€identified€as€the€person€of€the€Spirit.€€Trinitarians€whoÏare€at€all€aware€of€the€orthodox€Trinitarian€position€(and€œnot›€all€are)€will€not€take€kindly€to€youÏspeaking€about€Christ€being€ð ðpart€ofðð€God.€Instead,€they€believe€he€is€one€of€three€persons€in€theÏTriune€Godhead.€Trinitarians€may€misrepresent€us,€but€letððs€make€sure€we€donððt€misrepresentÏthem.€When€we€make€the€effort€to€understand€what€they€believe,€we€will€have€a€better€chance€ofÏgaining€their€respect.€But€such€knowledge€of€false€teachings€can€also€be€of€great€practical€help,Ïsince€often€Trinitarians€will€attempt€to€use€verses€that€even€they,€when€pressed,€will€œadmit›€do€notÏsupport€their€teaching.€Such€is€the€case€with€John€10:30,€as€we€will€see.ÌÐ h+¸&* ÐFifth,€make€sure€that€you€identify€and€expose€any€specific€unbiblical€concepts€that€are€beingÏfoisted€on€the€text€of€the€Bible.€Of€course,€the€entire€œnotion›€of€such€doctrines€as€the€Trinity€andÏthe€immortality€of€the€soul€are€foreign€to€the€Bible,€but€we€also€need€to€identify€specificÏaberrations€on€the€way€to€demonstrating€the€unscriptural€nature€of€these€doctrines.€For€example,Ïthe€Bible€never€talks€about€Godððs€ð ðessenceðð€or€ð ðsubstance,ðð€much€less€of€the€Father€and€SonÏsharing€in€them.€These€are€Greek€philosophical€ideas€that€were€introduced€as€the€Trinity€wasÏbeing€formulated€in€the€fourth€century€AD,€and€a€Trinitarian€should€be€asked€to€give€proof€thatÏthese€ideas€are€in€the€Bible€(which€they€wonððt€be€able€to€do).€Thus€any€claims€by€Trinitarians€thatÏa€verse€shows€that€the€Father€and€Son€are€united€in€ð ðessenceðð€has€to€be€rejected€out€of€hand.ÏHebraic€thought€did€not€concern€itself€with€philosophical€questions€about€essence.€On€the€otherÏhand,€there€are€many€examples€in€both€Old€and€New€Testaments€œto€show€that€the€Father€and€SonÏare›€œunited€in›€will€and€purpose.ÌÌSixth,€when€confronted€with€a€wrested€Scripture€we€must€ask:€is€there€really€a€problem?€Or€areÏwe€simply€in€awe€of€an€interpretation€we€œhave›€heard€an€orthodox€apologist€present?ÏUnfortunately€we€are€sometimes€more€aware€of€a€false€interpretation€of€a€verse€than€the€true€one.ÏThus€we€all€know€how€the€orthodox€interpret€Luke€10:18:€ð ðI€beheld€Satan€as€lightning€fall€fromÏheaven.ðð€The€orthodox€reading€of€this€passage€is€so€well€known€that€we€may€be€partly€in€awe€ofÏit€and€may€see€problems€where€none€exist.€We€canððt€allow€the€popularity€of€an€incorrect€readingÏof€a€passage€œset›€the€agenda.€Here€we€must€remember€the€principles€we€have€presented€above.€InÏaddition,€we€have€to€ask€whether€the€orthodox€interpretation€relies€at€all€on€Church€tradition.€InÏthis€case,€since€the€Bible€knows€nothing€of€an€angelic€revolt,€we€know€it€must.€Finally,€rememberÏthat€since€the€Bible€quite€clearly€does€not€teach€such€things€as€the€Triune€God€or€the€immortalityÏof€the€soul,€any€attempt€to€use€passages€to€support€these€unbiblical€teachings€will€be€strained,Ïforced€and€amount€to€nothing€more€than€a€grasping€at€straws.€Be€confident€of€Godððs€Truth.ÌÌÌò òFinding€the€Truth€in€the€biblical€balanceó óÐ ”ä ÐUnbiblical€teachings€often€involve€either€a€subtracting€from€the€Truth€of€the€Bible,€or€anÏunwarranted€addition€to€it.€Correct€doctrine€can€be€seen€as€placed€on€a€continuum€with€completeÏunbelief€at€one€end€and€extreme€unthinking€orthodoxy€on€the€other.€The€chart€below€illustratesÏthis€using€the€examples€of€teachings€on€the€person€of€Christ€and€belief€in€the€nature€of€man:ÌÌœò òSubtracting›€from€à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àThe€Truthà p àà È àà  àAdding€toó óÐ #l! МÌA›€mere€manà ` àà Œ àà ¸ àà  àœ€€€€€€€€€Son›€of€œGod€andà  àà p àà È àGod›€the€SonÐ ô$D # Ð(Humanitarianism)à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àœSon€of€Manà p à›à È àà  àœ(Trinitarianism)›Ð à%0!$ ÐÌNo€immortalityà Œ àà ¸ àà  àœ€€Conditional›€immortalityà p àà È àNatural€immortalityÐ ¸'#& ÐNo€hope€beyond€graveà  àà h àà À àResurrectionà p àà È àà  àHeaven€after€deathÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÌœModern›€Unitarians€place€exclusive€stress€on€Christððs€humanity€and€reject€the€clear€teaching€of€theÏBible€that€Christ€is€the€literal€Son€of€God.€This€position€is€called€humanitarianism.€On€the€otherÐ h+¸&* Ðhand,€Trinitarians€deny€that€Christ€literally€came€in€the€flesh€and€instead€make€him€into€ð ðvery€GodÏof€very€God.ðð€In€doing€this,€they€have€added€an€idea€that€is€foreign€to€the€Bible.€The€Truth€liesÏsomewhere€between€these€two€extremes€as€the€Word€depicts€Christ€as€both€Son€of€God€and€SonÏof€Man.ÌÌIn€the€case€of€the€nature€of€man,€some€people€who€claim€to€believe€the€Bible€argue€that€there€isÏno€literal€resurrection€or€eternal€life.€For€them,€there€is€no€immortality€and€no€life€beyond€theÏgrave€for€the€faithful.€This€is€known€as€annihilationismð"ða€view€held€by€the€Sadducees.€Of€course,Ïthe€Scriptures€emphasize€that€complete€annihilation€is€the€ultimate€destiny€of€the€wicked,€butÏannihilationists€go€beyond€this€and€take€away€eternal€life€from€the€righteous€as€well.€At€the€otherÏend€of€the€spectrum€lies€the€idea€that€human€beings€possess€immortal€souls€and€are€thus€naturallyÏimmortalð"ðincluding€the€wicked.€For€those€holding€this€position,€eternal€life€is€receivedÏimmediately€in€heaven€upon€death.€Lip€service€is€paid€to€resurrection,€which€is€logically€irrelevantÏwhen€one€accepts€this€unbiblical€teaching.€Once€again,€the€Truth€avoids€both€these€extremes€andÏteaches€that€immortality€is€a€reward€conditional€upon€belief€and€obedience€through€grace.ÏResurrection€offers€hope€to€those€who€die€faithful€in€the€Lord.ÌÌÌò òApplying€these€principlesó óÐ H˜ ÐThese€are€some€of€the€basic€principles€we€need€to€employ€œto›€interpret€the€Bible.€Letððs€sum€up:ÌÓ6°,X°‚,` ˜X°X°†,–X6ÓÌœà Ü à1.›€The€Bible€is€the€inspired€and€inerrant€Word€of€GodÌœà Ü à2.›€We€must€take€our€ideas€òòfromóó€the€Bible,€not€bring€them€òòtoóó€itÐ øH Мà Ü à3.›€Teachings€must€be€obtained€from€the€Bible€aloneÌœà Ü à4.›€The€Bible€interprets€itselfÌœà Ü à5.›€Consider€the€immediate,€then€the€general€and€finally€the€entire€biblical€contextÌœà Ü à6.›€Use€clear€passages€to€illustrate€those€less€easily€understoodÌœà Ü à7.›€œAllow€for›€the€literary€œstyle€and€genre›Ìœà Ü à8.›€Consider€the€historical€backgroundÌÌSome€additional€principles€are€important€when€evaluating€wrested€Scriptures:ÌÌœà Ü à1.›€Be€sure€of€the€positive€teachings€of€the€BibleÌœà Ü à2.›€Look€for€suspicious€patternsÌœà Ü à3.›€Ask:€is€there€really€a€problem?Ìœà Ü à4.›€Determine€whether€ideas€are€being€taken€away€from€or€added€to€the€TruthÌÌIn€the€following€sections€of€the€Workbook€we€will€put€these€interpretative€guidelines€(and€a€fewÏothers€weððll€introduce€later,€including€Hebraic€parallelism)€to€work€as€we€lay€the€foundations€ofÏthe€First€Principles€of€the€Oracles€of€God.ñ¿ñ