Harmful Methods of Interpretation
The following methods have sustained those things known to be false, have made the Bible either teach what we know to be untrue or contradict itself, and have turned the Bible over to the “clergy.”
1. The Mystical Method. This is one of the oldest avenues of approach to understanding the Bible. It originated in heathenism. It came from an old heathen idea that only certain persons are en rapport, “in tune,” with God and can get the real meaning out of the written word. Thus, it gives position and prominence to men of “holy calling.” It is based on the idea that behind the literal written word is a mystical meaning and that the latter is the real truth of God and the spiritual meaning one should desire. One is led to believe that the literal word of the Bible is inferior, even useless or dangerous, and must be discarded as unacceptable. It teaches that the real truth is often altogether different from that which is obviously said. “If the Bible does not mean what it says, there is no way by which we can know what it does mean.” (D.R. Dungan, Hermeneutics, p. 60)
2. The Allegorical Method. Allegorical: “Having hidden spiritual meaning transcending the literal sense of a sacred text.” (Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, p. 23) In this method, the student treats the entire Bible as one big riddle. It promotes the idea that each person has the right to draw out of various passages of the Bible the lesson he feels is true for him. One, therefore, does not obtain the meaning of the text but rather thrusts something into it.
3. The Superstitious Method. This method is rich in emotion but poor in reason. The student digs for all manner of hidden meanings by passionately working over thoughts, numbers, items, etc., in the Bible and combining them so they form strange conclusions and odd arrangements. It plays up incidental details. It thrives on originality rather than accuracy. It confuses all the orderly arrangements and divisions naturally found in the Bible.
4. The Ecclesiastical or Hierarchical Method. This method affirms the church as the true exponent of the Scriptures. One who uses this method looks neither to God nor himself to understand the Bible but to the final authority—his church, church leader, and/or church creed. According to this method, decrees of the church are final.
5. The Dogmatic Method. This method came into existence in Catholicism during the Dark Ages because of the church’s desire to rule in spiritual matters. By this method one can prove most anything. This method assumes a certain thing is true then defends it by showing, from Scripture, “proof ” that it is true. It uses the practice of “proof-texting.” The Bible is not designed as a proof for doctrines one might formulate. Instead, it reveals the doctrine of God.
6. The Rational Method (Modernism). According to Dungan, this method is “very nearly the rule of unbelief ” (67). “Rational” refers to reason. This method exaggerates the position of reason by making it the supreme authority in all judgments instead of using it as a tool for understanding. It considers human reason superior to anything revealed in the Bible so all passages are interpreted so as never to violate human reason. It, thus, accepts only those portions of Scripture which reason says is feasible or possible. The “unreasonable” parts of the Scriptures, such as the virgin birth of Jesus, the miracles and signs of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus along with His post- resurrection appearances, are either discarded or considered mythical.
7. The Spiritual Interpretation Method. This method is similar to the mystical method differing only in scope. Piety and a possession of the light of God in the soul supposedly enables everyone to understand the Scriptures in this spiritual way. It is strange, though, that those who claim to be enlightened in that manner, often do not interpret the Bible the same way.
8. The Apologetic Method. This method maintains the absolute perfection of all statements in the Bible. It regards anything and everything that can be found in Scripture to be from God no matter who is speaking. This is an unreasonable view because it stands opposed to one of the first rules necessary to fair and thorough investigation: to know who speaks.
9. The Literal Method or Literal Interpretation. Having originated as a reactionary move against the rational method, this method makes all the language of the Bible literal. It forces the Bible to be literal even when it is obviously symbolic. It may quote all passages with equal weight even putting a quotation of an uninspired man or of the devil himself on a par with the words of an inspired man.