Application

Step 1: Grasp the text in their town by summarizing the original situation (historical-cultural context) and the meaning of the text for the biblical audience.

Step 2: Measure the width of the river to cross. What are the differences between the biblical situation and our situation?

Step 3: Cross the principlizing bridge. List the theological principles communicated by the passage.

Step 4: Grasp the text in our town. How should individual Christians today apply the theological principles in their lives? This step consists of several substeps.

a. Observe how the principles in the text address the original situation.
b. Discover a parallel situation in a contemporary context.
c. Make your applications specific.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

When it comes to biblical interpretation, having the Holy Spirit does not mean that the Spirit is all we need, since he will not make biblical interpretation automatic. He expects us to use our minds, valid interpretive methods, and good study helps. The Spirit does not create a new meaning or provide new information, but does enable us to accept the Bible as God's Word and grasp its meaning. The Spirit will not change the Bible to suit our purposes or match our circumstances, but he will work in our lives as interpreters. He restores us to our senses and helps us grow up spiritually so we can hear his voice in the Scriptures more clearly. As you study the Bible, remember to pray that the Spirit will work in your heart so that you will have ears to hear what he is saying.

Levels of Meaning

Does the Bible have different levels of meaning? There is one level of meaning-the one tied to the historical-cultural and literary contexts. This meaning includes its meaning for the biblical audience and the theological principles behind that meaning. There can be different aspects of a text's meaning and even a number of principles behind those aspects. But there are not deep, "spiritual" meanings in the text that are unrelated to the historical and literary context.