kendemyer
September 19th 2004, 04:14 PM
I believe in studying the Bible with the assistance of the Holy Spirit first and foremost. I also believe that Bible reference tools can be very helpful. I have been using my Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia published in 1986 but it is getting a little dated!
I am looking for the following: non-Calvinist, non-dispensational, conservative Bible reference tools. Specificially I am seeking the following: Bible Commentary, Bible Dictionary, and Bible Encyclopedia. I am looking for hardcopy or CD ROM materials.
The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopeda did say a revision of the theologically conservative "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia" which was a five volume set edited by James Orr in 1915 was coming out soon. Hopefully it is already done! I will check in a moment.
I am also looking for Bible reference tools which use the grammatico-historical approach to interpreting Scripture (this is an approach which does use literal interpretations but also realizes we need to use context, the orginal language, cultural background, history, etc to enable us to better understand the Scripture. Below I elaborate on this).
Below is an excerpt of how Bible reference tools enabled me to help establish a firm foundation in regards to eschatology which can be more challenging issue in regards to Bible interpretation (I am a futurist and premillianalist position who takes a postribulation view of the rapture. see: http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38016
) which elaborates on the grammatico-historical approach to interpreting Scripture.
Archimedes was a Greek mathematician and engineer who lived between 287-212 B.C.
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/people/ancient_epoch/archimedes.html&edu=high
Also:
"Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the world."
-Archimedes, 230 BC
The place a person should stand of course in determing eschatology is God's Word of course. But what long levers did I discover? Here are the two tools I used to establish what I believe is a sound eschatology:
1. I believe the first lever is the grammatico-historical method of interpretation.
Here is a great link which summarizes the methodology and recommends a good book (The webpage is titled: Basic Rules for New Testament Exegesis): http://www.godward.org/archives/BS%20Notes/Basic%20rules%20for%20NT%20exegesis.htm
Here is another great commentary on this methodology:
I have had some interesting discussions with ministers and scholars
concerning the interpretation of scripture. My friends the Baptists (well
some of them :-) often use the term "literal" when speaking of the
interpretation of scripture (especially Revelations). This concept leads
them into painting quite a romantic picture of eschatology; but, it does not
lend to much real understanding.
Now I have had some of my concervative brethren within the restoration
movement do much the same. They may take a differing view of eschatology;
but, they still try to force some symbols into a literal interpretation.
This too lends to some serious misunderstanding (IMHO).
On the other hand, I have had conversation with some extreme liberal
interpretists. These folks seem to have left all sense of the Word and
beginning with a point which they would like to express and select a verse
or two out of historical and grammatical context for support. This too
lends to great misunderstanding.
Neither of these methods of interpretation (IMHO) would give one any real
LIGHT. These poor folks stumble in the dark and lead others into the same
pits of ignorance.
Now a true "literal" interpretation could be understood (and should be) as
meaning expressed by the author to his/her audience in the historical
context of its expression. That is to say,"Interpreted by the rules of
literature." Milton S. Terry calls this the "Grammatico-Historical
Interpretation". (_Biblical Hermeneutics_,Terry, Milton S., Zondervan, Grand
Rapids, pg 173) [I put this in for all those who like to have some published
opinion.]
In his work, Terry speaks about some of the other methods: Allegorical
Interpretations (Philo, Clement); Mystical Interpretation (Origen, Maurus,
Swedenborg); Pietistic Interpretation (Quakers); The Accomodation-Theory
(Semler), Moral Interpretation (Kant); Naturalistic Interpretation (Paulus);
The Mythical Theory (Strauss); Other Rationalistic Theories (Baur, Renan);
and Apologetic and Dogmatic Methods. Only briefly touching these, he
proceeds to lay the foundation for the Grammatico-Historical method of
interpretation and then demonstrating it by interpreting the Scripture.
Terry touches the figurative language; simile and metaphor; fables, riddles
and enigmas; parables; allegories; proverbs and gnomic poetry; types;
symbols; symbolico-typical actions; symbolical numbers, names and colors;
dreams and prophetic ecstasy; prophecy; apocalypse (old and new testament).
Terry further denounces the double sense interpretation of prophecy,
addresses the alleged discrepancies of the scriptures and its alleged
contradictions to science.
In "Part Third", Terry addresses the history of Biblical interpretation from
'Ancient Jewish Exegesis' through later Rabbinical, early Christian, Later
Patristic, Middle Age, Reformation, seventeenth, eighteenth century exegesis
and concluding with nineteenth century exegesis.
I highly recommend this book to scholar and layman alike. Don't try reading
it when you're tired ;-).
A real "literal" interpretation will bring one to the mind set of the
author, the recipient and its intended meaning.
May God bless your continued search for divine Light in God's Word....
http://listserv.tcu.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind9804&L=docdisc&T=0&F=&S=&P=25444
2. The second lever/tool I believe I found is heavy duty scholarship by very knowledgeable scholars who employ (at least to some degree) the grammatico-historical approach to interpreting Scripture.
I will write more regarding this matter but in the meantime I suggest the following resources:
1. The Wycliffe Bible Encycylopedia published in 1986 by the Moody Press in Chicago. This Bible Encyclopedia was put together by a large group of conservative scholars. I also think this Bible Encylopedia took a wise approach because for each subject that it discussed a particular Bible scholar is given credit which of course makes him/her more responsible and put forth a greater effort. It also has bibliographies for some of the subjects discussed....
http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38016
Please note: Please do not make any post saying why I should consider more liberal Bible reference tools and why I am somehow close minded for failing to do so. I will consider these post off topic! I am firmly in the conservative Bible camp and I believe I did sufficient due diligence in this regard.
I am looking for the following: non-Calvinist, non-dispensational, conservative Bible reference tools. Specificially I am seeking the following: Bible Commentary, Bible Dictionary, and Bible Encyclopedia. I am looking for hardcopy or CD ROM materials.
The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopeda did say a revision of the theologically conservative "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia" which was a five volume set edited by James Orr in 1915 was coming out soon. Hopefully it is already done! I will check in a moment.
I am also looking for Bible reference tools which use the grammatico-historical approach to interpreting Scripture (this is an approach which does use literal interpretations but also realizes we need to use context, the orginal language, cultural background, history, etc to enable us to better understand the Scripture. Below I elaborate on this).
Below is an excerpt of how Bible reference tools enabled me to help establish a firm foundation in regards to eschatology which can be more challenging issue in regards to Bible interpretation (I am a futurist and premillianalist position who takes a postribulation view of the rapture. see: http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38016
) which elaborates on the grammatico-historical approach to interpreting Scripture.
Archimedes was a Greek mathematician and engineer who lived between 287-212 B.C.
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/people/ancient_epoch/archimedes.html&edu=high
Also:
"Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the world."
-Archimedes, 230 BC
The place a person should stand of course in determing eschatology is God's Word of course. But what long levers did I discover? Here are the two tools I used to establish what I believe is a sound eschatology:
1. I believe the first lever is the grammatico-historical method of interpretation.
Here is a great link which summarizes the methodology and recommends a good book (The webpage is titled: Basic Rules for New Testament Exegesis): http://www.godward.org/archives/BS%20Notes/Basic%20rules%20for%20NT%20exegesis.htm
Here is another great commentary on this methodology:
I have had some interesting discussions with ministers and scholars
concerning the interpretation of scripture. My friends the Baptists (well
some of them :-) often use the term "literal" when speaking of the
interpretation of scripture (especially Revelations). This concept leads
them into painting quite a romantic picture of eschatology; but, it does not
lend to much real understanding.
Now I have had some of my concervative brethren within the restoration
movement do much the same. They may take a differing view of eschatology;
but, they still try to force some symbols into a literal interpretation.
This too lends to some serious misunderstanding (IMHO).
On the other hand, I have had conversation with some extreme liberal
interpretists. These folks seem to have left all sense of the Word and
beginning with a point which they would like to express and select a verse
or two out of historical and grammatical context for support. This too
lends to great misunderstanding.
Neither of these methods of interpretation (IMHO) would give one any real
LIGHT. These poor folks stumble in the dark and lead others into the same
pits of ignorance.
Now a true "literal" interpretation could be understood (and should be) as
meaning expressed by the author to his/her audience in the historical
context of its expression. That is to say,"Interpreted by the rules of
literature." Milton S. Terry calls this the "Grammatico-Historical
Interpretation". (_Biblical Hermeneutics_,Terry, Milton S., Zondervan, Grand
Rapids, pg 173) [I put this in for all those who like to have some published
opinion.]
In his work, Terry speaks about some of the other methods: Allegorical
Interpretations (Philo, Clement); Mystical Interpretation (Origen, Maurus,
Swedenborg); Pietistic Interpretation (Quakers); The Accomodation-Theory
(Semler), Moral Interpretation (Kant); Naturalistic Interpretation (Paulus);
The Mythical Theory (Strauss); Other Rationalistic Theories (Baur, Renan);
and Apologetic and Dogmatic Methods. Only briefly touching these, he
proceeds to lay the foundation for the Grammatico-Historical method of
interpretation and then demonstrating it by interpreting the Scripture.
Terry touches the figurative language; simile and metaphor; fables, riddles
and enigmas; parables; allegories; proverbs and gnomic poetry; types;
symbols; symbolico-typical actions; symbolical numbers, names and colors;
dreams and prophetic ecstasy; prophecy; apocalypse (old and new testament).
Terry further denounces the double sense interpretation of prophecy,
addresses the alleged discrepancies of the scriptures and its alleged
contradictions to science.
In "Part Third", Terry addresses the history of Biblical interpretation from
'Ancient Jewish Exegesis' through later Rabbinical, early Christian, Later
Patristic, Middle Age, Reformation, seventeenth, eighteenth century exegesis
and concluding with nineteenth century exegesis.
I highly recommend this book to scholar and layman alike. Don't try reading
it when you're tired ;-).
A real "literal" interpretation will bring one to the mind set of the
author, the recipient and its intended meaning.
May God bless your continued search for divine Light in God's Word....
http://listserv.tcu.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind9804&L=docdisc&T=0&F=&S=&P=25444
2. The second lever/tool I believe I found is heavy duty scholarship by very knowledgeable scholars who employ (at least to some degree) the grammatico-historical approach to interpreting Scripture.
I will write more regarding this matter but in the meantime I suggest the following resources:
1. The Wycliffe Bible Encycylopedia published in 1986 by the Moody Press in Chicago. This Bible Encyclopedia was put together by a large group of conservative scholars. I also think this Bible Encylopedia took a wise approach because for each subject that it discussed a particular Bible scholar is given credit which of course makes him/her more responsible and put forth a greater effort. It also has bibliographies for some of the subjects discussed....
http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38016
Please note: Please do not make any post saying why I should consider more liberal Bible reference tools and why I am somehow close minded for failing to do so. I will consider these post off topic! I am firmly in the conservative Bible camp and I believe I did sufficient due diligence in this regard.