Bible-Based Hermeneutics is an introductory resource designed to assist in the analytical, word-by-word interpretation of Scripture. This hermeneutical approach asserts that every word used in every passage of Scripture must be studied. Each word has a distinct characteristic, a specific meaning, and must be defined with proper consideration given for its complete grammar. The objective of this resource is for its reader to learn how to reach accurate conclusions and substantiate them solely from Scripture. In order to comprehend God’s Word in depth, it is important to attempt to discover, as completely as possible, what was in the Author’s mind, that is, to know what the biblical passage means by discovering the specific meaning of each word that is used. Bible-Based Hermeneutics intends to provide the methods to achieve the goal of determining the most precise meaning of God’s Word.
The need for a Bible-based hermeneutics is based on the fact that Scripture was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, not in English, Latin, or German. Because of the difficulty in translating these ancient languages into modern vernacular, it is safe to say that no current Bible translation has been able to convey exactly what God has said or interpret precisely what He meant. For example, the Greek word kerusso is translated ‘to preach,’ but the Greek word specifically means “to announce or make known publicly by a herald.” This certainly conveys a different image of the word ‘preach’ when we learn its precise meaning. The rules of hermeneutics as presented in this resource will enable you to begin discovering God’s Word layer upon layer, using a Bible-based method that will help you obtain the most accurate interpretation of Scripture possible.
