BIBLE LANGUAGES

When we think in terms of studying the Bible we see that it is divided into two testaments, the Old and the New. Old- ancient, aged, before, outdated, past, not used, worn out, first, before Christ New- after Christ

These two testaments are also referred to as dispensations, which is a period of time and the method by which God dealt with man during that time period. There are at least six dispensations.

1. Innocence – Adam and Eve in the Garden 2. Conscience- men began to scatter on the earth

3. Human Government 4. Law- Moses to Pentecost 5. Grace and Truth- Day of Pentecost to Rapture of the Church 6. The Millennium When there is a change in the dispensation, the method in which God deals with man changes also. Those who are not learned in their study of the Word are subject to preach and teach the attributes of the previous dispensation. Below is an example of this common error.

Deuteronomy 22:5

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. This is a principle that is commonly used in the church today to deny woman the wearing of slacks. However this was given under the dispensation of the Law. In the same chapter, a few verses down it also instructed a man that he could not wear mixed fabrics.

Deuteronomy 22:11

Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.

Those who are advocates of such a doctrine against the women’s right to wear slacks are guilty of

1. Taking the scripture out of context, and 2. Yoking the woman with the bondage of the law. This kind of ignorance prevails in the church because many have not recognized the foundational principles of studying the Word of God. The Bible is written in three language styles: I. Literal Writings: The scriptures say what they mean and they mean just what they say. It needs no interpretation. Historical and biographical writings are in most cases literal in nature.

2 Peter 1:20

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

GOLDEN RULE #1 SCRIPTURE INTERPRET SCRIPTURE God did not intend for man to interpret His Word! It is not for any of us to give our own opinions. Let us examine some examples of literal writings, those scriptures that plainly say exactly what they mean with no need to interpret or translate.

2 Peter 2:1

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

All this scripture is doing is warning us of the presence of false prophets in the church. It says what it means and it means exactly what it says.

Acts 8:38

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

GOLDEN RULE #2 THE MYSTERY OF GOD IS FOUND IN ITS SIMPLICITY. Men often feel as if they have to provide a deeper meaning to the scriptures they study. Or, as one minister said to me, he reads between the lines, that which may not be seen on the page. His reasoning is that even literal writings must have a deeper, more mystical meaning. Historical and biographical writings are in most cases, literal in nature. The Old Testament is comprised mostly of biographical stories of certain people. Some examples are: The life of David, Solomon, Joseph, Samuel, Saul, Abraham, Paul, Jesus and many others. These bios are basically written in literal language. Literal writing is also found in Bible prophecy.

Jeremiah 51:47

Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.

This passage speaks of a literal Babylonian empire. It is a prophecy but that which is going to take place is literal.

GOLDEN RULE #3 GOD WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND HIS WORD. He did not intend for it to be a mystery. The only stipulation that God has on His Word is that it is to be ministered by those whom He has chosen!

Ephesians 4:11-13

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

The reason we have such diversity of doctrines in the Body of Christ is that there is a lack of Apostolic Order. Jesus told the disciples that it was not given to men to know the mysteries of the Kingdom but for them to know. Jesus revealed the nature and character of God to twelve men. He discipled them for three and a half years, during that time He taught them the mind of the Kingdom. The preaching and teaching of the gospel was clearly placed in the hands of the apostles, who went on to establish the church and the boundaries of its faith.

Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The apostles taught only those things that Jesus taught them. They never taught anything outside of the boundaries Jesus had already set in place. Jesus taught us the mind of the Father and what we were to become. But the apostles instructed us in the “how-to’s,” in the epistles that followed. Jesus told us about the mysteries of the Kingdom, in parables. The apostles taught us how to accomplish the things Jesus taught. They were the only people who had a revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught the outline and His disciples took what He taught and showed us how to accomplish this in our own lives. When the apostles were set in their rightful place in the Body, the other five-fold gifts received the revelation. There is a veil over the Word to the church as long as there is an absence of Apostolic Order. God has set order in the Body and He only works inside of that order. Let us look at an example:

St. Matthew 16:24

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Here Jesus is instructing us in the mind of the Kingdom. Now Paul is teaching us the same principle.

Philippians 1:29

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

From Acts to Revelation, these books were written by the Apostles. Peter (1 & 2 Peter), Luke (Acts), James (James) Jude (the Elect Lady), John (1st,2nd, 3rd John, St John) and Paul (about 14 books). If they had deviated from the mind of the Kingdom, established by Christ in the Gospel, they would have committed heresy.

GOLDEN RULE #4 NO SCRIPTURE STANDS ALONE, OUT OF THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES, EVERY WORD IS ESTABLISHED.

Deuteronomy 19:15

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

2 Corinthians 13:1

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

If God says a thing in one scripture, there are two or more scriptures to substantiate what He has spoken. God will always give you a witness to what He says.

GOLDEN RULE #5 GOD IS THE LAW GIVER BUT GOD MAKES HIMSELF SUBJECT TO HIS OWN LAWS! God does not install a set of rules for us to operate in and then function outside of those rules.

II. Figurative Language: A word or phrase used in scripture that is a descriptive or comparative substitute for what the author really means. The meaning is always found within the context in which the word or phrase was used. Examples:

Galatians 2:9

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

The word pillars: slender, freestanding, strong vertical supports; columns. This word was used to describe the positions of James, Cephas (Peter) and John in the early church. The use of the word is both descriptive and comparative. Note the figurative words and phrases used in the following passages.

1 Peter 2:4-6

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Here the figurative word is “living stone” as it is comparing and describing Jesus to a living rock. The words “lively stones” are also figurative, comparing the church with a house, a natural building. However it can also be literal because it is the place where God lives, it is the temple of the Holy Ghost. The church is His holy habitation. This shows that there are instances where a scripture can use more than one type of language but be careful not to try to make the scripture say more than it is meant to say. The phrase “chief corner stone” is also figurative as a cornerstone is the stone that is set first and then the rest of the blocks are lined up to this particular stone. Jesus is being compared to a chief cornerstone

Symbolic Language: Symbolism is more often used in Bible prophecy. It is what I call artistic writing. It dares to use objects, people, places and animals to represent something foreign to what they really are. • The true meaning of the word (object, animal person or place) is not the same as the way the word is used. It is dangerous to try to interpret the meaning of symbols used in the Bible. The scriptures will define every one of these symbols.

•The meaning of the word is found inside of the context in which it is written or elsewhere in the scriptures. Below are some examples of Symbolic Language:

St. Luke 12:1

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Leaven: the true meaning is yeast. Yeast is used to make bread rise or puff up! Jesus was describing the falseness the Pharisees walked in. Here it is given a new meaning, hypocrisy. Note also that the meaning given was found within the context of the verse.

St. Matthew 16:6

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

St. Matthew 16:11-12

11 How is it that you do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Note here that the word “leaven” is given another meaning; doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This is a common mistake made by scholars of the Word; assuming a word means the same in every scripture that it is used in. The meaning given to the word was found in another verse, not the one in which the word was first used. We must keep the meaning of the word in the context of that scripture it is used in.

Other examples of symbolic language: THE WOMAN CLOTHED WİTH THE SUN AND THE MOON WİTH A CROWN OF STARS

Revelation 12:1

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

The interpretation of the symbols used is found in . . .

Genesis 37:6-10

6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words: 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

The sheaves that stood around making obeisance were symbolic of his brothers, which were founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. However the sun and the moon were symbolic of his parents, Jacob and Rachel.

THE FOUR HORSES

Revelation 6:2-8

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

The interpretation as to what the different colors of the horses represented is found in Zechariah 6.

VISION OF THE FOUR CHARIOTS

Zechariah 6:1-7

1 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. 2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.