5.2 Orthodox View

There are four presuppositions involved in the orthodox view of biblical interpretation (1): [242]
1. Scripture Interprets Scripture. Viewed as a whole the Bible exhibits a marvelous harmony among the 66 books that were written by 40 different people over 1600 years. Each successive book in the time in which it was written presupposed the biblical books that went before. The earlier books in many passages were intended to point forward to Scriptures that were to come. Therefore, the Bible is internally consistent and interprets itself.

2. Lexicography. The meaning of words is established by studying their usage in a wide horizon by using available biblical and extrabiblical data. Then the words are composed into dictionaries (lexicography). The understanding of the usage of the words of human languages, by which the Holy Spirit conveys the Word of God to humans, sheds light on their meaning in the Scriptures.

3. Context. The context of Scripture must be taken into account. A study of the context of words and passages in the Bible includes not only the immediate context but the entire book in which the words or passages occur, as well as the historical background.

4. Grammatico-historical interpretation. The study of grammar includes lexicography, as well as the study of historical background, including immediate and remote contexts.

1. Buswell, J. O., 11. A systematic theology of the Christian religion. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 1963: 24-25.