We'll at least these are the one I adhere to, quoted from the introduction chapter in "IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MESSIAH: a study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events" by Dr. A. G.Fruchtenbaum. Similar one's to these are found by Dr. C.C. Ryrie in his" Systematic Theology" and his "The Premillennial Faith".
The first rule is the so called golden rule of Dr. L Cooper, the late director of the Biblical Research Society.
Dr Fruchtenbaum explain the rules of interpretation very well.
This rule also called the golden rule of interpretation is:
When the plain sense of Scripture males common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning, unless the fact of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.
Simply put, this law states that ALL biblical passages are to be taken exactly as they read unless there is something in the text indicating that it should be taken some other way than literally.
The second rule of interpretation is
The Law of double reference.
This law observes that often a passage or a block of scripture is speaking
of two different persons or two different events that are separated by
a (long) period of time. But in the passage it self they are blended together
into one picture, The fact that there is a "gap" of time exists is known
from other passages of scripture.
A clear and good example of this law is Zech 9:9-10 verse 9 speaks of the first coming while verse 10 speaks of the second coming, another example is Isaiah 11:1-5 verses 1-2 speak of the first coming while 3-5 speak oft he second coming.
This rule should not be confused with an other rule called Double fulfillment, I do not believe this rule i.e. double fulfillment to be true, an often quoted example of this rule is Isaiah 7:14; The near view would be the child born in Ahaz's day, while the far view is the birth of Messiah. A single passage can only refer to one thing and one thing only, and if it is prophesy it can only have one fulfillment UNLESS the text states so explicitly. So Zech 9:9-10 has only one fulfillment, verse 9 in the first coming while verse 10 will only have one fulfillment in the second coming.
To come back to Isaiah 7:14 it can not refer to a child in Ahaz's day looking at the law of double reference Isaiah 7:13-14 refer to the virgin birth of messiah note that these verses are addressed to the House of David in general (as can be seen from the plural (you in plural and they) while verses 15-17 are in the singular and refer to Shear-Yashuv. Here we have one passage with two people blended but not two fulfillment's.
The third rule of interpretation is
The law of recurrence.
This law describes the fact that in some passages of scripture there
exist the recording of an event followed by a second recording of the same
event but with more or less details. It means there are two blocks of scripture.
The first block presents a description of an event as it transpires in
chronological sequence. This is followed by a second block of scripture
dealing with the same event and the same period of time, but giving further
details as to what transpires in the course of the event.
Ezekiel 38:1-39:16 is an example of the law of recurrence.
Ezekiel 38:1-23 give an complete account of the invasion of Israel
from the north and the subsequent destruction of the invading army. This
is followed by the second block of scripture, Ezekiel 39:1-16, which repeats
some of the account given in block one with added details regarding the
destruction of this invading army.
An other example is Isaiah 30-31. Isaiah 30 gives a complete account of the fall of Judah's alliance with Egypt. Chapter 31 simply repeats the prophecy adding details.
A non prophetic example is found in Genesis 1;1-2:25. Genesis 1:1-2:3 record the seven day creation in a strict chronological sequence. The passage ends on day seven. But then the second block of scripture, Genesis 2:4-25, in keeping with the of law of recurrence, goes back to the sixth day to provide added details as to the manner by which Adam and Eve were created.
The fourth and last rule
A text apart from the context is a pretext
A verse can only mean what it means in its context and must not be
pulled out of its context. When it is pulled out of context, it is often
presented as meaning something that it cannot mean within the context.
A good example of this is Zechariah 13:6. This verse is often used as a
prophecy of Christ. Pulled out of its context, it does indeed sound like
it refers to Christ. But the context (Zechariah 13:2-6) is speaking of
false prophets. So verse six cannot refer to Christ unless Christ is taken
to be a false prophet. This is the danger of studying a verse by itself
rather than in its context. The common saying, "You can proveanything by
the Bible" is only true when this rule is violated.
End of Quote
Paul Cohen email
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Thoughts
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written,
"The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob".