Hermeneutics, Puritan-style

J.I. Packer, in his book A Quest for Godliness, states that Puritanism was "... above all else, a Bible movement."  It is only natural then, that the Puritans would have specific principles governing their interpretation of Scripture.

Packer points out six principles which governed their interpretation.

Scripture was to be interpreted 1) literally and grammatically, 2) consistently and harmonistically, 3) doctrinally and theocentrically, 4) christologically and evangelically, 5) experimentally and practically, and 6) with a faithful and realistic application

I loved the passage that Packer used to demonstrate the 4th principle.  This is from John Owen:

Keep Jesus in your eye, in the perusal of the Scriptures, as the end, scope and substance thereof:  what are the whole Scriptures, but as it were the spiritual swaddling clothes of the holy child Jesus?  1. Christ is the truth and substance of all the types and shadows.  2. Christ is the substance and matter of the Covenant of Grace, and all administrations thereof; under the Old Testament Christ is veiled, under the New Covenant revealed.  3. Christ is the centre and meeting place of all the promises; for in him the promises of God are yea and Amen.  4. Christ is the thing signified, sealed and exhibited in the Sacraments of the Old and New Testament.  5. Scripture genealogies use to lead us on to the true line of Christ.  6.  Scripture chronologies are to discover to us the times and seasons of Christ.  7. Scripture-laws are our schoolmasters to bring us to Christ, the moral by correcting, the ceremonial by directing.  8. Scripture-gospel is Christ's light, whereby we hear and follow him; Christ's cords of love, whereby we are drawn into sweet union and communion with him; yea it is the very power of God unto salvation unto all them that believe in Christ Jesus; and therefore think of Christ as the very substance, marrow, soul and scope of the whole Scriptures.

Packer recommends adopting the principles which governed the Puritans in their interpretation of Scripture.  To that end, he provides some excellent questions which we can ask ourselves as we study:

1. What do these words actually mean?
2. What light do other Scriptures throw on this text?  Where and how does it fit into the total biblical revelation?
3. What truths does it teach about God, and about man in relation to God?
4. How are these truths related to the saving work of Christ, and what light does the gospel of Christ throw upon them?
5. What experiences do these truths delineate, or explain, or seek to create or cure?  For what practical purpose do they stand in Scripture?
6. How do they apply to myself and others in our own actual situation?  To what present human condition do they speak, and what are they telling us to believe and do?

I would say that those questions are certainly a far cry from the typical "What does this mean to me?"

I can see how the Puritan approach to hermeneutics has influenced the way we study the bible today; well, some people.  Sad to say, many of the principles of the Puritans have been abandoned altogether. 

Comments

[Leslie]

This is good!! Thanks for sharing.

[Dorothy]

This IS good! I think I need to read this whole book of Packer's!

[Lisa writes...]

Excellent post! I'm marking it for future reference!