This document provides an introduction to basic hermeneutics, or the principles of biblical interpretation. It discusses several examples of passages that are commonly misinterpreted by taking them out of context or without considering the meaning of the original language. Proper interpretation requires comparing Scripture with Scripture, considering historical context and grammar, and avoiding making doctrines based on single verses. The goal of hermeneutics is to understand the one true meaning of the Bible by allowing the text to interpret itself.

1. BASIC HERMENEUTICS
A Short Course on Hermeneutics
Dr. Jerry F. Smith
Training in Ministry Essentials
Jerry F. Smith, Doctor of Theology (ThD) & Ministry (DMin) ● Missionary ● Pastor-Teacher ● Evangelist ● Faith
Missionary Church World Outreach Ministry ● jfrsmth@gmail.com ● http://pastorjerrysblog.blogspot.com/ ●
http://c-ed.blogspot.com ● http://fmcoutreach.blogspot.com/

2. ORIENTATION

3. “It was very good.”
Genesis 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had
made, and, behold, it was very good. And
the evening and the morning were the
sixth day.
What does this statement tell us about
God’s Creation?

4. Did Adam and Eve eat an “apple?”
Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was
good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise,
she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and
gave also unto her husband with her; and he did
eat.
How do we know?

5. Jesus fed five thousand “men”
Matthew 14:21
And they that had eaten were about
five thousand men, beside women
and children.
Did Jesus feed 10,000 -- 15,000 people?

6. “As A man thinks in his heart so is he”
A proverb often used for positive thinking
BUT, is this an accurate interpretation?
Proverbs 23:7
For as [HE] thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and
drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Proverbs 23:6-7
6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil
eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: (7) For as
he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink,
saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

7. It is a reference to beware of people who
flatter you; NOT positive thinking
Psalm 12:2
They speak vanity every one with
his neighbour: with flattering lips
and with a double heart do they
speak.

8. Where Two or Three Are Gathered …
Does this refer to PRAYER?
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in
the midst of them.

9. Matthew 18:15-20
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and
tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear
thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word
may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church:
but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an
heathen man and a publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth
as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for
them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 FOR where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.

10. The CONTEXT of this verse is CHURCH
DISCIPLINE
That God would be present with CHURCH
MEMBERS they sought to make matters
right and restore a fallen member.
God is as much with ONE praying
Christian as He is with MANY

11. Grammar
Matthew 18:20
FOR where two or three are gathered together
in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
We also need to consider the GRAMMAR of the
text
The conjunction FOR is joining this thought with
the previous (context) . . .

12. “Eye of a needle”
Rich people cannot be saved?!
Matthew 19:24
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle,
than for a rich man to enter into the
kingdom of God.
Here you must consider the EXPRESSIONS
of that time

13. “When pigs fly!” - It’s impossible!
A similar English expression is: “When pigs fly.”
Example: He’ll get a perfect score on his test when
pigs fly.
In the same sense, the Lord was speaking about
those who trust in their riches. Of course they
CANNOT enter heaven, because they won’t TRUST in
Christ.
Remember, the Lord was speaking to the rich young
ruler prior to that statement (context).

14. The KEY point is what the Lord said
next:
Matthew 19:25-26
25 When his disciples heard it, they were
exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be
saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,
With men this is impossible; but with God all
things are possible.
NO ONE can be saved without Divine
intervention!

15. “Touch not the Lord’s anointed!”
Psalm 105:13-15 “When they went from one nation
to another, from one kingdom to another people;
(14) He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he
reproved kings for their sakes; (15) Saying, Touch
not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”
Many church leaders will use this verse to warn and
intimidate brethren not to challenge their authority.
But is that an accurate interpretation?

16. CONTEXT is everything
Psalm 105:8-12 “He hath remembered his
covenant for ever, … (10) And confirmed
the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel
for an everlasting covenant: (11) Saying,
Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan,
the lot of your inheritance: (12) When they
were but a few men in number; yea, very
few, and strangers in it.”

17. Touch not the Lord’s anointed
This is NOT speaking about pastors, but speaks of
God’s people, Israel. The they in this passage is a
reference to the Lord’s people, the nation of
Israel.
God is warning other nations not to hurt His
people.
“Anointed” is a reference to “they,” the people of
Israel – God’s people … NOT ONE MAN

18. In the New Testament,
EVERY believer is "anointed."
2Corinthians 1:21
“Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ,
and hath anointed us, is God”
No one believer can claim any special status as
God's "untouchable anointed" over other
believers.
In the NT, ALL believers are “anointed.”

19. Believers DON’T SIN??
1John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth
not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in
him: and he cannot sin, because he is born
of God.
But what about . . .
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath
concluded all under sin

20. Compare Scripture with Scripture
1John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may
have boldness in the day of judgment: because
as he [Christ] is, so are we in this world.
How IS He [Christ]?
1John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested
to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

21. I can do all things through Christ …
Can I use this verse to assure victory in a
sporting event? Other situation?
• What was the CIRCUMSTANCE surrounding Paul
writing this text?
• What was he speaking about?
• What was the CONTEXT?
– Was it a sporting event?
– Was it a new job?
– Was it a break up with your girlfriend/boyfriend?

22. CONTEXT is EVERYTHING when
interpreting Scripture
Philippians 4:10
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last
your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were
also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to
abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both
to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer
need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me.

23. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi
• To let them know that God has taught him to be
content in times of plenty and in times of
desperation (he’s writing this letter in prison).
• Whatever came Paul's way, he handled with faith. It
could be stoning, prison, shipwreck, beatings, etc.
• This passage does NOT say that I can accomplish
great feats of strength, but a reminder to exercise
faith and trust God in the midst of the ups and
downs of a life given fully to the cause of Christ.

24. Tithing
Is it a New Testament Practice?
The ONLY verses in the ENTIRE King James NT that mention
the word “tithe” or “tithing” are:
Luke 11:42
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and
all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love
of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the
other undone. (Also, Matthew 23:23)
In BOTH cases, the Lord was rebuking Pharisees for their
failure to exercise justice and love
BOTH cases were regarding the Law of the OT

25. Can a believer’s name be blotted out
of the Book of Life?
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be
clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his
name out of the book of life, but I will confess his
name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from
the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take
away his part out of the book of life, and out of the
holy city, and from the things which are written in this
book.

26. Can we LOSE our salvation?
Hebrews 6:4-6
4 For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly
gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again
unto repentance; seeing they crucify to
themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him
to an open shame.

27. Other interpretations we will discuss:
• Are believers KNOWN for loving PEOPLE or loving EACH
OTHER?
• What SIN keeps us from Heaven?
• Does God PUNISH countries for their sins?
• “You’re NOT a Christian if …”
– Is this an accurate statement from Scripture?
• What does it mean to OUTLINE a book of the Bible?
• When should I use commentaries and Hebrew & Greek?

28. gods??
Psalm 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you
are children of the most High.
BUT what about . . .
Isaiah 45:5
I am the LORD, and there is none else,
there is no God beside me:

29. Scripture tells us
John 10:34-35
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your
law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word
of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken
…
This text means that the Jews were like gods
compared to those who were without the law;
They were the people of God in the Old Testament

30. BE CAREFUL:
Don’t make a doctrine on a single verse
Here is an example used by the “Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints”
Psalm 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of
the most High.
• There is nowhere else in the Bible that suggests that
man is a “god.”
• But this single verse is used to support the Mormon
doctrine that man has the capacity to become a god.

31. Comparing Scripture with Scripture:
Internal evidence
There are abundant verses that demonstrate that
this is in no way true:
Deuteronomy 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou
mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else
beside him.
1Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there
is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
2Samuel 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God:
for there is none like thee, neither is there any God
beside thee …
Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his
redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the
last; and beside me there is no God.

32. Scripture must agree with itself
To AVOID ERRORS, Scripture must
agree with any doctrine drawn from a
single passage.

33. FALSE TEACHING:
MOST if not ALL cults deny that JESUS is GOD
You need to be able to defend your belief that JESUS is
GOD
Can you PROVE that JESUS is GOD from the Bible?
John 1:1 & 14
John 8:58 & Exodus 3:14
John 20:28
Colossians 2:9
1Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:13; 1Peter 1:1
Revelation 1:17-18 & Isaiah 44:6

34. Beliefs of some CULTS
Islam: “Jesus was no more than a mortal whom
Allah favored and made an example to the
Israelites” (Sura 43:59).
Jehovah's Witnesses: Jesus, one who is an angel
who became a man
Mormons: “That Lucifer, the son of the morning,
is our elder brother and the brother of Jesus
Christ.”

35. Kenneth Copeland: “Jesus has a beginning and an
end.”
Benny Hinn: “Have you been begotten? So was He.
Don’t let anyone deceive you. Jesus was reborn.”
Iglesia Ni Cristo: “If there is any verse which people
claim proves the alleged deity of Christ, this verse
has been wrongly interpreted by the people.”
Bro. Eddie Soriano: “The Jesus and Christ of the
Bible is not God the Father.”

36. The Lord commands us to check things
out before we just embrace them
1John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but
try the spirits whether they are of
God: because many false prophets
are gone out into the world.

37. GOD
teaches us to . . .

38. SEARCH the Scriptures
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so.

39. STUDY the Scriptures
2Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.

40. COMPARE Scripture with Scripture
1Corinthians 2:13
Which things also we speak, not in
the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth; comparing spiritual things
with spiritual.

41. Without proper hermeneutics, everyone
can make up their own ideas about what
God says
Studying the Bible without proper
hermeneutics leads to a PERSONALIZATION
of the text's meaning that IS NOT always
appropriate nor accurate.
There may be MANY applications of Scripture,
but only ONE interpretation of Scripture

42. When we say Hermeneutics, we mean
the study of interpreting the Bible
There are many things that can affect a proper
interpretation of the Bible:
Knowledge of God (His attributes)
Bible versions
Understanding of Bible Cohesion
Context
Culture
Grammar

43. Figures of speech
Theological approach
(Covenant, Dispensational, New Covenant)
Approaches to study
(exegesis or eisegesis)
Methods of study (inductive or deductive)
Study Aids
Knowledge of the Scriptures (comparing)
Ignoring time-tested interpretations
(interpretations throughout history)

44. Our course
• This is a short course on Basic Hermeneutics
• We will discover how to interpret the Bible using
ITSELF
• We will look at various ways that can help us
understand the Bible more accurately

45. NEXT LESSON:
Which Bible Version?