1. 6: Applying Scripture
Hermeneutics 1

2. Devotional & Practical Interpretation
Principlizing: method of trying to understand a story
in such a way that one can recognize the original
reason it was included in Scripture.
Allegorizing: assigning symbolic significance NOT
intended by the author.
Demythologizing: views the supernatural as a
“fictional” illustration to convey a point.

3. Example 1: „Unholy Fire‟
Leviticus 10:1-11
Historical-Cultural Analysis:
-- Idolatry & religious syncretism in Israel
Contextual Analysis:
-- Inauguration day of the Aaronic priesthood

4. Example 1: „Unholy Fire‟
Theological Analysis:
Fire = Divine symbol
“Strange” fire (cf Exodus 30:9)
Inappropriate Offering:
1. Wrong timing (Lev 9-10)
2. Humanly initiated
3. Drunk?

5. Example 1: „Unholy Fire‟
Principal Lesson: God‟s commands are significant.
Second Lesson: Reconciliation with God depends on
God‟s grace, not man‟s self-willed practices.
Application: We must approach God on His terms and
not ours. We must follow His lead and initiative. To
act on our own apart from God‟s leading is less
than God intends.

6. Example 2: The Temptation
Genesis 3:1-6
Six Steps of Tempation:
1. Maximizing the Restriction (3:1)
2. Minimizing the Consequences (3:4)
3. Relabeling the Action (3:5)
4. Mixing Good and Evil (3:6)
5. Mixing Sin and Beauty (3:6)
6. Misunderstanding the Implications (3:6)

7. Guidelines for Principlizing
1. Universal principles will apply across time and
cultures.
2. The meaning must be the author‟s intended one.
3. Must be consistent with ALL other teachings of
Scripture.
4. Principles may be normative or non-normative.
5. Texts have only ONE meaning, but many
applications.

8. Guidelines for Principlizing
Principlizing is a method of application.
The meaning is the author‟s intended one.

9. Suggestions for Good Applications
1. Personal: Should apply to you, then your audience.
2. Practical:
1. Ought to be something you can do.
2. Plan a definite course of action.
3. Possible: Something you know you can accomplish.
4. Provable: Some means of accountability
*Taken from Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods.

10. Suggestions for Good Applications
Example: Eccl 6:7 “All man‟s efforts are for his mouth, yet his
appetite is never satisfied.”
1.
2.
3.
4.
Personal: “I need to…”
Practical: “I need to lose some weight.”
Possible: “I need to lose 10 pounds.”
Provable: “I need to lose 10 pounds before the end of the
month.”