Validation of Theological Meaning

Seeker sensitive individuals can, at times, accept what is imagined among people in the reading of the biblical text. If imaginations both creative and wild reach too far to form vain ideas of theological relevance, the outcome can at best result in confusion and contradiction to Scriptural truths. The truths of Scripture are made clear and often simple according to the author’s biblical genre and the Spirit of the LORD. A practice colloquially known as “twisting scripture.” A perversion of meaning without contemplation, or careful thought. It’s that which accompanies the absence of critical thought for questionable gain.

Honor Intended Meaning

To find Jesus in every single area of the biblical text is to betray the intended meaning given by the authors of Scripture. The word of the Lord is precious and the source of life. It is written to save the souls of those who are His (James 1:21). It must be revered, loved, and honored with such a high view that it never becomes a Frankenstein to shape or give “spiritual” life to a hideous beast of confusion. It is possible to go too far in seeing Jesus in the Bible.

Consider the context of Proverbs 6:6-8, where it is written, “Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, which having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.” Where is Jesus in that segment of text?

We do have helpful guidelines to walk through and keep our conclusions coherent and on point. Specifically, with the intended meaning of Scripture. [1]

• The principle should be reflected in the biblical text.
• The principle should be timeless and not tied to a specific situation.
• The principle should not be culturally bound.
• The principle should be consistent with the teaching of the rest of Scripture.
• The principle should be relevant to both the biblical and the contemporary audience.

This outline serves as a criterion to identify a valid theological principle. If we seek to find correlations of Christ and foreshadows of Him in Scripture, we can apply this outline to assure we are on the mark to form reliable conclusions about what the LORD wants us to understand and accept.

It is especially useful to reference the Biblical Map of written text across genres. A principle we come upon using this guideline must fit or correlate with the rest of the Bible as indicated in our outline.

This is to qualify theological principles eligible for acceptable use. An overall effort to include relevant passages about the person and deity of Jesus, His mission, and permanent status as our LORD and King.

[1] J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2012), 45, 262.