Developing Biblical Principles

Many young people desire to please God in their lives but wonder how a book full of events from long ago can have any relevance for them today. Diligence is required of their youth leaders, parents, pastors, or mentors to teach them how to use the Bible in a practical way, but it can be done. All believers can learn to use the Bible to make decisions about their lives and times—even though they are reading a book finished before the end of the first century.

As we are mentoring young people in the art of proper Bible interpretation and application, the first key is remembering that the Bible is no ordinary book. Authored by God using numerous human instruments over many generations to write the words, the Bible is inspired—or God breathed. A book that is the TRUTH of God, the Bible is true, accurate, and definitely authored by God Himself. As such, we can trust its statues, judgements, commandments, and precepts.

The next key we must remember is that believers, even young people, are “believer priests,” illuminated by the Holy Spirit for an understanding of the Word of God, indwelt by Him from the moment of salvation, and accountable to Him as stewards. Believers, even young believers, in essence have supernatural help from the Holy Spirit to understand God’s written supernatural book—the Holy Scriptures we call the Bible. Therefore we need to get beyond thinking that Bible study and application is beyond the ability of young people.

Much of the Scripture is in the form of narratives—true stories of events and biographies of people. Even much of what the Lord Jesus said was in the form of parables. The epistles of the New Testament are different, giving us some direct commands and doctrines, as is also found in the Old Testament books with the Ten Commandments. Therefore one of the first things we need to teach young people is to discern the difference between direct precepts which are often phrased as commands, and derived principles which must be derived (obtained from a source or origin) from narratives and other passages, which are as inspired as the direct precepts.

1. Direct precepts—passages that contain an explicit command from God to His people. They are worded as commands, prohibitions, exhortations, wishes, and permissions. They are the clear do’s and don’ts of Scripture—the absolutes. Following are three guidelines for proper interpretation of direct precepts:
   1. If it was originally given in the Old Testament, is it repeated in the New Testament? This would apply to the Jewish ceremonial laws and others like the Sabbath day commands.
   2. What indication is there that it should be considered normal and appropriate for believers living today and not something that just fits the culture of the times when it was written, such as mourning in sackcloth and ashes?
   3. Are there any contextual, cultural, and/or historical meanings that may affect its current usage?
2. Derived Principles—these are truths derived or implicitly drawn from the Scripture which usually come from narratives, examples, parables, or themed sections of the Word. A principle can be defined as a general truth derived from a biblical narrative or example as it relates to a specific situation from that time but can then be applied to similar situations today. To be valid, principles must be
   1. derived directly from the text without stretching the point (Is there any indication in the text that this principle should apply to others too?);
   2. affirmed elsewhere in Scripture (Old Testament principle supported by New Testament teaching);
   3. consistent with all of Scripture—Scripture, properly interpreted, never contradicts itself; a principle would never contradict a direct precept, nor would two properly derived principles contradict each other.

Following are four questions every believer must ask and answer in order to derive some principles to live by today, whether reading
Bible passages that are direct commands or passages that contain narratives.

The danger zone between questions two and three above is the gap between a literal, historical, and grammatical interpretation of the Bible and a balanced application to everyday life in today’s world and culture.

There are two major dangers to avoid in relation to making the Bible come alive and be relevant to us today. The first is the belief that interpretation is enough without any application. This is studying the Bible as an academic exercise and then teaching it without any persuasive element involved. Stopping at that point does little to challenge believers to change the way they live based on God’s Word.

The second danger is jumping into application lessons and decisions without an accurate interpretation and understanding of the passage. Either of these can lead to the dangerous practice of adding to or subtracting from the Scripture (Revelation 22:17–18). Remember the scathing rebuke Jesus brought against the Pharisees in Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

STUDY THE WORD

The Value of Bible Study and the Danger of Being Scripturally Ignorant

1. Ignorance is a tool of the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4)
2. Ignorance is a symptom of spiritual blindness (2 Peter 1:9).
3. Ignorance is a characteristic of pride and conceit (Romans 11:25).

What is a Biblical Formula for Application?

1. 2 Timothy 3:16–17
   All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
   1. Doctrine—teaching; this is where one needs to do the work of proper Bible interpretation. For help, consult Bible Explorer’s Guide by John Phillips.
   2. Reproof and correction—the beginning of application; looking at it as it pertains to themselves. This is usually where one works at deriving a principle to live by from the passage they are studying.
      1. Reproof—rebuke; what is wrong. Where do I need to change?
      2. Correction—how to do it right. How do I go about the needed change?
   3. Instruction—disciplined training in righteous living. This is the fourth question on the chart. What am I going to do about it? Will I obey and follow this Bible principle?
2. James 1:22–24
   But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
   1. Hearing the Word is reading and studying the Word for interpretation only, but stopping after question two is asked and answered (danger #1). This results in
      1. being personally deceived.
      2. forgetting or ignoring the Word in relation to what I am like.
      3. going my way without any change in my life based upon the Word of God.
   2. Doers of the Word apply Scripture to themselves and base their choices and lifestyle on the application of the Word.
   3. Being doers without being hearers of the Word jump into application (questions 3 and 4) without proper interpretation of the Word (questions 1 and 2). (Danger #2)

Four Levels of Bible Study

1. Reading for knowledge and content (Proverbs 1:7, 22, 29; 2:1–9)
   1. 2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and . . . knowledge.
2. Reading for devotion and fellowship (Psalm 25:4–12)
   1. Job 23:12b  I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
3. Study for personal spiritual growth, meditation (application), and obedience (Psalm 1; 119:15, 23, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148; 19:7–14).
   1. Joshua 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
4. Study for teaching and application to others through opportunities for decisions (Hebrews 5:12; 2 Timothy 2:2, 24–25;
   Proverbs 9:9; Deuteronomy 6:1,7; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:42; 1 Timothy 6:2).
   1. Ezra 7:10  For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Practical Helps for Consistent Bible Study

1. Set up a prayer and Bible reading journal.
2. Volunteer to teach a Sunday school class or begin a mentoring of others—it is generally thought that no one really learns a subject until they have taught it.
3. Get the proper study aids and tools.
   1. Use a Bible study program (e.g., e-Sword) which offers its basic level free.
   2. Books also help, and some prefer them.
      1. Concordance
      2. Topical Bible
      3. Times and customs helps
      4. One-volume commentary
      5. Interpretation helps (Bible Explorer’s Guide by John Phillips is probably most helpful in proper interpretation skills.)
4. See it big; keep it simple.
   1. It is more important than food (Job 23:12b).
   2. The Word is equated with God (“the word was God,” John 1:1).
   3. The highest TIME priority of each day (Matthew 6:33)—“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil,” Ephesians 5:15–17. Use your time
      1. circumspectly (no waste, carefully, without interruption);
      2. not as fools (plan study time; compare Hebrews 5:11 and Proverbs 6:6–11);
      3. redeem (to buy back; to get all of a rare item possible—time use evaluations are essential).
5. Be honest with what the Scripture actually says.
   1. No more, no less.
   2. Don’t add to or subtract from.
   3. Depart not from the right or to the left.
   4. Be sure to do the work of interpretation before application.
   5. Be sure to do the work of application after interpretation.
   6. The teacher/ambassador’s job is to accurately repeat what the “master” says.

Learning to Be Both a Hearer and a Doer of the Word

1. Use the commonly suggested questions as you do your daily devotions—a journal helps.
   1. Is there a sin here I should forsake?
   2. Is there a promise here to claim?
   3. Is there an example, good or bad, in this passage that I should heed?
   4. Is there a command here to obey?
   5. Is there a general principle here that I can apply to my life today?
   6. Is there a warning for me or others to avoid?
   7. Is there an others-first principle I can implement?
2. What in this passage can help or hinder my various relationships?
   1. With God
   2. With others
3. Think in terms of not only action principles but also attitude principles.
4. Make your principles personal—use I, me, my, and mine rather than we, us, our, or yours.
5. Be as specific as possible—not just to be a better Christian or to be more like Christ.
6. Add the characteristics of good goals to your applications, such as a time element (target dates) and measurable goals.
7. Select issues you are facing now.
8. Think about some future needs of high interest (e.g., dating, courtship, and marriage).
9. Journal what you learn, your decisions, and your progress.
10. Use action verbs in your writing of principles and decisions.

Examples of Biblical Principles for Life

Listed below are some principles for proving (1 Thessalonians 5:21–22) or testing activities. When activities are neither specifically endorsed or condemned in the Bible, we may question whether we should participate or not. The question of our participation needs to be answered by the careful interpretation and honest application of such biblical principles.

1. Does it cause someone else to sin (stumbling-block principle—the law of love; Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8; 1 Corinthians 10:23–33)?
2. Lay aside not only sins, but every weight that keeps us from being the best possible Christian (Hebrews 12:1).
3. Make no provision for the flesh (Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:16–22).
4. If it is doubtful, it is dirty (Romans 14:23; James 4:17).
5. A Christian should be separate from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15–17).
6. Does it glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31)?
7. Would Jesus Christ have done it (1 Peter 2:21)?
8. Would you be ashamed if Jesus Christ came and found you doing it (1 John 2:28)?
9. Can you feel free to do it when you remember that God, the Holy Spirit, dwells within you (1 Corinthians 6:19)?
10. Is it fitting conduct for a child of God (Romans 2:24; Colossians 1:10)?

Sometimes principles are easier to remember if reduced to a short phrase. For example (shortened version of above principles),

1. No tripping
2. Lighten up
3. On guard
4. Doubt = Don’t
5. Not conformed
6. WWJD
7. Surprise inspection
8. He’s home
9. Family fit

If you do this in your journal, record the full or expanded principle along with the supporting verses of Scripture and several practical applications regarding thoughts, words, and actions for you to implement in your life.