`There is no folly, no iniquity, no God-dishonouring theology for which chapter and verse may not be cited by an

enslaved intelligence. Under these circumstance, it is impossible to express in adequate terms the importance of

a correct estimate and exposition of the Bible' (Inspiration. p. 153).

There is no need to list the many vagaries that the Bible has been used to bolster up, but in each case these have

been due to a distorted exposition and understanding of the passages concerned. No apology then need be given for

a consideration of the science of correct interpretation of the Scriptures. To begin with we shall need to give

attention to the following points:

(1) There is a need to bridge the gap between our minds today and the minds of the Biblical writers of over 1900

years ago. People of the same culture, age and location, understand one another easily, but we are separated

culturally, historically and geographically from Bible times. Language is different; Hebrew, Chaldee and Greek are

far removed from modern language. Habits and manner of living are entirely different. Abraham's treatment of

Hagar may seem rather shabby unless we know the customs and laws of his time.  The background

of the Scriptures is therefore important. Every part of Scripture had a reason for its being written. Some human

need called it into being through the power of God. It is for us to try to ascertain what this was, and it will greatly

assist us in the correct understanding of the portion under consideration.

(2) No one is in a position to interpret the Word of God (no matter how educated or scholarly they may be) until

they are saved and regenerate. The Lord Jesus said, `Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God

(John 3:3). In other words he is spiritually blind and is not in a position to understand or interpret the holy

Scriptures whose context is spiritual. One reason why Christ continually gave physical sight to the blind was

because this condition is illustrative of man spiritually, and what the Lord can do for men in the natural sphere, He

can surely do in the spiritual.

The apostle Paul wrote:

`The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he

know them, because they are spiritually discerned' (1 Cor. 2:14).

A regenerate mind then is an absolute essential to understand the Bible.

(3) There must be a passion to know God's Word. A lukewarm heart will never discover Scriptural truth. The

searcher must be in dead earnest; the search for Truth must be priority number one.

(4) There must be a reverence for God and His Word and an unquestioned faith in both. The Scriptures are called

holy, and must be treated as such (2 Tim. 3:15).

(5) There must also be absolute dependence upon the Holy Spirit to enlighten. He is the Author of the Word and the

only One Who can give opened eyes and an understanding mind. We should be careful not to confuse inspiration

and illumination or enlightenment. We talk about works of art and beauty being inspired, but this is not the way the

Bible uses the term. In the Biblical sense, inspiration finished when the canon of Scripture closed and the New

Testament was complete. No other writings since this time are `God-breathed' or inspired in this way. What we

need now is not inspiration but illumination, and this is what the Holy Spirit is prepared to give to those of the

redeemed who honestly and painstakingly search the Word. This is something that education and cleverness, by

themselves, cannot command. The profound scholar has no monopoly of enlightenment. In fact his scholarship and

education may be a bar to the discovery of truth if he is not a humble believer in Christ, and willing to give his

education second place to the revealing power of the Spirit of God. There is one further thing that must be stressed

here and that is that Divine illumination goes as far as Scripture reveals, not beyond it.

Angus and Green write:

`The Spirit of God does not communicate to the human mind any doctrine or meaning of Scripture which is not

contained already in Scripture itself. He makes men wise up to what is written, not beyond it'.

(6) To be a sound interpreter of the Scriptures a knowledge of the original languages God used is invaluable. Basic

doctrine cannot be settled from translations, however good they are, if only for the reason that no translation can

fully represent all that the original contains. We should be surprised if one who claimed to be a specialist in the