Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 94:376 (Oct 1937)
Article: A Syllabus of Studies in Hermeneutics Part 7
Author: Rollin Thomas Chafer

BSac 94:376 (Oct 37) p. 470

A Syllabus of Studies in Hermeneutics
Part 7

Rollin Thomas Chafer

(Continued from the April-June Number, 1937)

{Editor’s note: Footnotes in the original printed edition were numbered 20–33, but in this electronic edition are numbered 1–14 respectively.}

V. Four Prerequisites

Under the tests required by the Bible it proves itself to be unlike any other literature. The world recognizes it only as a fallible collection of ancient religious lore, but the child of God proves its divine origin daily as the Spirit author discloses its hidden riches in response to his believing search. There are four Scripture terms which, in their Biblical significance, differentiate the Bible from all other writings. In both their interrelations and separate functions these Scripture facts are basic to an understanding of the Bible. All trustworthy principles of interpretation operate in conformity to these four facts and no reliable principle of Scripture explanation is divorceable from them. The truth of this is so generally recognized that those who attempt to force an extra-Biblical interpretation on the Bible either deny or tone down the Scriptural significance of these terms.

These four fundamental facts are: (1) REVELATION-both the subject matter imparted from the mind of God and the method of that impartation; (2) INSPIRATION-the divine means employed by which the revelatory matter is accurately transmitted; (3) ILLUMINATION-the Spirit’s action upon the mind of the believer, enabling him to perceive the truth of the divine disclosures; and (4) INTERPRETATION-explanation of the meaning of the verbal expression through which God’s thoughts are transmitted, applied in the Bible to both isolated subjects and the systemic development of themes and doctrines.

BSac 94:376 (Oct 37) p. 471

These terms taken collectively express the necessary elements for the transmittance of God’s thoughts to the mind of man. On the other hand, it is essential that their respective functions should be clearly differentiated. This we may do only in outline in this course.

(a) The Function of Revelation. The function of divine revelation is to reveal. Its office is to uncover, bring to light and make known those things of God which man cannot otherwise know. This God has done through His recorded Word. If the Word is not received ignorance must result. Man can not know God apart from His revelation of Himself. He can not know the way of life apart from God’s disclosures on the subject. He has never been able to guess God’s purpose in the earth. He knows it only because it has been made a subject of revelation.

“Moreover, although writing is not essentia...