Journal: Journal of Transformative Learning and Leadership
Volume: JTLL 01:2 (Spring 2024)
Article: The Life And Theological Method Of Lewis Sperry Chafer Part 2 (Chafer’s Methodology)
Author: David W. Gunn

The Life And Theological Method Of Lewis Sperry Chafer
Part 2 (Chafer’s Methodology)

David W. Gunn

Chafer’s Methodology

The nature of Chafer’s foundational commitments and the impact of his personal background on his theological methodology having been assessed, an analysis of his theological method will now commence. The primary areas of concentration will be Chafer’s hermeneutical approach, his procedure for correlating and integrating Scripture with Scripture and Scripture with extra-scriptural data, and his central interpretive motif.1 It will be apparent throughout the following discussion that every element of Chafer’s theological methodology rests on the conviction that Scripture is divinely inspired, inerrant, authoritative, and sufficient.

Hermeneutical Approach

While Chafer never wrote a work specifically on Biblical interpretation, he did discuss the subject at several points in Systematic Theology. Chafer himself did not use the term, but it may fairly be said that he essentially adhered to the principles of originalism, or literal-grammatical-historical interpretation.2

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Concerning the definition and proper place of hermeneutics he wrote,

The doctrine of interpretation contemplates the science of discovering the exact meaning of the Spirit Author as this is set forth in a given Scripture passage. Such a science may be described theologically as hermeneutics. To fathom this doctrine it is necessary to know and follow the recognized rules of Scripture interpretation.3

Chafer then proceeded to quote, approvingly, the four hermeneutical rules formulated by his older brother, Rollin T. Chafer. That Lewis considered his brother’s hermeneutical principles essentially identical to his own is demonstrated by his comment following the lengthy quotation from Rollin’s work: “Since every student of Scripture … is confronted with the problem of giving to the Sacred Text its precise meaning, the need of following these [Rollin’s] rules is imperative.”4

Hermeneutical Principles In Volume Seven Of Systematic Theology

Rollin’s hermeneutical rules were as follows. First, one must “Interpret grammatically; with due regard to the meaning

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of words, the form of sentences, and the peculiarities of idiom in the languages employed.”5 Furthermore, “The words of Scripture must ...