Rightly Handling the Word of Truth

• Principle #1: We must get our theology from Scripture - not force our preconceived theology into Scripture
• Principle #2: Scripture interprets Scripture. Scripture does not contradict itself.
• Principle #3: Context! Context! Context! We cannot take Scripture out of context!
• Principle #4: Audience Relevance - the text has relevance to its original audience
• Principle #5: Consider the cultural context of a passage
• Principle #6: We must determine whether a text is descriptive or prescriptive. 
• In doing so, consider the following:
         -keep in mind the author's purpose
         -be consistent in your approach
         -look for unbroken patterns
         -use all the other principles
         -this is not an exact science!
• Principle #7: We must read the text in light of its literary genre
• Principle #8: Authorial Intent - we must seek to understand the author's intent. The author controls the meaning.
• the text always means what it always meant - it can never mean what it never meant! Its meaning is fixed by God.
• Principle #9: Principlize - formulate a principle (or precept) based on the meaning of the text. 
• The principle needs to meet the following criteria:

         -timeless truth

         -cross-cultural

         -based on the author's intention

         -consistent with the rest of Scripture
• Principle #10: Make application - apply that principle to our lives.
• keep in mind that application can vary based on where we are in our walk of life - but the 
  meaning is fixed!
• when we misapply Scripture, we hurt people.

Most importantly, we must study Scripture with a prayerful, humble heart, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us.

-Summary of David Boone's sermon series on Rightly Handling the Word of Truth. Audio recordings can be found at: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.