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Rule One: Cherish the love of Truth. 2 Thess. 2:10; John 4:23; 2 Tim. 2:5; John 8:31,32 |
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Rule Two: We must act from proper motives when we search for truth. John 6:26; 5:42; Luke 8:15; Matt. 13:23; Mk. 4:20 |
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Rule Three: "Rightly divide the word of Truth." (2 Tim. 2:15) Discriminate between the Old and New Testaments Gal. 3:24,25; Eph. 2:15-18; 2 Cor. 3:3-15;Col. 2:14 |
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Rule Four: Observe who is the author of the passage under consideration. Observe who is speaking, are they speaking by inspiration, or are the Bible writers recording a statement that is not necessarily a statement of fact? |
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Rule Five: See who is addressed. (Cf. 1 & 2 Timothy) |
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Rule Six: Find, if possible, what was intended to be accomplished by the passage under consideration. |
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Rule Seven: Find, if you can, what gave rise to the lesson under consideration. |
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Rule Eight: Consider, carefully, all the surrounding circumstances. This includes the time, the place, the people, their special conditions and positions. |
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Rule Nine: Collect all the divine testimonies on the matter under consideration; find just what each clearly means; claim all that, and no more. |
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Rule Ten: Doubtful passages, which are capable of more than one construction, must be so construed as to harmonize with those which are positive, and can have but one meaning. (Cf. Matt. 7:1 & John 7:24) |
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Rule Eleven: Consider the meaning of each word, sentence and paragraph. |
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Rule Twelve: When the law gives the manner of doing a thing, then every other manner is excluded, and the manner of procedure is as binding as the thing to be done; it is part of the law. (Cf.1 Sam. 15; 2 Kings 5) |
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Rule Thirteen: "Hold fast the form of sound words" (2 Tim. 1:13) |
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Rule Fourteen: No important teaching or practice is to be based upon doubtful or ambiguous Scriptures. (i.e.Psalm 37:20) |
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Rule Fifteen: Observe the special reason given, if any, for the thing said or done, or to be done. |
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Rule SiRule Sixteen: "Meditate upon these things" (1 Tim. 4:15-16) |
