How to Use Scripture to Interpret Scripture

One basic guideline to follow during the interpretation step of Inductive Bible study is to “use Scripture to Interpret Scripture.” This practice of better understanding one passage by comparing it to one or more other passages is also known as “interpretation correlation.” (Also see “Biblical Interpretation: How to Understand the Bible” and “What is Inductive Bible Study.”)

This interpretation guideline relies on the “harmony principle.” Since we believe the Bible is inspired by God, we also believe that the Bible cannot and will not contradict itself. This means every individual piece will “harmonize” with every other piece. (Also see the short video “What does it mean that the Bible is inspired?” If you check it out, I’d be honored if you’d subscribe to my You Tube channel!)

Therefore, if we think we see a conflict between two Bible passages, we can assume we have misunderstood one or both. Also, if we are struggling to understand the one eternal meaning of a passage, we can refer to other passages in the Bible for help. Because Scripture interprets Scripture.

A Few Benefits of Using Scripture to Interpret Scripture

As faithful students of God’s Word we want to handle Scripture correctly. We long to understand God’s one, true meaning so we can apply it to our lives. We want our thinking to align properly with God’s truth. Using Scripture to interpret Scripture is a helpful tool. This Bible study tool can help us:

Better understand a difficult or obscure passage – For more help on difficult passages see “ 4 Tips for Handling Difficult Passages .”Develop a comprehensive doctrine – We should not develop doctrine from just one verse or small passage, but rather consider everything the Bible teaches about that topic.Understand the deeper spiritual significance – The book of Hebrews tells us that the aspects of the Old Covenant – like the priesthood and sacrificial system – were but shadows of the greater spiritual reality revealed in Christ. Paul teaches something similar about the physical rite of circumcision (Romans 2:25-28). In these cases and others, the New Testament interprets the Old Testament.Look for a Relationship Between Passages

How can we know what other passages might be helpful as we seek to better understand a passage we are studying? Start by looking up passages with direct connection to your study passage. Below are a few common connecting relationships. Your study passage may:

Directly quote another passage – This is common in the New Testament. Jesus repeatedly quoted the Old Testament Scriptures (Matthew 5:21/Exodus 20:13). Other biblical characters like Peter (Acts 2:17-21/Joel 2:28-32) and Paul (Acts 13:33/Psalm 2:7) directly quoted Scripture. Still other times the biblical author included Old Testament passages in his writing (Mark 1:2-3/Malachi 3:1 and 1 Peter 5:5/Proverbs 3:34).Clearly allude to an Old Testament event – Although it may not be a direct quote sometimes passages include unmistakable references to other passages or biblical events. For instance, during Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus compared His coming crucifixion to the bronze snake Moses lifted up in the wilderness (John 3:14/Numbers 21:9-8). Jesus used the event in the wilderness as a word picture for His work on the cross. Paul used Eve’s example from the fall in his letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 2:13-14/Genesis 3:1-6).Discuss or refer to a person from the Old Testament – Although there are many examples of this in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, one prime example is the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. Biblical authors used biblical characters as good examples, cautionary tales, or teaching points. Use key words or phrases used by another passage – Biblical authors often taught through repetition. They emphasized important points and truths by using the same words or phrases over and over. The author intentionally used this repetition to draw the reader’s attention. (Also see  “Look for Key Words When You Study the Bible .”) These key words often show up as key words in other places in Scripture. Sometimes the same author uses them in another section of the same book or in another of his books. Sometimes these key words are found throughout Scripture because they reflect running themes in the Bible. My favorite example is “light.” John used it repeatedly in his Gospel (John 1:4-9, 3:19, 8:12, 9:5, 12:35-36) and in his first epistle (1 John 1:5-7, 2:8-11). Light is also a running theme throughout the whole Bible (Genesis 1:3, Exodus 11:21-23 Isaiah 9:2, Isaiah 49:6, Revelation 21:23).Highlight a theme that runs throughout Scripture – The Bible tells one big story from beginning to end. Therefore, important themes run like a thread throughout Scripture. A few examples include sin, righteousness, salvation, redemption, covenant, Kingdom of God, and forgiveness.Center on a topic also taught by another passage – Perhaps you read in John 2:13 that Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. You can refer to other passages to find out more about that festival’s establishment and rules for observation (Exodus 13 and 14). Some Resources to Help

The following list is not comprehensive, but these resources will be very helpful in helping you use Scripture to interpret Scripture. 

Cross-references –These appear in the footnotes or margin or Bibles that include them. These small notations connect verses in the text you’re reading to other related verses. These relationships include many of the things mentioned in the section above.Concordance – This is an alphabetized index of words found in the Bible along with a list of passages/verses in which it is found. Concordances are based on a specific translation of the Bible like the NIV or ESV. Some Bibles have small concordances in the back.Topical Study Bible – This resource organizes Bible verses by topic. For instance, if you want to learn more about humility, find “humility” in the topical Bible to see all the verses/passages printed that talk about humility. Try the “ Nave’s Topical Bible .”

Have you intentionally used Scripture to interpret Scripture in the past or is this new for you?

How to Use Scripture to Interpret Scripture by Kathy Howard.