Seven Criteria to Consider in Biblical Exegesis

Exploring Beliefs in Faith

I have been presented with many views and doctrines in the faith. From Mormonism to Calvary Chapel and futurism, to a moment in Calvinism then on to partial then full-preterism, I’ve rambled about all of it. Over the past five years or so, I have come to discover some views (which I see as being completely supported by scripture) that are at odds with a great deal of orthodoxy.

The Purpose and Place of the Bible

One of the main views has to do with the purpose and place of the Bible, who it was written to and why, and its place in our world today. I have a dear brother in the Lord who too sees the Bible in much of the same way. He too is now a full Preterist. He too discounts the Trinity and eternal punishment. But he has gone a step further—he sees everything as being over, and I mean everything including all the teachings of the Bible. To him there is no reason or need for faith, love, hope, reading the world, talking about how the Word could apply to us—nothing. Since the Bible was written to them, and to their circumstances, and not to us, and since the end of all things did occur, and the Bible itself does not clearly suggest that another world is to continue, my friend has become unmoored from all connection to the Word.

The Living Word

I understand most of what he sees and believes to be honest—except I have decided—admittedly without a whole lot of biblical evidence—to believe that the Bible is the LIVING WORD, that its teachings and principles have eternal spiritual application to any and all who read it even today, and that it has immediate and direct spiritual application to all people since the end of the material age or the destruction of Jerusalem.

Frustration and Spiritual Disenchantment

My friend finds himself frustrated today. He has returned to arguing politics and has become disenfranchised from the heart from spiritual matters. He says he longs to return to those days when belief led his life. They were the good old days—but there is no way he can go back—and so he sits in a place of vacuity and emptiness, frustrated at the messages that come from over the pulpit because they are so juvenile and illogical. He has struggled greatly. But at the same time, he refuses to accept where I have arrived. Because he cannot see any legitimate support for my views, he says they are untenable and he therefore does not see them as worthy of acceptance.

Seeking the Best System of Beliefs

This opens us up to a question—how do we know what is the best system or combination of beliefs in the Christian world? We say, “the best combination of beliefs are the combinations that are true,” but we all have differences of opinion on what is true and what is not. So again, how can we tell—ratify, see, and prove—that our combination of stances is superior to any or all others?

Pursuing Truth and Joy

Looking back to my friend, he has, in my opinion, understood many truths that most people reject—but he is miserable. Is it better to embrace myths and fables and maintain happiness than to accept the truth and be bitter and empty? Is there a middle ground where we pursue the truth and embrace all things, but only insofar as they lead to joy?

Evaluating Doctrinal and Theological Postulations

So I have laid out side by side as many of the doctrinal and theological postulations that I can and examined them. And I have used seven factors to determine their value:

Seven Factors of Evaluation

1. Can the doctrine or practice, within reason, be supported through a contextual beginning to end study of the Word of God?
2. Does the belief or practice lend to greater or lesser faith and trust in God and Christ?
3. Does the doctrine or practice lend to greater or lesser love for God and Man? (with love being defined biblically)
4. Have I actually and practically seen myself grow in true faith and agape love as a result of embracing whatever particular belief or practice is being examined?
5. Does this particular stance glorify God less or more?
6. Does this particular view or practice create a heart of greater humility in me or one of greater arrogance? Am I more grateful to Jesus or less? Am I less judgmental or more?
7. Does this view or practice do more to liberate?

Introduction

Does my belief system serve my life, or does it put me in greater bondage to anything?

Evaluating Religious Doctrines

I examine Mormonism, Catholicism, Lutheranism, Southern Baptism, Arminianism, and others, comparing their doctrines to my four areas of inspection. I have found that the combination of my views better meets my categories than any other system. Then, I apply this approach to my friend by asking if his views on things align with the seven categories. In this way, he can see if what he has accepted as true actually is true. The truth ought to set a person free, not hold them captive to the things or institutions of this world.

Belief System Assessment

Let’s lay out all the things I have come to believe. I am personally convinced that they, individually and collectively, better meet the seven criteria than any other set of beliefs or practices in the Christian scene today. Again, these are what work best for me in meeting the seven criteria.

Key Beliefs

• That God and His ways are entirely objective.
• That we differ in our comprehension of Him and His ways, making the Christian faith entirely subjective and left up to the individual and the Spirit leading them.
• That in Christ, there is no difference between male and female, bond and free, Jew and Greek.
• That Christ has had the victory over all things.
• That God is love, He desires that none will perish, and His desires will be accomplished.
• That the Spirit is primary and preferential; the Word of God is secondary and referential; Church history is tertiary and inconsequential; and brick-and-mortar religious institutions and denominations are not essential.
• That all doctrinal and denominational disputes are unnecessary and not of God and His purposes.