Interpretation
	All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all . . . The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly. -Westminster Confession of Faith

Guidelines for Building a Systematic Theology

A thorough topical study is when you study all of what scripture says on a given topic. A systematic theology is simply a systematic collection of major topical studies. Thus, these guidelines will work for any topical study. Even when you are simply working through a book study, there will be times when you will need to cross-reference another passage for a better understanding. Any time you move out from the immediate context of a book, you will want some guidelines in place to analyze and rank the data that you collect in your topical study or cross referencing. Following are some guidelines to aid in this process.

1. Collect your data.
2. Organize and interpret your data.

   1. The explicit takes priority over the implicit.

      1. Mark 12:25, "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." Angels are neither male nor female.
      2. John 20:19, "So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'" Can glorified bodies walk through walls?
      3. 1 John 5:16, "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this."

   2. Didactic takes priority over narrative literature.

      1. In Acts 2:4 we read, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance." Again Acts 10:44, 46 records, "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. . . For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God." And again in Acts 19:6 we see that "when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying." It would be tempting to conclude from these accounts that when a person receives the Spirit he speaks in tongues. And this is exactly what some have concluded, that speaking in tongues is a necessary sign of salvation.
      2. However, in 1 Cor 12:30 Paul asks the rhetorical questions, "All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?" Paul is not simply recording something that happened, he is giving a teaching on the subject. Not all in the body of Christ speak in tongues.

   3. The clear takes priority over the obscure.

      1. Being baptized for those who have already died (1 Cor 15:29). There are at least 40 different interpretations of this text. It is the only reference we have of baptism for the dead, and it is only mentioned in passing. Additionally, it is very obscure. Any explicit teaching we have on baptism would hold greater weight than any doctrine derived only from this obscure passage.
      2. Baptismal regeneration from John 3:5. "Born of water" is a rather cryptic reference. What does it mean? Regarding the use of this passage to support baptismal regeneration not only is this baptism not mentioned (and thus is implicit at best), but it is also obscure.
      3. Doctrine of Nuns from Luke 2:36-38.

   4. Later revelation should be preferred to earlier.

      1. Hosea 1:8-10, "When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said, 'Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God.' Yet the number of the sons of Israel Will be like the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered; And in the place Where it is said to them, 'You are not My people,' It will be said to them, '{You are} the sons of the living God.'" It is a little difficult to discern exactly what the proper interpretation is.
      2. But in Romans 9:23-26 Paul states, "And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. 25 As He says also in Hosea, "I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, `MY PEOPLE,' AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, `BELOVED.' " 26 "AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, `YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,' THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD."

   5. Teaching that is often repeated is given greater weight.

      1. Romans 1-3 deals extensively, directly, and clearly with sin. Therefore this is a good passage upon which to build your doctrine of sin.
      2. John 5 is a good passage to draw out the doctrine of the deity of Christ.
      3. The resurrection is dealt with more extensively and explicitly in 1 Corinthians 15 than in any other place.
      4. For an understanding of the relationship between the Law and Gospel, Galatians is a great place to go.

Taking care to follow these guidelines will go a long way toward proper understanding of scripture.