How To Interpret The Bible (Focus on the Bible) [Paperback]

Richard Mayhue (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Christian Focus (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857922549
• ISBN-13: 978-1857922547
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,243,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Introduction, April 10, 2004

By 

Tim Challies (Oakville, Ontario) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How To Interpret The Bible (Focus on the Bible) (Paperback)

Richard Mayhue is Dean of Studies at the Master's Seminary and has sufficient credibility to write a volume about how to properly interpret the Bible. Writing in a simple and straightforward manner, he describes the process of "cutting it straight," a term he borrows from Paul's message to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15. Though the passage is most often translated "handling accurately the word of truth" the literal sense is "cutting it straight." This book is thus divided into three sections. The first deals with how to make straight cuts, the second with avoiding crooked cuts, and the third with living out your cuts.

In the first several chapters Mayhue lays out the proper methods for studying Scripture. He speaks about presuppositions, methodology and rules for interpretation. A significant portion of the section is devoted to recommended study tools - concordances, dictionaries, commentaries and so on.

The bulk of the book contains rules to avoid making poor cuts. In other words, the author discusses many of the common errors in interpretation. The list of errors is extensive, but a few of the topics are: spiritualizing, embellishing, culturalizing, anglicizing and experientializing. They may seem like difficult terms, but they are all explained in sufficient detail and with plenty of examples.

The final chapter provides four pointers for translating straight cuts into a life. Interpreting Scripture properly is just the first step in allowing the Words of God to penetrate and change our lives.

What I most appreciated about this book is that the author provides examples for everything he writes about. When he discusses rules for interpretation, for example, he exposits Psalm 13, showing how he would go about interpreting this passage. He shows the questions that should arise when discussing it and how he would answer each of them. Another strength in this book is the questions at the end of each chapter. So often I find that the questions authors put in their books add little to the subject, but in this case they truly ensure that the reader has read carefully and understood the content of the chapter.

The only shortcoming I found is that the author sometimes does not go into quite enough detail about regular Bible study habits. I would have appreciated some suggestions on how to begin a regular pattern of inductive Bible study.

Despite that small shortcoming, this book is an excellent introduction to the principles of Biblical interpretation and I heartily recommend it. I would suggest that it might be well complemented by a book that specifically covers the inductive method of Bible study, such as Kay Arthur's "How To Study Your Bible."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good basic introduction to Bible interpretation, October 9, 2000

By 

Frank Erb (Richvale, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How To Interpret The Bible (Focus on the Bible) (Paperback)

I ordered this book for students in an introductory Bible Interpretation class I teach at the church I pastor. I selected it because of its simplicity and readability. It has chapters on proper tools for Bible study, and many chapters on avoiding common errors in Bible interpretation. The author writes from his own experience, citing practical examples of how he has seen others misinterpret the Bible. For more depth, detail, and scholarship, I would recommend How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth, By Gordon Fee.