Hermeneutics 3

3-Let the known interpret the unknown. The correct interpretation of almost all Bible verses is disputed by someone somewhere. The impression arises that Scripture can mean whatever anyone wants it to mean. We may despair of arriving at the right meaning of any of it. 

A souind hermeneutic does not allow what might be unclear or uncertain to cancel out things that the Bible clearly states. The book of Job raises the problem of human suffering-where is God when people hurt? Yet God's seeming absence does not cancel out the biblical truth that He is always with His people, even in the woes. Mary, Jesus' mother, could not understand her pregnancy (Luke 1:34) but trusted in God's word to her through the angel (Luke 1:37).  Some of Jesus' followers doubted even when Jesus rose from the dead (Matt. 28:17), but that did not change Jesus' authority or His followers' commission (28:18-20). 

Difficult Bible passages or teachings are often illuminated by related passages that are less troublesome. In the course of time, understanding often comes that solves the difficulty.