RULE OF INTERPRETATION
By Ben M. Bogard
From his study of the Scriptures, we have learned the rule of interpretation. This rule applied is a key to the Scriptures that ever fails to unlock every passage, however mysterious and uncertain it may be. Insert the key and open the door. Here it is:
Always use the following:
1. Who is speaking?
2. To whom is he speaking?
3. About what is he speaking?
4. When was he speaking?
Who is speaking?
Who is speaking? Sometimes it is God speaking. Sometimes it is the devil speaking, for the words of the devil are quoted a number of times. Sometimes the Pharisees or Sadducees are speaking and generally they will be against the truth. Sometimes it is a well meaning uninspired man speaking. By carefully looking, you can determine who is speaking. If you fail to observe this rule you may find yourself using the words of the devil to prove your doctrine.
example: 
Who is speaking? Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (God called the Son: God)
Mat 4:8,9 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
To whom is he speaking?
To whom is he speaking? The words may bespoken to a church and apply only to a church. They may be spoken to some individual and do not apply to anyone else. The words may be spoken to sinners and to no one else. To fail to observe this rule means you will be badly confused.
Gen 6:13-16: "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it."
About what is he speaking?
What is the subject being discussed, or about what is he speaking? The Bible is not all on one subject but many subjects are discussed. Look to see what the writer is talking about. Yo cannot talk or write intelligently unless you are talking or writing about something. this is true with Bible writers. The forty men who, under inspiration, wrote the Bible, discussed many different subjects.
When was he speaking?
When was it spoken or written What was said or written might be for only a specific time. For instance, the Bible says they told that "his disciples stole" His body and that this is "commonly reported up until this day." That, evidently, means that it was reported up until the time the writer was living. So it is with many passages. The time is important.
The Bible should be read with the same common sense that one uses to read a book or newspaper. Just let it say what it wants to say.
