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Natural Interpretation

Definitions:

First, please allow me to clarify a few terms:

• "Hermeneutics" = "Interpretation" - Hermeneutics is the Science and Art of interpretation. At BibleSanity.org, I generally use the term interpretation. By interpretation of Scripture, we basically mean taking the translated Bible in front of us, reading it carefully, and understanding what it says.

• "Literal" Hermeneutics = "Natural Interpretation" = "Common-Sense Reading" - "Literal" is a commonly used theological term for plain, normal, natural meaning. I prefer to use the term "Natural", because "Literal" sounds like no symbolic language or figures of speech are used. This is NOT what the term means. "Literal" is used in opposition to "allegorical" or "mystical". The idea is that the words used carry their normal grammatical meaning, not some wierd spiritually discerned symbolic meaning which can only be understood by some elite prophet, church official, or modern apostle.

• "Canon" (of the Bible) = "Recognized Books of Scripture" - The word "canon" means "rule", as in a standard. There are 3 canons of Scripture, or 3 sets of accepted books; Protestant, Catholic, and Hebrew. When I use the word "canon" without specifying, I mean the Protestant canon. This is what you'll find in most Bibles. The Catholics add what we call the apocrapha and they call the deuterocanonical books (and chapters). The Hebrew Canon has the same Old Testament as the Protestant Canon (arranged differently), but does not include the New Testament at all.

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