BSM 2.5
Interpret from Primary Passages
This principle recognizes that certain passages are to be read as the primary declaration of God’s attitude on a subject, that is vital to our spiritual life. Many times in the Bible, God gathers together several scattered fragments that have to do with a particular truth and places them in one of these primary passages. Some examples include:
# The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15
# The Human Tongue. James 3
# The Restoration of Israel. Rom 11
# Triumphs of the Faith. Heb 11
# God’s Discipline of His Children. Heb 12:1-11
# The Church. Eph 1-3
# Righteousness by Faith. Rom 3:10-21
# Law. Ex 20
# Full Armor of God. Eph 6:10-17
# Love. 1 Cor 13
This principle requires us to study the primary passage of Scripture to determine major principles and then go to related passages for additional information.
For example, the most extensive discourse in the Bible on the qualities of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, where there are sixteen qualities so full of meaning that we could easily spend a week in classroom instruction on these verses alone. Consider that:
"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
When we read Mark 12:29-31, we find that Jesus responded to a question concerning the greatest commandments:
"The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."
Since the Two Greatest Commandments involve the quality of love, seeking to know what love involves - so we can make correct evaluations of ourselves before God and others - is good common sense. The importance of love is found in Mark 12. Its manifestation is found in 1 Corinthians 13.
If you would like to test your application of "love" defined in the verses of 1 Corinthians 13, ask yourself these questions: "Am I patient?" "Am I kind?" "Am I jealous?"
Another example of this principle is found in the description of the "full armor of God" Ephesians 6:10-17. This is the only place where all of the Believer’s spiritual armor is mentioned together. The belt that one "girds his loins with truth" is referred to in Isaiah 11:5. The "Breastplate" and "Helmet" are referred to in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. The "Sword" as part of one’s "armor" is implied in Hebrews 4:12.
FOR PERSONAL STUDY
# Why would it be considered important to first study the primary passage about any topic?
# Study 1 Corinthians 15 for information on the Resurrection and write down your observations.
# Look at the following verses. Find the portions that relate to the Resurrection and add them to your observations from question #2.
# Rom 4:24-25, 6:4-9, 7:4, 8:11, 33-34; 1 Cor 6:14; 2 Cor 1:8-10, 4:13-14, 5:14-15, Eph 1:18-21, 5:14-15, Col 2:9-12, 1Thess 1:9-10, 1 Pet 1:20-21, Rev 20:4-6, 12-13. Look for information that seems to conflict and note it.
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