Biblical Hermeneutics
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PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HERMENETICS ; M. M. NINAN<br />
Most people try to explain the progressive revelation very similar to the shaper images<br />
formed gradually.<br />
"Progressive revelation does not mean to say that the Old Testament is somehow less true<br />
than the New Testament. The progress was not from untruth to truth – it was from less<br />
information to more full information. It merely states that the revelation found in the New<br />
Testament is complete.<br />
The faith has now been once and for all delivered. Nothing needs to be added to it and<br />
nothing should be subtracted from it."<br />
There is some danger in presenting it this way because there are evidently contradiction<br />
between the Old and the New. Grace cannot be a fulfilment of Law but an over riding nature<br />
of God as against the Law of Nature.<br />
"For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a<br />
letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished"(Matthew 5:18).<br />
i.e. until all that the law was supposed to accomplish has been accomplished. Then it will<br />
simply passed off. The Old fades away when it has done its job.<br />
"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, ..... fading<br />
though it was, ...... If the ministry that condemns humankind is glorious, how much more<br />
glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in<br />
comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory,...."<br />
We will provide a few examples of apparent contradictions within the revelatory regulations<br />
which God gave through history:.<br />
• Abraham's Descendants Were Commanded To Be Circumcised<br />
Old: "This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants<br />
after you: every male among you shall be circumcised" (Genesis 17:10)<br />
New: "Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit<br />
to you" (Galatians 5:2).<br />
Thus the salvific effect of Christ is totally nullified with the circumcision.<br />
• Israel Was Commanded To Observe The Sabbath<br />
Old: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8).<br />
New: "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a<br />
religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things<br />
that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." (Colossians 2:16,17).<br />
• This Message Was To Jews Only<br />
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