What Do We Mean When We Say 'So Says the Word of God'?

Abstract

Frederic E. Blume explores the principles of biblical interpretation, emphasizing that Scripture must be read as God's Word with a single, divinely intended meaning. He critiques historical approaches such as allegorism, rationalism, and pietism, contrasting them with Martin Luther’s grammatico-historical method. Blume insists that interpretation is fundamentally reading—of an ancient text, a historical document, and a sacred Scripture. He discusses the importance of context, scope, word meaning, figurative language, and literary form, and warns against misapplication or overemphasis. He affirms the unity of the Old and New Testaments, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, and the analogy of faith as essential interpretive principles. Blume concludes that faithful interpretation requires humility, spiritual discernment, and a Christ-centered approach, enabling the reader to rightly say, “So says the Word of God.” —Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)