Be Ye Doers of the Word
Rightly applying God's Word requires sound interpretation and theological clarity. Misapplication is often the result of misinterpretation. So, we must slow down, rightly divide, and live it out with wisdom.
Our toolbelt so far has served understanding. This week it reaches its purpose: correct application.
- Comparing Scripture with Scripture
- Authorial intent
- Genre
- Literal and symbolic language
- Word studies and the original languages
- Interpreting Scripture in light of sound doctrine
- Correct application (this study)
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”JAMES 1:22–25 · KJV
James sets two people side by side. Both hear the Word. Only one does it. A poiētēs (ποιητής) is a doer, one who carries something out; an akroatēs (ἀκροατής) is a hearer. The hearer only is deceiving your own selves, from paralogizomai (παραλογίζομαι), to reckon wrongly and so deceive, used elsewhere only for those who would beguile you with enticing words (Colossians 2:4). The man who hears and never obeys has miscounted. He has added up the sermons he has heard and mistaken the total for obedience.
Two Ways of Looking
The hearer glances in a mirror, goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. The doer looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein. Looketh into is parakyptō (παρακύπτω), to stoop down and look closely, used when John, stooping down, looked into the empty tomb (John 20:5), and of angels who desire to look into the things of salvation (1 Peter 1:12). The doer bends close, stays, and acts, and this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James calls the Word that saves us the engrafted word (James 1:21) and the perfect law of liberty. It does not enslave the one who obeys it. It sets him free, as Jesus promised those who continue in my word that the truth shall make you free (John 8:31–32).
Misapplication often starts with misinterpretation.
The Theological Method study taught that a passage has one meaning and many applications. This study asks how to move faithfully from that meaning to our lives, and what goes wrong when we skip a step.
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For Deeper Study
- Living by the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the BibleAmazon Howard G. Hendricks and William D. HendricksA longtime Dallas Theological Seminary professor's method of observation, interpretation, and application, first published in 1991 and revised in 2007.
- Taking the Guesswork Out of Applying the BibleAmazon Jack KuhatschekA short book devoted entirely to moving from a passage's meaning to faithful application (InterVarsity Press, 1990), later reissued as Applying the Bible.
- Basic Bible InterpretationAmazon Roy B. ZuckA practical guide to grammatical-historical interpretation whose closing chapter, “Applying God's Word Today,” treats application as part of the interpreter's task.
- Rightly Dividing the Word of TruthAmazon C. I. ScofieldA brief 1888 classic on the distinctions Scripture makes, such as Israel and the church, and law and grace.
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
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Theological Framework and Doctrinal Harmony
Scripture never contradicts itself, so sound interpretation reads each verse within the whole body of sound doctrine instead of building on an isolated proof text.
Open Doctrine