God's Lordship and Biblical Interpretation

Book: Issues in Hermeneutics by Vern Poythress.It examines the complex hermeneutical foundations for biblical interpretation. Poythress argues against isolating the human author's intention from the divine meaning of Scripture, asserting that interpretation must account for God as the ultimate, all-wise author. He emphasizes that God's communication is simultaneously referential (propositional), expressive (personal presence), and conative (active power/control), a framework that applies to understanding both the complete canon and individual passages like Psalm 22 or Zephaniah 1:2-3. Furthermore, the texts insist that Christ is the Savior of interpretation, redeeming the interpreter from the sinful tendencies of rationalism, empiricism, and subjectivism that compromise biblical authority and limit meaning to human capacity or historical context alone. Ultimately, true understanding requires humble submission to God and acknowledging the progressive nature of revelation, where later Scripture illuminates the meaning intended by the divine author all along.