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Question

What is the evidence classification system, what positions are being compared, and what analytical tools does this series use? Specifically, what is the BIBLICAL BASIS for the E/N/I evidence classification framework, the Scripture-interprets-Scripture principle, and the methodology of comparing interpretive positions (HIST/PRET/FUT/CRIT) against explicit textual data?

Topics

WORD OF GOD

Aliases: Book, Book of the Lord, Book of the Law, Good Word of God, Holy Scriptures, Law of the Lord, Oracles of God, Scriptures, Scriptures of Truth, Sword of the Spirit, The Word, Word of God, Word of Christ, Word of Life, Word of Truth

Key subcategories relevant to methodology: - Expounded: NEH 8:8 -- "they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense" - By Jesus: LUK 4:16-27; 24:27,45 -- Jesus expounding Scripture from Scripture - Searched: ACT 17:11 -- the Berean model - Searching of, commanded: JHN 5:39; 7:52 - Not to be added to, or taken from: DEU 4:2; 12:32; REV 22:18,19 - Standard of the judgment: JHN 12:48; ROM 2:16

INSPIRATION OF: Extensive list including MAT 22:31,32 (Jesus' argument from the tense of God's self-identification); 2TI 3:16,17; HEB 1:1,2; 1PE 1:11,12; 2PE 1:21; REV 1:1,2

PROPHECY

  • Inspired: ISA 28:22; LUK 1:70; 2TI 3:16; 2PE 1:21
  • Sure fulfillment: EZK 12:22-25,28; HAB 2:3; MAT 5:18; 24:35; ACT 13:27,29
  • Cessation of: LAM 2:9
  • False teachers warned: 2PE 2; 3
  • Messianic prophecies quoted in NT: Extensive cross-testament citation list establishing that OT prophetic texts are authoritatively interpreted by NT writers

PROPHETS

  • Called SEERS: 1SA 9:19; 2KI 17:13; ISA 30:10; MIC 3:7
  • Inspired by angels: ZEC 1:9,13,14,19; ACT 7:53; GAL 3:19; HEB 2:2 -- establishing the angel-interpreter pattern
  • FALSE prophets: 1KI 13:18; NEH 6:12; JER 23:25-27,30-32; LAM 2:14
  • Warnings: DEU 13:1-3
  • Denunciations: DEU 18:20; JER 14:15
  • INSPIRATION OF: Includes GEN 40:8; 41:16 (interpretations belong to God); DAN 1:17; 2:19; 7:16; 8:16; 9:1-22; 10:7-9 (angel-interpreter pattern in Daniel); NUM 12:6-8 (God speaks through visions); AMO 3:7,8 (God reveals secrets to prophets)

EVIDENCE

LAWS CONCERNING: EXO 20:16; 23:1,7; LEV 5:1; 24:14; NUM 35:30; DEU 17:6,7; 19:15-21; PRO 24:28; MAT 18:16; 19:18; HEB 10:28

The two/three witness principle appears across both testaments as an evidentiary standard.

TESTIMONY

LEGAL: See EVIDENCE; See WITNESSES RELIGIOUS: Includes ISA 43:10; 44:8 (God's witnesses); 1PE 3:15 (ready to give answer); REV 12:11 (overcame by testimony)

WITNESS

Two necessary to establish a fact: NUM 35:30; DEU 17:6; 19:15; MAT 18:16; JHN 8:17; 2CO 13:1; 1TI 5:19; HEB 10:28

This is the most direct biblical parallel to the E/N/I framework's requirement for multiple independent attestations.

INTERPRETER

  • Of dreams: GEN 40:8; 41:16; DAN 2:18-30 -- interpretation belongs to God
  • Of languages: GEN 42:23; 2CH 32:31; NEH 8:8; JOB 33:23
  • In congregations: 1CO 12:10,30; 14:5,13,26-28

REASONING

  • God reasons with men: ISA 1:18; 5:3,4; 43:26; HOS 4:1; MIC 6:2
  • To be applied to godly living: 1CO 10:15; 1PE 3:15
  • Not a sufficient guide in human affairs: DEU 12:8; PRO 3:5; 14:12 -- human reasoning alone is insufficient
  • Of Paul from the Scriptures: ACT 17:2; 18:4,19; 24:25

INVESTIGATION

General: ECC 1:13-18; 2:1-12; 12:9-14

The Preacher/Ecclesiastes establishes a biblical model for systematic investigation: "he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs" (ECC 12:9).

DOCTRINES

General: JHN 7:16,17 -- "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine" Guidelines from Jerusalem: ACT 15:6-29 FALSE: Extensive list including MAT 15:9; GAL 1:6-8; 1TI 6:3-5; 2TI 4:3; HEB 13:9; 2PE 2:1-22; 2JN 1:7-9

DREAM

  • Revelations by: NUM 12:6; JER 23:28; JOL 2:28; ACT 2:17
  • Interpreted by Joseph: GEN 40:12,13,18,19; 41:25-32
  • Interpreted by Daniel: DAN 2:16-23,28-30; 4
  • False prophets pretended through: DEU 13:1-5; JER 23:25-32; 27:9; 29:8; ZEC 10:2

REVELATION

  • God reveals himself: EXO 3:1-6,14; 6:1-3
  • The pattern of the temple: 1CH 28:11-19
  • The sonship of Jesus: MAT 3:17; 16:17; 17:5

SCRIPTURES

  • Interpreted by doctors/experts: JHN 3:10; 7:52
  • Inspired by God (theopneustos): 2TI 3:16

INTERPRETATION

  • Of dreams: See DREAMS
  • Of foreign tongues: 1CO 14:9-19
  • The WORD OF GOD entry is the most comprehensive, containing references to Scripture as standard of judgment, the search command, the "not adding to" principle, and the inspiration catalog
  • The PROPHETS > INSPIRATION OF section contains the fullest angel-interpreter passage list
  • The EVIDENCE entry directly parallels the E/N/I framework's multi-witness requirement
  • The REASONING entry's distinction between divine reasoning and human reasoning (PRO 3:5; 14:12) maps to the distinction between text-derived evidence (E/N) and human inference (I-C/I-D)
  • The DOCTRINES > FALSE entry provides the biblical basis for testing interpretive positions