The Ostensive Hermeneutical Principle: Unlocking the Power of Fee’s Axiom  

Jesus is the Star in the Star Prophecy

1. The introductory article on understanding Balaam’s last prophecy in Numbers 24:15-19, which is about Jesus, is here. This post and series is entitled “Jesus is the Star in the Star Prophecy.”
2. The second post, concerning the hermeneutic behind my exegesis, is here. This post is titled, “The Ostensive Hermeneutical Principle: Unlocking the Power of Fee’s Axiom.”
3. The third post is here. A short story, is meant to help clarify the context in Luke 24:13-32 by putting us in Jesus’ conversation with Him and His disciples.
4. Luke 24:13-27 as our hermeneutical signpost is the fourth post here. This post is titled, “The Way to Interpret the Bible Exampled in Luke 24:13-27.”

"Concerning this salvation,  
the prophets who prophesied about the grace  
that was to be yours  
searched and inquired carefully,  
inquiring what person or time  
the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating  
when he predicted the sufferings of Christ  
and the subsequent glories.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you,  
in the things that have now been announced to you  
through those who preached the good news to you  
by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,  
things into which angels long to look." 
(1 Peter 1:10-12 ESV) 

The Harmony of Excellence in Hermeneutics 

Would anyone pass in a spelling contest if asked to spell “hermeneutics” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”? I would not. Despite this, I still employ hermeneutics and sing Mary Poppins. Do not be intimidated by this strange word. What matters is the concept behind “Hermeneutics.” As widely used in Christian scholarship, hermeneutics refers to the capacity at which one consistently applies principles correctly for interpreting Holy Writ. 

Hermeneutics [Hur-muh-noo-tix]: The capacity to consistently apply principles properly for interpreting the Bible. People rightly refer to this wrestling as an art, science, and discipline. I call it my compass. But it is more than just a compass. It is a compass with a legend that helps you understand the map. When pursuing God’s way, if you have no idea where or how to start, then perhaps you know how having such a compass is most beneficial. I have found myself in overwhelming terrain. Have you ever felt lost? I have been lost (more than once).  

Lost in N’awlins

While living in New Orleans, I attended a magnate school uptown for seventh grade. I lived in the sheltered confines of an academic campus right on the line of Gentilly Terrace and Gentilly Woods. I rode the metro bus home from school every day. That route included multiple transfers. One of my habits while riding the bus home was to nap.  

…zzzzzz…

One day, I napped too long. I was awoken at the end of the line by the bus driver. I panicked and jumped off at the next stop, downtown on Canal. After I collected my thoughts and the bus had long driven away, I realized I had neither a transfer slip nor cash. Without knowing where to go, I walked in what I thought was the correct direction.  

Help Came

I will spare you the details of the perceived evils lurking around every corner. But to be sure, it is not a journey I would want any child to take. I learned a secret that day. The homeless helped me as they pointed me toward home. I used a bag of Doritos. To the two or three who helped me, I gave each a Dorito chip. We would eat our chips. I said, “thank you,” and marched on.  

As the day lengthened and shadow overtook the heat, I eventually stumbled upon a familiar sight. By this time, my mind comforted itself in the fright my family must be experiencing. I imagined the scene as I marched triumphantly down my street. Bursting through the door, I expected tear-streaked faces because I was missing. I expected police cars. I expected all my neighbors’ cars to surround my house. (It made sense in my mind). 

I did make it home eventually, after 8 pm. What did I find? My mom is calling people to dinner. Everyone is sitting, barely looking over their shoulders. They figured all this time I was just out roaming the neighborhood. But in my mind, I was not safe until late in the day.  

Now is the perfect time to introduce the anthropic principle into our hermeneutical discussions. The desire fueling our drive to apply hermeneutics impacts the results. What then fuels my passion?  

I Confess 

I want to know the real Jesus now intimately. To pursue Jesus is not just a fleeting impulse but the critical mission. I want knowledge of Him–now, yesterday, and tomorrow–to be the driving force in my life. This pursuit matters above all else.  

But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. 
(1 Corinthians 8:3 ESV) 
 

The Love Letter of Love Letters

When you hold the Bible, you possess the holiest physical relic. The Word of God is a love letter from our Creator- expressing His unfailing compassion and concern for us. Indeed, it is a beautiful testimony to divine adoration passed down through generations! Each generation is responsible for its own. The Bible is the love letter of love letters. Not only does it contain the Song of Solomon, but it also contains a multitude of quotable valentine snippets, such as John 3:16. 
 

[16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV) 
 

Only these snippets are more than snippets. They are universe-establishing powers. Truth is powerful. John 1:1–3 declares, 
 

"[1] In the beginning was the Word, 
and the Word was with God, 
and the Word was God. 
[2] He was in the beginning with God. 
[3] All things were made through him, 
and without him was not any thing made that was made." 
(ESV) 
 

Jonah ben Amittai’s Testimony

“Can the Old Testament, which contains so much death and despair, truly be considered a love letter?” the incredulous ask. To those who do not see the loving God of the universe in the Old Testament, I would like to give you this testimony to sway you away from your position. Consider the testimony of the only known human sushi roll, Jonah ben Amittai. After he declares God’s wrath is coming against the Ninevites, he pouts outside the city. Why is he pouting? Because God is merciful and delights in adopting people into His family. Jonah testifies in Jonah 4:2.
 

"[2] And he prayed to the LORD and said,  
"O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country?  
That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish;  
for I knew that you are a gracious God  
and merciful,  
slow to anger  
and abounding in steadfast love,  
and relenting from disaster. " 
(ESV) 

Jonah provides an astute summary of the Old Testament. As in the Old Testament, so in the New Testament. Jonah thus provides an excellent overview of both parts of God’s love letter to us. 

Jonah’s CliffsNotes on the Tanakh

• He delights in gift-giving to those in need. 
• He delights in giving the guilty reprieve.  
• He delights in His patience. 
• He delights in His sacrifice. 
• He delights in His peace. 
   

The Old Testament is replete with passages such as Jonah’s that emphasize this continuous thread. If you want to interpret the Scriptures correctly, it is essential to stay in this theme. God is gracious, merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.  

Do you read the actions of Abraham as he takes Isaac to be sacrificed and think, “Astonishing! This beautiful, heartfelt love letter surpasses any written by Shakespeare!” Paul does this in Romans 8:32. He reminds us that God the Father sacrificed His Son as our sacrifice.  

“[32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (ESV) 

God’s one book – the one letter he decided in all eternity to be written – this Bible is laser-focused on one goal – to persuade us to live in a specific way of faith concerning the promised Messiah, who also is our returning Lord.  

Fee’s Axiom 

The standard intro for hermeneutics is Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart’s How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. In it, Fee writes the sentence by which the entire work is known:  

“A text cannot mean what it could never have meant for its original readers/hearers.” 

Later, he clarifies 

“…the true meaning of the biblical text is what God originally intended it to mean when it was first spoken or written.” 

– Fee

Originally published in the 1980s, I do not recall when this book hit the shelves. Still, it has blessed the way as a lamp post. It is always true. It is Fee’s Axiom. Fee’s Axiom has helped me immensely on my journey. I seek to answer the follow-up question to Fee’s Axiom. “Can you give me the ostensive manifestation of this hermeneutic?” (Say, huh?) “What does this definition look like in real life?” 

Naselli’s Biblical Theology Principle: 

Here has been the lifelong struggle. Not just for me. Many have penned follow ups to Fee’s “How To Read the Bible.” In his book, “How to Understand and Apply the New Testament,” Andrew Naselli writes, “”The theological message of the Old and New Testaments is unified: God reigns, saves, and satisfies through covenant for his glory in Christ. The prepositional phrase in Christ is not a superfluous add-on. It’s everything.” (p237)  

I am on the hunt for the ostensive phrasing of Fee’s Axiom. The treasure I seek is the hermeneutic, as in THE Hermeneutic. This hermeneutic applies to every letter, word, and sentence in Holy Writ. It always applies. A biblical interpretation is deficient if it does not adhere to this rule. Here is the ostensive hermeneutical principle. 
 

” All Scripture is given to persuade us to live in a specific way of faith
concerning the promised Messiah, who is also our returning Lord.” 
 

-Iz

There are clear similarities between Naselli’s principle and mine:

• The centrality of Christ in all of Scripture
• Unity in biblical message across both testaments.

There is a difference. I do not think this distinction makes our principles alien to each other but rather another way to communicate the same idea. I press into this distinction because we must represent that the Bible is written and collated with the intent to persuade. Realizing that God is communicating to persuade us to His side is a paramount feature of Scripture. On the other side, Naselli’s statement elaborates on aspects generalized in mine.  

Hermeneutics Guide the Exegete

This perspective can be a helpful guide in understanding and interpreting the scriptures, as it provides an overarching framework for considering the various themes and messages present in the text. The goal is always to gain a deeper understanding of the books of the Bible and their meaning. 

The Bible is not a history book. It includes history and is true to history. Also, The Bible is not a biography. It includes biography and is accurate in its presentation of all within its pages. The Bible is not a witty book of truisms and proverbs. It includes witty truisms and proverbs. The Bible is God’s call to us. It is given to those who answer this call so that we can live in a specific way of faith concerning the promised Messiah, who also is our returning Lord. In this generation, it is our job to pass it on.  

In our next installment, we will delve into the Scriptures that teach this hermeneutic.  

I am Iz. Jesus is my shepherd. He helps me understand the world around me.

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