When seeking to rightly divide the Scriptures one must observe some fundamental rules of interpretation. First, never make the interpretation of one passage result in the contradiction of another plain passage. An example of this is found in Matthew 4:5-7:
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Here is Satan quoting Psalm 91:11,12 and applying it to Jesus. But Jesus’ reply shows that Satan’s application of the passage from Psalm 91 would violate the teaching of Deuteronomy 6:16. Jesus here illustrates this first rule of interpretation, never allow one passage to contradict another.
The second rule involves keeping the interpretation within the context of the passage. Consider the words of Paul in I Corinthians 1:17, “ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” Some read these words apart from the context and determine that Paul is saying that baptism is not an essential part of salvation or else Paul would not have written this. But consider the context beginning with verse 10:
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Paul is writing to correct division in Corinth which is a result of people there following their favorite preacher. Paul emphasizes that Jesus, not Paul, Peter, or Apollos, is the one all must follow. He goes on to state he had baptized some of the Christians in Corinth (showing he did baptize) but not many. For this he was grateful for it prevented people from misunderstanding his motive. He did not baptize in his name (by his authority). What Paul is emphasizing in verse 17 is the one who does the baptizing is not important.
Consider a second example from Luke 10:30-35 where Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. Many interpretations have been offered to the parable examining every detail for teaching, but the context provides the key to interpretation. The parable was told to answer the question of a lawyer “who is my neighbor?”(verse 29). In verses 36, 37 Jesus provides additional information in the context when we read, “which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” The parable then informs us who is our neighbor and how we must act toward him if we are going to love him as we love ourselves.
—Denny