The following material is based on the books:
1. Carl B. Gibbs Principles of Biblical Interpretation
2. Gordon D. Fee, Douglas Stuart How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

Interpretation of Biblical Narratives

The principles of interpretation of biblical narratives:
1. Take a narrative as a fact.
2. Do not base a doctrine on a historical fact. Narratives usually do not teach doctrines, but illustrate doctrines given as statements in other texts.
3. Find the main topic of the narrative.
4. Narratives tell about the events that happened, not what should have happened and not what will happen every time.
5. There is a difference between descriptions (stories) and prescriptions (instructions). Consider the characters' actions according to the general moral doctrines of the Bible. Pay attention how the story influences your attitude to the character or the event. If God approves some of a person's actions, it does not mean that He approves all his or her actions. What people are doing is not always a good pattern for us. Most characters are not perfect, and their actions are not perfect too.
6. Silence does not mean agreement. We are not always told whether the events that took place were good or bad. We are expected to consider that according to the clear prescriptions of the Bible.
7. Distinguish eternal God's commandments (for all the generations of believers) from His temporary commandments (only for one person or group of people).
8. Narratives often do not give all the details. What there is in the narrative is what the author considered important.
9. Define the size of the story: where it begins and where it ends. Usually, a story has three stages: 1) the character encounters a problem; 2) his or her attitude to the problem; 3) he/she overcomes the problem or is defeated by the problem. In many-plot narratives, it is easier to find a change of a plot by a change of environment.
10. Consider the story in the context of the whole book of the Bible. A story should be interpreted in the context of the book.
11. Eventually, God is the main character of all the biblical narratives. Search for indications of God's actions in the story even if God is not clearly mentioned in it. Consider what truth about God the story reveals. Consider the story in the context of the history of salvation. Search for God and His purpose in every biblical story.
12. Narratives are not expected to answer all our doctrinal questions. They have specific goals and deal with certain matters. Other matters are spoken about in another place. Narratives may teach something directly or indirectly.

Interpretation of Epistles

Principles of interpretation of epistles:
1. Epistles were written in certain situations. In order to understand them, it is important to find these situations:
1) Who was the author? What was his relationship with the readers? What and when did he write?
2) Who were the readers? What was their culture? What was their spiritual condition? What were their outward circumstances?
3) What was the case when the epistle was written? Does the epistle correct errors, answers questions, interpret doctrines, or instruct in behavior? Where and when the epistle was written?
4) What is the subject and the content of the epistle?
5) Was the epistle written to one person or a church (or a group of churches)?
6) If the epistle was written to a church/a group of churches, does it present doctrines in systematic way or its purpose is to give explanations regarding a certain case?

2. Find out the structure of the epistle. Main parts of an epistle:
1) Introduction:
a) Greetings
b) Prayer
2) Main part:
a) Doctrines (teaching, correction)
b) Instruction (practice)
3) Conclusion - plans of missionary journeys, blessings

3. Find out the principles from the epistle:
1) Notice what instructions of the epistle are related to general matters of faith and morality.
2) If the instructions were related to specific situation or culture, find out general principles applied in that situation.

How to distinguish culture related and universal instructions:
1. Distinguish the kernel doctrines of the Bible from its peripheral doctrines.
2. Distinguish the concepts that the New Testament considers as moral in their essence and those it does not. For example, Paul never mentions culture related matters in lists of sins.
3. Notice toward what matters the New Testament has the same attitude in all the passages and in what matters there are differences.
4. Sometimes, the New Testament indicates whether a principle is universal or local.
5. Consider the possible choices in the author's culture and his choice.
6. Consider the cultural differences between 1st and 21st centuries.