There are three general areas of study when we seek to understand the Scripture!
Principles used to interpret the Bible is call Hermeneutics. Do we treat Scripture as an allegory, or do we see it as literal?
Allegorical interpretation of the Bible is an interpretive method that assumes that the Bible has various levels of meaning and tends to focus on the spiritual sense, which includes the allegorical sense, the moral sense, and the anagogical sense, as opposed to the literal sense.
After fifty years of study, I view Scripture in the literal sense and let It interpret itself. I believe FATHER means what HE says and says what HE means. If you allow man to interpret the Scripture for you, the interpretation will be filled with opinion and personal orientation. FATHER does not need man’s help
The only sound approach to Bible study is to let the Bible interpret itself. (1 Peter 4:11). Two things are evident: Either God gave us a book that we cannot understand and therefore left it up to us to decide what he had in mind, or God gave us a book that we can study and come to a knowledge of the truth.
Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Peter chapter 4:
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the Oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.
The study of the Church is called Ecclesiology. It differs from the focus of Israel. Eschatology is the study of end times, of last things. The problem here is that most Christians haven’t done their homework in these areas of understanding the Word. A great majority don’t make a habit of thinking about God’s purpose for His Church, the Bride of Christ. If you don’t understand intent, then you will have difficulty in understanding and embracing what is said.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 5:
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, Love your wives, just as Christ also Loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be Holy and without blemish.
28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who Loves his wife Loves himself.
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
30 For we are members of His Body, of His Flesh and of His Bones.
31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
It is important to recognize that Paul is illustrating our honored and beloved position as the Bride of Christ. He highlights our destiny to be claimed by Him when He returns, to be presented sanctified, pure and Holy to God the Father.
And in 1st Thessalonians chapter 5:
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
We should begin to see how the Church is distinct from the rest of mankind and expressly exempted from the judgment God will inflict on the rest of the unbelieving world. No Loving Husband would even consider subject His wife to any form of wrath!