Dr. Couch, would you explain Sensus Plenior (fuller sense) and Reference
Plenior (referencing more than one incident)? And how are these
literary devices used in the NT referencing of the OT?
ANSWER: The NT generally, and for the most part, interprets OT passages using a
literal, grammatical-historical sense. This would be the literal use or
way of quoting OT passages, especially (but not always) concerning
prophetic passages.
The other way would be what is called the nonliteral use of quoting OT
passages in the NT. This is sometimes labeled the inspired sensus
plenior application. This is where a NT writer quotes an OT passage in
an illustrative way, i.e., as an illustration, or type.
There is now a war afoot among "coming-on" liberal scholars in our
Evangelical camp who are trying to rewrite how we treat prophetic
passages. They are playing free-wheeling with prophetic passages in
order to take the prophetic edge off of them. They are fired-up by what I
call "Academia," they want to sound and act so scholarly that they
philosophize the Bible! They want to sound high and lofty, and they are
into peer recognition and accreditations.
Some are forcing the issue and arguing that OT passages often had double
or two meanings. By this the OT can be "re-enterpreted" in the way we
look at how OT verses are quoted in NT passages. All of this is
calculated to get away from one meaning when the Holy Spirit inspired a
passage of Scripture.
While NT writers may sometimes find illustrations in OT passages, this
does not take away from the single meaning in an OT passage when it was
written.
Again, this discussion is coming about because there are so many
Evangelicals moving into the liberal camp and are wanting to virtually
re-write the Bible. They are influenced by liberalism. This is sweeping
our Evangelical schools but it will not sweep into Scofield Prophecy
Studies!
I hope this helps, and thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
