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This wiki accompanies the blog SensusPlenior.net [2] and is provided as a means for others to participate more fully in unpacking the sensus plenior of the Bible.

What is Sensus Plenior?

“The sensus plenior is that additional, deeper meaning, intended by God but not clearly intended by the human author, which is seen to exist in the words of a biblical text (or group of texts, or even a whole book) when they are studied in the light of further revelation or development in the understanding of revelation.”

"Holy Writ by the manner of its speech transcends every science, because in one and the same sentence, while it describes a fact, it reveals a mystery."

It is the source of all the odd usages that the New Testament authors put to the Old Testament.

It is how the boy Jesus learned who and what he was, and what he was to do.

It is what Jesus taught in the temple when he was 12 years old.

It is what Jesus showed his disciples on the road to Emmaus.

It is the mystery of the ages which has been revealed in Christ Jesus.

It is the language of prophecy, and a prophecy of Christ Jesus.

It is riddle hidden in double entendre discerned using Biblical rules which prevent free-for-all allegory.

It is an intimate look into the relationships between the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and the bride of Christ.

What Sensus Plenior is NOT

It is not Jewish Midrash which can only discover riddles.

It is not Cabala which perverts Hebrew scriptures into the occult.

It is not Gnosticism which teaches polytheism.

It is not secret wisdom required for salvation.

Is your hermeneutic sufficient?

Main Entry: her·me·neu·tic

Pronunciation: \ˌhər-mə-ˈnü-tik, -ˈnyü-\

Function: noun

Date: 1737

1 plural but sing or plural in constr : the study of the methodological principles of interpretation (as of the Bible)

2 : a method or principle of interpretation

From www.merriam-webster.com "

Jesus criticizes an hermeneutic

Mt 22:23 ¶ The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

Mt 22:24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Mt 22:25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Mt 22:26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

Mt 22:27 And last of all the woman died also.

Mt 22:28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

Mt 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Mt 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Using your hermeneutic, where in the OT does it say:

1. that there is no marriage in heaven?

2. that marriage does not endure death and persist into heaven?

3. that angels are either genderless, not physical, or don't get married?

If your hermeneutic can't answer these, Jesus says, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Sensus plenior is not a novelty. Proper exegesis of it is required to know the scriptures and the power of God.

Does your hermeneutic contradict your belief?

Mt 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Mt 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Using your hermeneutic, where in the OT does it say that Jesus will be called a Nazarene? Does your hermeneutic cause you to have a contradiction?

1. Did we lose the scripture that prophesies that Jesus would be called a Nazarene?

2. Is your hermeneutic insufficient to see that the law of the Nazarite is a prophecy that he will be called a Nazarene?

Approaching Sensus Plenior

We have been taught that everything that can be known about the Bible is known about the Bible. It is taught subtly with phrases such as "If it's new it ain't true". It is fair to demand extraordinary proof when something is unfamiliar, however God says it is a shame to decide an issue before it has been heard.

How should a Berean approach the claims being made about sensus plenior?

Consider the claims:

God’s intention:

A1. God states that he intends to speak in a hidden fashion.

A2. Jesus confirms that God has spoken in a hidden fashion.

A3. The apostles confirm that God has spoken in a hidden fashion.

A4. Suitable number of examples are presented to demonstrate that the phenomenon is not accidental.

A5. Plausible reason is given for hiding the message.

The author’s intention:

B1. Facts are presented in a hidden form that the author could not have known about in advance, short of receiving divine knowledge.

B2. Methods are used that could not have been invented by the human author.

B3. NT authors confirm that that the authors did not fully understand what they wrote.

B4. The hidden message is different than the literal, but not contradictory.

No theological contradiction

C1. The method for discerning the hidden message will be shown to be self-correcting.

C2. The New Testament authors’ use of the Old Testament will be shown to be a plausible example of the use of the method.

C3. Jesus’ use of the Old Testament will be shown to be a plausible example of the use of the method.

C4. No contradicting message will be discerned.

C5. No contradicting message will be proven to be discernible by the use of the method.

Study Guides

Category: Study Guides will contain outlines with links to articles to help follow a topic.

Like to help or comment?

Drop me a note at plenior at sensusplenior dot net. And I will be happy to open an account. There is way too much spam these days to just leave it open. Sorry.

Recent changes

Every time a page is modified it is recorded here. If you see multiple listings for the same page, it simply means it was edited a few times and clicking any one of the links will give you the latest version. This is most helpful if you are following current work.

There are three variations of a verse:

*Mt 5:2 is the verse in KJV.

Mt 5:2* is a sensus plenior paraphrase if one is available or the raw riddle if one is not.

Mt 5:2** is the raw riddle.