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6/7/2015
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Hermeneutics
Exegesis
What is Hermeneutics
Science and art of biblical interpretation
Discover author’s intended meaning
Inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
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What is Hermeneutics
Science –systematicmechanicalformulated
Art ‐talentskillsknowledge
Source of Biblical Interpretation (Hermeneutics)
principles embedded in the scripture scripture interprets scripture
based on the entire bible to have a comprehensive
understanding of its contents.
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Benefits of HermeneuticsCorrect Biblical Interpretationso we can understand what God is saying
provides “objective, Biblical World view” understanding of what God has said to us through His written word.
Identify any denominational, unscriptural traditions, personal opinions, geographical, or “cultural reasoning” that separate our minds from that of the writers of the Bible
A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
Depends on your point of view and background……
Interpretation depends on Whether the Moss is ..
Good Or
Bad
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Laodocia
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm‐‐neither hot nor cold‐‐I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15,16)
What is the problem?
Lukewarm
Or
Not Hot or Cold
Laodocia
Lukewarm Bad Hot Good = ‘on Fire’ for GodCold Bad = Non‐Believer Lukewarm = Middle of the Road Position on Christ
Denying some truths / weak witness
Not Hot or ColdHot = Good for Warm Baths Cold = Good for RefreshingLukewarm = Middle of the Road Position on Christ
Not receiving best benefits of Christ
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Inappropriate Hermeneutics“proof‐texting.”
Ignoring the literary context
Using an individual sentence, clause, or wordas statements of truth
Ignoring to the author’s intent or the larger context.
Inappropriate HermeneuticsIgnoring the historical setting
substituting a supposed historical setting that has little or no support from the text itself.
reading it as the morning hometown newspaper written primarily to modern individual Christians.
allegorizing the text into a philosophical / theological message totally unrelated to the first hearers and the original author’s intent.
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Inappropriate HermeneuticsIgnoring the original message
substituting one’s own system of theology, pet doctrine, or contemporary issue unrelated to the original author’s purpose and stated message.
“what‐the‐text‐means‐to me” “reader response”
vs.
‘How I can apply the Text’
Exercise Jesus ???
‐‐‐ Exegesis ‐‐‐
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"What is Biblical Exegesis?"
“application of hermeneutics”
Seeks to extract from the Scriptural text that meaning which is already present
Eisegesis
A subjective method
Interpreter's own ideas biasopinions
Rather than the meaning of the text.
Done at the expense oflanguage (Hebrew, Greek)context of passage historical setting context of the subject as found in the whole of scripture
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Exegesis
Basic rules
Over emphasizing one rule at the expense of another creates problems
ResultsEveryone starts creating rules as it suits them and their ideasEach person becomes a rule book unto themselvesChaosRedefinition of truthMisrepresentations of the biblical writer (Holy Spirit)
INTERPRETING THE BIBLE OBJECTIVELY
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INTERPRETING THE BIBLE OBJECTIVELY
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The Interpretation Process
Steps:
1. Observation
2. Interpretation
3. Correlation
4. Application
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Observation"What does it say?"
Bible references and tools• Dictionaries• Commentaries• Bible atlases• Concordances
Objectively ‐ observe the whole picture
Figuratively ‐ act as a detective –investigating, and examining the passage
Observation:Questions to ask:
Who are the key figures in the book? (Who is Jeremiah, Cyrus, Paul, Timothy, etc.)
What is the background and historical setting
What are the key dates?
When was the book written?
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What are the key verses in the book?
What are the key words?
What are the key events taking place? (Pentecost, Paul's conversion,
Christ's resurrection)
What conclusions can be drawn? (must we observe Jewish customs and laws ? )
Observation:Questions to ask:
ObservationIdentify Key Doctrines
ThemesAuthor's intention
James vs Romans and ‘works’
Text itself for …metaphorsimileanthropomorphismpersonificationeuphemismhyperboleirony
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Figures of Speech in the BibleSimile: A comparison using "like" or "as." "As lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:27)
Metaphor: Described in terms of some other thing. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32)
Anthropomorphism: God described in human terms. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth" (2 Chronicles 16:9)
Word Association: A word stands for something else. "Circumcision" meaning the Jews
(Galatians 2:9, King James Version); "sword" for all weapons (Romans 8:35)
Personification: Personal qualities given to an object. "The mountains skipped like rams" (Psalm 114:4)
Figures of Speech in the Bible
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Euphemism: Substituting an inoffensive word for a possibly harsh one.
"Adam lay with his wife Eve" (Genesis 4:1) means that they had sexual intercourse
Hyperbole: Exaggeration. "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out" (Matthew 5:29).
Figures of Speech in the Bible
Irony: The literal meaning is opposite the real meaning.
"You have become kings...! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you!" (1 Corinthians 4:8)
Apocalyptic Literature: Uses symbols that communicates truth
Rev 1:20 seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Figures of Speech in the Bible
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Generally take everyday things in life as literal or at face value
Common sense approach
Golden rule of interpretation:
“When the plain sense of the scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense.”
Observation
Take every word at its primary, usual, meaningunless …
the facts of the immediate contextstudied in the light of related passages and
fundamental truths, clearly indicate otherwise.
Study objectively not subjectively.
Watch for preconceived conclusions
Observation
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Interpretation"What does it mean?“
Bible references and tools (again)
Looking for the Facts!
Some questions…
Who wrote the book?
What is the overall theme of the book? (God's grace, love, Belief etc)
What does the Grammar mean
What passages make up the context
Cross‐referencing compare similar passages same subject gain a more in‐depth understanding
Who is the third person? Me? God? Jesus?
Interpretation"What does it mean?“
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•Grammar / Language•Cultural•Contextual•Historical•Scripture Interprets Scripture
•Progressive Revelation•Accommodation•One Interpretation•Harmony of Scripture•Genre
Interpretation"What does it mean?“
Literal Interpretation
We take the Bible at face value
Isa. 7:14 Born of a virginMicah 5:2 At BethlehemJer. 31:15 Slaughter of the childrenHosea 11:1 Called out of EgyptIsa. 11:2 Anointed with the SpiritZech. 9:9 Entry into JerusalemPsa. 41:9; 55:12 Betrayed by a friendZech. 13:7 Disciples forsake HimZech. 11:12 Sold for thirty pieces of silverZech. 11:13 Potter's field boughtIsa. 50:6 Spit on and scourgedPsa. 34:20 Not a bone brokenPsa. 69:21 Gall and vinegar
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Grammatical InterpretationThe study of word meanings, grammar, culture and syntax of the original languages is important for a proper understanding of Scripture.
English – analytic language stresses word order
Greek – strong synthetic language words are only partially
understood by word order more by word endings
Beatitudes – Blessed are the Peacemakers
No one word in English to describe the one word used in Greek
Multiple translations:NIV = Blessed are…MSG = You’re blessed when…TLB = Very fortunate, Happy
LanguageLiteral vs Meaning
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LanguageLiteral vs Meaning
Beatitudes – Blessed are the Peacemakers
Greek ‐ makarios
Feeling one has when one is happyContentmentWhen one knows one’s place in the world and is satisfied with that place.
LanguageLiteral vs Meaning
Beatitudes – Blessed are the Peacemakers
English ‐ “makarios” No specific word
IdiomMy life has really come togetherI’m in a happy place Life has been good to me
‘Happy’ sounds trite
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LanguageLiteral vs Meaning
Beatitudes – Blessed are the Peacemakers
English ‐Prefers clear subject for Verbs‘Blessed’ implies result of actionif you are a Peacemaker, then you will be blessed
Greek –‘Blessed’ implies condition when doing actionWhen you act as Peacemaker you will be
blessed, feel peace etc. No “if A, then B” relationship
LXXYoung's Literal
NASASVAmp / ESV
KJV / NKJVNRSV / NABNIV / NJBNCV / ICBNLT / PhillipsGNT / CEV
TLBMSG
MORE PARAPHRASE
MORE INTERPRETATIVEMORE CONCEPT FOR CONCEPT
MORE LITERAL
LESS INTERPRETATIVE MORE WORD FOR WORD
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Shepherd MetaphorOthers:
•Abel the good shepherd • Saul the bad King – called a bad shepherd•David a good King – shepherded his people well• Jesus the Good Shepherd
If remove the metaphor ‐ Just the Facts….translation
•Able had a good sacrifice• Saul was a bad king•David was a good king• Jesus lays down his life for us
Shepherd MetaphorMetaphors connect central truths of Scripture
God as a ShepherdPs 23 The Lord is my Shepherd…Ezekiel 34 God a good Shepherd, Jewish leaders as badJn 10:14 Jesus says He is the ‘Good Shepherd”
The use of this metaphor immediately identifies Jesus with GodThe people immediately saw this and tried to stone Him
for Blasphemy
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Shepherd MetaphorWithout Metaphor we miss the connection
A single metaphor can draw together many different strands of scripture and support truth
Metaphor is shorthand but you need to know the background.
Theologians who argue Jesus never claimed to be God miss the connection through the metaphor
Cultural Interpretation
If we were compelled to go one mile, we should go two (Matt 5:41)
Well known Persian custom:A Persian messenger with a message of the empire could compel inhabitants to carry his baggage one mile , or to perform any service the messenger commanded.
Hence Christians, out of love and not command, should help their neighbor not for the customary or accepted one mile, but for the extra mile of love and grace
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Grammar and Culture
Grammar may be studied culturally
Acts 16:31 – Jailer convertedThey said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Household – (greek ‐ oikos) Members respected household leaders opinion
Still individual response to God
Cultural ExamplesExodus 7‐11 ‐‐‐‐ Plagues
1. Water into blood
2. Frogs
3. Gnats from dust
4. Flies
5. Cattle
6. Boils
7. Hail
8. Locust
9. Three days of darkness
10. Death of firstborn ‐
1. Hapi the god of the Nile river
2. Heqt goddess of birth, often depicted as a frog
3. Geb god of the earth or soil
4. Kheper god of beetles and flies
5. Apis sacred bull
6. Isis goddess of healing
7. Nut/Horus sky goddess / falcon god ‐ sky god
8. Seth god of crops
9. Ra the sun god (main god of the solar faith)
10.Pharaoh who was considered a god
Extra meaning if know Egyptian GodsNot just plague ‐‐‐‐ denouncing their gods
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Cultural Memesshortening ofmimeme (from Ancient Greek μίμημα mīmēma,
"imitated thing"
Couch Potatoa lazy person who does nothing but sit on the couch and watch television
Hebrews 6:11‐12 (AWL)11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12We do not want you to become couch potatoes, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Cultural Memesshortening ofmimeme (from Ancient Greek μίμημα mīmēma,
"imitated thing"
Hebrews 6:11‐12 (NIV)
11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
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Cultural Memesshortening ofmimeme (from Ancient Greek μίμημα mīmēma,
"imitated thing"
Recorded With A PotatoYouTube comments criticizing the resolution of a video that appears heavily pixelated, blurry or otherwise corrupt.
1 Corinthians (AWL)12 For now we see only as if it was recorded with a potato; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Cultural Memesshortening ofmimeme (from Ancient Greek μίμημα mīmēma,
"imitated thing"
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
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ContextualThe Word of God is a perfect unit.
The global context of any verse is the entire scripture
Consider the:
Verses immediately before, after, and aroundBook its inTestament its in (OT / NT)
continue
Historical
All Biblical events occur in the stream of history:
How did the fall occur?
How did the Jews get to Egypt during Joseph’s time?
What were the events that cause the northern kingdom to be exiled into Assyria?
What where the events that cause the southern kingdom to be exiled into Babylon during Daniel’s time?
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Scripture Interprets Scripture
“Topical Bible study."
There are two essential 'rules' for applying this principle:
1) The context of the two passages must be the same
2) The plain passage must be used to guide our interpretation of a less clear passage –
not the other way around!
Progressive RevelationUnderstood from the Old Testament to the New Testament
God initiated revelation, did not reveal His truths all at one time.
The Old Testament is the New Testament concealedNew Testament is the Old Testament revealed.
Luke 24:27 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
John 5:3939 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me!
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AccommodationAccommodation of Divine truths to human minds:
God the infinite communicating with man the finite.
The Bible Written in : Hebrew, Aramaic, GreekCreated in : Space, Time, History
So that man could understand it.
Giving the truths of God
To make God knowable.
Accommodation
Accommodation through ObjectsTabernacle:
Animal sacrifice
Accommodation through Nature:Parables: Wheat and Tares/Weeds ‐ Matt 13:25‐30
Careful not to push accommodating language to far…
God does not have feathers and wings (e.g., Psalms 17:8); He is not our literal Father in the same sense our earthly father.
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One InterpretationEvery verse in the Bible has only one interpretation
A verse may have many applications.
The one correct interpretation is that which mirrors the intent of the inspired author.
Harmony of Scripture
No part of the Bible may be interpreted so as to contradict another part of the Bible.
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Genre
PentateuchPsalmsProverbs Isaiah–MalachiGospels / Acts Epistles Revelation
HistoryPoetryWise SayingsHistory/ProphecyBiography and HistoryTeaching and DoctrineEschatology and
Prophecy
Proper interpretation must take the general literary category of any given passage into consideration.
if the author is writing history – ie ‐ Pentateuch
Don’t interpret a single reference as poetryunless contextual markers force genre change
(such as the speech of Balaam's donkey)
Genre
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CORRELATION How one passage fits in with other passages on the same
topic or theme
Broader view
Scripture interprets Scripture
Clear Passages direct ambiguous passages
ApplicationSpecific or generic?
What key words are observed in determining this?
Using Galatians 3:26‐27
"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."
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Directly:
•written to the church in Galatia. •Roman society, a youth coming of age laid aside the robe of childhood and would put on a new toga.
• represented his passage into adulthood with full rights and responsibilities.
ApplicationSpecific or generic?
Paul combined this cultural understanding with the concept of baptism.
After being baptized, • Galatian church to be spiritually grownup • Ready to take on the privileges and responsibilities • Being more spiritually mature.
ApplicationSpecific or generic?
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Indirectly: applied to all of us today
key words can be observed, "...all of you who were baptized into Christ"
All of us who have been baptized must recognize we too have now… • put on new robes and • have clothed ourselves with Christ• ready to take on anything the Lord might give us.
ApplicationSpecific or generic?
So What Now….?(Be in the Word – Daily)
Good Study Bible
Be Bereans
Acts 17:11“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
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James - Faith for Living
Proverbs of the New Testament
James: Proverbs of the New Testament
•6 Weeks (5 Chapters)•Possibly Jude (1 Chapter)•Break for Confirmation Next Week (14 June)•21 June – 26 July
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Starts 21 June, 2015– 26 July
James: Proverbs of the New Testament