The Interpretive

Journey

– Hour Four –

Crossing the Divide

And Making Application

“Here & Now”

Bible Translations

– The Bible version (or translation) is different from the marketing format used by the publishers.

– Translation g transferring a message in one language into another language.

– Translation is unavoidable unless everyone wants to learn Hebrew and Greek. It allows us to hear what God has said.

• How did we get our English Bible?

– God worked through the various human authors,

including their background, personality, cultural

context, writing style, faith commitments,

research, and so on, so that what they wrote

was the inspired Word of God.

• English translations may be divided as to

those…

Prior to 1611

Authorized

Version of 1611

(KJV)

Since 1611

There are many approaches to

translating God’s Word…– Languages differ…

– Translation involves interpretation…

There are two main

approaches to translation:

• Formal – tries to follow the wording and

structure (“forms”) of the original

language.

• Functional – tries to express meaning of

original text in today’s language.

– A paraphrase is not a translation from the original

languages, but a restatement or explanation of an

English translation.

More Formal More Functional

KJV NASB RSV NRSV NAB NIV NJB NCV GNB The Message

ASV NKJV HCSB NET TNIV REB NLT CEV

ESV

Step 1 – What was meant “Then & There”

What did the text mean to the biblical audience?

Observation

Literary Context & Elements

Step 2 – “Then & There” vs. “Here &

Now”

What are the differences between the biblical

audience and us?

Historical / Cultural Context & Elements

Example–Joshua 1:1-9

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

The Lord commanded Joshua,

the new leader of Israel, to draw

strength and courage from God’s

empowering presence, to be

obedient to the law of Moses, and

to meditate on the law so that he

would be successful in the

conquest of the Promised Land.

Step 1: What was meant “Then & There”

What did the text mean to the

biblical audience?

We are not leaders of the nation

Israel (although some of us may

be leaders in the Church). We are

not embarking on the conquest of

the Promised Land. We are not

under the old covenant of law.

Step 2: “Then & There” vs. “Here & Now”

What are the differences between the

biblical audience and us?

Step 3 – Crossing the Divide

What is the theological principle in this text?

Step 4 – Application “Here & Now”

How should individual Christians today apply the

theological principle in their lives?

Does the reader or the author

control meaning?

The Wizard of Oz: Simple children’s story

of good vs. evil? or

Political satire?

The Wizard of Oz: Simple children’s story

of good vs. evil? or

Political satire?

What did the author

say?

The Central issue

is

Communication

Central question—

• is the Bible merely inspiring

literature…

• … or is it inspired

communication from God?

For proper interpretation (communication) to

take place, we must determine what the

Author meant.

How?

Does the Bible have multiple

levels of meaning?

Are there deep “spiritual” meanings hidden

in the text of the Bible that are unrelated to

the historical-cultural and literary

contexts?

The Quadriga (Four-fold) method of interpreting Scripture.

1. Literal - take text at face value; the plain sense meaning. Ex) Jerusalem is a city in Judea.

2. Moral (tropologic) - a moral or ethical lesson the passage teaches; it relates to human behavior. Ex) Jerusalem stands for human soul.

3. Mystical (Allegorical) - a deeper, hidden meaning, usually figurative or symbolic; often this meaning is about faith, belief or theological truth. Ex) Jerusalem stands for the church.

4. Prophetic (anagogic) - hope for the Believer, foreshadowing the future; Ex)Jerusalem is the heavenly city.

Spiritualizing

Looking for deep, secret, “spiritual” meanings apart from what the author communicated in the text. Poses a dichotomy between spiritual and literary.

Since God used literary conventions to communicate to us, the real spiritual meaning of the Bible will be the same as the literary meaning!

Allegorizing

Allegory – a story that uses an extensive amount

of symbolism (e.g., Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress)

Allegorizing (or allegorical interpretation)

• Looks for deeper, “spiritual” meaning below the

surface of the text

• The details of the biblical text stand for many different

things (e.g., tent pegs representing Jesus)

• Goes far beyond comparison or symbolism

• Limited only by the fanciful imagination of the reader

• (Jericho formula for a marriage proposal?)

Bible codes

Gematria – letters of the Hebrew alphabet represent numbers and words are analyzed for their numerical value.

Equidistant Letter Sequencing (ELS) – uses computers to string together the text of the Bible without spaces and search the string for hidden messages.

Conclusion re: Meaning

Avoid the temptation to spiritualize or allegorize.

Don’t be gullible or naïve and fall for ELS.

Use the Interpretive Journey to help you discover

the meaning communicated by the divine/ human

author through the text.

By God’s design the intended meaning is very

spiritual.

4 – Application

Here & Now How should individual Christians today apply the

theological principle in their lives?

Grasping God’s Word =

understanding plus obedience

We cannot apply the Bible without

understanding it, but we can know

the Bible without applying it.

Meaning – what the Author intended to

communicate when he wrote the text.

Meaning will be same for all Christians.

Application – the response of the reader to

the Author’s meaning communicated in the

text. Application may vary from Christian to

Christian.

The Key Question! “What does this passage mean and

how do I apply THAT meaning to my

life?”

I can do everything through

Him who gives me strength.

(Philippians 4:13)

The Interpretive Journey

1 – Grasp the text “Then & There” by

summarizing the original situation

(historical-cultural context) and the

meaning of the text for the biblical

audience.

Paul told the Philippians that he had learned to

be content in a variety of difficult circumstances

through Christ, Who gives him strength.

2 – Measure the width of the river. What are

the differences between the biblical

situation and our situation?

Paul is an imprisoned apostle. We are not.

Neither are we members of the Philippian

church. But we are members of Christ’s Body,

the Church, and we are under the same

covenant. In addition, many of us experience

difficult situations as we seek to live out our

faith.

3 – Cross the Divide. List the theological

principle communicated by the text.

Believers can learn to be content in a

variety of circumstances through Christ,

Who gives them strength.

or…

Christ will give believers strength to be

content in a variety of trying

circumstances that come as a result of

following Him faithfully.

Step 4 – Apply the Text “Here & Now.” a. Observe how the principles address the situation.

Note the key elements present in the intersection.

• Element 1 – A Christian (Paul)

• Element 2 – (He is) A Christian who is

experiencing a variety of trying circumstances as a

result of following Christ faithfully

• Element 3 – Christ will give the Christian strength

to endure whatever the circumstances

b. Discover a parallel situation in contemporary life.

• A Parallel situation contains all the key elements

Element 1 – I am a Christian.

Element 2 – I am experiencing difficulties

as a result of my commitment to live my

life for Christ.

Element 3 – Christ will give me strength

to endure whatever the circumstances.

I, too, can do everything through Him

Who gives me strength.

Make your applications specific

• Your goal is to be…

• Faithful to the meaning of the text and

Relevant to the contemporary

audience.

Ask yourself… are all the key elements

present in my application?

To Conclude for Today…

God’s Word remains relevant for every

generation, but we must “cut it straight.”

We are learning to study the Bible, not just

to learn more about God, but to know and

love God more.

Grasping God’s Word = understanding

plus obedience.