INTRODUCTION

"Hermeneutics?  What in the world is that?  I have been reading and studying the Bible for years and have never heard such a silly word.  I haven't needed to know about it yet.  Therefore, I don't need to know about it now or later.  I think I'll just go on the way I have been going. . . . .  I don't need anyone to explain the Bible to me.  I just believe it for what it says and go on . . . .   Only troublemakers or fools want to argue about what is plain."

I can just hear these imaginary comments by some persons upon their encountering the title above.  Maybe you also wonder why you should study such a topic.  Let me offer a few questions . . . .   What are "wimples and crisping pins" (Isa. 3:22, KJV)?  When the Bible says that the women wore "round tires" (Isa. 3:18, KJV), were they radials, mudgrips, or whitewalls?  Is "corban" in Mk. 7:11 a new medicine?  How does "corban" relate to the passage?  Why does God demand, "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:13) and, yet, also demands through Samuel, "Do not spare them.  Kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child" (I Sam. 15:3)?  Is God "wishy-washy" at the expense of lives?

 

Maybe there is a need to consider proper interpretation . . . . .

Definition

Hermeneutics is "the science and art of interpretation."    It is a science because interpretation has rules regarding structure and order.  It is an art because it considers "communication," which never follows exacting, rigid rules.

"Hermeneutics is essentially a codification of the processes we normally use at an unconscious level (emphasis added) to understand the meaning of a communication" (see Henry A. Virkler, Hermeneutics, p. 19).    In other words, we communicate with each other. We understand such communication based upon subconsciously applied principles which we have learned throughout life.  Hermeneutics is the meaningful consideration of those observed principles in an objective manner and an organized fashion.  We organize those known principles, try to understand them, then apply them in proper Bible study.

Though we will mention some strange ideas with some difficult words, take heart (!) because, ultimately, we all use hermeneutics daily in our communication with those around us.  And, we haven't even been to hermeneutical school!!

Some Problems

When interpreting the Bible, we face a large historical gap between the time of the original writing and our time (For example, contrast our time with what we know of Jonah and the Ninevites.  Their lifestyles and problems are nothing like ours today.).  We face a large cultural gap.  Failing to recognize the environment of the writer (Moses, Jeremiah, Paul, etc.) and the environment of the reader (in 20th century America, or Russia, or Brazil), and failing to recognize the differences between the two, lead to great misunderstanding.  Further, one must be aware of the linguistic gap and the philosophical gap between the writer (along with his original audience) and us today.  The writers and readers of the biblical periods use totally different languages and have totally different viewpoints from ours today.  So, both situations must be considered and remembered:  the author's situation and purpose, and our situation and understanding.

Perhaps the largest problem in scripture interpretation is deciding when to take a point literally, figuratively, or symbolically.  Problems arise when one overlooks this and misapplies his own understanding, taking literally what should be understood as symbolic.  One must always strive to learn the author's intention.  This is the truth of the passage.  What we may read into the passage is not the biblical truth.  We must take meaning from the passage; we cannot read our message into it.

One's spiritual commitment will also affect his understanding of the scriptures.  When the Bible says that Christ arose from the dead, the committed believer accepts it while the uncommitted reader will not, on the "scientific" basis that arising from the dead is "impossible."

With the definition of hermeneutics and the attending problems in mind, let us consider now how to begin our life-work of studying the Bible.  Generally, we will cover our study under six headings:  1) Analysis of History, Culture, and Context;  2) Analysis of Lexical and Syntactical Usage;  3) Literary Analysis;  4) General Theological Analysis;  5) Consideration of Outside Sources;  and  6) Application (Personal and Corporate).

A Word of Encouragement -- Many of the ideas mentioned and the terms used may already seem confusing and overwhelming.  Do not be discouraged.  Bible study at a serious level is your life's calling, whether you are a pastor, teacher, or layman.  You have all the remaining portion of your life to learn and to grow (which you are called to do, Mt. 11:29: "Learn of me.").  It does not  happen instantaneously.  However, nothing is more exciting and uplifting than to spend serious time in study of God's Word and, then, to find that one glorious truth that the Holy Spirit suddenly opens to our hearts which becomes our focal point!  May His grace become that focal point for you.

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