HermeneuticsHermeneutics

Course IntroductionCourse Introduction

Quote from Donald K. Quote from Donald K. CampbellCampbell

ininBasic Bible InterpretationBasic Bible Interpretation

““It sometimes seems almost anything can be It sometimes seems almost anything can be proved by the Bible, for there is scarcely a proved by the Bible, for there is scarcely a religion, sect, or cult in Christendom that does religion, sect, or cult in Christendom that does not use Scripture texts to “prove” its doctrine. not use Scripture texts to “prove” its doctrine. In that respect the Bible may well be the most In that respect the Bible may well be the most abused book in the world. . . . The solution to abused book in the world. . . . The solution to this problem of widely differing interpretations this problem of widely differing interpretations is to employ the correct method of biblical is to employ the correct method of biblical interpretation. We believe that to be the interpretation. We believe that to be the literal method which approaches the Scripture literal method which approaches the Scripture in the normal, customary way in which we in the normal, customary way in which we talk, write, and think. It means taking the talk, write, and think. It means taking the Scriptures at face value in an attempt to know Scriptures at face value in an attempt to know what God meant by what He said.”what God meant by what He said.”

Examples of Differing Examples of Differing InterpretationsInterpretations

Col 1:15 says that Christ is “the Firstborn of Col 1:15 says that Christ is “the Firstborn of all creation.” What are the possibilities for all creation.” What are the possibilities for interpretation here?interpretation here?

Mormon leader Brigham Young justified his Mormon leader Brigham Young justified his having more than 30 wives by pointing to having more than 30 wives by pointing to the fact that Abraham had more than 1 wife the fact that Abraham had more than 1 wife (as did Jacob, David, and Solomon!)(as did Jacob, David, and Solomon!)

Some teach that Christ’s present reign in Some teach that Christ’s present reign in heaven means that there is no need for a heaven means that there is no need for a 1000-year reign by Christ upon the earth, 1000-year reign by Christ upon the earth, though Revelation 20 explicitly teaches this.though Revelation 20 explicitly teaches this.

DefinitionsDefinitions HermeneuticsHermeneutics – From the Greek word – From the Greek word e`rmhneu,w, ,

meaning “to interpret, to explain.” It is the science meaning “to interpret, to explain.” It is the science (principles) and art (task) of Biblical interpretation.(principles) and art (task) of Biblical interpretation. ““Hermeneutics, therefore is both a science and an art. As a Hermeneutics, therefore is both a science and an art. As a

science, it enunciates principles, investigates the laws of science, it enunciates principles, investigates the laws of thought and language, and classifies it facts and results. As thought and language, and classifies it facts and results. As an art, it teaches what application these principles should an art, it teaches what application these principles should have, and establishes their soundness by showing their have, and establishes their soundness by showing their practical value in the elucidation of the more difficult practical value in the elucidation of the more difficult Scriptures” (Milton Terry, Scriptures” (Milton Terry, Biblical HermeneuticsBiblical Hermeneutics, p. 20)., p. 20).

ExegesisExegesis – the application of the principles of – the application of the principles of hermeneutics to discover the meaning of the text in hermeneutics to discover the meaning of the text in its original setting.its original setting.

ExpositionExposition – setting forth the meaning of the text in – setting forth the meaning of the text in a public presentation, whether oral or written. a public presentation, whether oral or written.

Relationship of Relationship of Hermeneutics to Other Hermeneutics to Other

DisciplinesDisciplines

LEVEL I OT & NT Survey Biblical Languages

Hermeneutics

LEVEL II

Biblical Exegesis

LEVEL III

Systematic Theology

Biblical Theology

Church History

Philosophy of Religion

Apologetics

Homiletics Counseling Christian Ed Administration Missions Evangelism Contemporary Society

Bible Exposition

LEVEL IV

Three Steps in Bible Three Steps in Bible StudyStudy

Step 1 – Observation: What does it Step 1 – Observation: What does it say?say?

Step 2 – Interpretation: What does it Step 2 – Interpretation: What does it mean?mean?

Step 3 – Application: How can I put Step 3 – Application: How can I put into practice what I have learned?into practice what I have learned?

Note: Application must be based Note: Application must be based solidly on sound interpretation!solidly on sound interpretation!

Some Important Some Important PresuppositionsPresuppositions

The Inspiration of ScriptureThe Inspiration of Scripture - “All Scripture is - “All Scripture is God-breathed (Gr. God-breathed (Gr. qeo,pneustojqeo,pneustoj)” (2 Tim 3:16). )” (2 Tim 3:16). This quality applies both to the whole (plenary) and This quality applies both to the whole (plenary) and to the individual words (verbal) of Scripture. It to the individual words (verbal) of Scripture. It ensures Scripture’s absolute truthfulness and ensures Scripture’s absolute truthfulness and trustworthiness, enabling us to approach it in faith trustworthiness, enabling us to approach it in faith and not skepticism. and not skepticism.

The Clarity of ScriptureThe Clarity of Scripture - Scripture was meant to - Scripture was meant to be understood by the regenerated believer; he does be understood by the regenerated believer; he does not need the Church to tell him what it says. This not need the Church to tell him what it says. This does not deny the difficulty of particular passages does not deny the difficulty of particular passages within Scripture, nor the need for teachers within within Scripture, nor the need for teachers within the Church, but true spiritual authority comes from the Church, but true spiritual authority comes from the Bible itself, not from the Church. Luther spoke the Bible itself, not from the Church. Luther spoke of two kinds of clarity:of two kinds of clarity:

External clarityExternal clarity - Scripture follows the laws of human - Scripture follows the laws of human language and is thereby comprehensible.language and is thereby comprehensible.

Internal clarityInternal clarity - This is the work of the Spirit in the heart - This is the work of the Spirit in the heart and mind of the believer, illuminating his mind to see the and mind of the believer, illuminating his mind to see the truth of Scripture as the truth of God.truth of Scripture as the truth of God.

Some Important Some Important PresuppositionsPresuppositions

The Single Meaning of ScriptureThe Single Meaning of Scripture This principle means that a biblical text has This principle means that a biblical text has

one proper meaning or interpretation, one proper meaning or interpretation, arrived at by application of appropriate arrived at by application of appropriate hermeneutical principles.hermeneutical principles.

““A fundamental principle in grammatico-A fundamental principle in grammatico-historical exposition is that words and historical exposition is that words and sentences can have but one significance in sentences can have but one significance in one and the same connection. The moment one and the same connection. The moment we neglect this principle we drift out upon a we neglect this principle we drift out upon a sea of uncertainty and conjecture” (Terry, p. sea of uncertainty and conjecture” (Terry, p. 103).103).

Some Important Some Important PresuppositionsPresuppositions

Scripture is a Progressive RevelationScripture is a Progressive Revelation ““This perspective of progressive revelation is very This perspective of progressive revelation is very

important to the interpreter. He will expect the full important to the interpreter. He will expect the full revelation of God in the New Testament. He will revelation of God in the New Testament. He will not force New Testament meanings into the Old, not force New Testament meanings into the Old, yet he will be able to more fully expound the Old yet he will be able to more fully expound the Old knowing its counterparts in the New. He will knowing its counterparts in the New. He will adjust his sights to the times, customs, manners, adjust his sights to the times, customs, manners, and morals of the people of God at any given state and morals of the people of God at any given state in the Old Testament period of revelation, and he in the Old Testament period of revelation, and he will be aware of the partial and elementary nature will be aware of the partial and elementary nature of the Old Testament revelation. He will take of the Old Testament revelation. He will take Augustine’s words (Augustine’s words (Distingue tempora et Distingue tempora et concordabis Scripturaconcordabis Scriptura) “distinguish the times and ) “distinguish the times and you will harmonize Scripture” as a guide so as not you will harmonize Scripture” as a guide so as not to create a contradiction in Scripture by forcing a to create a contradiction in Scripture by forcing a New Testament standard of morality or doctrine New Testament standard of morality or doctrine upon an Old Testament passage” (Ramm, 103-04).upon an Old Testament passage” (Ramm, 103-04).

We Don’t Read the Bible We Don’t Read the Bible Like This. . .Like This. . .

Old Testament New Testament

We Read the Bible Like We Read the Bible Like ThisThis

The Word of God

Some Important Some Important PresuppositionsPresuppositions

Uniqueness of the Bible as a BookUniqueness of the Bible as a Book - “Since God is - “Since God is the divine Author of the Book, it is totally unique. It the divine Author of the Book, it is totally unique. It is one of a kind. The Bible is not simply a book with is one of a kind. The Bible is not simply a book with man’s thoughts about God and man. The Bible man’s thoughts about God and man. The Bible reports what God did and communicates what He is reports what God did and communicates what He is and what He desires. The Bible is also unique in that and what He desires. The Bible is also unique in that it was written by God and man. Human authors it was written by God and man. Human authors wrote as they were guided by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter wrote as they were guided by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21)” (Zuck, 18). 1:21)” (Zuck, 18). The first five books of the Old Testament were written circa The first five books of the Old Testament were written circa

1400 BC, and the last book, Revelation, was written circa 95 1400 BC, and the last book, Revelation, was written circa 95 AD. Thus the Bible was written over a span of 1500 years. AD. Thus the Bible was written over a span of 1500 years.

It was written by 40 different human authors. It was written by 40 different human authors. It is a human book - The Bible is not mystical. It is written in It is a human book - The Bible is not mystical. It is written in

human language and intended to be understood by humans.human language and intended to be understood by humans. It is a divine book - God is the ultimate author of all It is a divine book - God is the ultimate author of all

Scripture. This means that some things in His word will be Scripture. This means that some things in His word will be beyond our ability to fully comprehend. beyond our ability to fully comprehend.

Some Important Some Important PresuppositionsPresuppositions

The Importance of the Original LanguagesThe Importance of the Original Languages - Disputes in interpretation must be finally - Disputes in interpretation must be finally solved by an appeal to the original languages.solved by an appeal to the original languages.

The Requirement of Grammatical-The Requirement of Grammatical-Historical InterpretationHistorical Interpretation - The fundamental - The fundamental principle of this method is “to gather from the principle of this method is “to gather from the Scriptures themselves the precise meaning Scriptures themselves the precise meaning which the writers intended to convey. It which the writers intended to convey. It applies to the sacred books the same applies to the sacred books the same principles, the same grammatical process and principles, the same grammatical process and exercise of common sense and reason, which exercise of common sense and reason, which we apply to other books” (Terry, p. 70).we apply to other books” (Terry, p. 70).