hermeneutics final

BT501 BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION STUDY GUIDEDrs. M. Chung and K. Quesinberry

TERMINOLOGY

Hermeneutics is the science and art of biblical interpretation; the codification of processes normally used at an unconscious level to understand the intended meaning of communications. (Virkler)General hermeneutics is the study of those rules that govern interpretation of the entire biblical text.Special hermeneutics is the study of those rules which govern the interpretation of specific forms, such as parables, types and prophecy.Textual criticism attempts to ascertain the original wording of a text. Historical criticism studies the contemporaneous circumstances surrounding the composition of a particular book.Biblical theology organizes those meanings in a historical manner.Systematic theology arranges those meanings in a logical manner or system.Exegesis is an application of the principles of hermeneutics to understand the author’s intended meaning. Eisegesis is an application of personal or collective presupposed imposed meaning to the text.

Throughout history there has been a second set of presuppositions and methods that have been manifested in a variety of ways. The basic premise has been that the meaning of a text is discoverable, not by the methods usually used to understand communication between persons, but by the use of some special interpretive key. The net result of the use of such interpretive keys has been to impart the reader’s meaning into the text (eisegetical reader response).

HISTORICAL-CULTURAL and CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS:

1. What was the general historical and cultural milieu of the writer and his audience?a. General historical circumstancesb. Cultural normsc. Audience spiritual commitment level

2. What purpose(s) did the author have in writing a book?a. Explicit purpose statementsb. Repeating phrases or themesc. Parenetical or hortatory sectionsd. Areas of focus or omission

3. How does the passage fit into its immediate (textual/canonical) context?a. Identify major blocks of material in the bookb. Demonstrate a coherent whole surrounding the textc. Show how the text fits into the author’s argument or formd. Determine perspective; noumenological (reality) vs phenomenological (appearance)e. Determine prescriptive or descriptive naturef. Distinguish between the fringe and the focus. What items are incidental.g. Identify the audience’s demographic

LEXICAL-SYNTACTICAL ANALYSIS

1. Identify the general literary form2. Trace the development of the author’s theme and show how the passage under consideration

fits into the literary context3. Identify natural division (paragraphs and sentences) of the text.


4. Identify the connecting words within the paragraphs and sentences and show how they aid in understanding the author’s progression of thought

5. Determine what the individual words meana. Identify the multiple meanings possessed in its time and cultureb. Determine the probable meaning intended by the author in a given context

6. Analyze the syntax to show how it contributes to the understanding of a passage7. Put the result of your analysis into nontechnical, easily understood words that clearly convey

the author’s probable meaning.

THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Theological analysis asks the question, “How does this passage fit into the total pattern of God’s revelation?” In the broad, key biblical revelation concepts discussed were

1. A God’s Law demonstrating God’s principles for man2. God’s grace manifested toward man’s failure to keep God’s principles3. God’s salvation as a means of reconciliation with fallen man4. God’s work through man by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit

Steps of theological analysis may follow this pattern:1. Interpreters must continually be developing growing a view of God’s relationship to man; God’s

purpose toward man and man’s appropriate response to God in accordance with personal and professional study of the Scripture.

2. Identify the presuppositions contained in the interpreter’s view of the passage under consideration, guarding against their influence during interpretation.

3. Assess the theological understanding of the audience and contemporaries of the audience.4. Determine limitations of theological applications to the intended audience5. Identify additional knowledge about the topic available today.6. Determine any theological premise found in the text for contemporary application

SPECIAL HERMENEUTIC

1. A Look for explicit references identifying a special literary form.2. If no explicit reference is present, study the passage for characteristics of special form3. Apply special form principles, but not rigidly, outlining

a. Metaphors, similes, and proverbs (finding a single point of comparison)b. Parables (separating the focal teaching and the story details)c. Allegories (identifying the multiple points of comparison)

4. Produce a statement of understanding of the special form5. Check your statement against the immediate context and that of the book for continuity6. Compare your work with other commentators


FINAL THOUGHTS:

Discuss the continuity and discontinuity of the three different levels of OT narrativea. Top level regarding the universal plan of Godb. Mid level which centers on Israelc. Bottom level short story building blocks for the larger narratives

In what way(s), if any, are the Old Testament and New Testament connected in terms of a. God’s revelation?b. Divine laws?c. Normative nature?

Discuss NT narrative application to 21C audiencesa. Descriptive in natureb. Non-normative

How are biblical epistles similar or dissimilar to other ancient epistles?

What is the nature of an “occasional” letter?

Explain the varied NT use of the word “charis,” defined grace, thanks, or favor, using the comprehensive theme of God’s power.

Discuss ramifications of “God as Hero” in Bible narratives. a. What positive occurs where God is hero?b. What negative occurs where God is not hero?

Define and discuss historical precedents for Christian living in the narrative form a. The Book of Acts as an example of intended precedence for Christian lifeb. The bulk of OT narrative as bottom level to a larger prescriptive truth

Discuss the difference between apodictic and casuistic law

How does presupposition influence biblical interpretation?a. What types of presupposition are likely for the interpreter?b. How does the interpreter combat presuppositions?

Identify the major biblical texts concerning the Lord’s Supper. Then, identify the important hermeneutical issues and principles that must be addressed and employed in interpreting them. Write a brief theological conclusion of your thought.

HERMENEUTIC EXAMPLE:

Ro 6:1 a. What shall we say, then? b. Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? c. By no means! d. We died to sin how can we live in it any longer.


HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXTUAL

THE BOOK: Biblical scholars agree that Romans was written by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is by far the longest of the Pauline epistles, and is considered his "most important theological legacy". The main theme of this letter is the Salvation offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1:16-17). Paul argues that all persons are guilty of sin and therefore accountable to God. It is only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that sinners can attain salvation. Therefore, God is both just and the one who justifies. In response to God's free, sovereign and graceful action of salvation, humanity can be justified by faith. Paul uses the example of Abraham to demonstrate that it is by faith that humanity can be seen as righteous before God.

THE AUTHOR: For ten years before writing the letter (approx. 47-57), Paul had traveled round the territories bordering the Aegean Sea evangelizing. Churches had been planted in the Roman provinces of Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia and Asia. Paul, considering his task complete, wanted to preach the gospel in Spain, where he would not ‘build upon another man’s foundation’. This allowed him to visit Rome on the way, a long time ambition of his. The letter to the Romans, in part, prepares them and gives reasons for his visit.

In addition to Paul’s geographic location, his religious views are important. First, Paul was a Hellenistic Jew with a Pharisaic background, integral to his identity. His concern for his people is one part of the dialogue and runs throughout the letter. Second, the other side of the dialogue is Paul’s conversion and calling to follow Christ in the early 30s.

THE MILIEU: Jews were expelled from Rome because of Christian disturbances around AD 49 by the edict of Claudius. The conflict developed because Jewish Christians and Jews argued with one another over the validity of Jesus as the Messiah. Both Jews and Jewish Christians were expelled as a result of their infighting. The majority of people left in the Christian church at Rome would have been Gentile Christians. These gentile churches developed along a different trajectory from the Christian circles that grew out of Jewish synagogues.

Claudius died around the year AD 54, and his successor, Emperor Nero, allowed the Jews back into Rome, but then, after the Great Fire of Rome of 64, persecuted the Christians. Gentile Christians may have developed a dislike of or looked down on Jews (see also Antisemitism and Responsibility for the death of Jesus), because they theologically rationalized that Jews were no longer God's people.

OCCASION: The main purpose of the epistle to the Romans is given by Paul in Romans 1:1, where he reveals that he is set apart by God for the purpose of preaching the Gospel. He wishes to impart to the Roman readers a gift of encouragement and assurance in all that God has freely given them (see Romans 1:11-12; 1 Corinthians 2:12).

The purposes of the apostle in dictating this letter to his Amanuensis Tertius (16:22) is also articulated in the second half of chapter 15:

1.Paul asks for prayers for his upcoming journey to Jerusalem; he hopes that the offering collected from the Gentile churches will be accepted there.

2.Paul is planning to travel to Rome from Jerusalem and spend some time there before moving on to Spain; he hopes the Roman church will support his mission to Spain.


3.Since Paul has never been to Rome, he outlines his gospel so that his teaching will not be confused by that of "false teachers".

4.Paul is aware that there is some conflict between Gentile and Jewish Christians in the Roman church, and he addressed those concerns (chapters thirteen and the first half of fourteen). While the Roman church was presumably founded by Jewish Christians, the exile of Jews from Rome in AD 49 by Claudius resulted in Gentile Christians taking leadership positions.

LEXICAL-SYNTACTICAL ANALYSIS

Identify the general literary form as epistle

Trace the development of the author’s theme through redemption, justification, and a progression toward the crucifixion of the “old self” and separation from the slavery of sin.

Identify natural divisions a) reflexive introduction b) propositional closed question c) emphatic closed answer d) expansion of closed answer to open question. Identify the connecting words a) then connotes important immediately preceding text (reflexive introduction) b) that (in order that) solidifies connection to previous propositions.

Define words according to context: Go on: Indication of a continual tenseSin: Evil, trespassing the law.Grace: Good, overpowering reign through righteousness over sin.Increase: A measure greater than the presence of sin.Means: Measures conditions, methods.Died: Buried with ChristLive: Resurrected to a new walk.

Analyze the syntax the emphatic, closed answer is power added to the statement, no!

A non-technical paraphrase:Because grace will always defeat sin, should we continue to break the law just to watch good overpower evil? No way! It is implausible that one resurrected from sin will continue to break the law.

A non-technical proposition:God must reign in my life, separating me from sin through his resurrecting grace.

THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Within your growing view of God’s relationship to man; identify any presuppositions influencing your interpretation. There are no theological issues too extensive or foreign for the Roman church. This is a contextually transferable prescriptive truth with historical precedence, to be taught freely to the contemporary church.

The above propositions remain teachable to the 21C church.

hermeneutics final

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