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Hermeneutics – What is that animal and can we eat it? Hahahha fo sure!
To interpret scripture correctly one must:
· Study the context of the passage and the theme of the book.
· Look up the actual meaning of each word in the original languages. (Not really necessary, but extremely helpful for those with a desire to go beyond the surface. I would say look up key words in the verses.)
· Note the verb tenses, the cases, and other grammatical determinants.
· Learn the cultural setting of the passage.
· Determine what the original readers understood it to mean.
· Check out cross-references to see how the words are used in other contexts.
· See how the first mention of the word or topic is presented in the Bible.
· Confirm an interpretation with two or three similar passages.
I got the above list from: http://billgothard.com/teaching/hermeneutics the article is well done and I highly recommend everyone reads it.
I will share a bit more to get your taste buds wet:
These are all proven study methods. However, it has always puzzled me how Bible scholars who claim to follow all of them arrive at totally opposite interpretations of the same passage. For example, in a seminary in the Northwest, two professors wrote on the topic of divorce and remarriage. Each one assured his readers that he was following sound rules of Biblical interpretation. Yet, each one arrived at a view that was opposite of the other. One day, I called up my former Greek professor at Wheaton Graduate School. He had written on the subject of hermeneutics, and I asked him if he could summarize the rules of hermeneutics in a concise list. His answer startled me. He said, “Bill, there is no such list.” I asked how we would know if we are breaking hermeneutical rules if there are no rules. He explained that there are certainly guidelines of interpretation. However, they cannot be confined to one set of rules.
So, what are the additional factors of correct Biblical hermeneutics?
1. Spiritual Perception Over Intellectual Understanding
2. God’s Revelation Over Human Reasoning
3. Genuine Love Rather Than Justification of Selfishness
4. Christ’s Commands Over Man’s Theology
5. One Interpretation and Many Applications
6. Correct Divisions of Truth Versus Truth Out of Balance
The writer goes on to give detail information about each of the above – enjoy! Proper hermeneutics requires diligent use of all the above factors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The writer of the article concludes with the preceding statement and I say a big – Amen.
Is Hermeneutics necessary? or it is just a bunch of munbo jumbo by people who think they are intellectual and who complicate matters?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by RoyW on
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Okay, LT, I am still not hip with this new twitter and texting generation. What is ROFL? As you know, sometimes David's comments can get pretty long. I'm having to get up at 3:00 in the morning to get them read. Well, maybe it is not quite that bad. But I will notice that when I do get up at 3 or 4 he is still going. I don't think that guy ever sleeps.
Blessings,
Roy
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Roy,
Trust me, I only know about a 1/2 dozen of those things. One person here on AAG ws trying to educate this old brain with new tricks :-)
ROFL = rolling on floor laughing
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
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LT and Roy -
All this time I thought ROLF meant to convey the sound of a dog barking, you know like ROLF- ROLF- ROLF Hahaha fo real that is what I thought it meant. The sound that manly men make you know. Are we getting old guys? hahaha
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Carla,
Oh I really thought that those times the ladies where trying to appeal to us guys by using our lingo. To appeal in no negative way of course but I should say to build camaraderie.
Ha-ha
Love you girl.
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Permalink Reply by Carla on
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hahaha HHAHAHA.. (ohh sorry)
HAHAHAHA hehehehe.. :-)
We love ya Davey...
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hahaha
ROFLFNAR Good one - yes - yes fo sure, that is me, the guy with the wacky sense of humor.
Love to you all.
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David,
Do you need one of those devices that you wear around your neck that calls for help when you fall on the floor and can't get up? I have an extra one :-)
LT
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ROFLAITJOTLEWTAP
Rolling On Floor Laughing All In The Joy of The Lord Even with Tears and Praise
:-)
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Permalink Reply by Prophet on
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Hermeneutics....... what a huge subject, this does not only include the law or scripture but also verbal and nonverbal forms of communication such as presuppositions and preunderstanding cultural mores and the meaning of the philosophy of the language and semiotics (signs and symbols) and the linguistics (patois/dialect) from the region or area which the script belongs to or originates from. :-))
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Amanda,
You asked a great question. About how essential is it to know who a letter or book was written to? What I have found is that it really enriches my understanding of the text, if I keep in mind that the writings were either written for a Jewish or Gentile audience.
Let me give you a good example of how knowing the historical setting of the events can help us. Also keeping the verses in context is essential. You probably already know this so just bear with me.
Chapter 3
1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Chapter 4
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. 12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. 15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you [from us], so that you may be zealous for them.
Chapter 5
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?
To understand Galatians is extremely helpful to know that the Galatians were Gentiles who were being influence by Jews to be circumcise, as well as to practice other Jewish traditions.
That was the historical setting. So when we read through the book knowing that setting we can rightly divide the word of God and not fall into false teachings today.
Just recently we had a member say the following:
>>We are the branches grafted into the vine; therefore we should be following Jewish law and traditions.
Wow – I am perplexed when I read such horrible notions. Paul labor throughout the New
Testament to keep us from falling back into thinking our works keep us saved or from his audience to fall back into Jewish law and traditions.
An entire doctrine of losing salvation (No let’s not get into the topic of losing salvation family, even if you are tempted haha) is backed up by verse 4 of chapter 5. The verse is often taken out context to teach that a person can fall out of God’s grace. Again – Wow!!!! Was that Paul’s intentions? Far from it. All Paul was saying is – look you were born again by faith, not by the works of the law and now you are no longer living by the Spirit, hence you have left the way of Grace and you are going back to trying to earn salvation.
Ignoring the historical setting and context creates chaos.
Practical application for us today – Many, but one of the most obvious is that we are saved by grace and called to be free and walk in the Spirit. Let us remain in that Grace and not go back to whatever formal way of gaining God’s favor we were accustomed to or taught. There will be those who will try to convince us to go back to those futile ways or gaining salvation God saved us from. By grace alone.
The Bible appears not to be written to us at times, because of its designated recipients, but that is far from the truth and even if a particular book is address to a specific group of people, it was most definitely written For US.
Blessings beloved.
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