1: The Science and Art of HermeneuticsHermeneutics 1

The aim of interpretation is:

To get at the plain meaning of the text.

THE NEED FOR HERMENEUTICS

1. Eternally Relevant

2. Historically Particular

The Scriptures are:

Comparable Particular:

Something that is COMMON to both the Ancient and Modern context.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Non-Comparable Particular:

Something SPECIFIC to either the Ancient or Modern culture

2 Timothy 4:13 “When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.”

Combination:

Some Elements are Comparable to both cultures while Others are Not.

1 Corinthians 6:1 “If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?”

Primary & Secondary Matters:

Primary Need: To ascertain WHAT God has said in sacred Scriptures; to determine the MEANING of the Word of God

Example: To prevent incorrect applications of the Old Testament to Christian Morality.

Primary & Secondary Matters:

Secondary Matters: To BRIDGE THE GAP between our minds and the minds of the biblical writers.

Example: • To know the meaning of the original languages.• To understand the cultural environment of the

biblical characters.

THE BOUNDARIES

STUDY FUNCTIONCanon: Books that are Inspired

Textual Criticism: Original Wording

Historical Criticism: Framework

Hermeneutics: Gives Rules & Principles

Exegesis: Applies Rules of Interpreting

THE REQUIREMENTS

Spiritual: Interpreter guided by Same Spirit that Inspired

Education:

General: Literature, Art, Science…

Historical: History, Politics…

Theological: Theology, Languages

Intellectual: Intelligent & Systematic

THE TASKS

Hermeneutics can refer to:

1.All of the principles of interpretation.

2.The specific task of stating the meaning of Scripture for today.

THE TASK

EXEGESIS HERMENEUTICS

Original Meaning Meaning Today

There and Then Here and Now

CONTEXT:

Historical Context: The time and culture of the author; geography, topography, political, occasion of the book.

Literary Context: Words only have meaning in sentences.

Most important contextual Question: “What’s the Point?”

THE TOOLS

Translations

Literal Translations:– Imposes syntax & grammar of the

Original Language on the Receptor Language.

– Value: Shows what original language looked like

THE TOOLS

Free “Translations”:– Usually the work of one translator.– Selects modern, somewhat imprecise

terms.

Dynamic Equivalent:– Choose genuine parallels for original

words.

TRANSLATIONS

Dynamic

Literal Equivalents FreeKJV RSV NIV GNB PHILLIPS

NASB NCV NLT LB

NKJV MSG