Today’s Culture vs. the BibleHow Should Christians Respond?
Hermeneutics Part I
(How to Interpret the Bible)Lesson 12:
By: Lynn S. Nored
Copyright Lynn S. Nored. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior consent of the author.
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
Issues To Be Addressed
What is hermeneutics?
What is the problem?
What is the history and background?
What are methods employed?
What is the “new hermeneutic”
What is happening in the church?
How can we do legitimate hermeneutics?
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is Hermeneutics?
“ The science of interpretation of written texts in accordance with scientifically formulated rules and principles.” (New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology)
“The art of understanding” (Anchor Bible Dictionary)
“Gk. hermēneuō (‘interpret’), is used to denote (a) the study and statement of the principles on which a text—for present purposes, the biblical text—is to be understood, or (b) the interpretation of the text in such a way that its message comes home to the reader or hearer. “ (1996)New Bible dictionary (3rd ed. /).
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is Hermeneutics?
Exegesis: The “process of examining a test to ascertain what its first readers would have assumed it to mean.” ( Biblical Interpretation”, W.Tate, Hendrickson, 1991)
Interpretation: “The task of explaining the implications of that understanding for contemporary readers” ( Ibid.)
Hermeneutics: “The science of reflecting on how a word or an event in the past time and culture may be understand and become existentially meaningful in our present situation” (Carl Braaten, History and Hermeneutics, Phil.: Fortress, 1996)
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Problem?
“When I use a word” Humpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean---neither more nor less.”
“The question is’, said Alice, “ whether you can make words mean so many different things?”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master—that’s all.”
Alice was much too puzzled to say anything.
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Problem?
Geography
2000+BCE2000+BCE 1000 BCE1000 BCE 500 BCE500 BCE 0 –100 CE0 –100 CE 100-1800 CE100-1800 CE 1800-2004 CE1800-2004 CE
Time
Culture
HowdyPartner
LanguageLENS
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Problem?
Presuppositions Ancient Religious TextsRevelation From GodUnified TextsDispensationalismPatternismAllegorical ApproachCommands/Examples/inferencesLove LettersConstitutionFeministChristocentricLiberationNarratives/MetaphorsThe Church and Salvation
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Problem?
1)Impossibility of understanding one part until you understand the whole; Impossibility of understanding the whole without understanding the parts.
2) Everyone has a pre-supposition. The text modifies that presupposition. The text modifies that presupposition……
Hermeneutical Spiral
Klein, et.al. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Word Publishing, 1993
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Problem?
Modern: The meaning of
the text lays behind it in the mind of the author, the original setting, and the original audience
Postmodern Implications for Interpretation
Postmodern: The meaning of
the text lays in front of the text with the reader himself, not even with the text itself
Goncalves, j. “The Deconstructing of the American Mind: An Analysis of the Hermeneutical Implications of Postmoderism” , Premise, Vol II, No. 8)
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Problem?
Current Issues– Use of instrumental music– Praise teams– Necessity of baptism– “Silence” of the scriptures
Division Within the Churches of ChristRevolving Around Hermeneutics
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Problem?
“Midrash and Postmodern Inquiry”
“Another Look at Adventist Hermeneutics”
“A New Church Planting Hermeneutic of Mass. Baptists”
“The Hermeneutical Crisis in Muslim Evangelism”
“The Place of Women in the Church” (Reformed )
“A Catholic Faith for the Postmodern Era”
“Towards a Wesleyan Hermeneutic of Scripture”
“Elements of a Postmodern Holiness Hermeneutic..”
“The Incarnate Christ, The Apologetic Thrust of Lutheran Theology”
“The Hermeneutics of Reading Scripture and Symbols of Faith in the Presbyterian Church in America”
The Present Problem in Hermeneutics Affects All Religious Groups!!
108Articles9 Books
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Problem?
Examples of Previous Divisions– Church Buildings– Eating/kitchens/Fellowship Halls– Bible Classes– Congregational Cooperation– Orphan Homes– Located Preachers– One cup – Church Buildings– Support of Colleges
Division Within the Churches of ChristRevolving Around Hermeneutics
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Problem?
“The movement spawned by Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and Walter Scott in the early 1800’s has become one of the most splintered, fractured, and floundering of the professing “non-denomination” sects. The “Ancient Order” ship launched in the last century is springing leaks all along it’s hull.”
Division Within the Churches of ChristRevolving Around Hermeneutics
Ross, Bob. L. “Winds of Change in the Restoration Movement” alias the “Church of Christ”, Pilgrim Magazine, Editor.(Baptist)
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the History?
The First Recorded Interpreters
7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8
They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear a and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. (Ne 8:7).
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the History?
Rabbinic
Halakah: Regulations for conduct from OT legal materialHaggadah: All of OT to illustrate texts and edify.Midrash: Rules to uncover deeper meanings of scripture.
Hellenistic
Platonic and Allegorical: True meaning lies behind the text’s words.
Gen. 2:14- Philo.The Eden river represents goodness.The four rivers represent prudence, temperance, courage, and justice.
Qumran
Pesher:1) Change text to
support interpretation
2) Find fulfillment of prophecy in present events
3) Interpret separate phrases regardless of context
Klein, et. Al, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Word. 1993
Jewish Interpretations
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Apostolic History? (30-300 CE)
Literal Fulfillment: Jesus in the synagogue.“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Is. 61:1-2
Typological: OT events /ideas repeated in NTMt. 2:17 “A voice was heard in Ramah of painful crying and deep sadness”..for Jer. 31:15. Herod’s killing for Babylonian exile
Literal-Contextual: According to their normal meaning. Jesus Temptation:“It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’’ Matt. 4:4-7
Principal/Application: “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages”. I Tim 5:17-18 for Deut. 25:4
Klein, et. Al, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Word. 1993
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Church Fathers History? (100-590 CE)
Apostolic Fathers
(100-150):
Allegory: most common
Typology:
Midrashiic
Traditional:That which the churches taught
Alexandra:(150-400)
Allegorical. Clement- literal+Spiritual Meaning.
Origin-literal,Spiritual, &Moral or Ethical Meaning
Antiochene(150-400)
Typically rejected allegory.
Historical Grammatical: Each text has one plain, simple meaning. E.g.Song of Solomon not about Christ and the church.
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the Church Fathers History? (325-590 CE)
Church CouncilsOnly church leaders, the apostles successors, could interpret the scripture.Council of Nicea (325). Affirms divinity of ChristFirst Council of Constantinople (381) Affirms Divinity of Holy GhostCouncil of Ephesus (431)Mary Mother of GodCouncil of Chalcedon (451)Affirmed human and divine nature of Christ
AugustineAll aspects of scriptureinterpreted according
to love, the focal point of scripture.
1. Consult what clear passages say on the subject discussed.
2. Consult the authority of the church (tradition).
3. Then consult context.
http://www.piar.hu/councils/~index.htm
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
What Is the History?Middle Ages (590-1500 CE)
First Approach
Four meanings:e.g Jerusalem-Literal-cityAllegorical- the church.Moral-the soulEschatological- the heavenly city
Third Approach
Scholasticism:By question and answer, use logic to reconcile faith and reason. Followed AristotleThomas Acqinas:Elevated the literal sense as first, others after that.
Second Approach
Catena: Traditions of Fathers.
Interpretative Glosses in Margins of Bible
Catholic Enccyclopedia
Copyright by Lynn S. Nored
Summary
It is notable that for 1500 years the primary methods of biblical interpretation were:– Allegory– Tradition
The Reformation will see a break and the beginnings of “our” hermeneutic
We will also see the “new hermeneutic” had it’s beginning in the 1700’s
