Transcript HERMENEUTICS Presented to iServe Africa Apprenticeship

HERMENEUTICS
Presented to iServe Africa
Apprenticeship Team
on 3rd March 2009
By: Kepha Nyandega
Hermeneutics
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Introduction
What have you learnt in IBS?
 What expectations do you have in this
session?
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Hermeneutics
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Outline
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Introduction
What is Hermeneutics?
 Why Hermeneutics?
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General Hermeneutics
 Special Hermeneutics
 Requirements for Effective Bible
interpretation
 Conclusion
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Hermeneutics
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Introduction:
What is Hermeneutics?
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A technical word from Greek meaning to explain,
interpret or translate.
It therefore refers to the science and art of
biblical interpretation.
To interpret means to understand the right or
intended meaning of a certain word or phrase.
And not merely unique meaning
Exegesis : studying a text in its context to
establish the original intended meaning.
This is opposed to eisegesis – imposing one’s
meaning into a text
Hermeneutics is scriptural! Luke 24: 27
Hermeneutics
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Introduction…. (Contd)
Why Hermeneutics?
Interpretation is a basic skill in life.
Bible pose problems, such as:
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Bible composition: 66 bks by abt 40 authors and diff
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Time Gap
The cultural gap
Geographical Gap
Language Gap
The nature of the scriptures themselves: the bible is
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styles/ genres
both divine and human
To guard against error in doctrine and practice
as well as apply God’s word in our lives and
encourage growth.
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General Hermeneutics
Refers to general guidelines to interpreting any text
 Determine the context & Content of the text
Context is the setting or background of a message
eg a statement like ‘I am going home’ may mean
differently depending on the context. What are
some possible meanings?
Content is the message being communicated ie the
meaning of words and phrases.
 Words & concepts only makes sense in a context
 A text out of a context is a pretext
 Two critical contexts are: Literary Context and
historical context
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General Hermeneutics .. Contd.
Literary Context
Immediate context
Book context
Same author context
.
Whole Bible context
Text
Use the 7FFQs to determine theseHermeneutics
contexts
Historical Context
Each Bible Book
has its history in
terms of:
 The time and the
culture of the
author and his
readers
 The occasion
and purpose of
the book.
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Special Hermeneutics
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Refers to specific skills required for each genre
All Bible books fall in any of the following genres:
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Narrative: describe events, people and report dialogue
and teaching eg the first 17 books of OT and the first 5
Books of NT
Discourse: An argument persuading people to change
their behavior or belief eg prophets and Epistles
Poetry and Wisdom: Records testimonies or feelings of
the writer eg Job, Psalms, proverbs, etc.
Apocalyptic: records visions, dreams, or special
terminology, symbols and other vivid imagery, secrets
of God’s plan for history and the coming triumph e.g.,
Revelation, parts of Daniel and Ezekiel. Others are Matt
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24= Mrk 13 = Lk 21
Interpreting Narratives
Narratives simply tell what happened not
what ought to have happened
 Narratives are static and temporal ie they
don’t tell all hence the need to understand
the context i.e. background information
(behind the scenes)
 To interpret a narrative, seek for the full
story to get the plot, setting, characters,
authorship, audience, theme, and style
(language, expressions, words, etc)
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Interpreting Narratives … contd.
A narrative is an episode in an ongoing
story i.e. Meaning is lost if any narrative is
read independent of what is going on
 Every narrative has to fit three levels:
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God’s overall redemptive history plan
 God’s level with Israel/ church
 The level of the narrative as an episode
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Every narrative has own character; the
chief character is God even where he is not
mentioned like Esther. What is he doing?
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Interpreting Parables
A parable is an ordinary story meant to
communicate a spiritual or moral truth. Its
usually employs a particular event in the
past tense for a present situation without
direct and obvious comparison.
 Key Principle in interpreting parable:
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Examine the setting –shows why parable is said
 What is the main point of the parable?
 Is there examination/ application given?
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You can use the following methodology
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Interpreting Parables … Contd.
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Mark out details that have individual theological
meaning and those that merely add colour to the
story
Check context at three levels:
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The larger context within the parable is found
The parable itself
The historical background of the details of the story
NT parables has 3 audience: the crowd, the
Pharisees & scribes and the disciples
Determine your reference points within the
dynamics of the story- this is the power of parables
Compare other gospel accounts for various
emphasis. Mark out any repetition
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Interpreting an epistle
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NT Epistles fall in the following pattern:
Sender- name is usually given eg Paul
Recipient – given plus short description
Greetings
Thanks giving or prayer
Body of the epistle – reason of writing
Closing commands or remarks (may miss)
Conclusion- greetings to others and
parting words
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Interpreting an epistle … contd.
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Get the context of writing for correct
application.
(Where can you get historical context of the
epistles?)
 Differentiate the normative and the relative.
What principle is behind the relative
command (local not universal)
 Get the argument presented by author and
reasons given & how they are presented
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Interpreting Poetry
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Psalms
Note the strophic/ stanza patterns of the poem
or hymn
Group parallel lines
Study the metaphorical language used
Note historical background of the psalm
Study the psalm in terms of its type eg
messianic psalms in terms of their historical
purpose before noting their historical
importance
Study the psalm as a whole before drwaing
conclusion
Hermeneutics
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Interpreting Poetry … Contd.
Wisdom
(Proverbs, Job, Ecc., and riddles, allegories, etc)
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Note the form of wisdom eg war cry,
messianic, lament or hymn/ praise song
Is the context important
Is hyperbole used? Any other device?
Obscure passages must be cross
culturally applied to analogous situations
today
Hermeneutics
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Interpreting Apocalypse
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Forms & Characteristics
Uses largely dreams and visions
An individual sees events as God unravel them
Usually mediated eg by an angel to help the in
understanding of the seer
Celestial beings and demonic powers are
introduced as God’s messangers and agents
against God respectively
Events concern the future as an end to present
realities.
Interpretation must consider people’s concern at
the moment and eschatological concerns
Dreams and visions as well as symbolism and
imagery are used
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Interpreting Apocalypse … contd.
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Common themes
God’s sovereign reign in chaotic world
Protection of God’s people culminating in
catastrophic judgment of the wicked and
supernatural deliverance of God’s people
Temporal nature of the current affairs and
victory of God and his people
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Interpreting Apocalypse … Contd.
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Purpose
To inspire hope and comfort in times of
suffering and persecution that prevailing
conditions will surely end and God’s
reign of justice and righteousness will
come. God give his prophetic time table
to comfort his people
To encourage consistent faithfulness
and obedience to God in times of trial
and warn against apostasy
Hermeneutics
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Interpreting Apocalypse … Contd.
Symbolism were easily understood by the
original audience and not their enemy
 The general message is usually clear from
the context. Focus more on the general
message rather than the meaning of each
symbol used. Don’t pursue minors at the
expense of the major
 Unfamiliar things are used in real life to
create mental pictures that gives the
message better
 Refer to respectable Bible dictionary and
commentary where need be
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Requirements for Effective Bible
Interpretation
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The Interpreter
Being regenerate 2nd Cor 4:4, Eph 2:1
Reverence and humility to God’s word.
Avoid the ‘author game’
Prayerful attitude and willingness to
obey. It is of no benefit to know more
unless you first do something with what
you know already – Selwyn Hughes
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Dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Sound judgment and reason.
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Requirements for Effective Bible
interpretation … Contd.
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Tools for interpretation
Heart determined to study God’s word
guided by the Spirit.
A good bible translation or different
version if possible
Good reliable bible helps e.g. bible
dictionary, commentary, atlas, etc
Writing material
Good grasp of the bible language if you
can
Hermeneutics
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Test Your Interpretation
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Natural sense- the rule of simplicity.
Take the Bible simply first unless it contradict or does not
make sense (interpret as a figure of speech if doesn't)
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Original sense- the rule of history.
Seek for the author’s intended meaning
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General sense: the rule of harmony.
The Bible does not contradict itself.
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Distinguish between moral and ceremonial laws.
Differentiate the descriptive from the
prescriptive
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Conclusion
The process of understanding the scripture may
appear hard and in deed it is.
Thankfully, God does not expect us to be perfect
overnight. We are asked to do our best to
present ourselves as those approved, workmen
who do not need to be ashamed, but those who
correctly handle the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:
15).
We need to soak the process with prayers for it
may be hard and dry without the water of the
Spirit.
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Reference
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Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A
Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical
Interpretation. Illinois: InterVarsity Press. 1991.
Terry, Milton S. Biblical Hermeneutics: A
Treatise on the interpretation of the Old and
New Testaments. 2nd ed. Michigan:
Zondervan Publishing House. 1974.
Fee, Gordon D. and Stuart, Douglas. How to
Read the Bible For All Its Worth: A Guide to
Understanding the Bible. London: Scripture
Union. 1989.
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