Transcript Hermeneutics - Hope Family Fellowship
And Some Homiletics To Boot!
To grow in our understanding and handling of the Word of God both in the Church and home – some meat to chew on
2 Timothy 3:16-17
- All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent (complete, mature), equipped (fitted out) for every good work.
Hunting, sports, camping, etc. all require the proper gear to maximize the experience
Hermeneutics - a method or principle of interpretation A set of norms we go through between the words on the page and us.
Homiletics – The art of preaching/teaching
Historical-grammatical – is the most common method used – what did the words mean to the author and original hearers, and what grammar is being used Others - Election, Covenantal, Predictive, Dispensation, Numerical, Symbolic, Allegorical, Ethnic Division – Jews, Gentiles and the Church, etc. etc. etc. Historical-grammatical uses a general three fold approach to the text: 1) observation, 2) interpretation, and 3) application.
The Bible is not an English book written for 21 st century Americans – Middle Eastern in nature “We believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God; that it is inerrant in the original manuscripts and has been supernaturally preserved by God, and that, as such; it is the Supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.” Hope - SOF Our hermeneutic principles determine our understanding/application of the Scripture
66 different books, multiple literature types Historical narrative, poetry, letters, apocalyptic, prophetic, Gospel, etc.
The Scripture is made up of words, sentences, verses, paragraph, section, book and the entire book covering thousands of years of time Exegesis - lead the meaning out of the text Isogesis - bring a meaning into the text "The best teacher is the one who does not bring his meaning into the Scripture but gets his meaning from the Scripture." Luther
Narrative – stories of real people Parables – short stories illustrating one principle truth Metaphors, figures of speech, similes Hyperbole – strain a gnat, swallow a camel Figurative language – stomach like heaps of wheat or much in Revelation Prophetic language – double fulfillments – both present and future – Messianic Types and symbols – snake on the pole, sacrificial lambs, Melchizedek
Judges –
Psalms –
Revelation -
Historical Narrative
Wisdom/Poetry
Song of Solomon -
Wisdom/Poetry
Daniel –
Mark –
Acts –
1 Timothy –
Historical/prophetic Historical/Gospel Historical Narrative Letter
Apocalyptic
1535 AD: Myles Coverdale's Bible; The First Complete Bible printed in the English Language (80 Books: O.T. & N.T. & Apocrypha).
1537 AD: Tyndale-Matthews Bible; The Second Complete Bible printed in English. Done by John "Thomas Matthew" Rogers (80 Books).
1539 AD: The "Great Bible" Printed; The First English Language Bible Authorized for Public Use (80 Books).
1560 AD: The Geneva Bible Printed; The First English Language Bible to add Numbered Verses to Each Chapter (80 Books).
1568 AD: The Bishops Bible Printed; The Bible of which the King James was a Revision (80 Books).
1609 AD: The Douay Old Testament is added to the Rheims New Testament (of 1582) Making the First Complete English Catholic Bible; Translated from the Latin Vulgate (80 Books).
The
1611 AD: The King James Bible Printed; Originally with All 80 Books.
Apocrypha was Officially Removed in 1885 Leaving Only 66 Books
.
1782 AD: Robert Aitken's Bible; The First English Language Bible (KJV) Printed in America.
1791 AD: Isaac Collins and Isaiah Thomas Respectively Produce the First Family Bible and First Illustrated Bible Printed in America. Both were King James Versions, with All 80 Books.
1808 AD: Jane Aitken's Bible (Daughter of Robert Aitken); The First Bible to be Printed by a Woman.
1833 AD: Noah Webster's Bible; After Producing his Famous Dictionary, Webster Printed his Own Revision of the King James Bible.
1841 AD: English Hexapla New Testament; an Early Textual Comparison showing the Greek and 6 Famous English Translations in Parallel Columns.
1846 AD: The Illuminated Bible; The Most Lavishly Illustrated Bible printed in America. A King James Version, with All 80 Books.
1885 AD: The "English Revised Version" Bible; The First Major English Revision of the KJV.
1901 AD: The "American Standard Version"; The First Major American Revision of the KJV.
1971 AD: The "New American Standard Bible" (NASB) is Published as a "Modern and Accurate Word for Word English Translation" of the Bible.
1973 AD: The "New International Version" (NIV) is Published as a "Modern and Accurate Phrase for Phrase English Translation" of the Bible.
1982 AD: The "New King James Version" (NKJV) is Published as a "Modern English Version Maintaining the Original Style of the King James." 2002 AD: The English Standard Version (ESV) is Published as a translation to bridge the gap between the accuracy of the NASB and the readability of the NIV.
All English Bibles are a translation
Read the Translation Philosophy in the front Basically 3 types: Literal word for word (impossible) – KJV, NASB, ESV (essentially literal) Dynamic Equivalence or thought for thought – NIV, HCSB, NRSV Paraphrase or rephrasing – The Message, Living Bible, Good News, Amplified (Multiple Choice Bible)
KJV
-Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
NIV -
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
NASB - J
esus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.“
MSG - J
esus said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to--to God's kingdom."
Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.
Interlinear Greek-English – Answered Jesus and said to him truly truly I tell thee except anyone is born from above he cannot to see the kingdom of God Let’s not even go to Russian or Chinese
1. Illumination of the Holy Spirit is required 4. Scripture interprets Scripture 2. New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament (filter the Old through the New) 3. The literal interpretation is basic
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
- And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 Corinthians 2:13-14
- And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
The Word of God is God-breathed and the Holy Spirit is required to understand the truths contained within.
John 14:16-17
- And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
We need to pray for wisdom, understanding, and revelation when we read the Word – the Bible is not a secret Book for God wants to speak to His children
Progressive Revelation – God revealed Himself in the Old Testament differently than in the New – Jesus is the final revelation – If you have seen Me you have seen the Father!
Types/shadows, simpler in form focusing primarily on a people group – Israel Everything revealed moved along toward the conclusion in Christ – all shadows give way in the Light of Jesus! Law was a tutor to bring us to Christ Galatians 3:24
“you have heard it said…but I say” Jesus fulfilled the Law – Matthew 5:17 Types/shadows are fulfilled in Christ – Tabernacle/Temple, animal sacrifice, Adam, Beware of allegory - adding deeper meanings, hidden truths, be clear on what is clear Distinguish between what the Bible records and commands or approves – making doctrine from historical narrative is dangerous!
Assume literal unless context forbids it But, we must understand what type of literature we are reading - Song of Solomon, Revelation, Daniel, etc. literal can get weird “Today” in Hebrews most likely means now, not some mystic code word. Jesus wept means?
Jesus saying “Eat my body” is not literal Anthropomorphisms are in the Scripture Assigning human emotions and body parts to God – the Bible is an accommodating Book – God to humans – infinite to finite beings
"Obscure passages in Scripture must give way to clear passages.“ Be clear on what is very clear Interpretation is one, basic meaning, application can be diverse and many.
Scripture will not contradict Scripture – if your understanding of a passage is violating some other verse – you are mistaken If you know the exact date of Christ’s return you are violating this principle of Hermeneutics
We are different than Jesus and the New Testament writers They often brought the Old Testament into a new light in the New Testament – we are not them so be careful 1 Timothy 5:18 – “do not muzzle the ox” is equated with paying a pastor But where they did, we are safe to go there – Acts 2 – Peter said this is what Joel meant! Gospels, Hebrews, Epistles – are full of expounded OT quotes
The Bible is not full of secret codes and meanings beneath the meaning – shun allegory methods and secret interpretations Be careful using the Bible as a promise book – We must consider if the promise is universal, personal, conditional, for the present or future The Bible is not a magic book - let if fall open and poof, there is truth. “Go and hang yourself”
Concordance – shows every place a particular word is used in Scripture Lexicon – list of the words and typically includes the definition Handbook –an overview of manners, customs, background material Commentaries – someone’s interpretation of what the Scripture says and means Greek/Hebrew to English dictionaries – helps you make your own conclusions about the meaning of the words
What did the text/letter mean to the original recipients? It was not primarily written to us What type of literature am I reading? Do I understand what the words meant to the author?
Have I read the other places where this/these words are used?
Have I read this verse or section in several different versions to glean insight?
Consult commentaries/handbooks carefully – know who wrote it and why – they all have bias and agendas.
1. Illumination of the Holy Spirit is required 4. Scripture interprets Scripture 2. New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament (filter the Old through the New) 3. The literal interpretation is basic
Must I keep the Sabbath or the Big 10?
I can not eat pig, the Scripture forbids it Let’s place a fleece out or cast lots to decide Job brought on his problems by fear and a bad confession God wants you rich and faith is the key Should my wife wear a head covering?
Acts shows the early church patterns for __________ Revelation, Daniel, and Zechariah clearly teach _____________
“The art of moving men from a lower life to a higher life.” – Beecher “The communication of truth through personality.” – Anonymous “Preaching is divine truth voiced by a chosen personality to meet human need.” A. W. Blackwood The clothing of ideas in words - Longino
Declaring God’s Word as recorded in the Bible It is not about man’s ideas of God, but what God has done for man. The uniqueness of a Biblical sermon (as opposed to a speech) is due to the subject matter, the material used, and the results promised!
God is the God that speaks – not a lifeless idol, but One that communicates From the beginning God has spoken to man through other men OT prophets preached, Ezra and Nehemiah taught detailed messages, Early Church typically would reason together, Early Church Fathers and Reformers wrote, etc. Today, just about every method is used As long as Christ is preached…
Higher Criticism – attempts to investigate the origins of a text, especially the text of the Bible. Higher criticism, in particular, focuses on the sources of a document and tries to determine the authorship, date and place of composition of the text. Lower Criticism, known as textual criticism, which is the endeavor to establish the original version of a text. Since the 1800’s modernism/evolution (devalue the supernatural) has been an issue In our day a trend to be relevant to our society rules
Spontaneous vs. being prepared – comfort comes from being well prepared We need to be current in our walk with God We should consider our audience – home vs. congregation vs. young, etc
The Scripture – read and explain Personal experiences either victory or defeat tied back to the Word It is ok to share books and such in your family devotions…but if in the pulpit, the Word should be the focus. – “It is the foolishness of preaching that brings results” 1 Corinthians 1:20-22 The Word produces life – Isaiah 55:10-11 the Word will not return empty or void
Reverence of the Scripture carefully handling the Word of God – we will be held accountable for the words spoken for God Humility – we do not have all the answers, nor have we arrived in any arena Our message should match our life – no one is perfect, but preaching against immorality whilst living in it, is worthy of great judgment Jesus was not kind to the religious folks that lived differently than what they preached
Three basic types – topical, textual and expository Topical – Parenting, love, joy, end times, sin Easiest to keep unity of the message and easily grasped by the audience Great latitude in selecting ideas and topics Allows a wide range of Scriptures to be used Easy to get into a rut – water baptism, family Easier to get into error since context is not the primary issue
A shorter unit of verses than an entire book or chapter 2 Peter 1:3-9 – His divine power has granted… Basically same advantages and disadvantages as topical 2 Chronicles 27:2 should rule – He did not enter the temple as his father had done…context
Expository – An entire book, a chapter, etc Forces the teacher to deal with topics not normally addressed Helps keep verses in their context What does it say and what does it mean?
Helps limit “proof texting”
Can lose focus over long periods of time Can limit ability to deal with current issues if you refuse to break lose Get lost in the details and potential for unlimited rabbit trails Still, my favorite because it keeps the speaker close to the text – limits error and pet peeves Good Material!
Point to point – a progressive line of thought Twin – conflicting or contrasting points or positive vs. negative Interrogative with the text – Journalist questions – who, what, where, why, when, and how.
Jewel – turning the verse around and around looking at all sides of it – not cinnamon roll Thematic – It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming” or “better to be a live dog than a dead lion”
Rebuttal – to correct false teaching – a qualification of an elder Life-situation – marriage, finances, dispair Word studies – chase a word through the Bible Character studies – life of David or Paul Drama, poetry, music – the point is to preach Christ! However if someone comes in Sunday late with a gun…please stop them for me
How long should a piece of rope be?
Depends on the need, leading of the Holy Spirit, and the audience It’s not a matter of right and wrong, but right and left and obedience to the Lord’s leading I
prefer
textual or expository of large sections of Scripture Easier to stay closer to the context and get the full picture and limit tangents and error, however I also teach topical at times
Text – what does it say, what does it mean?
Context – what else is being said, the paragraph and chapter and book all add information and clarification Illustrations – other texts, word pictures, graphics, etc. Illustrations should illustrate not dominate Use carefully – circumcision – think it through – how many of us remember commercials, but not the product they advertised?
The Scripture teaches us how to live Doctrine is made up of many texts, not one If a doctrine is central to Christianity it will surface everywhere – Gospels, Paul, Peter, James, and John – Cross, love one another, the Resurrection, Lordship of Jesus, etc.
Beware of doctrines based on limited texts Major on what is major and minor on what is minor, if it is important it will surface often Know history, creeds, and councils – if your understanding doesn’t fit these, question it
Whether at home or asked to share… Remember one task of the teacher is the clothing of ideas in words… Pray and seek the Lord Choose your passage(s) depending on length of time and audience making sure you pick something appropriate
What type of sermon are your going to give – topical, textual or expository
Study your text asking the Holy Spirit to assist your understanding
Read your text in as many translations as possible – why?
Consult resource materials – dictionaries, lexicons, concordances, word studies, etc Consult commentaries - use a variety and understand the underlying presuppositions – Calvinist, Armenian, liberal, anti-Catholic, fundamentalist, Charismatic or not –they are all written by men with a particular bent
Answer the journalist questions for each verse – what is he talking about here? What did he say about this elsewhere in his writings? What did others say about it in the Scripture?
What type of literature am I reading? Parable, poetry, proverb, narrative, letter?
Get your thoughts organized and outlined All your points should connect and make sense Sub points divide main points – not an excuse to ramble
The message should seek to change lives in some specific way The message should exalt Christ in some way The message should challenge the listeners to be doers of the Word A message should challenge a way of thinking – forsaking gathering together or a faulty underlying worldview Our goal must be to be used of God in the presentation of truth to affect change
Think about what you are attempting to communicate and write it down – the “so what” of the message – what is your point?
What difference does it make to anyone listening to you? If is helpful, corrective, instructive, or pointless?
Make it as personal as possible in order to relate to those that are listening to you Ask those that love you to help you – listen to your own teaching and be brutally objective
Introduction – grab attention or set the focus Main text or texts followed by points and sub points Illustrations to enhance, reinforce, and clarify the points APPLICATION – why did I preach this anyway?
Conclusion – the purpose is to summarize, reinstate the main point, ask for a response and to conclude – not simply to end.
“I don’t use notes,” the preacher boldly declares, and we all say, “we can tell!” Spontaneous most times means unprepared!
Studying is not quenching the Spirit God can and does anoint your preparation – you will be much more comfortable if you are well prepared Go over your teaching several times Practice it out loud Boil it down to one sentence Breath, relax, give as unto the Lord
Read and listen to good sermons with an ear to the details – why did I like this or not?
Listen to your own and ask your loved ones to honestly help you - mispronounced words, nervous ticks, fill words – then don’t react if they do!
Practice, be prepared and have a heart to serve We do our best – the results are in God’s hands – did we do what He asked us to do – if so, then we will be just fine
We have the honor of sharing God’s very words with others –our families and a body of believers We must take it seriously and apply ourselves to the pursuit of excellence – we never arrive
2 Timothy 2:15
– “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
It is better to leave your listeners longing for more than to have them wishing you were finished…the brain can adsorb no more than the rear can endure God’s Word will not return void – it will accomplish the task for which He sent it forth Be strong, be men of the Word – keep at it!