How to Teach the Bible#2: Basic Principles of Hermeneutics

Intro – “Basics” – Aim of Teacher: “Thinking correctly”

Prayer - treasure -labor ---understanding ---transformation

Review – Focused on the Preparation of the Teacher ---

Today: develop Tools on find MEANING and TRANSFORMATION

Overview of this class – Define, our Influences, Models, Case Study

I. Definition of Hermeneutics ** What is Hermeneutics?

A. “One’s philosophy and methodology of interpretation.”

Science or process of approaching a text to identify meaning

Teacher = explaining Teaching =deeply interpretative --Applied Hermeneutics

Macro: Interpreting entire chapter? Book? NT? OT? Fit story-line?Example: Romans =simply doctrine or doctrine in the context of missions

Micro: Interpreting this verse? Phrase? Word? Argument Flow?Example: James 2:21 – “Justified” By works or by grace

B. **Why Does Hermeneutics Matter? Two reasons: importance of “getting it right” and seriousness of “getting it wrong”

Goal: “give the sense” ---God’s instrument of transformation

-Worth the all of our intellectual, spiritual, and emotional SWEAT -It’s a High Calling

2 Timothy 2:15Do 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.

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Titus 1:9 “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”

Warning: FALSE TEACHERS -wreak the church --- Not Economics: WORD of LIFE

Forgiveness ---stear away from false thinking

2 Peter 2:1 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

2 Timothy 3:5-8 Avoid such people. 6For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth… 8so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.

Sobering words --focus on those intentionally opposing God’s word -call for care -pray for Spirit -work hard to not teach heresy -lots of bad influence

** Can Anyone think of bad hermeneutic that leads to bizarre interpretation of Scripture?

-Unceasing mathematical predictions about the return of Christ (242)-RCC interpretation of “on this rock” = unending papacy after Peter-Pecular views of end times (looking for signs, locusts =helicopters

II. Influences on Interpretation -where should and where do we + -

**If I were to ask you what influences should we have on our interpretation, I assume you know Scripture. Where do you see Scripture teaching us how to interpret?**

A. Our Scriptures

“Scripture Interprets Scripture”

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What has to be true of the Bible for us to use it to interpret itself? INSPIRATION

2Tim 3:16-17:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

It’s Clear and understandable on matters of salvation (not mysterious or full of hidden meanings-Gnostic), it is all-sufficient, authoritative

SHOWS US: Relationship of OT/NT- Fulfillment of Prophecy, etc

B. Our Theology -But What about Theology?

**Should we aim for unbiased interpretation? If someone says “I just want to know what the text says” – sounds good, right? How would you respond?**

Yes – interpretation –get Theology But also Theology – helps us get Interpretation

Theology is the boundary for interpretation Creeds/WCF – hold to be true- could have error but based from scripture.

Example: Scripture teaches Particular Atonement: other passages –God saves “all” or “whole world” Armenian framework - ----helpful to have the right theological framework guiding you. Context will teach you no plus other passages teach you 100% of everyone will not be saved.

WE MUST NOT INTERPRET THE BIBLE ALONE – cautious of New Interpretations ….this is why commentaries are helpful

C. Our World

**What are some positive influences of worldly principles on our hermeneutics? (linquistics, science, etc) Emphasis on history vs overly personal readings divorced from history -G-H

**What are some negative influences, particularly for evangelicals?

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Temptation toward individualism - Postmodern Influence – that’s true for you but not for me, Ahistorical

D. Ourselves -How can your personal life and sanctification impact teaching?

Most subjects –personal life is not so connected. Sociology professor – martial issues

Doctrine - impacts - Life BUT ALSO Life - impacts - Doctrine

Jude 1:4, 10For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

Argument for the means of grace in our own lives. God intends to work through a clean vessel. Trans: Influences to be aware of BUT HOW to “DO”

III. Models of Interpretation

Goal of the teacher is: What does the text MEAN?

Look different ANGLES -not a flat hermeneutic/narrow…but we need 3 ingredients to get to the meaning

( 1) Original Meaning 2) Divine Meaning 3) Modern Meaning )

A. Original Meaning—What the Human Author Intended to Communicate

Technical: Grammatical-Historical ModelLocus of Meaning = Human author’s original intention in writing

Text = window –situations Provides the BOUNDARIES

(if divergent ----something is wrong)

4 steps to help you with find the original meaning:

1. Context **** What are some context that come into play?

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(historical (time, political) authorial (who, where), audience (Jew/Gentile, Rich/Poor) , literary (passage in chapter, point of section, book)

2. Genre -***What is Genre? (rules/patterns) -Bible – Range (historical, epistles, law, apocalyptic, wisdom, prophetic, poetry) *** Do we interpret the Bible literally? “Literarily- appropriate” ***Where would genre make a big difference? Revelation, Gen 1

3. Grammatical/Linguistic Details (most time spent)-Paragraph/Big Picture Analysis– flow, Romans 3 – sin and

justification (headings)-Sentence Level Analysis –verse mean, argument, main verbal clause - Romans 3:21 – “But now” -shift in argument-Word Level Analysis – term mean? Who is the “they” here? What does the “righteousness of God” mean in Romans 3:21? Is it God’s own righteousness or is it the righteousness he gives to us?

Transition to sub: As you look at context, genre, grammar---keep seeking to identify – what author is wanting to communicate?

4. Authorial Intent for Audience(What is his aim? Moves us into connections today. Timeless truth

Sin/need/brokenness and similar solution -encouragement then and now

Transition: G-H model – original meaning is in the author/audience -

B. Divine Meaning—What the Divine Author Intended to Communicate

Technical: Redemptive Historical ModelChallenging/questioning original intent idea.

1. Text can mean more than the human author intended

1 Peter 1:10-12: 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were ‘serving not themselves but you,’ in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

-God is also author(scholarly/critical approach tends to leave this out)

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-Deeper Meaning -and can be both for THAT audience and today

Locus of Meaning=Divine Author intended 2 communicate through Human2. All of the Bible is Christ-Centered

Concealed in OT – Revealed in NT -New Revelation –impacts previous revelation

Luke 24:44-47 “Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

All of OT –pointing forward –now New Covenant CAN’T READ IT (w/o)

Caution: divine meaning NOT DETACHED from author’s intention- Organic Related -don’t want to read to much into the text

Impact on Method—How does this point to Christ? How does this Make sense of cross?Plan for the church?

C. Modern Meaning –How the passage applies to our modern dayApplication Model

As Reformed Christians – put so high of an emphasis on meaning and can be in reaction to our culture that is hyper --- WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN TO ME? That we can avoid asking this questions.

If the Bible does not mean something to you-YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. LIVING AND ACTIVE WORD – Tranformation “NOT --- meaning is whatever I want --- Governed by G-H Hermeneutics

-ones personal approach to the text is Critical

READ “Part of the meaning of the biblical passage is what God wants to accomplish through it in the hearts and minds of those you are teaching.”

We examine the text and the Text examines us

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SUMMARY: DO JUSTICE TO HISTORICAL MEANING DO JUSTICE TO GOD’S REDEMPTIVE MEANINGCONNECT TEXT to OUR PRESENT CONCERNS

IV. Sample Framework: Clowney’s Triangle (that’s actually a square)

1) EVENT ---- RAW TEXT

2) WHAT IS Broad TRUTH? (UP) ---Historical Setting

3) How does this truth POINT TO THE CROSS?

4) Through the lens of Christ – How do we get to APPLICATION?

Case Studies: David and Goliath – “Be like David and fight your giants”?Hannah’s Prayer – “Be like Hannah and pray when you face trouble”?Blood sacrifices in the temple – “How does that apply today at all”?The early church model in Acts – “The good old days of the church”?

1) **What happens before 1 Samuel? Melt down in leadership – judges

Main Question: Who is going to be King?

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2) **How does David anticipate Jesus? Kingly Office–Enemy defeated (of God’s people)

3) Application for Today: (last but NOT LAST IN PRIORITY)a. Christ Wins for us/ Yahweh defeats Philistines.b. What degree are you relying on yourself?c. What should you look for in a King?

FORCED TO DO JUSTICE TO THE TEXT, CHRIST AND US TODAY

HOMEWORK: Run your devotionals through this grid -Prayer – Light -o

Prayer ---- Revealed Yourself --- Raised us up to make sense -Spirit –open eyes

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