Hermeneutics PowerPoint Notes

Hermeneutics

Senior Bible, Semester 2

Mr. Settecase

Jan. 5-7, 2010

By Friday, students will be able to…

-Define:

Hermeneutics

Exegesis

Midrash

Polemic

Apologetics

Describe the relationship between the Old and New Covenants

Explain how the New Testament uses the Hebrew Scriptures

Hermeneutics

the branch of theology that deals with principles of exegesis

Hermeneutics is the study of interpretation theory… the study of the interpretation of written texts, especially texts in the areas of literature, religion and law.

Exegesis: an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible)

I. All Scripture is inspired by God (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21)

A. Unity of Bible

1500 years, 3 languages, 40 authors, 1 common message

B. Our attitude toward the Bible

It is intellectually feasible to believe in the Bible’s inspiration

II. Scripture is its own best interpreter

A. Progressive nature of Bible – promise/ fulfillment motif

B. Didactic (teaching) passages interpret narrative and symbolic passages

C. Interpret obscure passages by those that are clear

III. Determine literary genre or type

A. Historical Narratives - Acts

B. Gospels

C. Parables

D. Epistles

E. Poetry

F. Prophecy

G. Apocalyptic

IV. Historical – Grammatical Method
A. If the plain (natural) sense makes good sense, seek no other meaning of the

passage.

1. Avoid re-interpreting (demythologizing)

2. Avoid fanciful spiritualizations

B. Understand figures of speech such as metaphors, hyperbole, etc. found in the

Bible.

C. Avoid confusing interpreting, interpretation with applications.

D. Context

1. Overall or remote context. Analyze the flow of the argument. Logic.

2. Immediate context. Previous 2 or 3 verses and following 2 or 3 verses

D. Context (continued)

a. Words retain their meanings in successive verses unless there is evidence of a change.

b. Topics remain the same. For example, in the context of the Parousia (Second Coming of Christ), personal piety remarks are inappropriate.

V. Three Steps for Proper Interpretation

A. Understand as much as possible about the original setting.

B. Hear the Word of God that is addressed to that situation.

C. Hear that same Word of God as it is addressed to our situation.

D. Failure to observe these three steps will result in two problems.

1. Some words never leave the first century.

2. Some words are misapplied because their original context is ignored.

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