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Hermeneutics
Ok. That's a big word.
It's meaning is actually not too tough. It refers to a method of
studying something. Biblical Hermeneutics, then, is the method of
studying the Bible.
More important than gazillion dollar words is the value of proper
Biblical Hermeneutics. God gave the Bible to us for a reason. It's
critical that we know what He said and meant. Lots of things can
get in the way of our understanding: changes in language and culture
over thousands of years since the Bible was written, not to mention
the limitations of our human minds. In order to properly interpret
the Bible, we need a careful method of study.
Let's look at some basic rules of Bible study.
Read it Literally.
Imagine what would happen if your parents told you to take out the
trash, and you tried to find some deeper meaning in their command.
You contemplate how the trash symbolizes bad things in your mind
and so you meditate on the beautiful dandelions outside your window.
Sounds like a good thing, but the angry parents don't seem to appreciate
your achievement. You probably should have taken them literally.
When reading the Bible, great danger exists for those who ignore
its literal statements and try to spiritualize everything. Most
passages were meant to be taken at face value. How do we know the
difference between most passages and the few that should be understood
differently? Dr. David L. Cooper stated it this way:
"When the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek
no other sense, but take every word at its primary literal meaning
unless the facts of the immediate context clearly indicate otherwise."
The next sections point out some possible areas where a more figurative
or spiritual interpretation would be correct.
Keep it in Context
The Context refers to the surrounding passages. If you separate
one statement from those surrounding it, you can make it say things
that aren't really there.
You've done it before. Mom said you could go to you're friend's
after taking out the trash. You ignore the "taking out the
trash" part and wonder why you're in trouble.
Satan took God's Word out of context when tempting Christ in Matthew
4. He quoted scripture trying to get Jesus to do things that other
passages said were wrong.
Study of one passage must be consistent with a study of the rest
of the Bible.
Idioms, Similes, Metaphors, and other stuff we ignored in English
class
English is a language that has changed dramatically over the past
few centuries. Some of the biggest changes are in the expressions
we use. Add the fact that the Bible was written a couple thousand
years ago, in different cultures, in different languages with their
own expressions, and you can imagine how it would be important to
be able to recognize these expressions. The common types include
the following:
Idioms
An expression that can't be understood simply by the normal meanings
of its words. Modern idioms include phrases such as "in the
knick of time" and "by the skin of my teeth."
Metaphors
A comparison between two things where the one is identified by
the other. Example: "Ye are the salt of the earth."
(Matthew 5:13) We are not actual salt, we have a similar spiritual
job - as salt preserves, so we should be a preservative in this
world.
Similes
Two things compared using the words "as", "like",
and others. "Quick as a wink", "white like wool".
Analogies
Pointing out a similarity or connection between two different
things in order to help describe something. "Taking a bite
of a York Peppermint Patty is like skiing through an avalanche
in a blizzard and flying off an icy cliff into the glacial lake
below..."
Hyperboles
An exaggeration used to make a point. Jesus used this type of
expression when discussing the man with a beam in his eye being
concerned with the sliver in his brothers eye.
Anthropomorphism
Hey! What's with all the big words?! It means giving human characteristics
to God. Though God is a spirit, He is described as having ears,
eyes, nose, etc. While He doesn't have these physical parts, they
are mentioned to allow us to understand certain truths about Him.
Parables
These are normally referred to as heavenly stories with an earthly
meaning. Jesus used them often when teaching the crowds. The passage
always states that He is speaking a parable. These stories are
not to be taken literally. Instead, each one is intended to illustrate
a truth.
Summary
While it may seem like a lot to remember at first, it all comes
down to common sense. You start with the understanding that God
intended to communicate with us. He used human languages to do so.
By being alert to the rules of Biblical hermeneutics, you will find
it possible to accurately interpret the Bible and to understand
what God wants us to know.
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