Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Herman Who?

Hermeneutics 1. the science of interpretation, esp. of the Scriptures.
2. the branch of theology that deals with the principles of Biblical exegesis.

This is what this word means and for many it is a word that confounds them. Many people read scripture in light of what it means to them at that moment in time. Their emotions/feelings, current situation, etc all play a factor in what the Biblical text speaks to them. This is referred to as reader response. I read something and then I can respond to it in the way that is most pleasing to me. Oprah Winfrey is a prime example of reinterpreting things especially literature to determine what it means "to her".

The reality is, it doesn't matter what it means to you or her or anyone else. What matters is what the author intended. Our quest is to see what the Authorial Intent of scripture is. There is a Historical Grammatical context (who what and why it was written and to whom) this is how we need to look at scripture. When I first became a Christian I always wondered why the leaders used verses out of the context for which they were written like Jeremiah 29:11 to tell people that God will prosper them. It was baloney and a bad Hermeneutic. We should know this word not because it is a fancy word but because it's meaning is vital for us to rightly read and study the Bible.

3 Comments:

Unknown said...
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L. Curtis said...

Fully agreed...

I spent many years under the light of differing teachers that had a theology that they put forth and then made the Biblical text fit it.

I have come to the decision that I will make my life and my theology conform with the Bible.

I think this is one of the main issues that Jesus spoke of when saying that many would come thinking they were His and be very surprised. We live out OUR theology and forget His.

We need to accept and live what He has stated, even if it is hard and smacks against what we have been told.

Twisting the Bible verse to fit what we believe to be true is purely dangerous.

bholcomb said...

True story...
There is so much "stink'in think'in" these days within the body! As believers, we have a duty to study the whole Word of God for the time and purpose it was given. Once we have that part stored in our hearts, we can't be shaken in our faith or swayed from our course. We will be able to spot the wolves instantly when they come with that 'different' message.
Thanks again, Andy!