Aug 25, 2014

How To Interpret The Bible Correctly

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Hermeneutics, the art and science of biblical interpretation has been contributing both right interpretation and wrong interpretation or heresy. Biblical hermeneutics is the study of the principles of the interpretation of the Bible. While Jewish and Christian biblical hermeneutics have some overlap (doctrinal based interpretation), they have distinctly different interpretive traditions. We should look at hermeneutics, homiletic and mission from a holistic perspective and they should go hand in hand. Our job is to understand and interpret the biblical text correctly (hermeneutic) and sensitively present the biblical texts and its relevancy to the present context (homiletic) and set the listeners free (Mission).

We cannot ignore the Historical Critical Methods in interpreting the biblical texts. They are very important and necessary. And we must also understand the assertions of biblical positivism, Christian existentialism and Neo-orthodoxy. Historical Critical Methods are general term for a whole collection of methodologies and strategies for understanding the ancient texts in the Bible. If we can seldom prove the historical accuracy of biblical texts but may sometimes discover inaccuracies in it, then some might reasonably believe that the purpose of historical criticism is to disprove the historical truth of the Bible. We cannot deny that some early researchers may have been motivated in this way. Research on the life of Jesus in the 19th century, for example, was replete with scholars who wanted to prove that the Gospels were fabrications or, at least, exaggerated accounts of the life of a simple Palestinian teacher. The 19th century scholar F. C. Baur[1]  named this approach "negative criticism" and showed the serious limitations of such an agenda. He suggested instead a "positive criticism" whose approach has won the day among biblical scholars.[2]

Proper biblical interpretation is built on the following principles:
1. Understanding the author, the purpose of the book, Socio-religio-political context, the immediate context, understanding the biblical author's intended meaning and know how the original audience would have understood the text.
2. Consider the width of the chasm between us and the original audience.
3. The rule of LOGIC: Interpretation is merely logical reasoning. When interpreting Scripture, the use of reason is everywhere to be assumed. Does the interpretation make sense? The Bible was given to us in the form of human language and therefore appeals to human reason - it invites investigation. It is to be interpreted as we would any other volume: applying the laws of language and grammatical analysis.
4. Search for "timeless truth." (Any moral command from the Old Testament that is repeated in the New Testament.)
5. Remember that each passage has one and only one correct interpretation, but can have many applications (some better than others).
6. Always be humble and don’t forget the role of the Holy Spirit in interpretation. He has promised to lead us into all truth (John 16:13).

The top rule of hermeneutics is context. Before we can tell 21st-century Christians how the Bible applies to them, we must first come to the best possible understanding of what the Bible meant to its original audience. If we come up with an application that would have been foreign to the original audience, there is a very strong possibility that we did not interpret the passage correctly. Once we are confident that we understand what the text meant to its original hearers, we then need to determine the width of the chasm between us and them. In other words, what are the differences in language, time, culture, geography, setting and situation? All of these must be taken into account before application can be made. Once the width of the chasm has been measured, we can then attempt to build the bridge over the chasm by finding the commonalities between the original audience and ourselves. Finally, we can then find application for ourselves in our time and situation. Another important thing to note is that each passage has only one correct interpretation. It can have a range of application, but only one interpretation.

Biblical interpretation is as much an art as it is science. There are rules and principles, but some of the more difficult or controversial passages require more effort than others. Inference does play an important role in testing and validating an interpretation. You can use your knowledge of Jesus and His teaching and see whether the interpretation contradicts with Jesus and His teaching. We should always be open to changing an interpretation if the Spirit convicts and the evidence supports. And our interpretation should never hinder the spread of the gospel nor should it bring discrimination but nourishment. If not it is not gospel at all.

1. Ferdinand Christian Baur was a German Protestant theologian and founder and leader of the Tübingen School of theology.Austin Cline, "Tubingen School" http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/western/bldef_tubingenschool.htm. (Accessed September, 3, 2013).
2. http://users.wfu.edu/horton/r102/hc-method.html. (Accessed September, 3, 2013).
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