09: Hermeneutics (2)

Question 1

Explain the first half of the argument behind this image.

Answer 1

1. The author has an intended audience in mind
2. The author shares a cultural background with the intended audience, so that he doesn’t need to explain everything to them.
3. The biblical author doesn’t write out of nothing, but as an flowing from the OT Scriptures and the acts of Jesus
4. The Holy Spirit uses the cultural background, and the particular life experiences of the authors to produce an inspired word

Question 2

Explain the second half of the argument behind this image

Answer 2

1. Because the Bible was not written to us, we don’t share the same cultural background.
2. This means we can misunderstand communication
3. We first need to understand the culture for which it was written, and then try to apply it to our own.
4. The Holy Spirit aids in this process by means of illumination of the Scriptures.

Question 3

We cannot help but see what we want to see, to conform the text to our presuppositions.

What are some things that help us become better interpreters?

Answer 3

• reading in community
  
  • local church
  • historical church
• Being aware of your biases, and cultural presuppositions
  
  • contemporary
  • ancient
• Praying before reading
  
  • careful reading of the text
  • humility, willing to be wrong