Lecture 9: Methods of Biblical Interpretation: Part 1

Question 1

What is interpretation and why do we need it? Hermeneutics

Answer 1

Hermeneutics: a synonym for ‘interpretation’
- it is the theory of interpretation
- A ‘hermeneutic’ (singular) is a particular method or theory of interpretation

Question 2

What is Interpretation and why do we need it? Exegesis

Answer 2

Exegesis: the practice of interpretation
- applying theories of interpretation to texts in order to determine their meaning
- exposition follows exegesis

Question 3

What is Interpretation and why do we need it? Exposition

Answer 3

Exposition: drawing out what the text therefore means for contemporary readers
- interpretation happens constantly. It is usually automatic
- We only notice this process when something goes wrong

Question 4

5 Barriers to Biblical Interpretation: The Bible was written by and for people…

Answer 4

1. with different philosophical worldviews
2. with different cultural understandings
3. with different historical contexts
4. in different languages
5. with different literary and rhetorical standards

Question 5

Methods of Biblical Interpretation: Textual Criticism

Answer 5

• Before we can begin the process of interpretation, we need to ensure we have access to the correct version of the text
• textual criticism: the process of determining the original text by examining all the available manuscripts
• there are 6000 NT manuscripts, all copied by hand
• the total number of variations are changed words, added or missing sentences, or entire sections added or missing
• textual criticism determines which readings are original

Question 6

Methods of Biblical Interpretation: There are 3 types of barriers to biblical interpretation:

Answer 6

1. Historical barriers
2. Linguistic barriers
3. Literary barriers

Question 7

Historical Barriers to Biblical Interpretation

Answer 7

• These related to differences in philosophical worldview, cultural understanding, and historical context
• These barriers are overcome by using the historical-critical method
• The historical-critical method: seeks to establish this historical setting, culture, and presuppositions of the author and first audience, in order to illuminate the author’s meaning

Question 8

Methods related to the historical-critical method:

Answer 8

Source criticism: searches for the original sources that are thought to form the basis of the text being interpreted
Form criticism: breaks a writing down into short units, considered to be separate individual sources, and identifies their origins, purposes, and genres
Redaction criticism: seeks to determine how various original source material is edited into a new document

Question 9

The Linguistic Barrier to Biblical Interpretation

Answer 9

This relates to the fact that the Bible was written in a different language (languages) than our own, with different words, grammatical rules, and particular phrases
- this barrier is addressed by lexical syntactical analysis: establishes the meanings of individual words, and the meaning that arises based on how the words related to each other in sentences (this is done using a dictionary and grammar)

Question 10

The Literary Barrier to Biblical Interpretation

Answer 10

This relates to the fact that the biblical writers used different literary forms, rhetorical rules, ect.
- this barrier is addressed by literary criticism
- Literary criticism: determines how different literary devices convey meaning. - concerned with the author’s use of genre, poetic devices, figurative language, rhetoric, ect. Subtypes of literary criticis, are rhetorical criticism, narrative criticism, and canonical criticism

Question 11

Barriers to Biblical Interpretation

Answer 11

1. with different philosophical worldviews; 2. with different cultural understandings; 3. with different historical contexts (these are historical barriers and addressed with the historical-critical method)
2. in different languages (linguistic barrier addressed by lexical-syntactical analysis)
3. with different literary and rhetorical standards (literary barrier addressed with literary criticism)

Question 12

Two Alternative Approaches

Answer 12

1. Allegorical interpretation: seeks God’s meaning, regardless of the biblical writers’ intentions
2. Reader-response criticism: ignores the writer’s intention and concentrates instead on what the text says to the reader