Short Essay Flashcards
What is Hermeneutics? What does it mean that Hermeneutics is both a science and an art?
Hermeneutics is the science and art of biblical interpretation in accordance with the divine intended meaning of God’s Word. This is a study that has the principles of a hard science while also incorporating the skill of an art. Thanks to the Holy Spirit we can learn to improve at this art throughout our lives, but we will not arrive at mastery in this life because of sin.
What are some reasons why studying Hermeneutics is important for Christians?
Six major reasons for why we should study hermeneutics include:
First, the Bible is not an ordinary book. Unlike any other book, the Bible is the word of an eternal God which stands for all time.
Second, hermeneutics is necessary for the Christian life and we are called to engage in it. The Lord commands us to cling to it. (Duet. 31:43). Psalm 1 paints a picture of a man who is rooted in the word of God. Much like that tree, we need to be consistently exposing ourselves to the scripture and reading it properly.
Third, we cannot approach scripture as if it were any other book. While the Bible may have poetry, narrative, language, and grammar like any other book, the Bible comes from an eternal God. Acknowledging that Biblical authorship is critical to avoiding error.
Fourth, Hermeneutics is part of our union with Christ. Everything that happens with Christ in his work happens with us as we are conformed to his image.
Fifth, we need to learn to interpret Scripture like Jesus did. In learning to understand how Christ used the scriptures, we get an idea of how to look at it the right way.
Sixth, hermeneutics is part of our Christian maturity. We cannot grow in the faith without the word of God.
What is the necessity of Scripture, and how does this affect Hermeneutics?
The necessity of scripture refers to how it delivers to us the message of salvation that is not communicated by general revelation alone. This affects hermeneutics first by manifesting God’s highest goodness to us. Second, sinners have a tendency to cloud over general revelation such that natural theology and religion push us further from God. Third, God himself must give his light to us if we are know salvation (Psalm 36:9). It also declares itself to be special revelation (2 Tim 3:14-17, Matthew 4:4).
What is the authority of Scripture, and how does this affect Hermeneutics?
Scripture being authoritative means it is inspired as revelation from man’s creator, God. This makes scripture uniquely a written work that bears supreme authority over humanity. Where there is a conflict between Scripture and what is believed by humans, Scripture dominates over man in all cases.
This does not mean that the Bible is a complete document on all subjects. The Bible is very specifically aimed at being the authority over man and revelation about God. It is not the place to go to find out everything about trees. That said, even if general revelation should seem to hint that trees were not made by God, then the inevitable conclusion should be that humans have made a mistake in understanding general revelation about trees.
What is the sufficiency of Scripture, and how does this affect Hermeneutics?
Definitionally:
The sufficiency of scripture refers to its ability to instruct us in everything necessary to glorify God, salvation, believe in God, and do his will.
First, sufficiency communicates scripture’s purpose and we need to know that purpose to understand it.
Second, the sufficiency of scripture otherwise does not affect things which are revealed by nature and not in scripture.
Third, nothing should be added to scripture.
Fourth, some things must be deduced from scripture, like the doctrine of the Trinity or the fact that specific believer is saved by believing in Christ even though that specific believer’s name is not in Scripture.
Doctrinally:
Scripture is sufficient for doctrine (2 Tim 3:16, Deut 4, Proverbs 30, and Rev 22) and breathed out by God.
It is also sufficient for practice (2 Tim 3:16, 2 Peter 1), reproof (not measured up), correction (back to the path), and training in righteousness (how we live in light of the gospel).
What are the two criteria for identifying a type (typology) and give an example. Show how your example meets both these criteria.
We recognize it in scripture by looking for its two main features, namely historical patterns and escalation in significance.
For historical patterns we watch for quotations and explicit references to previous scripture, such as Peter referring to the flood when talking about Baptism. We also watch for repeated sequences of events, repetition of significant terms, and events with redemptive historical significance.
Escalation in significance means noticing that whatever the type or pattern it is less than the anti-type. This is often glorious in scale, such as the difference between Noah’s salvation from the flood waters which still resulted in sin and Baptism of the Holy Spirit which gives us new hearts in Peter’s example.
Why is the NT use of the OT so important for Hermeneutics? Should we care how the NT authors interpret the OT?
The core principle for interpreting scripture is to interpret scripture with scripture. In order to execute this well, New Testament use of Old Testament scripture must be studied. This is a logical conclusion from two points.
First, the Lord is the ultimate author of all scripture. The scriptures become clearer from Genesis to Revelation. Ideas that are often in shadow form in the Old Testament will gradually become visible in the New Testament as Christ’s work becomes manifest. If the Lord has spoken more clearly in a New Testament text than in an Old Testament text, then the clearer text ought to be relied on over the less clear text.
Second, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and their Jewish background, the New Testament authors understood the Old Testament far better than we do. Studying the New Testament use of the Old Testament helps us understand how to comprehend the Bible’s unified message.
Why is the character of an interpreter so important?
The character of an interpreter is important because it affects both the interpreter and the audience. The interpreter can be led into further sin by laziness, false doctrine, sexual immorality, love of money, and pursuit of power and influence that leads him to be less useful in his work for Christ. This also undermine his message to his audience in the best-case scenario; in the worst-case scenario it will drive people away from Christ and into sinful self-destruction. Either way, bad character affects the interpreter very badly.
On the other hand, good character informed by the Holy Spirit, well studied, free of hypocrisy, mortifying sin, humble, and with the long term in view produces good fruit for both the interpreter and the audience. Since we have sin this will not happen perfectly in this life, but in Christ we can do it well enough to be useful until the day when our righteousness is fully given to us.
What are the three types of Bible translations, and what are some strengths/weaknesses of each type?
Formal Equivalence: This is designed to be as literal as possible in regards to the original text. On the upside this allows for maximum participation by the reader in interpretation. It even produces literal translations of idioms or figures of speech with a footnote. The downside is that they can be cumbersome to read and don’t really convey the artistic quality of the poetry sections well. Examples include the ESV, NASB, and the KJV.
Dynamic Equivalence: This tries to stay as close to the text as possible but takes a bit more liberty with making the text readable. On the upside these are a bit easier to read, but they can have theological issues if they are not done right. Replacing an idiom from the past with one from the present can lose or change the meaning.
Paraphrase: These are maximum readability translations. These can be considered commentaries as much as translations, examples include GNT, The Message. They can help for seeing things from different angles, but it’s more of a commentary use that leaves nothing left for the reader to interpret. Your understanding will be purely limited to how much the writer understood. It can, and does, lead to theological error.
What are some principles for using biblical commentaries?
- Commentaries are not scripture. You need to explain why the commentary’s argument is sound.
- Carefully study your passage before consulting a commentary. Look at the text first and read it in slow motion.
- Research the author of the commentary.
- Think about what you need help with, whether that be for textual issues, Biblical Theology, bigger picture, and application.
What are the six steps in the interpretive method discussed in class? Explain each step briefly (You can use six sentences for this one if you need to).
- Read, read, read. Read in slow motion.
- Make observations. An observation is an indisputable statement about the text.
- Historical context regarding author, audience, setting, time period or other facts not stated in scripture.
- Canonical Context. This is the context of the passage we are dealing with, within the scriptures itself.
- Look for Christ: When you are interpreting a passage that isn’t in the NT, go back and look at the notes on Typology. We can also look for major themes, such as “Prophet, Priest, or King”, watch for temple themes, sacrifice, atonement.
- Apply the text to a modern believer. This sixth step is what you want to end on when you interpret a text.
