Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics - General Principals

Hermeneutic principles, the science of hermeneutics, applying hermeneutics to the bible, discovering & applying hermeneutics in personal study, correctly handling the word of truth through hermeneutics
1. What is Hermeneutics?

   a. the science of Interpretation - esp. biblical
   b. Establishes and classifies principles, methods and rules by which the meaning of an author can be ascertained.
   c. " the redundant explanations of common sense interspersed with choice tidbits of gobbledygook making a concise statement of rules and methods for understanding those things that might otherwise have remained perfectly clear."
   d. difference and similarities between Interpretation and translation
   e. Make it clear and give the meaning: Neh 8:7,8 Luke 24:27

2. Why is Hermeneutics necessary? reasons:

   a. We have a Heavenly message conveyed in human language.
   b. the biblical languages differ widely from English in grammatical structure and idiomatic usage.
   c. the English language itself is constantly changing.
   d. the eastern, biblical culture is vastly different from our western culture.
   e. the bible is an ancient book.
   f. the mind of Man is worldly and the heart of man is deceitful and wicked. Jer 17:9
   g. false teachers are growing worse and worse; twisting, teaching, and deceiving.
   h. Satan is still misquoting the Scriptures!

3. What are the necessary requirements of the biblical interpreter?

   a. Born again- for the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God..." 1 Cor 2:14
   b. Love the Truth or God will send delusion..." 2 Thess 2:10-11
   c. Chose God's will and you'll know the doctrine..." John 7:17
   d. Desire the sincere milk of the Word..." 1 Pet 2:2
   e. Receive it as it is indeed: the Word of God..." 1 Thess 2:13

4. What must we avoid?

   a. Approaching God's word with preconceived doctrinal, social, or personal biases
   b. Approaching God's word with an Unteachable spirit
   c. Approaching God's word with an Arrogant, Intellectual attitude
   d. Approaching God's word with a desire to justify our sin
   e. Approaching God's word with a blind eye to those parts that convict us of sin

5. What tools and/or special knowledge is required ?

   a. Bible
   b. Principles of Hermeneutics
   c. Hebrew/Greek word studies
   d. Working knowledge of biblical cultures
   e. Understanding of Idiomatic usage in the Bible

Idioms & Hebrewisms(sp?) [Hebraism?]

"Step on the gas" and "Get the lead out!" - A formula for making unleaded gasoline?

"sunrise" or "sunset" .... "four corners of the Earth" etc.

Hebrewisms-
    Comparison by negation
   Preference = love or hate
   name of parents to denote decedents
   Son = Equality with
   Son = decedents of
   definite numbers used to describe undefined numbers & round numbers sometimes used for exact number...

6. Preparations for Interpretation

   a. Twelve questions to answer

      1) Who is speaking?
      2) Who is being spoken to?
      3) What is the occasion (situation)?
      4) What is the intent of the speaker?
      5) What is the response of the one(s) spoken to?
      6) When is this occurring?
      7) Where is this occurring?
      8) Where does this appear in Scripture (what book)?
      9) Are there any parallel passages ( p.p.)?
      10) Are there any significant numbers?
      11) Are there any repeated phrases, words, or themes?
      12) How is the speaker speaking; plainly or with figures of speech ( f.o.s. )?

   b. Understanding figures of speech - (this is only a partial listing...)

      1) Simile - Expressed comparison between two objects Jer 23:29
      2) Metaphor - implied comparison between two objects Matt 5:13-16
      3) Metonymy - "other name" something that stands for something else
         cause stands for effect & vice versa Gen 45:21 Prov 12:19
         subject stands for associated idea or circumstance Psalms 23:5
         sign spoken of stands for thing signified Ezek 22:22
      4) Synecdoche - part for whole and vice versa Jer 8:7
      5) Personification - ascribing personal attributes to inanimate objects Num 16:32
      6) Apostrophe - turning away from hearers to speak to those absent 2 Sam 18:33
      7) Interrogation - affirmation expressed in the form of a question (also called a Rhetorical question ) Job 11:7
      8) Hyperbole - exaggeration. Judges 7:12
      9) Irony - words convey there exact opposite meaning. 1 Kings 18:27 Job 12:2

   c. Understanding Hebraisms and Greek Idioms
   d. Identify multiple names for the same person, place, or thing - eg. Saul>Paul ; golgatha>Calvary
   e. Identify multiple persons, places, or things with the same name - Mary ; James ; John

7. What is THE fundamental Principle in Biblical Interpretation?
   a. Scripture is its own best interpreter/commentator
   b. "comparing spiritual things with spiritual things" 1 Cor 2:13
   c. Context of the plenary Revelation of God - how does this fit into the big picture?
   d. do not ignore, but explore any apparent contradictions! - failure to do this results in confusion, and has led many astray.

Hermeneutics- Rules for Correct Biblical interpretation

1. TAKE THE WORDS IN THEIR USUAL AND ORDINARY SENSE.

   A. as the people to whom they were written would have understood
   B. NOT necessarily literal
   C. CAREFULLY note the response of the hearers ( do they understand or not )
[ only go as far as you need to in the rules ]
2. TAKE THE WORDS IN THE SENSE THAT THE PHRASE INDICATES (short context)
   ex.-- faith, salvation, grace, flesh, blood, etc.
      How is the phrase using this word? [in the Original language] ( verb, noun, etc.) - "faith" could mean 'the act of believing' or 'the elements of belief' (as in 'statement of faith') or 'the whole religion itself' (as in 'The Christian Faith').
ex.- an (anarthrous noun); nn (noun); repro (relative pronoun)

3. TAKE THE WORDS IN CONTEXT ( long context ) ex.- Eph 3:3 ( the book of solved mysteries!)

   this is sometimes referred to as ' reading around the text' ( several verses before and after the target text )

4. CONSIDER THE OBJECT OR DESIGN OF THE PASSAGE

   A. General purpose of the writer ( stated or un-stated )
   B. Specific purpose of the writer ( stated or un-stated )

5. CONSULT PARALLEL PASSAGES (P.P.) - direct quotes (of this or others)

   A. Is it a parallel?
   B. Is it an inexact parallel?

6. RECOGNIZE PARALLEL EXCLUSIONS

   A. note any absence of your target text in any other biblical passages
   B. note any absence of your target text in any parallel passages

YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND BIBLICAL DOCTRINE THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE

hermeneutics, science of hermeneutics, correct use of hermeneutics, proper hermeneutic use