HERMENEUTICSThe sin qua non of

all verbal communication

“Everyone practices hermeneutics; they may not do so self-consciously,

or with skill, but all practice it intuitively as creatures of language”

Communication Theory 101

• How does verbal communication happen?

THE NEED FOR BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15 KJV) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15 NAS)What’s involved in the accurate handling of God’s word of truth? – the work of hermeneutics

4 Basic Reasons for Hermeneutics• It teaches principles that guide us in

interpreting Scripture. See Ac 8:30-31• It teaches skills that help answer difficult

questions about the Bible. Sample examples and “contradiction” below.

• It teaches us to stand on God’s Word, but not stumble on/over it. See Isa 55:11.

• It teaches us how to bridge the gaps between us and biblical times. What’s in the gaps?

Solve this apparent contradiction

• Ezekiel 18:32 "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD.

• Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones.

• What added knowledge brings resolution?

The Importance of Scripture• Scripture is an essential part of God’s

medium of salvation • John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures

because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;”

• 2 Timothy 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Importance of Scripture• Scripture is eternal truth – • Matthew 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until

heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished.

• Scripture is inviolable• John 10:35 "If he called them gods, to

whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), lit. “cannot be destroyed , done away with, or abolished”

The PRIMARY NEED for Hermeneutics

• To bridge the gap between the our minds and the Divine mind that lies behind the inspired text of Scripture.

• To know what God has said in His Word.

• To distinguish the voice of man from the voice of God.

• NOTE: In the Church not all that is prefaced with "thus saith the Lord" is God's Word – Need for discernment Cf. 1Cor 14:29

The Need for Hermeneutics• Revival of Church life always brings in its train a

richer understanding of the Scriptures… What did Jesus mean to say to us? What is his will for us today? How can he help us to be good Christians in a modern world? In the last resort, what we want to know is not, what would this or that man, or this or that Church have of us, but what Jesus Christ himself wants of us. When we go to church and listen to the sermon, what we want to hear is his Word. (emphasis mine) (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship)

The SECONDARY NEED for Hermeneutics

• To bridge the gap between our minds and the minds of the biblical writers in order to understand the meaning of the inspired text.

• How wide is the gap that exists between God and humans? Can it be bridged? See illustration

• There are actually a no. of gaps between us and the biblical authors? See illustration

• Culture – History – Language – Geography

• Social – Technological – Biological • Philosophical/Ideological (world-view)

The Infinite Chasm – unbridgeable - unless

The Ontological Chasm

• Creator --- Creature• Spirit --- Flesh• Infinite --- Finite• Eternal --- Temporal• Holy --- Sinful• The ontological gap is one of “infinite

qualitative distinction” (Kierkegaard) and cannot be bridged unless…

The Bridgeable Hermeneutical Gap

• Culture - cultural• History – historical • Language – linguistic• Geography – location• Biological – plant and

animal• Philosophical/

Ideological

What separates the reader from the biblical author?

What’s in the gap?

Kinds of Gaps• Cultural - (social, political,

economic, religious, customs and practices, etc.) – E.g., Parable of the Ten Virgins (1st cent. Jewish Wedding); Parable of the Good Samaritan (1st. cent Jewish sectarianism); The widow’s mite (1st cent. Jewish Temple worship and support)- We often read Scripture with our own cultural lenses.

Kinds of Gaps

• Historical - "For Jews have nothing to do with the Samaritans." Jn 4:9 (history of Jew-Samaritan)

• Linguistic - Words like "love, peace, saints, light, darkness, flesh, world, word," etc. Note: Many common biblical words are often packed with new meaning because the author is trying to speak to an audience that uses it in a certain way. E.g., “mystery “

Kinds of Gaps

• geographical - “A certain man went down to Jericho" (the elevation, topography, caves, cliffs and a twisting road) made it an ideal road for an ambush. (See slide) Audience would have equated these words with danger.

• Contemporary equivalent: “A certain white man got off the Verrazano Bridge and found himself on Flat Bush Avenue in Brooklyn, NY at midnight” –

Kinds of Gaps• biological - (flora and fauna - plants

and animals) –the mountain goat, cedars of Lebanon, rose of Sharon, oak of Mamre etc.

• Job 39:1 "Do you know when the mountain goats (the Ibex) give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn? Do you count the months till they bear? Do you know the time they give birth?

• philosophical - Gnosticism (Col.) Stoicism (Pauline ethical lists) Platonism (Heb. and John’s contrasting of polar opposites – dualism: flesh – spirit; above – below; heavenly - earthly).

Results of Bridging the Hermeneutical Gaps

• The Reader/Interpreter gains access to the world of the biblical author, his worldview.

• …better understands the cultural-historical context surrounding the text of Scripture.

• …is enabled to think the author’s thoughts after him – understands better the relationship of the author to his world through the words selected to express those thoughts.