BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HERMENEUTICS

1 2011 February Block Class A Hermeneutical Survey of the Old and New Testaments By Dr. Tony Fox Central Africa Baptist College PO Box 21891, Kitwe, Zambia Phone: 097-741-5011 Ce nt r a l A fr ic a B a p t ist Co l le g e PO BOX 21891 KIT WE, ZAM BI A info@ cab g Tel 26-097-741-5011 2 INTRODUCTION TO HERMENEUTICS Intro. 1. Ralph Martin, Kingdom of the Cults cult = a group of people gathered about a specific person or person s mis-interpretation of the Bible a. Poor PRINCIPLES of interpreting Scriptures is the foundation of every cult b. Proper interpretation of the Bible is absolutely vital if we are going to understand the truth of the Scriptures ourselves (1) Also vital to recognize and refute the error of others 2.

2 Proper interp. of the Bible is not always easy a. , 2 Peter 3:16 Paul s writings are hard to understand i. Because of that, Peter says, the untaught and unstable distort them, as they do with the rest of Scriptures, to their own destruction b. Bible interp. is hard work and careful attention to certain PRINCIPLES is absolutely essential if our theology is to be accurate and biblical Outline: I. Definition of HERMENEUTICS = the study of biblical interpretation A. Depends entirely on one s belief about what the Bible is 2 Tim. 2:16-17 B. Depends on one s belief about man s depravity Jer. C. Fuller def. = the study of biblical interpretation recognizing the inspiration and sole infallibility of God s Word II.

3 BASIC Hermeneutical Systems A. Allegorical method 1. Seeks for the hidden meaning (sometimes called spiritual meaning) of the text a. biblical words and events are interpreted symbolically, apart from their normal and natural sense 2. Examples: a. 1,000 years of Rev. 20 3. Danger = 2 sides a. The natural meanings of words and events can become irrelevant, discarding what God s Word is saying and ignoring His intended meaning b. Meanings are given according to the whim of the interpreter (1) As created beings whose thinking has been corrupted, how can we trust these meanings? (2) Also, who are we to give priority to our meanings rather than His B.

4 Natural Method (also called the Literal Method or the Grammatical/Historical Method) 1. The normal, natural sense of the text is the real meaning 2. 3 elements: a. Grammar-- What is the normal, grammatical sense in the original language that it was written ( , Hebrew and Greek)? b. History/culture--How would it be understood by someone living in that time in history and in that culture? Ce nt r a l A fr ic a B a p t ist Co l le g e PO BOX 21891 KIT WE, ZAM BI A info@ cab g Tel 26-097-741-5011 3 (1) illus. I Cor. 7:1 not to touch a woman c. Literature What literary genre was it written in and how do normal PRINCIPLES of interpretation of that genre effect the meaning (1) illus.

5 Tree in Num. 33:9 vs. Ps. 1:3 (interpreted figuratively because it is poetry) (2) illus. S. of S. hair-like flock of goats II. BASIC PRINCIPLES of HERMENEUTICS A. Interpret the passage literally according to its natural grammatical, historical and literary context B. Interpret the passage with the help of other Scripture 1. Because God s Word is infallible, Scripture cannot contradict what is taught in another Scripture on the same subject 2. Other passages may help clarify the meaning of a certain passage 3. Let clear passages interpret difficult ones instead of the other way around a. illus. Prov. 8 (Ps.)

6 8:22?) C. A doctrine should not be built on a single passage, but should summarize all that the Scriptures as a whole teach on that subject D. Do not read New Testament theology back into the 1. Remember that God revealed Himself and His truth progressively through history 2. illus. Gen. 3:15 Ce nt r a l A fr ic a B a p t ist Co l le g e PO BOX 21891 KIT WE, ZAM BI A info@ cab g Tel 26-097-741-5011 4 Divine Structure of Scriptures I. Old Testament A. Pentateuch 1. Contents a. Historical background of the covenant b. Demands of the covenant i. Laws ii. Sacrifices 2. Issue: Holiness 3. Result: Desire for a perfect priest to offer a permanent sacrifice B.

7 Historical & Poetical Books 1. Contents a. Optimism b. Disappointment 2. Issue: Leadership 3. Result: Desire for a perfect king C. Prophetical Books 1. Contents a. Prediction: the Messiah, Day of the Lord, Restoration of Israel b. Proclamation: Present conduct should match future predictions 2. Issue: Loyalty (chesed) 3. Result: Desire for the perfect prophet Summary: The Old Testament ends with disappointment 1. Unexplained ceremonies 2. Unfulfilled prophecies 3. Unsatisfied longings Key Word: Preparation II. New Testament A. Gospels 1. Function: Introduction of the person and work of Jesus Christ 2. Contents a.

8 Matthew b. Mark c. Luke d. John B. Acts 1. Function: Proclamation of the person and work of Jesus Christ 2. Contents: Approximately 60 incidences of public and private evangelism C. Epistles 1. Paul s a. Romans b. Corinthian letters c. Galatians d. Ephesians e. Colossians f. Philippians & Philemon g. Thessalonians letters h. Pastoral letters 2. General Ce nt r a l A fr ic a B a p t ist Co l le g e PO BOX 21891 KIT WE, ZAM BI A info@ cab g Tel 26-097-741-5011 5 a. Hebrews b. James c. Peter s letters d. John s letters e. Jude D. Revelation 1. Function: Consummation of Jesus Christ s work Key Word: Manifestation Summary: The Word of God revolves around one person and His work: Jesus Christ Ce nt r a l A fr ic a B a p t ist Co l le g e PO BOX 21891 KIT WE, ZAM BI A info@ cab g Tel 26-097-741-5011 6 THE SEQUENCE OF THE biblical COVENANTS Introduction: 1.

9 Meaning of Covenant 2. Old and New Testaments = Old and New Covenants Outline: I. Adamic (Edenic) Hosea 6:7; Gen. 3:15 a. Purpose = Redemption of mankind b. Signs i. Substitutionary death ii. Covering of nakedness (shamefulness) II. Noahic Gen. 9 a. Purpose = Physical preservation of man and his habitat b. Sign = Rainbow III. Abrahamic Gen. 12-22 a. Purpose = Selection of a family to inherit a national descendancy and land b. Sign = Judgmental sacrifice (chs. 15, 22) IV. Mosaic (Old) Exod. 19; Deuteronomy a. Purpose = Formation of a nation and demands of the King b. Signs i. Tablets of 10 commandments ii. Shed blood V.

10 Davidic 2 Sam. 7; I Chron. 17 a. Purpose = Selection of a family for royal lineage leading to the Messiah b. Signs i. Perhaps Solomon ii. Perhaps virgin birth (Isaiah 7) VI. New Jeremiah 31 a. Purpose = To provide a successful replacement for the Mosaic Covenant b. Sign = Lord s Supper/Communion (Lu. 22) Conclusion: 1. Our (the Church s) relationship to the Abrahamic Covenant 2. The future for the nation Israel Ce nt r a l A fr ic a B a p t ist Co l le g e PO BOX 21891 KIT WE, ZAM BI A info@ cab g Tel 26-097-741-5011 7 NT SURVEY INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD Intro. The 400 years that separate the time of Nehemiah (and Malachi) from the birth of X are known as the Intertestamental Period (432 - 5 ).