BIBL 360 Notes on Chapters 7 and 8 Interpretation

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Chapter 7: Interpretation Interpretation is the step where you pull all the facts together into a coherent explanation of their meaning. This is also where you will investigate any puzzling details in the passage. -determining the meaning once all the facts are in. Interpretation is built on thorough observation. Careful observation, however, does not guarantee accurate interpretation. Interpretation brings meaning to the facts. *No method of interpretation is “foolproof.” Questions of interpretation for a passage: What does the passage mean? Are there several messages? Do you need to discover more about the meaning of significant words in the text? What was the author trying to say? Interpretation: Discovering the Author’s Intention What was God saying through the biblical writers? -it is the work of trying to get inside the author’s head and heart to determine what he intended his readers to understand. Identifying with the author involves trying to reconstruct the historical context in which he wrote. An effective Bible teacher tries to reconstruct the meaning of the text as if he or she were actually the writer. ** It is not our meaning that we are after, but the writer’s intent, and ultimately that of God Himself, communicating His truth through the writer. We try to discover God’s intent by asking questions of interpretation—and then answering them. Principles of Interpretation The process of interpretation is known by the technical term hermeneutics, which comes from the Greek hermeneuo, meaning “to interpret or explain.” Luke 24:27 “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He [Jesus] explained to them what was said in the Scriptures concerning Himself.”

Four Principles of Interpretation: 1. Let Scripture interpret Scripture.  This is the first tenet of the Reformation, known in Latin as Sacra Scriptura sui interpres, “Sacred Scripture is its own interpreter,” which means that the Bible does not contradict itself; it is internally consistent in its teaching.  When we are deriving the meaning of a passage or book of Scripture, our conclusions must be compatible with other teachings of the Bible. God’s message is coherent and harmonious. 2. Interpret the Bible literally.  In general, the most accurate meaning of a text is the obvious one. The Bible simply means what it says.  The Bible is literature, and therefore, its words should first be understood in their historic context, having the intended meaning in the usage of that day.  A great deal of the Bible is figurative language and has a special set of rules for interpretation and understanding (discussed later). 3. Interpret the Bible grammatically.  The words of Scripture are to be interpreted in the natural sense, according to the ordinary rules of grammar.  A word has only one meaning when used in a sentence.  A word’s meaning is tied to the sentence by rules of grammar.  The meaning of a word must be derived from its context. 4. Interpret the Bible in its historical setting.  The Bible is the story of God working in human history, a record of events that actually happened. For this reason, we must study Scripture in light of the historical times in which it was written.  Many things have changed since then so the more we understand about the author’s setting, lifestyle, and culture, the more accurate our interpretation (and therefore our application) will be. The Questions of Interpretation The goal is to discover what the author meant by those items in the observation stage: who, what, when, where, and now why.

Interpretation goes beyond the facts. Now you will be asking yourself: What additional research do I need to do in order to find out more about the meaning and significance of: Who? (the characters)  The writer.  The recipients.  The characters involved in the action.  Special people addressed in the passage. What? (the key truths or events)  Key ideas.  Theological terms.  Key events.  Important words (verb tense, commands).  Figures of speech  Atmosphere Where? (the geography and location)  Places mentioned.  Buildings  Cities  Nations  Landmarks When? (the time factors)  Date of the author’s writing  Duration of the action  At what point in the life of Israel  At what point in the life of the church  Past, present, or future Why? (the purpose of the passage or book)  The reader’s need.  The writer’s message. --This question of purpose is two-sided; there is the need that caused the revelation to be given, and the author’s message that addressed that need. First, what is the reader’s need? What central concern do you find the writer addressing in the passage or book? Why was it necessary for the author to write?

This need question could be called the “problem” that the message was meant to “solve.” *Not all Scripture addresses a problem (Ephesians, for example, does not). The reader’s need: The reason why the author wrote the passage or book. The writer’s message: The answers or solutions the writer gave to address the need. This requires diligent thinking and drawing conclusions on all you have previously studied. The Answers for Interpretation Five Cs of interpretation:  Content, context, comparison, consultation, and conclusion 1. State an initial proposal based on the content.  What do you think is the answer to your question? We all come with preconceived ideas of what the text means—write that idea down and test your hypothesis as you work through the other stages of interpretation.  Your interpretation should come from the passage you are studying, not from referring to someone else’s idea of what the passage means. 2. Search the context.  The teaching of a passage of Scripture must be viewed in the setting of the book in which it is located.  How do the surrounding verses (the paragraphs before and after, the chapter before and after, the whole book) help you understand?  Knowing the purpose and development of the book as a whole will automatically narrow your thinking about any individual part. *This is one way of letting Scripture interpret itself. 3. Seek biblical comparisons.  The Bible, though it contains many different parts, speaks with one unified voice.  Sound interpretation always takes into account the whole teaching of Scripture.  Use cross-references found in the margins of the Bible to compare verses you are studying with related passages elsewhere in the Bible.  Take into account the context of each new reference you look up to see what they are saying about the subject you are examining.  Look at several different translations of your passage to get a fuller range of meaning for certain words or concepts.

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