21/09/2021
Short course on Hermeneutics just get you note book and follow. Class one.
Sacred Hermeneutics
Lesson 1
A GENERAL INTRODUCTION*
There he goes a flash across the heavens - Mercury the messengers of the gods.
Also known as the god of science, invention, eloquence, speech, writing and art.
His Greek name is Hermes. Now look in Luke chapter 24:27
"And beginning with Moses and all the prophets. he EXPLAINED to them in all the
scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27) Explained (NIV) Interpreted (AV) the Greek word is DIERMENEUO. DIA means through, give a rough breathing to "E" and we have the exact word from which our English word HERMENEUTICS is derived HERMENEUO. A word used by Plato.
Sacred Hermeneutics is the science and art of Biblical Interpretation.
HERMENEUTICS IS:-
1. A science because it is guided by rules within a system.
2. An art because of the application of the rules.
3. By skill and not mechanical imitation.
HERMENEUTICS is usually studied with a view to the interpretation of literature produced in the past. The special task is to remove the distance and differences between the author and the reader.
In the study of the Bible, it is not sufficient that we understand the meaning of Secondary authors. Moses, Isaiah, Paul, John etc. We must learn the mind of the Holy Spirit.
1] THE PRIMARY NEED.
1. That God has spoken in Holy Scripture is the very heart of our faith - without this
certainty we are left with that very dubious thing called HUMAN KNOWLEDGE
God has spoken! But what has He said? This is the primary and basic need of
hermeneutics to discover what God has said in scripture; to determine the meaning of the Word of God. It is of no profit to us if God has spoken and we do not know what He has said!
2. We need a correct method of interpretation so as not to confuse the VOICE OF
GOD with the VOICE OF MAN.
Because Scripture has not been properly
interpreted many strange things have crept into the church and cults.
2] THE SECONDARY NEED.
We need to bridge the gap between our minds and the minds of the Biblical writers.
1. LANGUAGE. Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. The English language is analytic in structure. The sense of the sentence depends largely on word order "the rat ate the cheese". Greek is an agglutinative language. You can move the words about and not change the meaning for meaning is not dependent
on word order but on word endings, hence "the cheese ate the rat". You cannot have a word for word meaning of the NT.
2. CULTURE GAP. Until we can recreate and understand the cultural patterns of the
various Biblical periods we will be handicapped. Knowledge of marriage
customs, economic practice, military systems, legal systems, agriculture all help.
3. GEOGRAPHY. We need to know about the difference of Israel to Egypt. Towns,
rivers, mountains, lakes, the fertile crescent etc.
4. HISTORY. History is the plot of scripture. We need to know about the 400 years between the gospels to begin to understand the gospels. The PAX ROMANA (Roman Peace). The provinces of Asia have a history that helps us to understand Paul's travels (see Paul Treveller and Roman Citizen by Sir William Ramsey)
A SPECIFIC INTRODUCTION.
1] Assumptions.
We come to the text believing in its divine inspiration. This involved UNDERSTANDING the CANON OF SCRIPTURE. The textual critic is not adding or taking away but determining what was the original wording. This is a very complicated and difficult task.
2] Definitions.
Hermeneutics applies to the general science of linguistics and meaning. Seeks to formulate particular rules. Stands in the same relationship as a rule book does to a game.
The rules are NOT THE GAME but the game is meaningless without the rules.
3] Qualifications.
"In order to appreciate and use the Bible, the reader of it must himself have the the same
spirit which enabled its writers to understand their revelation of God and to record it. The
Bible is a record, but it is not a dead record of dead persons and events, but a record
inspired by the living Spirit who uses it to speak to men now... It is the medium through
which the living God now makes himself known. But to find in it the Spirit of God the
reader must himself have that Spirit" - Marcus Dods.
1. The reader must be born again John 3
2. The reader must have a passion for Gods Word and to know Gods Word.
3. There must be a deep reverence for God. Meekness, humility and patience are
prime virtues for understanding the Word.
4. Utter dependence on the Holy Spirit to guide and direct. 'To pray well is to study
well.'
NOTE: Do not confuse inspiration with illumination. The Spirit does not communicate to the mind of even a teachable, obedient and devout Christian any doctrine or meaning of Scripture which is not contained already in Scripture itself. He makes men wise up to what is is written - NOT BEYOND IT.
4] Equipment.
1. Hebrew and Greek text (latest editions)
2. Standard grammars, lexicons of Hebrew and Greek.
3. Concordances.
4. Commentaries.
5. Bible dictionaries and encyclopaedias.
6. Bible atlas.
HISTORY AND PROTESTANT SYSTEM.
i. DEFINITION OF HISTORY OF HERMENEUTICS. We must distinguish
between the history of hermeneutics as a science and the history of hermeneutical
principles. Science began in 1567 AD when FLACIOUS ILLYRICUS made the
first attempt at a scientific treatment. The principles go back to EZRA.
We look for the answer to 3 questions.
1. What was the prevailing view respecting scripture?
2. What was the main method of interpretation?
3. What qualifications were regarded as essential in an interpreter of the Bible?
ii. TWO COMMON MISTAKES.
1. Provincialism = believing that the system in which one has been trained is the
only system.
2. Traditionalism = assumes that certain traditional or familiar interpretations are the
only adequate interpretations.
The end.
