THE NEED TO INTERPRET THE BIBLE
OVERVIEW NOTES
- Translation is Interpretation
- A Text cannot mean what it could never have meant for it's original readers/hearers.
- The Bible: the Word of God given in human words in history.
- Aim of good interpretation: "plain meaning of the text."
- Two levels of interpretation: exegesis; hermeneutics
- Exegesis: careful, systematic study of scripture to discover the original, intended meaning.
- Historical context: the time and culture of the author and audience.
- Literary context: Words only have meaning in sentences; biblical sentences have meaning in relation to surrounding sentences; asks, "What's the point?"; traces the authors train of thought.
- Hermeneutics: seeking the contemporary relevance of the Bible; asking questions about the Bible's meaning in the "here and now."