BT101: Hermeneutics Introduction

A. Description of Hermeneutics 1. General Hermeneutics The study of the activity of interpretation;

A. Description of Hermeneutics 1. General Hermeneutics The theory that analyzes interpretation, specifically, how texts communicate, how meaning is derived from texts and/or their authors, and what it is that people do when they interpret a text

A. Description of Hermeneutics 2. Biblical Hermeneutics The discipline of interpreting the Bible which includes exegesis (the discovery of the original meaning) and the contextualization of meaning to Christian theology and practice

Biblical Hermeneutics: Two Worlds Textual World Reader’s World

B. The Necessity of Biblical Hermeneutics 1. Every reader is an interpreter. a. Because the nature of language and communication as inferential

B. The Necessity of Biblical Hermeneutics Aoccdrnig to a rseearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

B. The Necessity of Biblical Hermeneutics 1. Every reader is an interpreter. What is usually spontaneous for us when reading documents in our native language and of our same cultural context necessarily needs to be more consciously addressed when reading ancient texts b. Because of distance gaps

B. The Necessity of Biblical Hermeneutics 1. Every reader is an interpreter. Dear Sir and Madam: This is to inform you that you have been selected to be audited by the IRS….. b. Because of distance gaps

B. The Necessity of Biblical Hermeneutics “Now for the matters you wrote about…” [I Cor 7:1] “Now about food sacrificed to idols…” [I Cor 8:1]

B. The Necessity of Biblical Hermeneutics “Go to Bethel and sin…” [Amos 4:4]

B. The Necessity of Biblical Hermeneutics BECAUSE OF GAPS: a. Historical Gap d. Worldview Gap b. Cultural Gap c. Linguistic Gap

B. The Necessity of Biblical Hermeneutics 2. BT101 Goals: a. To assess our own hermeneutic (the way we approach Scripture). b. To develop an intentional hermeneutic.

“If theology is to make sense now about the meaning of Jesus Christ whose career took place then, it has in that moment engaged in a transfer of meaning. It has carried out a hermeneutic…the question is whether that hermeneutic is to be the object of deliberate theological reflection, or whether it is to be assumed and allowed to operate without the benefit of theological clarification.” ( Paul J. Achtemeier, An Introduction to the New Hermeneutic)