Session #4: Interpretation Landscape with Christ on the Road to Emmaus, Claude Gellee (c. 1660) State Hermitage Gallery, St. Petersburg, Russia

Session #4: Interpretation LU Session #4: Interpretation Class Outline Homework Review – 2 Corinthians 4, Correlation Lesson: Interpretation Practicum: Interpretation Next Steps: Thinking Through Hermeneutics

Session #4: Interpretation LU Session #4: Interpretation WEEKTOPICREAD PGS 7/12Intro. Bible Study Methods 7/19Observation /26Correlation /2Interpretation99-102, /9HermeneuticsHandout 8/16Application /23 Group project: Review Scripture Analysis (passage assigned on 1 st week)

Session #4: Interpretation LU Session #4: Interpretation

Homework Review LU Session #4: Interpretation 2 Corinthians 4 What was important about the OT references? Any charts? How creative are you? Were there pericopes that resonate with you? What section and why?

LU Session #4: Interpretation The action of explaining the meaning of something An explanation or way of explaining Synonyms: elucidation, expounding, exposition, exegesis, clarification What is Interpretation? Can Scripture passages have more than one interpretation? Why or why not? No.

LU Session #4: Interpretation One Correct Interpretation God is the author, He chooses the meaning 2 Timothy 3:16 2 Peter 1:19-21 Acts 8:25-39 We are prone to error, especially with Scripture 2 Corinthians 4:2 2 Peter 3:15-16 Galatians 1:6-7 Jeremiah 17:9 “It ain’t those parts of the Bible I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” Mark Twain “It ain’t those parts of the Bible I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” Mark Twain

LU Session #4: Interpretation Those who are not regenerate are not able to understand Scripture. The unsaved are called “dead” (Eph. 2:1-3), “spiritually dead” (1 Peter 4:4- 7), “blind” (Is. 6:10), “fools” (Ps. 14:1), and “undiscerning” (1 Cor. 2:14) among other things. One Correct Interpretation Being saved, you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit who makes correct interpretations known to you. Acts 1:15-26 (cf. Ps. 69:25; 109:8); 17: Timothy 3:16 2 Peter 1:21

LU Session #4: Interpretation One Correct Interpretation If there can be one correct interpretation, why so many variances? Ambiguity barrier: The meaning of the author isn’t very clear, or can be understood in multiple ways (e.g. John 10:28; Col. 1:15; 1 Cor. 15:29). Hermeneutic barrier: Improper use, disagreement, or misunderstanding of the rules for interpretation. Chronological distance barrier: We are far removed from the times of the original authors. Linguistic barrier: We speak little Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic and have difficulty relating to cultural nuance. Spiritual barrier: The Bible is written from God, about God. He is infinite and we try to understand with finite minds.

LU Session #4: Interpretation How Would You Interpret… As a Protestant I cherish the NT teaching on the priesthood of believers—that each Christian has the right to his own interpretation, but also that each Christian has the responsibility to get it right. ―Daniel Wallace “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

LU Session #4: Interpretation How Would You Interpret… As a Protestant I cherish the NT teaching on the priesthood of believers—that each Christian has the right to his own interpretation, but also that each Christian has the responsibility to get it right. ―Daniel Wallace “For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” Hebrews 6:4-6

LU Session #4: Interpretation Hermeneutics, Rules of Interpretation Biblical Hermeneutics is the art, science, rules, and guidelines of interpreting the Bible consistent with God’s intended meaning. There are four principles the hermeneutical rules are fall into: General Principles Grammatical Principles Historical Principles Theological Principles

LU Session #4: Interpretation General Principles For interpretation to be correct, we must rely on a primary authority in addition to secondary sources. Several authorities we rely on to help us understand Scripture: Tradition: Roman Catholicism Rationalism: Liberalism/Modernity Scripture: Evangelicalism

LU Session #4: Interpretation Scripture As Authority Evangelicals believe: Scripture is Inspired by God 2 Tim 3:16 2 Sam 23:2 Mark 12:24 Scripture will interpret itself Is. 7:14 (cf. Matt. 1:23) Jonah 1:17 (cf. Matt. 12:39-42) Experiences will be understood in light of Scripture Luke 24:13-32 God’s word will accomplish what He sets out to do Is. 55:11 This means the Bible is the final authority. Matt 7:29 John 7:17

Read handout, The Hermeneutical Spiral Continue reading 2 Corinthians 4 Review your observations Continue working on correlation, and be creative Of the sections the Holy Spirit is highlighting for you, start asking what the text means and take notes. Weekly Assignment LU Session #4: Interpretation