1. Eld. Walter L. Amos Jr Eld. Duane Lewis
HERMENEUTICS
Eld. Walter L. Amos Jr
Eld. Duane Lewis

2. Today’s Topics
New Testament Letters
Final Exam Review

3. New Testament Letters

4. New Testament Letters
The letters were authoritative substitutes for the writer’s presence
NT letters are occasional or situational. This means that they were written to address specific situations or problems related to the author or (usually) to the readers.
NT letters were mean to be read aloud again and again to specific congregations
Mirror Reading
What we read in the text mirrors the situation in the ancient context
It is looking at what the author is correcting or applauding and determining the actions of that particular group of people

5. New Testament Letters
You can sometimes determine the intent of the letter by the form it follows
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Date
Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Greeting,
Body of the Letter
Closing,
Signature

6. New Testament Letters Introduction Body Name of the writer
Name of the recipients
Greeting
Introductory Prayer
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Body
Frequently makes up the largest part of a letter
There is no set format due to the different purposes or the writers and the different situations of the readers
It can include instruction, persuasion, rebuke, exhortation, and much more

7. New Testament Letters Conclusion
Different elements can appear in the conclusion or closing of a NT Letter
Travel Plans (Titus 3:12)
Commendation of coworkers (Romans 16:1-2)
Prayer (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Prayer Requests (1 Thessalonians 5:25)
Greetings (Romans 16:3-16, 21-23)
Final Instructions and exhortations (Colossians 4:16-17)
Holy Kiss (1 Thessalonians 5:26)
Autograph (Colossians 4:18)
Benediction (1 Corinthians 16:23-24)
Doxology (2 Peter 3:18)

8. Review for Exam Elder Walter L. Amos Jr. Minister Maria Maxwell
HEREMENEUTICS
Review for Exam
Elder Walter L. Amos Jr.
Minister Maria Maxwell

9. Introduction - Review Exhaustive Concordance Truths about the Bible
Key Steps in Studying the Bible
Analytical Methods of Bible study
Facts
Conclusions
Key definitions

10. Early Topics - Review Bible Translations Pre-suppositions
Hermeneutic Approaches
Key definitions

11. Bible Translations
Goal is to accurately reproduce the meaning of the original Greek text into the receptor language
Translators Philosophy of Translation will Effect How He Translates
Formal (literal or word-for-word)
Functional (thought-for-thought)
Comparison Sequence
FORMAL
FUNCTIONAL
NASB
KJV
NIV
NLT
MSG

12. Additional Topics - Review
Paragraph Summaries
Hermeneutic Approaches
Key definitions

13. Paragraph Summaries Find the transition in paragraph thought
Separate passage into respective paragraphs
Give brief paragraph description
13 words or less
Compare paragraph breaks to other translations

14. Literary Techniques - Review
Literary Analysis:
Sentences
Paragraphs
Five Things to look for
Connectors
Key definitions

15. Literary Context
Literary context is the material before and after the item you are studying (word, paragraph, etc.)
When you take a message out of context you’re not teaching the intended meaning of the passage
A paragraph develops a theme

16. Semantic Range
The list of all the possible meanings for a particular word
Determine the singular meaning by it’s context
Trunk
Elephant
Car
Tree
Luggage
Spirit
Holy Spirit
Ghost
Human Spirit
Evil

17. Word Study When studying a word, study the original language word
Two Steps
What does the Greek or Hebrew word mean?
List semantic range
Lookup the verses that show that nuance
Give a brief definition for each nuance
Compare nuances
Replace word with the best nuance or keep word

18. Historical/Cultural - Review
Historical-Cultural Context
Biblical Research
Key definitions

19. Historical-Cultural Context
Why Bother With Historical-Cultural Context?
We believe that the way to approach the Bible (i.e., the way we listen to God) should match how God gave us the Bible (i.e., the way God chose to speak).
Since God spoke his message in specific, historical situations (i.e., to people living in particular places, speaking particular languages, adopting a particular way of life), we should take the ancient historical-cultural situation seriously.
The author and reader must share the same concept or the reader will not understand what the author is trying to say. Sometimes there are personal situations of the author which often throws light on the meaning of a passage (Page 91)

20. Historical-Cultural Context
How to Research
The Biblical Writer
What is the writer’s background?
Where does he come from?
When does he write?
What kind of ministry does he have?
What is his relationship with the people he addresses?
Why is he writing?

21. Other Topics - Review
Literary Context
Semantic Range
Word Studies

22. Literary Context
The most important aspect of interpretation is literary context
Literary context is the material before and after the item you are studying (word, paragraph, etc.)
When you take a message out of context you’re not teaching the intended meaning of the passage
Read the text like you would read a letter mailed to you
A paragraph develops a theme

23. Nuance Definition nu·ance Function: a subtle distinction or variation
noun
a subtle distinction or variation

24. Word Study When studying a word, study the original language word
Two Steps
What does the Greek word mean?
List semantic range
Lookup the verses that show that nuance
Give a brief definition for each nuance
Compare nuances
Replace word with the best nuance or keep word

25. Figures of Speech - Review
Figures of Speech involving Comparison
Simile
Metaphor
Hypocatastasi

26. Figures of Speech Figures of Speech involving Overstatement
Hyperbole
Overstatement
Irony
Figures of Speech involving Substitution
Synecdoche
Personification
Anthropomorphism
Euphemism

27. Application - Review To whom does it apply? In What Situations?
General
(Wide)
Specific
(Narrow)
Paul Philippians 1st Century All All
Only Only Believers Believers People
In prison Trying Situations Any Situation
Missionary Work
As an Apostle

28. Application
An application will not have significance apart from its original meaning
Be more specific with your application

29. Five Steps of Application
Application should be legitimately derived from the Big idea as a whole, or from its smaller points
Application should be specific and pointed
An Application should be presented as something for “us,” not just for “you.”
Applications should not promise more than the Bible