1. Hermeneuo - Greek means to “Interpret” It is the study of sound Bible Interpretation. It is a Science. It is a Principle. It is an Art.

2. Material References: Basic Bible Interpretation: A Practical Guide to Discovering Biblical Truth Roy B Zuck How to Read the Bible in Changing Times: Understanding and Applying God’s Word Today Mark Strauss How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart Exegetical Fallacies DA Carson

3. Bible as the Word of God It is inspired or “God breathed” (2 Tim 3:16). Authority of Scripture (Sola Scriptura) Over personal experience Over reason Over tradition or dogma Interpreter must be born again and be Spirit-filled. I Cor 2:14 The Clarity of Scripture (Perspicuity)

4. Week 2: Goals of Hermeneutics & Methods

5. Exegesis Contextualization

6. Exegesis Drawing out the author’s original intended meaning. Opposite of Eisegesis. Similar to Interpretation but more specific. Need to bridge the gaps. Contextualization Determining the contemporary significance. What the text means to our context today. Similar to Application but more specific. Need to bridge the gaps.

8. 1. Allegorical Method 2. The Literalistic Method 3. The Devotional Method 4. Ideological Method 5. Grammatical-historical (literary) Method

9. Allegorical The plain or literal reading is a cover for something deep and hidden. Literal meaning is superficial, the allegorical is the true meaning. How the Bible was interpreted from 2 nd and 3 rd century, through the Middle Ages until the Reformation in 1300’s. The interpreter of the allegories is the authority.

10. Literalistic Every word taken literally including figures of speech and symbolism. Used by cults and extreme fundamentalists. (Children of God, JW’s, Mormons…etc) Examples: Mormons- God has a body, eyes, hands...etc. JW- Christ was a created being. Open Theism- God can change His mind.

11. The Devotional Method Focuses exclusively on what is personally applicable. Ignore the context, historical background and other interpretive principles. What most Christians unconsciously use today. Can lead to eisegesis and improper application.

12. Ideological Approach They approach the Bible with specific agenda and uses the Bible to support their ideology. Examples: Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, Health-Wealth Prosperity Theology

13. Grammatical-Historical (Literary) Method Began in the Reformation. Interpretation required by laws of grammar and the facts of history. Consider the Bible Grammatical/Literally Consider the Bible in the Historical context. Consider the whole of Scripture. Unified, cohesive and complementary.