The Word - The Science of Biblical Interpretation - Part 1

The Word
The Science of Biblical Interpretation
Part 1

―Do you understand what you are
reading?‖
Philip to Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:30

The Word – The Science of Biblical Interpretation www.confidentchristians.org

―How could I unless someone guides
me?‖
Ethiopian Eunuch to Philip
Acts 8:31


Can we understand what the
Bible means?


" And all the people gathered as one
man at the square which was in front of
the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra
the scribe to bring the book of the law
of Moses which the Lord had given to
Israel. Then Ezra the priest brought
the law before the assembly of men,
women and all who could listen with
understanding, on the first day of the
seventh month. He read from it before
the square which was in front of the
Water Gate from early morning until
midday, in the presence of men and
women, those who could understand;
and all the people were attentive to the
book of the law.‖
(Nehemiah 8:1-9)

"Ezra opened the book in the sight of all
the people for he was standing above all
the people; and when he opened it, all the
people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the
Lord the great God. And all the people
answered, ―Amen, Amen!‖ while lifting up
their hands; then they bowed low and
worshiped the Lord with their faces to the
ground. . . .They read from the book, from
the law of God, translating [explaining] to
give the sense so that they understood
the reading."
(Nehemiah 8:5-6, 8)


―The Bells started questioning their
assumptions about the Bible itself –
―discovering the Bible as a human
product,‖ as Rob puts it, rather than the
product of divine fiat. The Bible is still in
the center for us,‖ Rob says, ―but it‘s a
different kind of center. We want to
embrace mystery, rather than conquer it.‖
― I grew up thinking that we‘ve figure out
the Bible,‖ Kristen says, ―That we knew
what it means. Now I have no idea what
most of it means. And yet I feel like life is
big again – like life used to be black and
white, and now it‘s in color.‖
- Christianity Today, Nov. 2004, pp 37-8.


"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who
is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by
God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human
wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts
with spiritual words."
(1 Corinthians 2:12-13)

Here, the Apostle Paul makes clear that God‘s thoughts can indeed
by communicated via finite human language.

We can know what the Bible means.


Can non-Christians understand
what the Bible means?


" For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of
God.‖
(1 Corinthians 1:18)

"But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit
of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot
understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.‖
(1 Corinthians 2:14)

Ginōskō: ―grasp the significance of something‖


Non-Christians can understand
the meaning of the Bible‘s text …
but … without the illumination of
the Spirit, they will not grasp the
text‘s significance.


―There is a difference
between having a right
speculative notion of the
doctrines contained in
the world of God, and
having a due sense of
them in the heart.‖
- Jonathan Edwards


Hermeneutics
From the Greek hermēneuō (interpret)
(Hermes was the Greek messenger of the gods)

(a) The study and statement of the principles on which a text—for
present purposes, the biblical text—is to be understood, or (b) The
interpretation of the text in such a way that its message comes home
to the reader or hearer.


Hermeneutical Process

1. Observation – what do I see?
2. Interpretation – what does it mean?
3. Application – how does it apply?


Observations in Scripture

1. Terms
2. Structure
3. Genre
4. Background

Observation is crucial because it feeds into the
next cycle, which is interpretation. Without good
observation skills, a wrongful interpretation could
be the end result.


Observation - Terms
Terms are often categorized as routine (―the‖), difficult (―spirit‖),
crucial (―law‖), and important (―death‖).

"Jesus answered and said to him, ―Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he
cannot see the kingdom of God.‖ Nicodemus said to Him, ―How can a man be born when he
is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother‘s womb and be born, can he?‖ Jesus
answered, ―Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God. ―That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit. ―Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‗You must be born again.‘
―The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes
from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.‖"(John 3:3-8)

Is there another part of the Bible where we find both the Spirit and Water?

"The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the
Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters."(Genesis 1:2)


Observation – What Stands Out to You?

" A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He
makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For
His name‘s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my
enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my
life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.―
(Psalm 23:1-6)

Notice the pronouns – once suffering comes, God comes close…


Terms in the Original Language

The pronoun is singular and feminine; indicates Mary alone – speaks to virgin birth


Observation - Structure
Questions to ask as you are reading the Text

1. Who – who is a particular person;
who is doing the speaking ; who is
the author
2. What – what is the argument; what
is the point
3. When – when did an event take
place; when was a work written
4. Where – where did an event take
place; where was a person born
5. How – how did something happen;
how was an event taking place
6. Why (perhaps… may be more
application)

Observation - Structure
Six Things to Look for in the Text

1. Things that are emphasized
2. Things that are repeated
3. Things that are related
4. Things that are alike
5. Things that are unlike
6. Things that are true to life
7. The order of things in the text


Things that are Emphasized

" Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence
of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been
written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
(John 20:30-31)

―Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high
priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens,―
(Hebrews 8:1)


Things that are Repeated

"It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh
generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, ―Behold, the
Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to
execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of
all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly
way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have
spoken against Him.‖"
(Jude 14-15)


Things that are Repeated
" In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.―
(Genesis 1:1)

" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.―
(John 1:1)

"On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a
distance."
(Genesis 22:4)

―The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the
elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on
the third day.‖
(Luke 9:22)

The Order of Things in the Text
"For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their
women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and
in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the
woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men
committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due
penalty of their error."
(Romans 1:26-27)

Why would Paul start with the women instead of men? Perhaps
because in most cultures, the women are the more sexually modest
ones – maybe Paul is beginning with the women to show how base the
culture had become.


Structure of a Book


Observation - Genre
Understand the Literary Type of Material being Read

1. Narrative
2. Gospel
3. Poetry
4. Prophecy
5. Didactic


Observation - Genre
Narrative
Narrative is a story told for the purpose of conveying a message
through the record of events, situations, people, settings, plot, and
various other factors that constitute a story.

Kinds of Narrative include: Literary Devices of Narrative include:

1. Tragedy (e.g. Saul) 1. Typology (e.g. Balaam)
2. Epic (e.g. Exodus) 2. Chiasm (Noah)
3. Heroic (e.g. Paul)


Observation - Genre
The Story of Balaam
" But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the
way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were
with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn
sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam
struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a
narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. When the donkey
saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam‘s foot against
the wall, so he struck her again. The angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow
place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. When the donkey saw the
angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey
with his stick. And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam,
―What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?‖ Then Balaam said to
the donkey, ―Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand,
I would have killed you by now.‖ The donkey said to Balaam, ―Am I not your donkey on
which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to
you?‖ And he said, ―No.‖ Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel
of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to
the ground."(Numbers 22:22-31)

Observation - Genre
The Story of Balaam
The story of Balaam and the donkey foreshadows the relationship between
Balaam and Balak. The dullness of the prophet is akin to the dullness of Balak;
what the donkey is to Balaam, Balaam is to Balak.

Balaam Balak
Donkey sees angel that Balaam can‘t see Balaam sees blessing of God upon Israel that
Balak can‘t see
Donkey sees angel three times; Donkey is Balaam speaks blessing of God upon Israel
beaten three times three times when asked to curse Israel three time
Each time donkey turns from angel, the effect With each blessing upon Israel, the effect on
on Balaam is worse Balak is worse
Balaam is prevented from killing donkey Balak unable to kill Balaam
Donkey speaks because God opens its mouth Balaam says he can only speak words God
puts in his mouth
Balaam not surprised donkey speaks Balak not moved by blessings upon Israel


Chiasm Structures – Noah‘s Life

Point of Noah‘s
story is not
judgment, but
salvation of God‘s
people


Chiasm Structure - Book of Jude

Point of Jude is
the doom of the
heretics


Observation - Gospel
The Difference between Narrative and Gospel
Old Testament Narrative Gospel
Single plots Collections of stories
More unified More fragmented
Nearly the same cast of characters from More episodic with characters
start to finish appearing only once and dropping out
Focus on various individuals with other Focus on Jesus whose story is
historical material continuous and not interrupted
Emphasis on the history of a nation Emphasis on the life of Jesus
Narrative along with brief commentary Narrative with extensive discourse,
parables, and teachings
Human messengers Christ, the divine Human messenger
God working on and through a sinful God working through the sinless Christ
nation


Observation - Genre
Poetry

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of
Solomon are the main poetic books, but other books
contain poetry as well.

The primary thing to observe in poetry is the use of
parallelisms. There are three forms of parallelism:

1. Synonymous - Presents the same thought with a slight difference
2. Antithetic – Sets two thoughts in contrast to one another
3. Synthetic – Sets expectation that is completed by 2nd part


Observation - Genre
Poetry
Synonymous parallelism
"A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not
escape."(Proverbs 19:5)

Antithetic parallelism
" A wise son accepts his father‘s discipline, But a scoffer does not
listen to rebuke."(Proverbs 13:1)

Synthetic parallelism
"For, behold, Your enemies, O Lord, For, behold, Your enemies will
perish; All who do iniquity will be scattered."(Psalm 92:9)


Observation - Genre
How Understanding Poetic Parallelism Helps

"That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west,
that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I
the LORD do all these things."(Isaiah 45:6-7, KJV)

This is a case of antithetic parallelism; the first
is set against the second. What is the opposite
"The One forming light and
of peace? Evil? No. This leads us to
creating darkness, Causing well-
consider that the KJV has a poor rendering of being and creating calamity; I am
the Hebrew word ‗‫.‘רע‬ the Lord who does all
these."(Isaiah 45:7, NASB)


Observation - Genre
How Understanding Poetic Parallelism Helps

"‗And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.‖
(Matthew 6:13)

Why would Jesus ask that God not lead us into temptation when the Bible says,
"Let no one say when he is tempted, ―I am being tempted by God‖; for God cannot
be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone."(James 1:13) ? Further
Matt 4:1 reads: "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted by the devil.‖

This is a case of synonymous parallelism. To be led into temptation is to be
exposed to the power of the enemy, which is what Jesus asks for this followers to be
delivered from ( the end of the verse should actually read – ―evil one‖); it is a general
prayer of deliverance from the enemy‘s power. But will we see trials that come from
the enemy? Of course. But God can deliver us out of Satan‘s power.

Observation - Genre
How Understanding Typology Parallels Helps

The temptations of Jesus in Matthew and Luke 4 parallel those of
Israel (also called God‘s son):
• First Temptation – Food (Israel wants to go back to Egypt for food)
• Second Temptation – Test God (Israel tests God‘s patience)
• Third Temptation – Worship (Israel worships other gods)
Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy each time, which speaks about these events

Observation - Genre
Prophecy

This certainly involves prophecy as in predicting the future, but is
also rightly classified as ―forthtelling‖. There are various types of
prophecy:

1. Judgment Oracle: the most basic such as in Amos 7:15-17
2. Woe Oracle: details the transgressions and resulting judgment
3. Salvation Oracle: promise of deliverance from catastrophe or judgment
4. Legal Oracle: mimics a court trial such as Isaiah 1:2-4
5. Symbolic Oracle: prophet uses something physical to represent their point
6. Apocalyptic Oracle: employs visions, direct visitations, and symbolism to
communicate future events


Observation - Genre
Didactic

This primarily involves the epistles of the New Testament and is
designed to teach the reader. Its key characteristic is that it is
prescriptive vs. descriptive.

"All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they?
All do not interpret, do they?"(1 Corinthians 12:30)

Vs.

"And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it
filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues
as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit was giving them utterance."(Acts 2:2-4)

Observation - Background

1. What is the historical context?
2. What is the political environment?
3. What is the religious environment?
4. What is the geographical environment
5. What is the cultural big picture?


" ―To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the
faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says
this: ‗I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that
you were cold or hot. ‗So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot
nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. ‗Because you say, ―I am rich,
and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,‖ and you do not
know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and
naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you
may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself,
and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye
salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see."
(Revelation 3:14-18)


―I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you
were cold or hot. ‗So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor
cold, I will spit you out of My mouth…‖
Laodicea was between Hierapolis and Colossae.
Hierapolis was known for its hot mineral springs
which produced healing properties, whereas
Colossae has a rare cold stream whose waters were
very refreshing. Laodicea built aqueducts to pipe
both the hot water from Hierapolis and cold water
from Colossae into the city. However, the hot water
cooled down and the cold water warmed up; they both
became lukewarm. Moreover, the water contained
sludge that made it sickening to drink.

Christ is telling the Laodiceans they are just like their
water; they neither heal nor refresh and literally are of
no value; they make Him sick just as their water does
them.

―Because you say, ―I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have
need of nothing,‖ and you do not know that you are wretched and
miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me
gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments
so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your
nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so
that you may see‖
Laodicea was known for its wealth. It had a strong
banking industry, was famous for its sleek black wool,
and had a medical school that offered a special salve to
heal common eye troubles of the Middle East.

Christ tells them they are actually very poor regardless
of their material wealth. In place of their banks, they
need real gold; in place of their black wool, they need
white garments; and in place of their physical eye salve,
they need spiritual eye salve so they can really see.

Observations in Scripture

1. Terms
2. Structure
3. Genre
4. Background

Observation takes work, but the fruit it bears is
quite large when it is funneled into the next step
of the hermeneutical process, which is
interpretation.


The Word
The Science of Biblical Interpretation


The Word - The Science of Biblical Interpretation - Part 1

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