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ButBut whosewhose meaning are we talkingmeaning are we talking

about?about?

The Purpose of HermeneuticsThe Purpose of Hermeneutics

To understand the meaning of the text.To understand the meaning of the text.

Protestants have often called this theProtestants have often called this the plainplainmeaningmeaning..

– Not an esoteric (mysterious, obscure) meaning

– Not a preconceived meaning

– Not the most “creative” meaning

– Not the most personal meaning

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TheThe locus of meaning locus of meaning 

Where does the meaning of the passageWhere does the meaning of the passage

reside?reside?

In the mind of the text writer?In the mind of the text writer?In the teacher or preacher?In the teacher or preacher?

In the audience?In the audience?

In the cultural context of the original authorIn the cultural context of the original authorand audience?and audience?

r in the words of the text itself?r in the words of the text itself?

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We can assume that theWe can assume that thewordswords

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##$o !our best to present !ourself to %od as one$o !our best to present !ourself to %od as oneapproved b! him& a worker who has no need to beapproved b! him& a worker who has no need to beashamed& rightl! explaining the word of truth.'ashamed& rightl! explaining the word of truth.'

( Timoth! ()*+  ( Timoth! ()*+##We must no longer be children& tossed to and froWe must no longer be children& tossed to and froand blown about b! ever! wind of doctrine& b!and blown about b! ever! wind of doctrine& b!people"s tricker!& b! their craftiness in deceitfulpeople"s tricker!& b! their craftiness in deceitfulscheming. But speaking the truth in love& we mustscheming. But speaking the truth in love& we mustgrow up in ever! wa! into him who is the head& intogrow up in ever! wa! into him who is the head& into,hrist& from whom the whole bod!& -oined and knit,hrist& from whom the whole bod!& -oined and knittogether b! ever! ligament with which it is euipped&together b! ever! ligament with which it is euipped&as each part is working properl!& promotes the bod!"sas each part is working properl!& promotes the bod!"s

growth in building itself up in love.'growth in building itself up in love.'/phesians 0)*01*2  /phesians 0)*01*2

## 3ppl! !ourself wholl! to the text4 appl! the text 3ppl! !ourself wholl! to the text4 appl! the textwholl! to !ourself.' 5ohann 3lbrecht Bengelwholl! to !ourself.' 5ohann 3lbrecht Bengel6*2781*8+(96*2781*8+(9

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ur view of the Bibleur view of the Bible

dramaticall! affects thedramaticall! affects thewa! wewa! we

interpret the Bible.interpret the Bible.

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2 ,onservative:/vangelical2 ,onservative:/vangelical

,ommitments ;egarding the Bible,ommitments ;egarding the Bible

The Bible is divine revelation.The Bible is divine revelation.

The Bible is inerrant.The Bible is inerrant.

The Bible is authoritative.The Bible is authoritative.The Bible has unit!.The Bible has unit!.

The Bible has m!ster!.The Bible has m!ster!.

The Bible can be understood andThe Bible can be understood andcommunicated.communicated.

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Wh! is HermeneuticsWh! is Hermeneutics

<ecessar!?<ecessar!?

The nature of the reader The nature of the reader  =ub-ective=ub-ective

Particular backgroundParticular background

Particular experienceParticular experience >evel of education>evel of education

The nature of =criptureThe nature of =cripture  3ncient 3ncient

$iverse$iverse

T!pes of >iteratureT!pes of >iterature

 3uthors 3uthors

Historical ,ontextsHistorical ,ontexts

>anguage>anguage

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What makes interpretation difficult?What makes interpretation difficult?

The Bible is old.The Bible is old.

The culture of the Bible is vastl! differentThe culture of the Bible is vastl! differentfrom the interpreter"s culture.from the interpreter"s culture.

an! biblical passages were written toan! biblical passages were written toappl! to specific occasions in histor!.appl! to specific occasions in histor!.

The biblical languages are foreign to mostThe biblical languages are foreign to most

interpreters.interpreters.The Bible is about %od and His dealingsThe Bible is about %od and His dealingswith mankind.with mankind.

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Wh! is HermeneuticsWh! is Hermeneutics

<ecessar!?<ecessar!?

Two hori@onsTwo hori@ons 1 difference in perspective1 difference in perspective

between biblical writers and modernbetween biblical writers and modern

interpreters.interpreters.

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Wh! is HermeneuticsWh! is Hermeneutics

<ecessar!?<ecessar!?

Two hori@onsTwo hori@ons 1 difference in perspective1 difference in perspective

between biblical writers and modernbetween biblical writers and modern

interpreters.interpreters.

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Wh! is HermeneuticsWh! is Hermeneutics

Important?Important?Aoundational in spiritual growth andAoundational in spiritual growth and

ministr!.ministr!.

ltimate purpose is not -ust informationltimate purpose is not -ust informationbut transformation.but transformation.

Aoundational in biblical and theologicalAoundational in biblical and theological

stud!.stud!.

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Wh! is HermeneuticsWh! is Hermeneutics

Important?Important?

• Exegesis

  Greek “ex”

• Eisegesis

  Greek “eis”

Putting meaning into a text.

Getting meaning out of a text.

Avoid Eisegesis,

Work at Exegesis!

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Things Cou a! 3lread! Dnow...Things Cou a! 3lread! Dnow...

We all interpret We all interpret & consciousl! or unconsciousl!.& consciousl! or unconsciousl!. E nl! uestion is whether we do it well.nl! uestion is whether we do it well.

 E ur assumptions and our method guide ourur assumptions and our method guide our

interpretation 11 especiall! if we aren"tinterpretation 11 especiall! if we aren"taware of themFaware of themF

ur respect for =cripture obliges us tour respect for =cripture obliges us to

approach it with as sound and consistent aapproach it with as sound and consistent amethod of interpretation as we can bring tomethod of interpretation as we can bring to

the task.the task.

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Things Cou a! 3lread! Dnow...Things Cou a! 3lread! Dnow...

“That was some sermon, Honey! The man across the

aisle from me was in tears!”

You want to avoid this scenario…

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Things Cou a! 3lread! Dnow...Things Cou a! 3lread! Dnow...

“That was my old hermeneutics teacher!”