Hermeneutics

her·me·neu·tics (hərməˈn oodiks): plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the study of the methodological principles of interpretation (as of the Bible) – Webster’s Dictionary

A better definition: Hermeneutics is the science and art of interpretation of Scripture.

Hermeneutics is a science because it follows certain rules.

It is also an art because it is a skill one develops over time and practice.

As you practice your Bible study skills, you will find that you are less overwhelmed each time.

You will gain a better knowledge of how different tools work and when to use them.

You must know that this a process.

Don’t get discouraged.

Don’t give up.

Three things to remember when you are studying the Bible.

1. It takes time.

There are no shortcuts for effective Bible study.

You simply have to put the time and effort into doing it.

2. There is more truth than you will find in a lifetime.

Keep digging, keep reading, keep talking. There is always something new to learn.

3. It takes practice and experience.

This cannot be stressed enough.

You will probably struggle when you first get started.

You will feel very overwhelmed sometimes, you will have lots of questions.

Over time you will get better and even be able to help others study.

Three steps to systematic Bible study.

Step 1: Observation

Answering the questions:

What do I see?

this leads to…

What does it say?

Observation is developing the ability to see and determining what the text says.

You must start by finding the stated facts in the passage.

Why do some Christians struggle to get much out of God’s Word?

Often it is simply because they don’t know how to properly read it.

They don’t know what to look for when they read.

Hopefully this study will help change that for you.

Observation starts with READING!!

You have no other choice but to put time into reading God’s Word!

As you read, use your mind not just your eyes.

The Bible will not magically make an impression on us.

We must give effort.

Prepare your heart and mind so you can focus and concentrate as you read.

Observation is not complicated.

It can be learned with practice and diligence, but you can’t observe what you don’t see.

Start by simply reading the passage.

“You can see a lot just by looking.” - Yogi Berra

Observation is the most important step in studying the Bible.

More time spent observing means less time spent on interpretation.

During this time, you are observing the facts of the passage and trying to accurately understand what the passages says.

This means more accurate observations lead to more accurate interpretation.

Understand when we talk about what the passage says, we are NOT talking about what the passage means (Interpretation).

You are simply understanding what the author wrote.

Don’t be afraid to mark your Bible as you read! Mark the things that stick out to you.

If you don’t like to mark your Bible, get some paper and make notes. Make sure you don’t get lost in the details.

You need to first understand the big picture.

Gain an understanding of the whole passage.

If you are studying a specific book, then read the entire book first. If you are focusing on a certain chapter, make sure to read the chapter all the way through first.

We often treat books like a collection of individual passages. When we do that, we lose the context and original intent of the author.

Start by asking the “W” questions:

1. Who is the author ? Who is the author writing to (also referred to as the audience)?

Every Bible book is ultimately for God’s people of all time.

However, each one was originally penned for a specific, more narrow audience.

Some books were written to individuals, some to churches, and some to the nations of Israel or Judah. I

In the New Testament, some were primarily for Jews and others for Gentiles.

Knowing the original audience sheds light on the text and helps us determine what content was specifically for that audience and what has application for us today.

Gather as much information as you can.

The better you know the author, the easier it is to understand his writing.

It will be helpful to refer to other books he has written (if there are any).

Ephesians 1:1 ESV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Let’s try it with Ephesians:

Who is the author?

What do you already know about him?

Who is he writing to?

Is this a single person or group of people?

Is this important? Why or why not?

2. Why is the author writing?

Is he detailing an account of something that happened?

Is he giving a warning or praise?

If so, who is that directed towards?

Is he writing to correct an action or way of thinking?

Sometimes you can figure this out as you gather information before you read.

Often you will be able to figure this out as you read.

This is another advantage to reading the entire book before digging deeper.

3. What is going on during the writing?

What are the historical events?

What is the culture like?

Your observation will be much better when you can gain an understanding of what was surrounding the writing.

4. Where is the author writing from and where is the author writing to?

Knowing the culture around these two things will help greatly.

It is always important to remember that the Bible was written for us, but it was not written to us.

The Bible is God’s communication to us, but the authors wrote to specific people.

Think about how much our own culture has changed over the past century.

Without context of when and where something was written, we will not have a complete understanding of it.

Often when we write, we use slang. When we read it today, we quickly understand what is being said.

The Bible authors were no different. They wrote in ways their current culture understood.

Understanding the culture where the book was written and where it was written to is very important.

5. When was the book written?

The books of the Bible are not presented in chronological order.

Knowing when books were written helps tie them into the big picture of the entire Bible as well as with the author.

Other things to look while observing the text:

1. Look for emphasis.

The amount of space or the number of chapters or verses devoted to a specific topic will reveal the importance of that topic.

Lanny this morning about election.

2. Look for repetition.

This is another way an author demonstrates that something is important. For example, reading 1 Corinthians 13, where the author uses the word “love” nine times in only 13 verses will quickly reveal his focus.

Here is another example of spotting repetition.

Romans 11:30–32 ESV

For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Marking your Bible will greatly help you draw out what the author is saying.

Romans 11:30–32 (ESV)

For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

3. Look for relationships between ideas.

Cause and effect

Matthew 25:21 (ESV)

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little (CAUSE); (SO)I will set you over much.(EFFECT) Enter into the joy of your master.’

“Ifs” and “Thens”

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Questions and answers

Psalm 24:8 (ESV)

(QUESTION) Who is this King of glory? (ANSWER) The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!

“Therefores”, “wherefores”, and “I say thens”

Romans 11:36–12:1 (ESV)

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Comparisons and contrasts

Ephesians 4:13–14 (ESV)

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

4. Look for literary form.

Teaching

Discourse material like Jesus’ sermons.

The epistles could also be included.

Is the author teaching his audience something?

These passages explain Christian truths.

They are generally fairly easy to interpret and apply.

The challenge is figuring out what caused the author to teach the truth.

Clues can often be found in other parts of the Bible.

Narratives

A narrative is when the author simply records things that happened.

Much of the Old Testament narrates portions of the lives of the men that the character of the Bible lived.

These are commonly referred to as “stories”. Be careful using that word.

They are not simply stories.

They are true and accurate accounts of people and events.

You will also find narratives in parts of the Synoptic Gospels and Acts.

It is important to remember that these accounts are of people who both succeeded and failed.

We have both good and bad examples.

Learn where they did well and determine what Biblical principles they were exercising.

Learn where they went wrong and determine what attitudes and actions led up to that.

Poetry

This is found primarily in the Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and others.

Parables

This is found primarily in the parables of Christ.

It is very important to understand what parables are.

It is easy to misinterpret them.

Parables are short, imaginative, stories that have an important message.

They were used much like we would use a sermon illustration today.

Keep it simple.

Don’t “spiritualize” them.

Find out the reason the parable was given.

Miracles

These are primarily found in three periods of history.

You will find them prevalent when reading about Moses and Aaron, Elijah and Elisha, and Jesus and the apostles.

Prophecy

This type of literature is found primarily in parts of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation, and also the Major and Minor Prophets in the Old Testament.

It is probably one of the most difficult genres to interpret. Prophecy is a word from God to warn, judge, instruct, or encourage people.

It can come in the form of warning about future events.

These are often difficult to deal with because the authors use a lot of symbolism in their language.

A key question to ask and answer during observation:

Is what I am ready descriptive or prescriptive?